Just wording why only Athearn makes dummy locomotives? Is there a market for them? I would love to fill out my fleet with some Atlas and/or Proto loco’s.
I can't speak of athearn but I have purchased several Atlas O scale dummies and installed a drive unit myself. The Atlas drives are garbage (IMO) and their truck detail is off (made wider for the 3-rail locos) so it is worth it to me to my the dummies and convert.
Check out the Deming Sub by clicking on the pics:
LAJ Just wording why only Athearn makes dummy locomotives? Is there a market for them? I would love to fill out my fleet with some Atlas and/or Proto loco’s. Burro Crane
Burro Crane
Many people want highly detailed dummies, but they would be expensive. Intermountain offers unpowered F units:
http://www.imrcmodels.com/ho/loco/holocrtr.htm
http://www.imrcmodels.com/ho/loco/holocf7.htm
For about $30- less than the powered ones. At that difference, they probably are making less profit percentage on the unpowered units.
For an HO locomotive, the manufacturer is paying around $5- for the high quality motor, around $5- for a DCC ready circuit board with LED lights, and around $5- for all the drivetrain parts (gears, flywheels, shafts, etc).
In the past, Athearn for example, had one piece shells, added horn, and customer installed hand rails. Percentage wise, they had a large amount in the motor and drivetrain parts, so unpowered models made sense. Today, all those seperate details cost a great deal.
In an older MR issue, there was a cartoon; a hobbiest at the cash register in train store; the caption read something like: 'okay that will $19.95 for the locomotive, and $367.24 for the detail parts, decals and paint' And then the hobbiest had to do the assembly work. Today, we get that nearly $400- worth for $100- to $200- ready to go.
Some people want multiple-unit lash-ups, but don't want the additional current draw. Or, they're using the dummies to hide sound units. Others, are using them...to add additional power pickups to short-wheelbase units. For example, on my railroad, I had an old Athearn S12 that had some power issues. It was permanently coupled to a dummy SW1500 that I'd fitted with metal wheels, and wired into the S12's power circuit...to create an 8-axle "locomotive." Worked fairly well...until the S12's motor finally went.
I myself being in HO scale use Athearn Dummy locos as extra power without the current draw and i also use them as extra units for looks in the yard since there half the price of a reg Athearn. They are also easier and fun to weather and if you want it powered just swich shells with a powered unit. Saves money that way at least it works for me anyway.
Stewart used to make some dummies. I think all the original FTBs were dummies.
I wish they made "dummy locos" that were as simple as cars, but as detailed as "real locos", simply because. As a home hobbyist. The modern locos can pull trains as long as I can place in a room by themselves. I have 52' of track in one room. And 117' of track in another. I use .modern diesels, most locos will pull 50 cars or more. I want my trains to look "real" with .ore than one loco. But I am sick of consisting issues. Walthers Mainline uses a speedmatching system that doesnt allow simple (cv2,6,and 5) consisting to work. On my new layout I used Broadway Unlimeted Ac 6000's, 3 of them. And am having issues with BEMF allowing consists. If I turn it off. Speed step 1 is @scale 20mph. This train will be 30-40 cars. Which could be pulled by one loco, easily. $$$$, that is why. And it is $$$ that is going to.......China! I just want my son to have a nice train. He loves the trains that run through my town. With 2-3 cool looking locos pulling them. That, combined cost @$750. And will take me a year, of internet searches, talking to you good people, on the forums, to figure out how to make them run together. Also, if I may vent. Why do I pay good money for Peco turnouts. That I have to rely on you good people, through YouTube videos, and forums. To tell me how to fix?