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Athearn-Roundhouse 2-6-0 opinions

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  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Arizona
  • 14 posts
Athearn-Roundhouse 2-6-0 opinions
Posted by C&GV on Friday, August 8, 2008 11:42 AM

Hi. New to the forums here and I've searched in vain for opinions/reviews on the RTR Athearn-Roundhouse 2-6-0. Anybody own one of these engines? I'm thinking of adding one or two of the DC versions to my old-time roster and would appreciate any info you folks might have.

For instance, does anyone know what prototype (if any) these locmotives are based on? Who's the builder supposed to be? It looks like they use the exact same boiler and cab for the 2-6-0, 4-4-0 and 2-8-0 which would make them NKP (no known prototype). Anyone modify or super detail these engines? How do they run? 

Any info would be great.

Thanks,

Dave

Cibola & Grand Valley Ry. 

"Route of The Ramblin' Rooster"
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Friday, August 8, 2008 12:13 PM

I have the 4-4-0 with DCC/sound, two 2-6-0s DCC ready and a 2-8-0 DCC ready. They all run very well. All now have the Micro-Tsunami decoder that I installed. The 4-4-0 does not come DCC ready. It comes with a MRC decoder. They look ok. No doubt you could add piping and other details at various places. The 4-4-0 is B&O. The others are undecorated. The boilers can be swapped with the frames. Except for headlight style, they are essentially the same boilers. I have some older MDC 2-6-0s and a 2-8-0 and the boilers are about the same, only solid smokeboxes.

The Spectrum 4-4-0, and Spectrum 4-6-0 have much more detail and run very well.

Here is a link you might be interested in. He is in this group.

http://www.minkystrains.org/loco_page/

 Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Arizona
  • 14 posts
Posted by C&GV on Friday, August 8, 2008 1:13 PM

^Thanks for the reply and the info. I have the Spectrum 4-4-0 and 4-6-0 and they are great. Just looking for a couple of moguls to round things out.

Dave 

"Route of The Ramblin' Rooster"
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Friday, August 8, 2008 1:32 PM

Here is a photo of one of my 2-6-0s. You can see there are missing details. You can see a hole under the cab where a brake cylinder would be if it was a 2-8-0. My 2-8-0 has a brake cylinder at that spot on each side of the loco.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Arizona
  • 14 posts
Posted by C&GV on Friday, August 8, 2008 2:46 PM

Nice. Here's an illustration of what I'm after with my Moguls:

Looks like I can get close with some paint and a box of detail parts. The only thing that really bugs me about the Roundhouse 2-6-0 is the oversize drivers. I really need one with 48" to 50" drivers.

Spectrum? Are you listening? 

Dave 

"Route of The Ramblin' Rooster"
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Friday, August 8, 2008 3:16 PM

Yes, that is very nice. Go look at the link I provided. Harold willhave suggestions in his web site.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Arizona
  • 14 posts
Posted by C&GV on Friday, August 8, 2008 3:49 PM

Thanks for the link. I've got the sight bookmarked now.

Dave 

"Route of The Ramblin' Rooster"

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