My new Athearn UP #58 Gas Turbine came in the mail today! And I must say, it's a beautiful model. And to prove that statement, here are 27 detailed photos to go with it.
Athearn also includes some optional parts in little bags. The parts are:a bell,verticle fuel lines (mentioned earlier),ladders, anda front pilot gap filler.Except for the part that fills the gap above the pilot, all these parts should have, I'd say, a minimum 26" radius before they're used. The pilot part should also have completely smooth trackwork if used (Athearn put the gap there for a reason).
There are only a few minor disappointments with this model. One is the solid red light on the front. Second is the plainly visible tender power plug. And third is that the people who assembled it missed a small grab iron on the side.
Other than that, this thing's all positive in my opinion. It runs smoothly and extremely quietly, and it looks great. And if you want the number boards and marker lights lighted, Athearn's made it so this can be done very easily.
Great job Athearn!!!
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Nice model Darth, coincidence but I was looking at one today at the LHS, it was an impressive model.
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With circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one to be used as evidence against you?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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Hmmmmm....
The Burlington and UP had a run through train from Grand Island, NE to Chicago.....
I'll go with something a bit more conventional but it is a very nice looking engine.
Ricky
Like the Turbine!
I think the electrical tape is holding something in place, although it does look a little funny where it shows up----
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
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Am I correct in assuming that half the wheels are powered? how does it pull?
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
rrinkerWith circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one to be used as evidence against you? --Randy
And you have to sit on the Group W bench! Probably no one else in the whole wide world knows what we're talking about.
Jarrell
Photos don't really do it justice. My local T&HS had one sitting out on track (near eye level); customer ordered it, but backed out of deal due to the current financial crisis.
Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/
jacon12rrinkerWith circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one to be used as evidence against you? --Randy And you have to sit on the Group W bench! Probably no one else in the whole wide world knows what we're talking about.Jarrell
One more photo.
The blue tape is holding a clear plastic plate over the driveline to keep the wires out, and then there's a bunch of black tape holding the wires in place. The PC boards seem awfully complex for lighting alone, but it works. The DC jumper is on the wiring harness. The mechanism is very unique, and looks like it was made by whoever builds the drives in Atlas diesels (same motor, similar worms and covers, etc.). It is only a 4-axle drive, but it's very heavy and feels like it could pull well.
jwhitten jacon12 rrinker With circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one to be used as evidence against you? --Randy And you have to sit on the Group W bench! Probably no one else in the whole wide world knows what we're talking about. Jarrell I knew you could get any thing you wanted, but it never occurred to me that included trains!
jacon12 rrinker With circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one to be used as evidence against you? --Randy And you have to sit on the Group W bench! Probably no one else in the whole wide world knows what we're talking about. Jarrell
rrinker With circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one to be used as evidence against you? --Randy
Why not, It's just a half a mile from the railroad track....
8500HPGASTURBINE It's not a bad looking engine, and it runs ok also. But IMO I think they did a poor job. The price is ok but I would have liked to see them power all wheels. I mean how much more trouble would it have been. I know it might have meant a bigger price. I mean they should have priced it around $500.00. Added more details, powered all wheels. Because when they are sold out the people who have them will be putting them up on Ebay for more then $500.00. Just like the Lionel ones. But for the people who have the room to run large trains 90+ cars the Turbine doesn't cut it. I would have liked to have seen more details (like in a OMI Turbine). The screens also look cheap compaired to a top model Turbine. But for someone who can't aafford a brass one then this ones for you. They also could have upgraded the sound also. The details on the roof even look molded on. Like I said in a earler topic, two members of the club have then and there was one guy who was impressed with it, he was 11. One of them was even looking for a buyer. I just think Athearn could have done a better job, that's all. Mike
It's not a bad looking engine, and it runs ok also. But IMO I think they did a poor job. The price is ok but I would have liked to see them power all wheels. I mean how much more trouble would it have been. I know it might have meant a bigger price. I mean they should have priced it around $500.00. Added more details, powered all wheels. Because when they are sold out the people who have them will be putting them up on Ebay for more then $500.00. Just like the Lionel ones. But for the people who have the room to run large trains 90+ cars the Turbine doesn't cut it. I would have liked to have seen more details (like in a OMI Turbine). The screens also look cheap compaired to a top model Turbine. But for someone who can't aafford a brass one then this ones for you. They also could have upgraded the sound also. The details on the roof even look molded on. Like I said in a earler topic, two members of the club have then and there was one guy who was impressed with it, he was 11. One of them was even looking for a buyer. I just think Athearn could have done a better job, that's all.
