Athearn blue box locomotives

[Todd McWilliam]

Who still runs these on their layouts? I have several that I detailed and still run. I have the protos and Atlas locomotives also..

[Anonymous]

b r a k i e and he's proud of it.

Let's hear it lLarry.

[Anonymous]

I'm working on a GP40-2L(W) that's a Blue Box. Got a widebody GP35 as well, but it's simply a parts donor.

When I start adding SD40-2W's, the'll be built from BB or RTR units as well. I've always liked the BB stuff, even if I avoid the Rolling stock most of the time.

[BentnoseWillie]

I have a pair of GP50's repowered and rewheeled with Northwest Short Line parts. I also have a pair of Rail Power SD45-2's with Athearn trucks, wheels, motors and drivelines, and am plotting at least one future kitbash using Athearn running gear.

The blue box is still hard to beat for running quality and reliability at an economical price. Most of the shells are still a fine starting point for detailing projects, and in some cases - such as my GP50's - the only decent plastic model available.

[Anonymous]

Most of my roster is Blue Box! If they weren't around I wouldn't be able to stay in this hobby.

[Anonymous]

I still have my old RI SD40-2 (at least until Kato finally decides to make one!),
my SW 1500 in RI blue, and one GP38-2 in blue, too, that I'm superdetailing
(and one new P2K, which has far better detail than my "improved" Athearn will ever have!).

By the time you superdetail and put directional lights (or a DCC plug and LEDs) into these beasts, you might as well have got a P2K - it would be cheaper!

Of course, it no one else makes that model ......

[nslakediv]

Thats all I used to run until I switched over to DCC, the old open frame motors just didnt seem to convert well, so i made them all dummies. They are not bad looking models though, just add a plow, brass airhorns and a firecracker antenna and they look as good as a atlas, proto or kato, of course always weather.

[Anonymous]

I've got 3 BB F7's, a GP35, a GP38, a PA1/PB1. I can't say that they're all running, since my layout isn't even constructed yet. I bought them about 15 years ago because I was just getting into the hobby and didn't know that much about the various manufacturers. I can't complain too much about my BB's - they run, they're easy to work with, and I haven't yet started superdetailing any of them, but would like to, eventually.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nslakediv

Thats all I used to run until I switched over to DCC, the old open frame motors just didnt seem to convert well, so i made them all dummies. They are not bad looking models though, just add a plow, brass airhorns and a firecracker antenna and they look as good as a atlas, proto or kato, of course always weather.

I have I think seven BB locomotives. I am actually having trouble getting a Digitrax DH123D decoder to fit inside an Athearn GP38-2. Whenever I put it in, something either pushes the front truck so it "rears" up like a horse, or something seems to be in contact with the drive chain. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Reed

[BRAKIE]

LOL! Chuck,Yes I have 27 Athearn locomotives including 4 of the new CF7s.[:D]
I used Athearn for years and would be lost without my Uncle Irv's even though my roster is mostly Atlas and P2K..I do have other brands,4 Katos,2 Stewarts,3 Walthers. My top three choices is Atlas,Athearn and P2K..
I find the Athearn BB's is still a good buy and the best bang for the buck in their class.

[michealfarley]

I must have 50+ at least, and probably more. Some more than 20 years old, and never need anything but the occassional lube. I've had P2K, Atlas, Stewart, & Kato drives all wear out on our club layout, but the Blue Boxes keep on running. And here's the best part.......no reason to get rid of them! They are just now getting to where the gears mesh well and they run smoother and quieter than ever. I may someday put A-line motor kits in them, but I'll never give them up.

Time is all an Athearn needs!

[CP5415]

I DO!!!!!
For the money, they're still the best locomotive you can buy!!!!!!!
I still plan on buying more!

Just my 2 cents

Gordon

[Don Gibson]

GOOD mechanical design indifferently carried out :
+ Cheap motors + poor electrical connections.

Amazing how much better PPW run - using and improving on Athearn's mechanism - from 5volts to start to1.5v; and 1amp to 0.25a. (That's 4X !) ... and P1K's products (and some P2K), by offering CV - directional lights and copying it..

I think Life Like's products were a wake-up call for Athearn, and the primary reason they went to RTR (losing market share).

[Anonymous]

Yes, most the diesels I have are Athearns.

[mustanggt]

I have about 10, including rtr. I installed dcc in my GP40-2, F59PHi, and P42. It's almost as easy as installing plug and play decoders. [:D]

[dragenrider]

I have some outstanding Athearn engines! I regear them, break them in good and have some sturdy, dependable engines with easily replaceable parts. I love 'em!

[Anonymous]

I still have several Athearn locomotives including the NYC PA's that hooked me on the NYC to begin with. Great runners.

