Kato N Scale GE ES44AC GEVO Canadian National CN #2828 DC – KAT1768970

Kato N Scale GE ES44AC GEVO Canadian National CN #2828 DC Diesel Locomotive – 176-8970

Expand your modern N Scale locomotive roster with the Kato N Scale GE ES44AC GEVO Canadian National (CN) #2828 DC Diesel Locomotive (176-8970). Featuring Canadian National railroad markings and the distinctive body design of General Electric's Evolution Series, this highly detailed 1:160 scale model brings contemporary North American freight railroading to your layout.

Designed for standard DC operation, the Kato CN #2828 features a precision five-pole motor, dual brass flywheels, directional LED headlights, illuminated number boards, illuminated ditch lights, and Kato magnetic knuckle couplers. The locomotive also features a DCC-ready mechanism that accepts compatible drop-in decoders for modelers interested in upgrading to digital control.

Whether you're recreating Canadian National mainline operations, assembling a modern GEVO locomotive fleet, or expanding your collection of contemporary diesel locomotives, Kato's CN #2828 offers an excellent combination of prototype-inspired detail and reliable running performance.

Canadian National #2828 – Modern CN Freight Locomotive

Canadian National Railway, commonly known as CN, operates one of North America's largest freight railroad networks. Connecting Canada's Atlantic and Pacific coasts with major markets throughout the United States, Canadian National serves major ports, agricultural regions, manufacturing centers, automotive facilities, and intermodal terminals.

CN transports a wide range of freight, including grain, forest products, intermodal containers, automotive shipments, petroleum products, chemicals, and general merchandise. Its extensive network requires powerful, dependable locomotives capable of handling long-distance freight movements across varied terrain and operating conditions.

The Canadian National GE ES44AC #2828 represents the modern six-axle diesel locomotives associated with these demanding freight operations. Featuring CN's recognizable railroad identity and the distinctive GE Evolution Series body, this locomotive is well suited for contemporary Canadian and American N Scale layouts.

Model railroaders can use CN #2828 to lead intermodal trains, grain movements, mixed merchandise consists, or other modern freight trains while recreating realistic Canadian National operations.

GE ES44AC GEVO – 4,400 Horsepower Evolution Series Technology

The GE ES44AC belongs to General Electric's Evolution Series, commonly called the GEVO, a family of diesel-electric locomotives developed to meet increasingly stringent emissions requirements while maintaining the power and tractive effort needed for heavy freight service.

The prototype ES44AC is powered by a GEVO-12 twelve-cylinder diesel engine producing approximately 4,400 horsepower. Introduced during the mid-2000s, the Evolution Series was designed to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tier 2 locomotive emissions standards while offering improved fuel efficiency compared with earlier diesel locomotive generations.

The ES44AC features alternating-current traction motors, providing strong adhesion and pulling capability for demanding mainline freight service. Its recognizable oversized rear radiator section, redesigned dual-fan cooling arrangement, and modern wide-cab body distinguish the GEVO from earlier GE locomotive designs.

Kato captures these characteristic GE Evolution Series features in N Scale with realistic proportions, carefully reproduced body details, and railroad-specific exterior configurations.

Precision Five-Pole Kato Motor with Dual Brass Flywheels

The Kato N Scale GE ES44AC CN #2828 features a powerful five-pole motor paired with dual brass flywheels, engineered to deliver smooth acceleration, dependable low-speed operation, and consistent performance.

The dual-flywheel drivetrain helps maintain smooth locomotive movement through changes in speed, making this GEVO well suited for realistic freight train operations and multiple-locomotive consists.

Whether hauling modern intermodal equipment, grain hoppers, tank cars, autoracks, lumber cars, or mixed merchandise trains, the Kato ES44AC provides the mechanical performance associated with the manufacturer's N Scale diesel locomotive lineup.

Directional LED Headlights, Illuminated Number Boards, and Ditch Lights

Kato equips the Canadian National ES44AC #2828 with detailed lighting features that enhance its appearance during operation.

• Directional LED Headlights: Provide locomotive illumination according to direction of travel.
• Illuminated Number Boards: Preprinted locomotive number boards feature lighting for realistic identification.
• Illuminated Ditch Lights: Reproduce the distinctive front-end lighting arrangement found on modern North American freight locomotives.

These lighting features complement the detailed GEVO body and Canadian National markings, making CN #2828 an attractive addition to modern freight yards, industrial districts, and mainline railroad scenes.

Standard DC Operation with Drop-In DCC Compatibility

The Kato 176-8970 Canadian National ES44AC #2828 is supplied for conventional DC operation, making it suitable for layouts powered by traditional analog model railroad power packs.

The locomotive is also DCC ready, allowing conversion to Digital Command Control using a compatible drop-in decoder. Kato identifies several compatible decoder options for this GE ES44AC mechanism:

• Train Control Systems TCS K1D4: Compatible drop-in DCC decoder.
• Digitrax DN163K1C: Compatible drop-in DCC decoder.
• NCE N14K1: Compatible drop-in DCC decoder.
• ESU 58741 LokSound 5 Micro: Sound-decoder option for a compatible installation with the necessary sound components.

This flexibility makes CN #2828 an excellent choice for modelers currently operating conventional DC layouts who may wish to transition to DCC in the future.

Please Note: This is the standard DC version. It does not include a factory-installed DCC decoder or sound system.