Mike
I'm sorry I just don't get it. Here is a model of unique prototype that was pretty much only available in brass (or the aforementioned Lionel) and it falls short in your opinion? This is the Ready to Roll line, not Genesis, I'm sure if it were the Genesis line, it would be closer to the 500 dollars you mention instead of the 300 listed. And personally, even though I think it was unintentional, you basically compared all of us to an 11 year old if we are even slightly impressed with the model. I've got a few more years than that under my belt and have seen plenty of the stuff that needed work, this one needs very little (maybe a touch of weathering )
You said in your other post that you were going to buy the one off the club member because he was going to make you a great deal. I don't think you'd be happy with it if it were even free.
I was just comparing my turbine to photos of the Lionel Veranda. The detail of the Athearn beats it on all levels. If MTH wants to rerelease the Lionel Veranda, I hope they make some improvements (like better handrails, flush glass, etc.).
I just found out that all the side ventilation on the front half of the engine is removable, so better detailed grillwork could be added that much more easily.
RedGrey628500HPGASTURBINE It's not a bad looking engine, and it runs ok also. But IMO I think they did a poor job. The price is ok but I would have liked to see them power all wheels. I mean how much more trouble would it have been. I know it might have meant a bigger price. I mean they should have priced it around $500.00. Added more details, powered all wheels. Because when they are sold out the people who have them will be putting them up on Ebay for more then $500.00. Just like the Lionel ones. But for the people who have the room to run large trains 90+ cars the Turbine doesn't cut it. I would have liked to have seen more details (like in a OMI Turbine). The screens also look cheap compaired to a top model Turbine. But for someone who can't aafford a brass one then this ones for you. They also could have upgraded the sound also. The details on the roof even look molded on. Like I said in a earler topic, two members of the club have then and there was one guy who was impressed with it, he was 11. One of them was even looking for a buyer. I just think Athearn could have done a better job, that's all. Mike I'm sorry I just don't get it. Here is a model of unique prototype that was pretty much only available in brass (or the aforementioned Lionel) and it falls short in your opinion? This is the Ready to Roll line, not Genesis, I'm sure if it were the Genesis line, it would be closer to the 500 dollars you mention instead of the 300 listed. And personally, even though I think it was unintentional, you basically compared all of us to an 11 year old if we are even slightly impressed with the model. I've got a few more years than that under my belt and have seen plenty of the stuff that needed work, this one needs very little (maybe a touch of weathering ) You said in your other post that you were going to buy the one off the club member because he was going to make you a great deal. I don't think you'd be happy with it if it were even free. Ricky
Ditto!
Comparing this to an OMI brass model is just plain stupid.
I have several turbines, the three unit (OMI), the coal (OMI), and the veranda (Lionel). Love them all. Will the Athearn need a bit of detailing, sure - as just about any plastic model does. Would it have been nice to get all wheel drive, yup. But for $200 bucks, (I got the sound kit on order) I am VERY pleased overall.
It's ok 8500HP, I know your a die hard about Turbines as they come. I do see your points and agree with many, but it is what it is. ((And I know your going to get one :p ))
If your going to run them with a 80-90 unit train, don't for get to pop on a GP, that should get you up and running just dandy.
Not sure it's been mentioned but I really like the fact that you can get them with or with out the tender AND get the tender separately. Going to get an extra and weather the living snot out of it like they are seen in some of the DVD's I have. That bunker fuel just spills everywhere.
LOL... yah I know you would have spent the extra, as would I. But for a few bucks think they would dress up nicely. So now the only one I'm missing is the first turbine... I think.
On another note, I'll be putting in the same sound decoders in my brass units. So should be getting them here soon ((they are still in the CA - The Whistle Stop))
That started getting a little out of hand for a couple posts there. Let's try not to start any fights, ok?
It is true that Athearn skipped out on a couple things, but it was for operational and affordability reasons. I was looking at the overhang, and an all wheel drive turbine would need a minimum 26" radius to work properly with Athearn's design. See-through ventilation on the sides would have been complicated and much more expensive. I'm glad for the compromises, because they made it so I could afford it. And after a little track time, I've found that this is one of my best runners so far.