[Anonymous]

I have a GP-7 which is mid-1970's that runs terribly[:(], and I have a pair of SD-45s, one of which runs o.k.[:)] and the other is a truly great[:D] running loco. I think I'll retire the two ill-performers, and run my Genesis series F3A instead, because it will outpull BOTH of the SD-45s "Blue-boxers"COMBINED![:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

Twenty years ago BB's seemed the way to go, inexpensive, good looking , lots of detail etc. But after leaving the hobby and coming back there is some real good looking loco's out there now! BB's just don't seem to have the same luster anymore.[2c]

[Anonymous]

I have 18 powered Athearn units on my layout. I had problems with a pair of FM trainmasters unil I reworked the electrical pickups when I changed them over to DCC. They'er all good runners now and MU with my other brands (Atlas, P2k, Rivarossi, Mantua, IhC and AHM). A few added details puts them par iwth others costing twice or three times as much. I don't need any more motive power, but if I did or Athearn introduces something I like, I won't hesistate to buy it.

[Don Gibson]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dragenrider

I have some outstanding Athearn engines! I regear them, break them in good and have some sturdy, dependable engines with easily replaceable parts. I love 'em!

'Sturdy"? - OK
"Dependable" - with poor electrical contacts?
"Easily repalcable parts"- (only in 6 paks, and - IF they still have them.)
'Simple' I'll even buy.
"Re-gear them"? - Why?
'Value' even is good- but "Outstanding? ???.

[Anonymous]

Got at least 10. Athearn BB locomotives and freights are ubiquous which means lots of third party selling almost anything and everything to make them just the way you want it. Upgraded several with wheel sets, directional lighting, side frames, close coupler sets, diaphrams and other stuff I can't remember. Also used by specialty shops like Rail Runner for creating other roads. They work for my RR.

[Anonymous]

At the moment I have 83, and have a few more I'm piecing together.
Most were bought used, rebuilt and are detailed and custom painted.
I also have quite a few other locos that have been repowered using Athearn driveline parts.

[EMDSD40]

I have 150 of the BB locomotives. All are disassembled entirely and carefully put back
together with Labelle 106 Grease, electrical connections polished, and wheels set to
proper gauge. The majority are undec kits and are then painted to PRR and detailed.
Some of the engines are 20+ years old and run fine. I have 250 locomotives total and now have a mix of Kato-Stewart-P2K-Atlas. My favorite is the SD40 which I have 25 of.
Quality and ease of maintenance will assure my contined purchase of the Athearn
BB line.

[Anonymous]

My love affair with US modelling began in the 80's with an Athearn F45 & from that day on I was hooked. Next came a GP9 & so on. Today all still run well' perhaps even better than when new. And yes I moved on to Life Like Proto--starting with a BL2--- and Atlas, etc, but the old BB's still look good, are easy to service (try a Bachmann!) and occupy a special place in my Railroading heart. And let's not forget how cheap they were & still are.

[aloco]

I've got six GP7s, four SD40s, one F7A, and one Train Master . All of these road engines run great. Some are a little noisy, but hopefully the noise will go away once the gears are broken in. I used to have several SW7s, but I got fed up with their poor performance and replaced all of them with Life-Like SWs. The Life-Like SWs run ten times better and look far more prototypical than the Athearn units.

[cacole]

Re-gearing? I tried that with an Ernst Manufacturing regearing kit for an Athearn 6-axle diesel and it runs worse than before. The regearing kit slows the locomotive down to a crawl, because it now has a 30:1 gear ratio, but the new gears make a terrible grinding noise.

In answer to the original question, I have close to 20 Athearn Blue Box locomotives, all with decoders installed. With the exception of the one I put the regearing kit into, they all run very well, but require a lot of wheel cleaning. I'm sure these Athearn locomotives will outlast many of the newer models made today.

[Anonymous]

I am a big fan of athearn. I have about 50 of them, mostly SD40T-2, SD40-2 & GP60. They are great performers with little modification. And I also belive they run better as time goes on.
I add a few detail parts that make a big differance:
1. if the casting has dimples where the grab irons go, I add grab irons(ladders,ect.)
2. If applicable I add a snowplow (usually is as I model SP mostly)
3. air hoses and MU cables
4. Renumber if nessasary to avoid conflicts (I have lots of the same units)
5. add decals in the number boards for that unit number
6. add windshield wipers.
7. add proper horn style
8. add cab sunvisors
9. add an air conditioner
10. paint the chassis and detail parts.
11. weather about 2/3 of them

After reworking the chassis, I am quite satisfied with both the looks and performance.
I have also added fiber optic lighting, and have built several working flashing orange beacon lights.

[wd45]

That's what most of my roster is. Most are 10 to 20 years old, and still running.

[philnrunt]

They are like old Jeep CJ's, not flashy, not loaded with bells and whistles, but real reliable and easy to repair when the rare breakdown does occur.
My love and loyalty for Athearn BB's run deep.