Atheran Locomotives

[METRO]

Everyone has at least one Athearn engine (or they should!) For the kind of model selection, variety of roads, and price, there is no other. Sure I love hearing the whisper-quiet Kato locos where the loudest sound are the wheels crossing a joint. But hearing the Athearns is so farmilar to me, my dad had Athearns and my grandad had Athearns and I grew up hearing F7s that were so old that they had gone through two or three gearboxes. The sound of the Athearns is just part of the hobby, we all know it and hopefully always will.

[METRO]

Everyone has at least one Athearn engine (or they should!) For the kind of model selection, variety of roads, and price, there is no other. Sure I love hearing the whisper-quiet Kato locos where the loudest sound are the wheels crossing a joint. But hearing the Athearns is so farmilar to me, my dad had Athearns and my grandad had Athearns and I grew up hearing F7s that were so old that they had gone through two or three gearboxes. The sound of the Athearns is just part of the hobby, we all know it and hopefully always will.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

Jeremy,I have Athearn locomotives 22 of them to be exact and I rate them right up there among the best made..Remember this..Athearn locomotives is like a Timex watch.They will take a beating and keep right on ticking. These are my most trouble free locomotives I own.

I'm surprised at all the accolades being heaped on the Athearn locos. I mean they were pretty good for their time, but the only other real choice for something better was brass, and from what I've read, they didn't run all that well most of the time either.

From my perspective coming back into the hobby a dozen years ago, after being out of it for around 15, the locos didn't get any operationally better until the Protos and others started coming out about, what, 8-10 years ago.

I had a couple Athearns a few years back when I re-entered the hobby and spent hours tweaking, tearing apart, checking, adjusting, lubing -- I even put a Helix Humper in one, and after it all, I was underwhelmed. Been using the others ever since and haven't looked back.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

Jeremy,I have Athearn locomotives 22 of them to be exact and I rate them right up there among the best made..Remember this..Athearn locomotives is like a Timex watch.They will take a beating and keep right on ticking. These are my most trouble free locomotives I own.

I'm surprised at all the accolades being heaped on the Athearn locos. I mean they were pretty good for their time, but the only other real choice for something better was brass, and from what I've read, they didn't run all that well most of the time either.

From my perspective coming back into the hobby a dozen years ago, after being out of it for around 15, the locos didn't get any operationally better until the Protos and others started coming out about, what, 8-10 years ago.

I had a couple Athearns a few years back when I re-entered the hobby and spent hours tweaking, tearing apart, checking, adjusting, lubing -- I even put a Helix Humper in one, and after it all, I was underwhelmed. Been using the others ever since and haven't looked back.

[AggroJones]

I enjoy the signature Athearn growl. It's like a built in sound system. And Athearns are the backbone of my diesel fleet.

[AggroJones]

I enjoy the signature Athearn growl. It's like a built in sound system. And Athearns are the backbone of my diesel fleet.

[eastcoast]

QUOTE: Originally posted by LCandMRR

I've fould that if you add 9 ounces of weight to a F45 or FP45, they quiet down pretty good, and pull much better. Life-Like seems to use slightly better motors, as I just can't get my Athearns to pull as much.

[:0]
I tried this and had a worse performance out of my FP45. I kind of like the sound
after all and it just blends in well with the sounds of the other things on the layout.
Yes, it is compared to Godzilla some of the time but I feel that if you keep up with the lube and maintainance, it will last even with the growling. I have pulled 30 Athearn passenger cars with my out -of -the- box FP45 without a failure, and at slow speed.
Athearn makes some good products, I am a satisfied customer.
[^]

[eastcoast]

QUOTE: Originally posted by LCandMRR

I've fould that if you add 9 ounces of weight to a F45 or FP45, they quiet down pretty good, and pull much better. Life-Like seems to use slightly better motors, as I just can't get my Athearns to pull as much.

[:0]
I tried this and had a worse performance out of my FP45. I kind of like the sound
after all and it just blends in well with the sounds of the other things on the layout.
Yes, it is compared to Godzilla some of the time but I feel that if you keep up with the lube and maintainance, it will last even with the growling. I have pulled 30 Athearn passenger cars with my out -of -the- box FP45 without a failure, and at slow speed.
Athearn makes some good products, I am a satisfied customer.
[^]

[Anonymous]

Greetings,

I would remove the shell and make sure the motor is mounted straight, I had a problem like and adjusted the motor, sprayed contact cleaner on the motor and gears.

Oiled and lubed and it works fine.

Mine was a SW1500 Athearn.

Hope this helps ShaunCN

Mark In Texas

[Anonymous]

Greetings,

I would remove the shell and make sure the motor is mounted straight, I had a problem like and adjusted the motor, sprayed contact cleaner on the motor and gears.

Oiled and lubed and it works fine.

Mine was a SW1500 Athearn.

