I purchased one of the more recent issues of this engine by last year DC Ready in an ERIE paint scheme / W a singel barrell head light, which was the only reason i bought this engine. A year or so later I installed a TCS WOW decorder W Motherboard & added LED mars head lights (not proto-typical). After completing the installations i programned the engine to run as a yard switcher, on the first run I was pleasantly supprised to find how smooth this 4 axel engine runs without any connectivity interuptions, smooth as silk / not withstanding the WOW Sounds & available funtions, (althougth i still prefer LOK Sound straight out of the box).
In the past i had problems with Athearn engines, in particular the axel wheel gauging related to power connectivity, to the point where I was only going to only purchase Rapido / Bowser / or Atlas engines. I belive Athearn's competition may have forced the company to produce a better quality product in order to be a frontline HO Mfgr., so much so that I am now considering ordering a new Athearn SD90, but before i place the order I welcome comments from the MR group on my assessment of Athearn quality , especially now that the company has entered into the +$300 price range with Genesis DC Sound engines. Bayway Terminal
While I don't currently own any Genesis series locos, I have plenty of the old Blue Box series and one Ready to Roll engine and I've never had any complaints with them. I've always liked their simplicity, reliability, and ease of maintenance. Most of my diesel fleet is Athearn as a matter of fact.
Athearns will usually last forever if you take care of them. I've had a few problems with split gears, a couple bad motors and some out of round wheels, but these are all easy to replace. Some of their earliest zinc flywheels were awful, but they got that figured out fairly quick (worst I've seen from the brass flywheels is minor vibration which is easy enough to balance).
The early Genesis drives had some problems with out of round gears that could cause some light binding noise and surging motion, which they also got fixed by the early-mid 2000's. With the RTR drives, it's mostly based on the classic chassis, but you'll also find some Genesis quality stuff in there now and then.
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I agree with Wolf359, as all of the many Athearn diesels I've had over the years were very reliable and, if a problem arose, easy to repair, too.
I wasn't overly impressed with their Genesis USRA Mikados, though, but once I figured out what was needed to make them both reliable runners and decent pullers, I bought another two to go with the two that I bought initially.
I also have an additional two that need to undergo some detail work, as I want them to match the appearance of a couple of CNR prototypes.
I don't own any of their Genesis diesels, though, as they're all too modern for a late-'30s layout.
Wayne
I boght one Genesis SCL GP9 that I had to rebuild from the frame up starting with a Kato motor,new DCC/Sound and LED headlights.
Of course I bought this engine from a hobby shop at cost because it was lettered SCL and the guy that ordered it back out of the deal and it sat on a shelf for almost two years.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Athearn has certainly stepped up their game with quaity, and they are increasing their amount of releases, and also completley new models.
I recently bought some Athearn SD40s RTR, and Genesis Gen 2.0 SD60E, and I must say they are outstanding, with detail and quality parts.
The Genesis Gen 2.0 has the LED deck lighting, just like Scaletrains has.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
i don't own any Scaletrains diesel engines, how do they compare in terms of performance? i belive Scaletrains uses LOK Sound decorders. Bayway Terminal
In my experience so far, Scaletrains diesels run as well as other top of the line brands like Atlas, Athearn Genesis and Proto 2000.
Darth Santa FeScaletrains diesels run as well as other top of the line brands
Russell
csxns Darth Santa Fe Scaletrains diesels run as well as other top of the line brands Scaletrains locos stall on my Atlas #8 turnouts sometimes Peco the other said locos don't.
Darth Santa Fe Scaletrains diesels run as well as other top of the line brands
Scaletrains locos stall on my Atlas #8 turnouts sometimes Peco the other said locos don't.
Wait.. really? Scaletrains ESU decoders have keepalive capacitors, so that should not happen. You can pick the locomotive up off the track and its still on.
I use peco switches and don't have any issues with stalling, with any brand locos. Sounds like your Atlas switches are faulty.
MotleyScaletrains ESU decoders have keepalive capacitors,
Thanks, then i will include Scaletrains for large Class 1 diesels, i don't believe the company offers yard switchers ? . Bayway Terminal
I have a ScaleTrains GEVO, and I have to agree with Darth Santa Fe that it runs just as well as any Atlas or Proto 2000. I can't compare with Genesis, as I don't have one. I also can't say anything about DCC decoders and sound because I run regular DC current. Based on my experience with the GEVO, I would highly recommend ScaleTrains, and definitely plan on getting another one of their models in the future. P.S. Many of ScaleTrains' models come in both a highly detailed "Rivet Counter" version, and their more budget friendly "Operator" version that you can super detail and add DCC to (if you choose to do so) on your own time. Both versions have the same motor and drivetrain. Mine is the Operator version just for the record.
doctorwayneI wasn't overly impressed with their Genesis USRA Mikados,
Mine died fairly quickly. I recycled the tender onto an Oriental Powerhouse mikado.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Bayway Terminal so much so that I am now considering ordering a new Athearn SD90, but before i place the order I welcome comments from the MR group on my assessment of Athearn quality , especially now that the company has entered into the +$300 price range with Genesis DC Sound engines. Bayway Terminal
so much so that I am now considering ordering a new Athearn SD90, but before i place the order I welcome comments from the MR group on my assessment of Athearn quality , especially now that the company has entered into the +$300 price range with Genesis DC Sound engines. Bayway Terminal
I now own 3 genesis Locos and one RTR ( honestly couldnt tell the difference between the rtr and the genesis) and I love all 4 of them. They all creep like a snail and run very smooth.