I am considering ordering Athearn M-K Bi-Level Amtrak California Cars (planned for spring 2025). I always liked this livery. I have a matching DASH 8-32BHW model but this is a no sound equipped locomotive. I would like to have a model with DCC/sound. I am not up to date with all future model announcements. Is there a locomotive model matching these cars planned to go to the market soon?
I found only Athearn F59PHI. I have two of F5PHI from Athearn in my collection - earlier releases. Both of them suffer from serious problems with receiving current from the rails.Do you know if the new F59PHI models from Athearn have fixed this issue?
Has Bachmann ever released Siemens SC44 CDTX in CalTrans livery?
I'm surprised no one has commented on this yet.
You need to mention the maker of your locomotive, and whether it was sold 'DCC ready'. I am presuming it is Atlas; they used ESU as their 'factory' sound decoder, and I presume ESU has a 'project' for the Amtrak locomotive and perhaps for the two dedicated Amtrak California ones.
The "easiest" approach may be to find an 8-32 or 8-40 model with sound decoder and speaker installed, and put your Amtrak California shell on it.
There are a number of people here who can likely advise you on improving the F59PHI pickups -- that would almost certainly make better sense than buying new and perhaps not getting 'new and improved'.
If you mean this Caltrans livery:
https://dieselshop.us/Caltrans%202102-MScholz.jpg
I don't see any indication Bachmann makes it yet, although they do have the (CalTrans) Surfliner scheme and the ACE. I would strongly suspect you will see this scheme introduced when the new cars are available, but you may have to wait with your fingers crossed...
Thank you very much for the reply. Yes, it is the Atlas model - the old edition when Quantum decoders were standard in a Gold DCC/Sound version. It has been a while, but as I remember, I have never put a sound decoder in it because there is no place for a speaker in the silver version. At that time, the DCC-ready version meant that there was only a connector for the DCC silent decoder. it was necessary to cut the frame to find a place for a speaker. I will open it and check but I am pretty sure I am right because I tried to install a sound decoder in every model I own. It might be difficult to find a matching model for switching a shell. Also, current models with ESU might be slightly different and the shell might not match.
F59PHI I have are in not matching livery. I am thinking about buying this one.https://www.athearn.com/product/ho-f59phi-locomotive-with-dcc-and-sound-cdtx-2013/ATH64951.html
Yes, that SC-44 Charger. Thank you for your clarifications.