Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Searching for Athearn Parts Discontinued Item. Also help for another forum member John looking for handrails for a SD45T-2

3191 views
22 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,706 posts
Searching for Athearn Parts Discontinued Item. Also help for another forum member John looking for handrails for a SD45T-2
Posted by zstripe on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 5:06 AM

I'm trying to help a friend out, locating some Athearn older parts. Athearn is out of the question...they are out.. I don't frequent e-bay much.....so I am pulling at straws. I'm thinking maybe a forum member may have them and be willing to part with them. For a fair price of course/shipping prepaid by Me.

It's called a Span Bolster by Athearn #13005.........for a heavy duty flat car:

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH13005

Along with 13003 brake wheel...13004 brake staff.

Any help/ advice appreciated.

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

 

 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 5:40 AM

Good morning Frank, so this for an 8 axle flat car? 2 trucks go on each span bolster?

Check this Ebay ad out:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Athearn-Heavy-Duty-Flat-Car-Span-Bolsters-12-Pair/223342340099?hash=item34003da803:g:6xsAAOSwiONYKn

Not sure if he has the brake parts, but you could ask.

Mike.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,016 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 5:46 AM

On which type(s) of Athearn freight cars would this part be found?

Is it just found on a heavy duty flat car?

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,706 posts
Posted by zstripe on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 6:07 AM

Mike,

Appreciate Your fast help........just ordered them. I don't know how many He need's, but at least He will have them......Thanks again.

Rich,


I know just about as much as You know about the project or car in question. I just got the e-mail last nite....asking Me for help. The brake wheel and shaft should not be that difficult to obtain/make.

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 7:01 AM

Your welcome Frank.  Looks like that seller has other Athearn parts as well.

Mike.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 7:59 AM

Frank
 
This is my goto guy for Athearn parts and unfortunately that part in not listed.  I thought posting a link to his Athearn page might help someone out there.
 
 
 
 
 
Mel
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,228 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 9:01 AM

zstripe
I'm thinking maybe a forum member may have them and be willing to part with them.

Let me know if you need any more parts for these, Frank. If I'm not mistaken I have two of these HD Flats sitting in a drawer. I'd be glad to send them on the next westbound local. Not sure if the brake wheels are still on them but I have lots of replacements, maybe not identical, but close.

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,426 posts
Posted by dknelson on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 10:21 AM

These particular Athearn cars are common stuff at swap meets, and often quite cheap.  Swap meet junker boxes are often the best source for Athearn replacement parts.  Be aware that "Crown," a Mantua line of cheap Athearn knock-offs from the 1960s, included this same flat car and I'd bet the parts are interchangable.

Dave Nelson 

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 8:42 PM

zstripe

I'm trying to help a friend out, locating some Athearn older parts. Athearn is out of the question...they are out.. I don't frequent e-bay much.....so I am pulling at straws. I'm thinking maybe a forum member may have them and be willing to part with them. For a fair price of course/shipping prepaid by Me.

It's called a Span Bolster by Athearn #13005.........for a heavy duty flat car:

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH13005

Along with 13003 brake wheel...13004 brake staff.

Any help/ advice appreciated.

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

I have a pair of the span bolsters, Frank, complete with Kadee couplers installed.  I don't, however, have the brake wheel and staff.

If you're interested, send me a PM with your mailing address.

Wayne

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,548 posts
Posted by PRR8259 on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 11:25 PM

I need an Athearn part, also, if someone could help me out:

91580 celcon handrail set, yellow, SD45T-2, but really I just need a small part out of that set: the left side of the rear handrail piece, the little piece that comes up from the rear pilot, turns and then connects to the middle portion of the rear handrail piece.

I just contacted Athearn today...bought a nos unit off the evil auction site, that arrived missing this piece.  Have other Kodachrome units, so buying the entire 91580 set is a worthwhile consideration, too.

If I end up being unsuccessful, I can fabricate a missing piece out of piano wire, but I'd much rather get the right piece for such a nice looking engine, if I can.

Thank you all very much!

John

I have learned that I need 2 pieces:  the left rear corner stanchion and the railing from that stanchion down to the left side of the rear pilot.  Thank you, OP, for including this in the revised topic name.

I did order some Precision Scale EMD stanchions off Ebay, and if needed, I am capable of bending the wire that I would need to finish, but obviously if the parts turned up, I'd buy.  Plus I don't know if the PSC stanchions will be the same height.

For the earlier run of SD45T-2's, circa 2006, the handrails were built up from parts and it appears as if many of the ones currently on Ebay are missing the same parts as mine, from either the left or right side.  Sellers are cleverly taking DECEPTIVE photos to hide this fact.

I have a more recent SD45T-2, circa 2016 production, and for whatever reason, the handrails appear to be better constructed or else comprised of fewer individual pieces than the previous run.

I have yet to hear a response from Athearn to my inquiry, but it's only been one day.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, February 7, 2019 7:25 AM

I just looked through my stash, only thing I have is the Athearn wire set for a SD40T-2.

Not sure if it's the same.

I didn't even see any Ebay this morning.

Mike.

EDIT:  I'm wondering if the SD40-2 rear handrail parts would be the same as the 45T-2 ?