Hope this helps ShaunCN

Mark In Texas

[ShaunCN]

I have an athearn SW 7 that seems to have a problem. I bought it used at a train show for $20. good deal I thought until last night when it now seems to need more power(ie. increase throtle) just to get at half speed. I tried cleanng the weels but it did not make any difference. Please help.

Shaun CN

[ShaunCN]

I have an athearn SW 7 that seems to have a problem. I bought it used at a train show for $20. good deal I thought until last night when it now seems to need more power(ie. increase throtle) just to get at half speed. I tried cleanng the weels but it did not make any difference. Please help.

Shaun CN

[Anonymous]

Just a quick followup to my earlier post. All my locos have been converted to DCC, very easily if you have any soldering experience at all. All you have to do is remove the conductor clip and pull the motor and tape down the contacts on the frame to isolate it. Then just follow the wiring diagram with the decoder. Simple wiring. I changed the lighting so the lower headlight is on all the time and set the top headlight to go off when in reverse on my F7's, (I'm using 14v grain of wheat bulbs glued with a drop of CA to a small depression drilled into the lens. no overheating bulb problems encountered) Again, they are truly bullet-proof engines!

[Anonymous]

Just a quick followup to my earlier post. All my locos have been converted to DCC, very easily if you have any soldering experience at all. All you have to do is remove the conductor clip and pull the motor and tape down the contacts on the frame to isolate it. Then just follow the wiring diagram with the decoder. Simple wiring. I changed the lighting so the lower headlight is on all the time and set the top headlight to go off when in reverse on my F7's, (I'm using 14v grain of wheat bulbs glued with a drop of CA to a small depression drilled into the lens. no overheating bulb problems encountered) Again, they are truly bullet-proof engines!

[FRITSCHSR]

Try using Colgate toothpaste to break in the gears on Athearns. I have had good results in quieting them down. just run for an hour in each direction, then take apart,
clean & lube'm up.
Dave
Big Knob & Pine Run Rr.

[FRITSCHSR]

Try using Colgate toothpaste to break in the gears on Athearns. I have had good results in quieting them down. just run for an hour in each direction, then take apart,
clean & lube'm up.
Dave
Big Knob & Pine Run Rr.

[cp1057]

Jeremy,

I have locomotives from a number of manufacturers, but I still like Athearn. My Athearn F-7 is probably the noisiest of the lot but it just doesn't bother me. The best thing about Athearn is price. It keeps model railroading affordable, it gives the newcomer a place to start without taking out a second mortgage. If we want our hobby to grow or even continue to exist this is very important. Blue Box for me!

Charles
Hillsburgh Ont.

[cp1057]

Jeremy,

I have locomotives from a number of manufacturers, but I still like Athearn. My Athearn F-7 is probably the noisiest of the lot but it just doesn't bother me. The best thing about Athearn is price. It keeps model railroading affordable, it gives the newcomer a place to start without taking out a second mortgage. If we want our hobby to grow or even continue to exist this is very important. Blue Box for me!

Charles
Hillsburgh Ont.

[JeremyB]

Hi Rambo

Can't beat an Atheran Up, I see im not the only one that has had a atheran fall to ground.Talk to you later.

[JeremyB]

Hi Rambo

Can't beat an Atheran Up, I see im not the only one that has had a atheran fall to ground.Talk to you later.

[rambo1]

I had two locos sitting on a shelve. Big mistake. One was a proto 2000 the other a athearn U28. Both hit the ground. The proto was almost destroyed. The athearn had little damage that was easy to fix. So Jeremy it looks like athearn won. Rambo 1............

[rambo1]

I had two locos sitting on a shelve. Big mistake. One was a proto 2000 the other a athearn U28. Both hit the ground. The proto was almost destroyed. The athearn had little damage that was easy to fix. So Jeremy it looks like athearn won. Rambo 1............

[JeremyB]

Yep Im in the " Growler Group" too.

Jeremy

[JeremyB]

Yep Im in the " Growler Group" too.

Jeremy

[Anonymous]

These are very popular among us with an limited budget. I picked up an custom painted CNW switcher for $25. I would never see a stewart for that price :) And everyone that Ive showed it to loves it! Yep..Im one in the growler group!!

[Anonymous]

These are very popular among us with an limited budget. I picked up an custom painted CNW switcher for $25. I would never see a stewart for that price :) And everyone that Ive showed it to loves it! Yep..Im one in the growler group!!

[willy6]

i had a problem with an ATHEARN AC4400 kit. i spent all day detailing the body and under frame and went to assemble the body to the frame and discovered the frame was bent.it is now spare parts for my other AC4400's.

[willy6]

i had a problem with an ATHEARN AC4400 kit. i spent all day detailing the body and under frame and went to assemble the body to the frame and discovered the frame was bent.it is now spare parts for my other AC4400's.

[JeremyB]

I agree Atheran makes the best locos, you have to really bang them up bad to do any damage, In fact i once dropped one off a shelf about 5 feet up naturally I thought the worst when I picked it up but It was PERFECTLY fine.

- Jeremy