Detailed GEVO Body and Kato Magnetic Knuckle Couplers

Kato's ES44AC captures the distinctive appearance of General Electric's Evolution Series locomotives, including the modern wide cab, enlarged rear radiator section, six-axle truck arrangement, and railroad-specific exterior details.

The locomotive features Kato magnetic knuckle couplers for coupling with compatible N Scale freight cars and locomotives, allowing model railroaders to assemble realistic contemporary freight trains.

Its detailed body, smooth-running mechanism, and DCC-ready design make Canadian National #2828 an excellent addition to a modern N Scale diesel locomotive collection.

Kato N Scale GE ES44AC CN #2828 DC Features

• Highly detailed N Scale (1:160) GE ES44AC Evolution Series diesel locomotive
• Canadian National Railway (CN) railroad markings
• Locomotive road number 2828
• Standard DC operation
• DCC-ready mechanism for compatible drop-in decoder installation
• Precision five-pole Kato motor
• Dual brass flywheels for smooth operation
• Directional LED headlights
• Illuminated, preprinted number boards
• Illuminated ditch lights
• Kato magnetic knuckle couplers
• Detailed GE Evolution Series locomotive body
• Railroad-specific exterior detailing
• Distinctive oversized GEVO radiator section
• Six-axle C-C locomotive configuration
• Suitable for contemporary Canadian and American freight operations
• No factory-installed DCC decoder or sound

Build a Modern Canadian National Freight Locomotive Fleet

The Kato Canadian National ES44AC #2828 is an excellent choice for model railroaders recreating contemporary CN freight operations throughout Canada and the United States.

Pair this locomotive with modern intermodal cars, grain hoppers, tank cars, autoracks, lumber cars, and mixed merchandise equipment to reproduce realistic freight movements through industrial districts, classification yards, and mainline corridors.

For additional locomotive power, combine CN #2828 with the Kato Canadian National ES44AC #2816 DC Locomotive to recreate the multiple-unit diesel consists commonly used on heavy North American freight trains.

Explore More Kato N Scale GEVO Locomotives

Expand your modern diesel locomotive roster with our Kato N Scale GEVO Locomotives Collection, featuring GE Evolution Series locomotives representing Canadian National, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Canadian Pacific, and other major North American railroads.

Looking for another control configuration of Canadian National #2828? Explore the Kato CN #2828 ES44AC DCC Locomotive or the Kato CN #2828 ES44AC DCC/Sound Locomotive for factory-equipped digital operation.

Discover additional locomotives, passenger trains, and rolling stock in our Kato Model Trains Collection, or browse our complete selection of Model Trains and Railroad Equipment at Fusion Scale Hobbies.

Product Specifications

• Manufacturer: Kato USA
• Manufacturer Part Number: 176-8970
• Fusion Scale Hobbies SKU: KAT1768970
• Scale: N Scale (1:160)
• Railroad: Canadian National Railway (CN)
• Road Number: 2828
• Locomotive Model: GE ES44AC
• Locomotive Family: GE Evolution Series (GEVO)
• Prototype Horsepower: 4,400 HP
• Prototype Engine: GEVO-12
• Wheel Arrangement: C-C (Six Axles)
• Control: DC
• DCC: Ready for Compatible Drop-In Decoder
• Factory Sound: No
• Motor: Five-Pole Kato Motor
• Flywheels: Dual Brass Flywheels
• Lighting: Directional LED Headlights, Illuminated Number Boards, and Ditch Lights
• Couplers: Kato Magnetic Knuckle Couplers

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kato 176-8970 factory equipped with DCC?

No. Kato 176-8970 is supplied for standard DC operation. The locomotive is DCC ready and accepts compatible drop-in decoders for conversion to Digital Command Control.

Does Kato CN #2828 include factory-installed sound?

No. This configuration does not include factory-installed sound. A separate DCC/Sound configuration is available as Kato 176-8970-S.

What DCC decoders are compatible with Kato 176-8970?

Compatible drop-in DCC decoder options include the TCS K1D4, Digitrax DN163K1C, and NCE N14K1. An ESU 58741 LokSound 5 Micro decoder may also be used for a compatible sound installation with the necessary additional components.

Does this locomotive feature illuminated ditch lights?

Yes. Kato equips the ES44AC with illuminated ditch lights, directional LED headlights, and illuminated preprinted number boards.

What is a GE ES44AC GEVO locomotive?

The GE ES44AC is a six-axle, 4,400-horsepower diesel-electric locomotive from General Electric's Evolution Series. It features a GEVO-12 diesel engine and AC traction motors designed for efficient heavy freight operation.

What is the difference between Kato 176-8970, 176-8970-DCC, and 176-8970-S?

The 176-8970 is the standard DC version with a DCC-ready mechanism. The 176-8970-DCC includes factory-installed DCC without sound. The 176-8970-S includes factory-installed DCC/Sound. All three versions represent Canadian National GE ES44AC locomotive #2828.

Can CN #2828 operate with Canadian National #2816?

Yes. Both locomotives represent Canadian National GE ES44AC diesels and can be operated together as a multiple-unit consist when their control configurations and operating characteristics are compatible.

What scale is Kato 176-8970?

This locomotive is N Scale (1:160), designed for operation on standard North American N Scale model railroad layouts.