I am looking to add a GP 38-2 to my roster and am looking at Bachmann and Athearn RTR. I know Athearn is good quality but am not familiar with the Bachmann. I am looking for straight DC with no decoders. Thanks in advance
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
Even though I have heard good things about the Bachmann GP38-2, I would go with Athearn RTR. In my personal experience, they run good, have excellent prototypical paint jobs, are easy to service and work on and the newer ones are DCC ready just in case someday you deside to go that route. Also you can find them at good prices.
Ralph
Here are my three Athearn GP38s (or GP40s) They are older, bluebox models, I understand that the current Athearn RTR comes from the same tooling that produced the blue blox models. These units have been very satisfactory over the years. They are straight DC, with home brew constant brightness lighting.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
Bruce,
I have no experience with Bachmann diesels and the two Athearn RTR RS-3s I had were so-so at best. (Looked great, ran poorly) Personally, I would skip either one and hunt down a Proto 2000 GP38-2 off eBay - i.e. unless Athearn or Bachmann offer a specific road name you're interested in.
Actually, Bruce, I just remembered I have a [NIB] HO Proto 2000 Norfolk Southern GP38-2 (DC) - if you're interested. If so, send me a PM and we can talk about it.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
alcofanschdy I am looking to add a GP 38-2 to my roster and am looking at Bachmann and Athearn RTR. I know Athearn is good quality but am not familiar with the Bachmann. I am looking for straight DC with no decoders. Thanks in advance Bruce
Athearn or better still for around the same price a Atlas/Trainman GP38-2..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
GP38's are past my era, so I'm not an expert.
But, The older Proto or Atlas would be my first choice.
I consider the current Athearn RTR and the Bachmann to be a tie, both good for their price range.
Tom, just for the record, the Athearn GP38-2 shares no heritage with the Athearn RTR RS-2. The RS-2 was a Roundhouse product originally, the GP38 a blue box Athearn product.
I guess roadname and availablity are the real question?
Sheldon
Thanks for the offer Tom but I'm looking for CSX. I'll take your suggestion and go on the bay and look up Proto 2000 and see whats available
Keep us posted, Bruce. All but one Proto 2000 that I ever owned ran very smoothly - especially at low-speed.
This is based upon personal experience that is about 5 years old now, but the only Bachmann GP38-2 I ever owned hands down ran better than any Athearn RTR. It had a can motor standard whereas the Athearn's motor is typical RTR.
See if the current Bachmann still has the same upgraded motor.
The Athearn RTR has wire grab irons, while the bachmann's are molded on. However, the Bachmann had better headlights, possibly LEDs, whereas the Athearn may still have the single light that also lights up the entire cab.
And I think the Athearn runs about $75 dollars, but the Bachmann is less expensive.
- Douglas
BRAKIE Athearn or better still for around the same price a Atlas/Trainman GP38-2..
I'll second the Atlas Trainman GP38-2 recommendation. I picked one up from Caboose Hobbies (RIP) in CSX colors when they first came out. Not much run time, but I took it out the other day and was completely blown away with how SMOOTH and QUIET it was.
Here are some that are available on eBay right now:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Locomotives/97170/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=atlas+gp38-2+csx
Dan Stokes
My other car is a tunnel motor
I agree with Brakie and Sheldon on what they are saying about Atlas Trainman and Proto 2000 units. I have both which I have kept from my HO days. The Atlas Trainman has the same drive as their master line and run great but are less detailed.The proto units I have are very well detailed and very heavy which make them pull and run great. What I like most about my Proto units are the extra details that come with them and the scale straight handrails that I always found to be very durable. I am sure if you check around you can pick one of these up at around the same price as the Bachmann or Athearn.
One of the local LHS had a brand new Athearn Roundhouse GP38-2 for a good price, checked it out, ran nice and quiet and looks good so I went for it. Thanks everyone for your help now back to the layout to break this newbie in.
alcofanschdy,
CSX had at least three if not four different paint schemes, are you modeling CSX in the late 80's/early 90's after they merged the Chessie System?
I don't model anything in particular. I have a small switching layout and run whatever I feel like at the moment. I have several loco's of different RR's and run whatever the mood strikes. CSX runs about a mile away from where I live and I see them and hear them all the time and I decided I wanted one of their locos on my little layout and the GP 38-2 fits in just right.