Athearn Locomotive purchase

[Anonymous]

I'm new to the hobby and I am trying to decide which Athearn locomotive to purchase. I noticed on the online trains site that they mostly carry SD40-2.
However they've been discontinued. Does this matter at all? In addition,
I am trying to decide between 4 axle and 6 axle. Is one better than the other? I would appreciate any information that anyone has to offer.

[Hawks05]

6 axle is better if you have a bigger layout. i know for me having/will have a 4 foot by 8 foot layout i won't be able to run many 6 axle locomotives so i'm mainly looking at Geeps (GP40, GP50, GP7, that kind of thing, these are 4 axle). you usually need a bigger radius for the bigger locomotives. if you decide on getting an SD90 or something like that there is no chance you'll be able to run that on a 4x8 layout. thats my 2 cents i guess. there isn't really a better or worse about them just that GPs were used primarily in the early days and now days RR companies are using more SD locomotives, someone correct me if i'm wrong here.

[CP5415]

All Athearn bluebox locomotives are designed to work on 18" radius curves.
They may not look pretty doing it though.
I know this for fact as I have locomotives ranging from GP7's to AC4400's & C44-9W's
Not one of my 9 SD40-2's ever had a problem on an 18" curve.
My GP's have no problem hauling trains up & down the grades that I have. They can pull the same train as my SD40-2's.
If you are planning on passenger trains I would recommend at least 22" radius curves.
The difference between 4 & 6 axle locomotives is negligible. It's all preference on what you want to run.

Just my [2c]

Gordon

[Anonymous]

If you are a 'newbe' the best advice I can give you is: Sit quietly in a room for 2 hours and THINK. What scale will you model, what era, what area, what size layout, whether kits or RTR, as well as anything which comes to mind. Get a fresh note book and make notes as you go. Continue to add to your notes as time goes on.

After all the generalities have been answered you will likely have resolved your own question. Buy whatever locomotive most closely fits your master plan. Look around on the net. Everything is for sale somewhere.

Hawks has given you sound advice. In my experience smaller is better, at least initially.

Good Luck

Randy

[Anonymous]

The HO Athearn SD40-2 will handle 18" radius per MR Dec.2000

Suggestion: Post before you buy. We have a few lemons in the industry too.

We can save you time, pain & expense.

[nfmisso]

Go with four axle. The reason that the Athearn SD40-2 can make it around 18" radius curves is that it has more compromises to prototype fidelity than the smaller GP units that can do the same thing. More detailed locomotives have larger minimum radius.

Your choice of locomotives should be guided by:
1. your choice of prototype and era.
2. the minimum radius on your layout.
3. manufacturer reputation.
4. fidelity to prototype, what are your standards

This board will give you all sorts of opinions on #3 & 4, the other 2 are governed solely by you. If you want to run Automax cars, and have them look good, you need at least 26" min radius. Walthers recommends 24" min radius for thier passenger cars.

[Eriediamond]

One more little tid-bit, Four axle locos are more foregiving of trackwork flaws then six or eight axle locos.

[Anonymous]

The "Discontinued" part isn't a problem, so long as you can find the locos you want. Athearn drive units seem pretty robust so long as you grease the gears. I've not got a powered SD40-2, have a dummy one that's very nice though. I would suggest a 4-axle unit at first as most roads have at least one of these - I particularly like the EMD Demonstrator GP60 and the Santa Fe GP50 paint schemes.

[Anonymous]

Hi, fguarascio,

Welcome to the World's Greatest Hobby, and welcome to the forums!

One warning about older Athearn blue box models - on some Athearns the hoods are too wide (GP7, SD7...) - apparently to enable the old motor to fit in. Some "newer" models (from the 1980's) were made with a new, narrower motor, so their hoods are of prototypical width - for instance GP38-2, GP40-2 and GP50. This detail may not seem important to you now, but soon you'll see that the more experience you gather, the more of a "nitpicker" you become. And then you'll be glad to know that your first locos can be made into some nice models - you can add some details that are missing, but the "foundation" is right.
By the way, I'm not sure about the SD40-2 and the SD40T-2 - do they have the correct width hoods? Are the grab irons and lift rings cast-on or omitted like on the GP38-2 (which I think is better, easier superdetailing)? How are the trucks? How about the Athearn's U-boats? Hope someone can help us here.

A good idea would be to visit a model railroad club and talk to the people there.

Have fun!
Oliver

[CP5415]

The best advice from me at least, since you are new to the hobby & Welcome to the World's Greatest Hobby by the way, is to go & see about buying a basic Athearn Set.
It comes with a locomotive, about 4-5 pieces of rolling stock, track & a power pack.
For the money you will spend on this item, you CAN'T go wrong.
This will allow you to expand later when you are ready to.
My first locomotive purchase when I came back to the hobby was an Athearn SD40-2.
Canadian Pacific 5415 to be exact.

Just my [2c]

Gordon