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 869 posts
Posted by NHTX on Thursday, February 7, 2019 9:07 AM

     Since I need two rear handrails for the SD45T-2s, this seems to be a common problem.  Perhaps Athearn needs to run off more handrails for stock, with their next release of the 45s.  The handrails on all of the SD40T-2s have longer verticals and would not work on the 45.  Actually, both units handrails should be readily available.  I'll take a dozen sets of each, Athearn.

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,548 posts
Posted by PRR8259 on Thursday, February 7, 2019 6:36 PM

At least for the tunnel motors from the earlier runs, yes, it is a common problem.  If you look at the units on ebay for sale right now, many are missing the same pieces. 

Unethical sellers are using deceptive photos, avoiding images of the rear platform, to hide that the units they are selling are missing the same pieces.

T-2 fans, be warned.

I found a listing online that said Athearn was sold out of the grey or what I think are "uncolored" handrail sets, so I'm not holding out a lot of hope that they'll have the yellow ones, but perhaps for someone like me needing only a couple tiny pieces, maybe they will be able to help. I hope so.

If anyone has any junker SD45T-2's that might have these parts, kindly advise the price. 

The Genesis series engines rightly get a lot of credit, but these T-2's really are not all that far away from the same standard of detailing.  I'm otherwise very happy with mine and will be able to work out some kind of repair.

Thanks to all-

John

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, February 7, 2019 7:24 PM

PRR8259
Unethical sellers are using deceptive photos, avoiding images of the rear platform, to hide that the units they are selling are missing the same pieces.

I didn't know there was such a conspiracy,  I just had to check out Ebay, and they only have 18 listed right now, no parts listed, and I can see the rear side handrails.  But I guess there are always a few that might try to hide what they have and don't have.

You see that alot with sellers that don't know what they are selling, and most handrail sets are shown still in the packaging, so it is hard to see it all.

I'm sending you a PM about a favorite Athearn seller of mine.

Mike.

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,548 posts
Posted by PRR8259 on Friday, February 8, 2019 11:13 AM

Hello all--

Update: it only took Athearn a little over one business day to respond to my inquiry.  I am actually quite impressed at how timely their response is.  They asked me to give them the item number (of the engine) and a photo illustrating exactly what is missing, which I will do tonight when I get home.

Here's hoping they will be able to help me out once I provide them the additional information.

John

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, February 8, 2019 11:15 AM

Good deal John.  I've always had a good response from Athearn.

Mike.

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,706 posts
Posted by zstripe on Friday, February 8, 2019 8:42 PM

John,

Glad to hear You've had some success.........and hopefully what You need. Yes

Also hope You don't mind Me combining our searches........I figured it would be quicker. Smile, Wink & Grin

Also Thanks to All responders...... Now does anyone need any span bolsters?...LOL

Free........

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,548 posts
Posted by PRR8259 on Friday, February 8, 2019 8:46 PM

Frank--

Did you get what you needed???

Ironically, somebody an hour away from me here in PA just listed another Kodachrome SD45T-2 on Ebay today, from the same run as the other one.  It's mine now.  Now I have a matched pair for plain DC heavy hauling...and I'll be able to have at least two complete units no matter what, because I have one from the newer run as well.  I'll find out if they can all play nicely together.

I just sent the requested photos to Athearn.

Ironic that we are here in the East and people (crazy people like me?) apparently loaded up on those Kodachrome tunnel motors!  I will have mint Genesis ATSF GP7u's going on ebay.  They are beautiful models but lightweight pullers, and my son, getting interested again, now wants long heavy trains that require big Athearn 6 axle power.  He wants to load them down till they crawl lol.

The T-2's are heavy and pull like crazy for me.  I'll be able to do 40 car trains easily with just 2 units.

John

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, February 8, 2019 8:51 PM

zstripe
.. Now does anyone need any span bolsters?...LOL

So what happened Frank, didn't your friend need them ?

Mike.

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,706 posts
Posted by zstripe on Friday, February 8, 2019 8:54 PM

PRR8259
Now, about those bolsters for the OP?  I don't have any parts for any Athearn items from back then.  All my older Athearn stuff was given or traded away. Perhaps somebody can help the OP? John

John,

Reread the posts.......I already ordered them with the help from Mike......But I don't need twelve pairs.........will give some away if anyone needs them....

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,548 posts
Posted by PRR8259 on Friday, February 8, 2019 9:00 PM

Oops. Sorry busy busy day.

John

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,548 posts
Posted by PRR8259 on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 8:57 PM

Thank you all.

Athearn has the parts I need and is in the process of helping me out.

I recommend that if you have an item and are missing parts, that you contact

parts@athearn.com 

It normally takes them a business day or slightly longer to get back to you.  Again this is under normal circumstances--and I was able to provide them the part number and a photograph of what I needed.  Do not get upset if they take more than a day.  They assign a number to each inquiry, and track the inquiries.

All I can say is thank you Athearn, and I think Irv would be proud of the customer service, as well as the timeliness of their response(s) to me.  My former boss knew Irv personally...

I also managed to acquire the brass stanchions from Precision Scale, as well, though in this case I don't have the exact correct stanchion (rear corner stanchion unique to T-2), but ones that are close enough such that I could opt to make the repair "stronger" than it was before, too.

John

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 8:59 PM

Good deal John, I've always had good results from Athearn.

Mike.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!