Hello,
I was curious if anyone has ordered one of the new ho scale Athearn 2-8-0 Consolidation steam locos? If you have. What are your thoughts?
I have a 2-6-0 from back when it was a Roundhouse kit (same as the 2-8-0, but 1 less axle). It's a smooth, quiet runner with a realistic amount of traction, and even though the details are simple, it's a nice looking model. The motor, gearing and all on the new ones is the same as back then.
I can't comment on the sound, but they do use SoundTraxx which is known to be very good.
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I was wondering the same thing myself.This is what they look like.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
rustintampa Hello, I was curious if anyone has ordered one of the new ho scale Athearn 2-8-0 Consolidation steam locos? If you have. What are your thoughts?
Are these a new or updated design? A former Athearn, Roundhouse, etc? I see it has LED lighting so I consider the DC version a candidate for a DIY DCC / sound version with my preferred decoder / speakers.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
peahrens rustintampa Hello, I was curious if anyone has ordered one of the new ho scale Athearn 2-8-0 Consolidation steam locos? If you have. What are your thoughts? Are these a new or updated design? A former Athearn, Roundhouse, etc? I see it has LED lighting so I consider the DC version a candidate for a DIY DCC / sound version with my preferred decoder / speakers.
I think these are a resissue of the Roundhouse RTR version of the old kit. I got a factory second from Roundhouse right before they got bought by Athearn. It runs extremely well, much better than the kit version I have. Athearn/Roundhouse reissued these a few years ago. Harold (hminky) reviewed them:
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/1905/roundhouse_2-8-0/
How they get sound in the tender I have no idea.
Gary
After being purchased by Athearn, many runs were made. 2007, then 2011, and now. Its the same tooling made over 30(?) years ago.Athearn releasing this is like Lionel releasing Mantua 2-8-2s for $400+ MSRP, but at a less outragous price. Still, I personally don't think a model like this is worth $161(MTS price) without sound.
That being said, its a well made model. If you like the look of it, there's nothing outright wrong with it. The mechanism is good, and there's no quality issue(like split axles) in it.
Upgrades to the original tooling include handrails on tender, modern smooth and quiet mechanism, LED headlight, pickups from all wheels, etc.
Heres MRR's review of the 2-8-0 (2012): https://mrr.trains.com/news-reviews/staff-reviews/2012/12/athearn-ho-scale-2-8-0-locomotive
Heres MRR's review of the older 4-4-0 (2006): https://mrr.trains.com/news-reviews/staff-reviews/2006/12/roundhouse-ho-4-4-0-with-dual-mode-dcc-and-sound
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
Does all wheel pickup include the tender trucks?
I believe it does.
peahrens Does all wheel pickup include the tender trucks?
From my second link: "The first three drivers pick up electrical power, as do all eight tender wheels."
I just ordered a non dcc/sound version.....I'm guessing its DCC Ready
couldn't find anywhere what plug is supplied.
The 2012 release(via the review link in a previous post) mention an 8 pin plug.
We will see.
When mine arrives, I will post findings...Thanks to all who replied.
I appreciate the input,
all my best,
Eric