Big news from Athearn

[Paul3]

Texas Zephyr,
You're right about the "set" for the Super Chief. My friend who owns one just got the "set", so that was about, what, 10 cars? I dunno, but all he did to it was add Kadees and that train scampered up that 3.5% grade with no problems.

Darth Santa Fe,
If Atlas is using someone else's coupler, I hope they change over soon. Those lousy couplers they are using are driving me nuts over uncoupling magnets... ASAP, I'm changing mine over (I just did my 4 NH NE-6 cabooses).

Paul A. Cutler III
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Weather Or No Go New Haven
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[Anonymous]

That's some good news! I've been waiting for an HO MP15 forever! If it's half as good as the Athearn RTR SD50s and SD60s, I'll buy 10! IMO, the RTR stuff is BETTER than the Genesis line in terms of running and detail. My RTR SD50 out-pulls and looks better than my Genesis SD70M. And I don't know about you guys, but I'd much rather buy a model with grab irons INSTALLED (RTR SD50) rather than have to put on those little sons of !@#$&% myself! (Genesis SD70)

Kudos to Athearn for producing yet again some needed locomotives!

[Darth Santa Fe]

It sounds like the RS-3 will be a big improvement over the original MDC ones. When MDC made the RS-3 they had the hood going through the cab, which looked very ugly. It will also be nice having the wire grab irons on there. And it's only $15 more.[:D]

[TrainFreak409]

Ooo, big SD70s in N scale, I could use some of those.[:)][:D][8D][:p]

~[8]~ TrainFreak409 ~[8]~

[trolleyboy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by howmus

[|)] Yawn! [|)]

Athearn is on my "Don't waste your money" list. Especially since it was gobbled up by the "Dark Side".

I have to agree with you. Athearn was much better as a separate company. In talking with some of the local canadian hobby shop owners. The "dark side" wants a minimum $10K yearly order to allow them the privilage of carrying the line .this is apparently due to the fact that the "dark side " has no canadian distribution partner ( I'd hate to hear what that would entail ) Hopefully they rethink their marketing strategy. it's never good to alienate any of your intended customers.( just ask MTH ) Rob

[BRAKIE]

Rob,$10,000 a year isn't very much as far as inventory for a year..When I was a part time Train Show dealer I spend that much a year..When I worked in a full line hobby shop $10,000 was good for 2-3 months inventory not including brass pre orders sales...[:0] You might be surprise what a case of locomotives costs-they're not cheap unless you order more then one case(a case is 12 engines) and pay cash up front for a better discount.Of course even at your wholesaler you can find bargain basement prices-these are usually dud locomotives and road names that didn't sell well and can include every major brand including Kato..
Now IF a dealer wishes to survive he/she must carry every major brand.If you don't stock what your customer needs then you better believe he/she will go to another shop which means lost sales for you and on top of that more then likely a lost customer.One can't lose customers and stay in the business very long.
LOL! $10,000 a year wouldn't keep your new release items up from Athearn let alone the other manufacturers and I haven't even mention other scales..[:D] You see that $10,000 a year is about a $833 a month..Mere pennies for a fully stock and full line hobby shop.

[Anonymous]

I'll probably give these a try. An MP15AC and an SD45-2 are perfect for me, and also Atlas is coming out with the DC's sometime during Fall. This should be great!

[jrbernier]

The Athearn Genesis F's at the NTS had MRC sound. The Athearn rep showed me the inside and mentioned that these were new 'stage 3' sound decoders. The engine and air horn sounded OK.
Interestingly, 2 Athearn reps were over at the Digitrax booth later that day looking at the new 'Sound FX' decoders! Maybe with $65 Digitrax sound decoders, Athearn will be looking for other sources. I heard nothing about Lok Sound decoders in Athearn - They will go into the new PCM line from Broadway.......

Jim Bernier

[Anonymous]

AND NOT ONE OF THEM WAS IN KIT FORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Student of Big Sky Blue

AND NOT ONE OF THEM WAS IN KIT FORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disgusting, isn't it? Walthers has announced they will bring back the FGE RBL, GSC flatcar, and 4 bay, open top hopper car kits (http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Freight&scale=H&manu=932&item=&keywords=kit&instock=A&split=30&Submit=Search), so hopefully kits are starting to make a comeback.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

QUOTE: Originally posted by Student of Big Sky Blue

AND NOT ONE OF THEM WAS IN KIT FORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disgusting, isn't it? Walthers has announced they will bring back the FGE RBL, GSC flatcar, and 4 bay, open top hopper car kits (http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Freight&scale=H&manu=932&item=&keywords=kit&instock=A&split=30&Submit=Search), so hopefully kits are starting to make a comeback.

Don't count on it! Dealers may not order very many of the kits. RTR's sell very well, kits don't sell so well.

If you were a dealer about to invest $10,000 and you knew from experience that in a very short period of time you could sell every RTR you put on the shelf and that kits tend to hang around for a long time, what would you do? Now, bear in mind that the dealer can't sell you quality locomotives and other big ticket items at a price that is profitable (nobody in their right mind ever pays MSRP), so he's probably looking for fast inventory turnover with minimal investment.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

QUOTE: Originally posted by Student of Big Sky Blue

AND NOT ONE OF THEM WAS IN KIT FORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disgusting, isn't it? Walthers has announced they will bring back the FGE RBL, GSC flatcar, and 4 bay, open top hopper car kits (http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Freight&scale=H&manu=932&item=&keywords=kit&instock=A&split=30&Submit=Search), so hopefully kits are starting to make a comeback.

[#ditto]
I'd love to see some more kits. Even if the dealers don't order many, I'll get my hands on the CSX 49' quad hopper and the CSX RBL reefer one way or another.