I had a pop-up on computer about 2 weeks ago with a Charles Ro Supply Co ad. I think they have been around for awhile but not sure. So, I checked them out. They had a GREAT deal on a NEW Athearn RTR HO scale sound locomotive. I have numerous Athearn RTR HO scale sound locomotives and like them. I placed my order and thought this may not be a good deal, but I like to gamble sometimes. I got it in the mail. The first thing I noticed was the 2 Athearn security sickers on the box were missing. Next I saw it was not packaged as per the factory norm. I opened it up and one of the fan housings fell out. Then I put it on the track and set my controller to 03 and it worked. It had sound and ran.....until the first turnout, derail. After sometime of investingating while it constantly derailed, I discovered the front coupler housing was reversed not allowing the front truck to track. Upon my investigation, I concluded that the locomotive was tampered with on the container ship from China. A crew member happen to find that perticular container with that locomotive in it and spent his time reversing the coupler housing to ruin my day, or Charles Ro Supply Co. lies when they say "NEW". I'll go with the LIES!
Mosst likely improperly assembledat the factory in China.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
Actually Athearn has QA/QC problems that has been talked about on several forums and on Athearn's Facebook page so,maybe your RTR engine left the factory as a reject.
Did you contact Charles Ro Supply Co about the problem? They have been around for decades and I'm sure they will address the problem.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Charles Ro is in Malden MA. Been around for ever. They were my local hobby shop back when I lived in Malden. Bought a fair amount of stuff from them over the years. All of it worked just fine. Sorry you got a bad piece of equipment, but I would not blame Charles Ro for it. They are good people in my book.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
No way in heck can that container or any container be opened by a crew member on the container ship. A crane takes it off the back of a yard hostler/chassis and is loaded directly on the ship into racks built into the ship that the container slides into on all four corners, making it impossible to open any doors or any person being close enough to it without being killed......there is No room. Racks are for 20ft, 40ft containers stacked 9 high in the ships hold. Was probably a reject, that slipped through the system. I would call the seller as has been mentioned already.
I was a crane operator for CSX Intermodal.....but actually worked for Pacific Rail Services Port of Seattle Wa. Along with owning My own trucks for Intermodal service. Been retired since 2004.
Take Care!
Frank
I agree with the comments above that Charlie Ro (as they are called up this way) is a good suppler. Call their customer service about sending it back for a replacement or a refund.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Any of my dealing with Charles Ro have been positive. I've made extensive G scale purchases from them over the years.
Athearn has been known to have a few hiccups:
IMG_0298_W by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
zstripe No way in heck can that container or any container be opened by a crew member on the container ship. A crane takes it off the back of a yard hostler/chassis and is loaded directly on the ship into racks built into the ship that the container slides into on all four corners, making it impossible to open any doors or any person being close enough to it without being killed......there is No room. Racks are for 20ft, 40ft containers stacked 9 high in the ships hold. Was probably a reject, that slipped through the system. I would call the seller as has been mentioned already. I was a crane operator for CSX Intermodal.....but actually worked for Pacific Rail Services Port of Seattle Wa. Along with owning My own trucks for Intermodal service. Been retired since 2004. Take Care! Frank
Uhhhh, he was kidding about the crewmember.
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
JumijoUhhhh, he was kidding about the crewmember.
I know....but that's how rumors start............
Wow, I'm surprised Charles Ro Supply Co is still in business. So many old companies have closed up; he must be ancient.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Ya gotta love that upside down coupler pic. Like they used to say about cars built by American Motors, try to avoid the ones made on a Monday or a Friday ....
A very good LHS in Green Bay WI, Enginehouse Services, posts a sign at train shows to the effect that they inspect and test run every locomotive model they sell, and that they reject and return to the manufacturer about 18% of the stuff that is shipped to them. The sign concludes "We have no idea what happens to the locomotives that we reject."
Dave Nelson
riogrande5761 Wow, I'm surprised Charles Ro Supply Co is still in business. So many old companies have closed up; he must be ancient.
They were at the Springfield Train Show. They've been there for as long as I've been going.
Some may be ancient, but those ancient ones adapt to the future or they would gone.
Yeah, make me another vote for "contact Charles Ro directly instead of warbling about their eternal perfidity online."And I'd also bet good money it was a factory QA problem.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
nealknows riogrande5761 Wow, I'm surprised Charles Ro Supply Co is still in business. So many old companies have closed up; he must be ancient. They were at the Springfield Train Show. They've been there for as long as I've been going. Some may be ancient, but those ancient ones adapt to the future or they would gone.
Definitely a blast from the past.
As far as adapting to the future, that all fine and dandy but unless Mr. Ro has children to carry it on or sold the business to someone younger, many vendors close because they owners age out and retire etc.
riogrande5761As far as adapting to the future, that all fine and dandy but unless Mr. Ro has children to carry it on or sold the business to someone younger, many vendors close because they owners age out and retire etc.
Jim,Charles Ro been around since '72.. I think his son runs the store now.
dknelsonThe sign concludes "We have no idea what happens to the locomotives that we reject."
As far as I know, out of the major suppliers, only Broadway Limited has a "Refurb Outlet" where repaired models are sold at a roughly 40% discount. I have made several purchases that way. They used to sell "grab bags" of parts and odd-ball junk but they haven't done that in years.
Good Luck, Ed