Athearn Discontinuing GP38-2?

[Anonymous]

I emailed Toy Train Heaven yesterday to inquire about getting 4 GP-38-2's (140-4644 - Undec' Late grills) and was told they are discontinued. Is Athearn really discontinuing the blue box stuff for RTR?

Perhaps I am looking up the wrong thing. Need the GP-38-2 with the new drive and Black plastic Handrails in Undec with DB.

Help

Joe

[CP5415]

After checking out Athearn's website for GP38's, I don't see any sign of them being discontinued.
They might not have any scheduled for manufacturing which is the case as I don't see them on their 2004 production list.
I'd email Athearn direct & ask them.
[e-mail]
is their email address if you want to ask questions. They usually email you back in a couple of days.

Gordon

[cacole]

Oh, no! Not another Athearn rumor about how the world is coming to an end because they are going out of business. When the public announcement was made that Athearn had been bought out by Horizon Hobbies, it was mentioned in that press release that Horizon would NOT allow Athearn products to be sold by any of the Internet or mail order discounters. Allegedly, only brick and mortar hobby shops will be allowed to sell Athearn products now. I don't think that was Athearn's desire, but is evidentally Horizon's policy -- probably so they can make more profit off of the sales.

[BRAKIE]

Not likely..You may have to locate a brick and mortar discount hobby shop to get what you need or check other on line hobby shops or even ebay as far as that goes.

[Anonymous]

Athearn don't seem to produce all the stuff they list on their site at any one time - I'm still waiting for the Impack cars to reappear (according to the Walthers website they were being made in BN livery this year, but no sign at my LHS yet). One thing is sure though, there'll be plenty of locos available through eBay and at train shows (not over here sadly, the eBay UK Athearn listings cover around 18 items usually!).

[Anonymous]

Whats the smile for?

[Allen Jenkins]

So, how many roads spec'd out the GP-38-2 w/non-extened range dynamic braking, and a 81" nose? The only close match is SCL#500-549, or The Conrail, I can't recall the actual road, but the unit is long known to be road specific. Just imagine, the company owns the right to model any road they choose, however they must gain animal rights(did I say that?) to produce one of the most popular General Purpose Diesel Locomotives ever produced in road specific design, albiet with styling. Enjoy your crosstie by crosstie ride! ACJ.

[Anonymous]

I don't think Athearn will discontinuing making the geep 38-2's at one time they could have been their #1 seller I've got one in my motive fleet still runs good to me.I hoped they do not stop producing them.

[jsanchez]

Horizon cut off Athearn product from Walthers, so do not expect to see the Impack cars from them unless Horizon sees the errors of their ways. Also Toy Train Heaven owns is part of the largest of one of the largest brick and mortar store in the USA, however they have de-emphasized Athearn product somewhat.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Railroading_Brit

Athearn don't seem to produce all the stuff they list on their site at any one time - I'm still waiting for the Impack cars to reappear (according to the Walthers website they were being made in BN livery this year, but no sign at my LHS yet). One thing is sure though, there'll be plenty of locos available through eBay and at train shows (not over here sadly, the eBay UK Athearn listings cover around 18 items usually!).

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jsanchez

Horizon cut off Athearn product from Walthers, so do not expect to see the Impack cars from them unless Horizon sees the errors of their ways. Also Toy Train Heaven owns is part of the largest of one of the largest brick and mortar store in the USA, however they have de-emphasized Athearn product somewhat.

That's sad to hear. HO-scale intermodal stock seems to be going through a lean patch at the moment, at least, resonably priced cars are getting harder to find. The only ones currently readily available are the new Walthers 53' 3-unit double stack cars, as well as the single versions of these and the earlier double stacks. Walthers have discontinued their 5-unit spine car, while Athearn's Maxi-III 5-unit double stack is only available RTR (at twice the price of the kit - for the same money I could have bought the kit, fitted Proto metal wheels and Kadees, and bought a few containers to load it with!). The loss of the Impacks would seem to leave the market with no articulated spine car models.

Am I the only one wondering if offering bigger (articulated) freight cars as RTR models is really a good commercial idea? Surely a £60 RTR car will find fewer buyers than a £30 kit, resulting in lower sales and profits?

[AntonioFP45]

I've already e-mailed Athearn with a question regarding a locomotive. According to their response: It is true that while Athearn won't be manufacturing "some items" this year, they have not discontinued them at all. [;)]

While frustrating, the response does make sense. They still have the tool/die of that specific car or locomotive on hand. When demand goes up they'll likely produce it. I was a little irritated at first with this approach as growing up in the 70s and 80s I had gotten used to being able to get just about "ANYTHING" Athearn produced at anytime. [sigh]

Athearn is likely scaling back to cut costs on low demand items. With the introduction of the nicely detailed Proto 1000, Proto 2000, and Spectrum, locomotives as well new freight car manufacturers, Athearn has been facing competition that it never had to endure just over 10 years ago. Adding to this is that on the web, a lot of the P2K and even Atlas stuff can be purchased for prices at or just slightly above Athearn prices. I've seen Proto and even Atlas locomotives-(non-dcc ready) going for $45 on the web! BlueBox Athearn locos now retail from $39.50 to $50 with the "growl" still included. Which would you buy???? [:p][4:-)][C):-)]

Years back, the "Blue Box" section of a typical LHS was often the one place where boxes were being shuffled constantly. This was always the first place I headed for when I walked in the store. Today, fewer move. [8)]

Not all, but a lot of you on this forum (me too) who have been long time Athearn supporters now purchase cars and locos from the other manufacturers since the bar has been raised and Athearns now look "a little bland" compared to the new, nicely detailed cars and locos.

So, it might not necessarily be Horizon that's the sole culprit but economics as well.

[Allen Jenkins]

Not to try to prove a point, has anyone ever coupled an Athearn GP-38-2 to an Atlas GP38, or Proto GP38-2? I'm sure several inconsistancies stand out, such as frame heigth above trucks, etc. Many engines offered in the past, which kept the hobby going, are in serious need of upgrade. I do not believe we've seen the last of this product, "out of production" doesn't mean forever. The competition needs a little help to further their effort. At this point, Athearn is currently producing better quality Diesel-electric locomotives, just not in this long-running mainstay. Consider the SD40-2, and the improved detail, the only gripe from myself being the discontinued Family Lines paint scheme, albiet the gray didn't match "French Grey." But the upgrade in detail brought "Q" fans, and the modified dynamic brake housing, caused by the exhaust silencer, "post 1980," which was only offered in brass. I think the fear is price motivated, because the other more detailed engines cost more. If all remaining stock is purchased, it would speak need for further production, possibly upgraded, (and also knock a big hole in the shelves of a bunch of hobby shopps, which have had the same models for years). Supply and demand, is the only way!ACJ.