Athearn SD40-2's.

[Anonymous]

I just checked out the Athearn web site to find out the stat's on their new HO SD40-2's and it doesn't say NEW anymore or doesn't say this product is due in early March anymore. What does this mean? Are they already out or what? Allan.

[cacole]

I purchased an Athearn SD40 T-2 Tunnel Motor RTR six months ago. I don't know if this is the same one you've been looking for or not. In my opinion, you're better off with the Broadway Limited SD40-2 that comes equipped with QSI sound.

I've had a streak of bad luck with Athearn RTR and Genesis locomotives. Out of 4 Genesis SD-70 models two had the warped truck problem that causes continual derailments. I had to purchase new trucks from Athearn to correct this problem.

An Athearn RTR SD40 T-2 had such a thick coating of lacquer on the electrical pickup wipers that it wouldn't run at all. I had to disassemble the trucks and scrape the lacquer off of the wipers.

If proper quality control were exercised at the factory in China, these problems should not have occurred.

[Anonymous]

BNSFrailfan is referring to the Genesis line.. SD40 T-2 and SD40-2 are different models.

[Anonymous]

The SD40-2s while not listed in the new area are not in yet (the ones with the grab irons installed. When you select the SD40-2 from the rtr list they say due in July.

[coborn35]

I have two RTR items and they both run great.

[CP5415]

It probably means that they're in stock waiting for someone top buy them.

I enquired to Athearn & got a response back in a couple of days.

I have a few RTR locomotives. Other than the fact I need to add some weight to them, I like em!

Gordon

[Howardr]

When it comes to quality control, it seems to me that it's the luck of the draw.

How do we know that the Broadway Limited stuff isn't made in the same plant and the Anthearn locomotives.

When I worked for Meldisco, now Foot Star, a footware company, their shoes were made in a plant in China. At the plant there was a show room building about a mile long with just about every shoe retailer in the world doing business there because of the extreamly log costs. Whatever brand and price point of the shoes, they all came from the same plant.

What's to say this isn't the same for model railroad stuff?

[Anonymous]

I have a blue-box about 2 years old, and it's a piece of crap. I didn't really think so until I got my Kato, but now the Athearn just sits around and looks pretty. The Kato out pulls it, runs quieter and handles the curves and track a LOT better, it's never de-railed, and the Athearn would de-rail every few days. It's wierd that it said New still since it's been out for a while, unless you're talking about RTR.

Greg

[CP5415]

I have 8 BB SD40-2s & have never had a problem with them derailing.

Were they running forwards or backwards?

Gordon

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: BNSFrailfan is referring to the Genesis line

He is not. There is not a SD40-2 in the Genisis line.

QUOTE: 4 Genesis SD-70 models two had the warped truck problem that causes continual derailments

Yes, the early ones had that problem, but the new ones don't.

[Anonymous]

Oh I thought it was an 40, but it was 45-2.

[Anonymous]

Why is everyone always comparing Blue Box units to Kato's.........

The new Athearn RTR SD40-2s are due in a couple months. They have metal grab irons but I don't know if they have updated tooling or not (they should, the SD50s and 60s have hex drives and directional lights). I believe the older RTR SD40-2s were more detailed than a BB unit but still had BB drives. The new ones will come in different road names though, like the BNSF Swoosh scheme.

P.S. The new RTR SD40s are out, so the 40-2s shouldn't be far behind.

[Anonymous]

http://www.firsthobby.com/store1/Product.asp?ProductID=ATH80174&SN=2006020118212946 OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD They're in stock- YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
[:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D]
I think i'm going to order one in a week or so. I'm hypervenilating- i need to go calm down

[Todd McWilliam]

The new SD40-2's don't have applied grab irons, but the sd40's do, why is athearn so inconsistant?

[Anonymous]

Apparantly you didn't read the link I posted above. Read it. It says "Factory installed Celcon handrails "

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Todd McWilliam

The new SD40-2's don't have applied grab irons, but the sd40's do, why is athearn so inconsistant?

They are a bit inconsistant. The new RTR GP35s, for example, had directional headlights and run awesome. But the latest run of RTR GP38-2s have the same level of detail, but have the old blue box bonfire headlight and growl! I only hope the SD40-2s are updated.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dingoix

http://www.firsthobby.com/store1/Product.asp?ProductID=ATH80174&SN=2006020118212946 OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD They're in stock- YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
[:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D][8D][:D]
I think i'm going to order one in a week or so. I'm hypervenilating- i need to go calm down

First, please use calm down. Second, use a lesser amount of smilies. Please.

Third, please stop saying "Oh my God".


Matt

[Anonymous]

Ok, I think I'm calmed down now.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dingoix

Apparantly you didn't read the link I posted above. Read it. It says "Factory installed Celcon handrails "

Todd McWilliam was referring to the metal grab irons, not the handrails.

But they don't have to say if they have grab irons or not, because I think all the RTR line has them standard.

For example, the C44-9W on their web page and on Athearn's site, it does not mention grab irons in the description, but in their pictures it shows the trains having grab irons. My Dash-9 does have grab irons also.

[Anonymous]

I have two BNSF GP38-2 Locomotives. The only this I don't like about them is.....No snow plow. They look stupid without a snow plow. BNSF has snow plows on their GP38-2's. Does Athearn offer snow plows for these units? Allan.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFrailfan

I have two BNSF GP38-2 Locomotives. The only this I don't like about them is.....No snow plow. They look stupid without a snow plow. BNSF has snow plows on their GP38-2's. Does Athearn offer snow plows for these units? Allan.

Just buy a few Details West #155 plows, paint them up, and put them on. Those don't cost much (a buck plus change each), and look very nice.