Just bought my last Athearn locomotive.....

[Pruitt]

Maybe those who are looking down their noses at those of us who run Athearn Blue Box locos get over themselves! Theyre being just plain offensive! Implying that anyone who is a real modeler doesn't run Athearn just shows their conceit and ignorance. (Besides, the brass owners might just do the same to them as some of them are doing to the Athearn owners).

I've got several "new generation" Athearn BB locos (the ones with the improved sideframes and such that were introduced in the late 1970s/early 1980s, if I recall the timeframe correctly). I ran them for years, converting several to Command Control. Had I not shifted my modeling time period back to the 1930s / 1940s, I'd still be running them regularly. Occasionally I still do get them out of the box and run them, right along side my exquisite - and very expensive - brass GN steam. I still, on rare occasion, have a lot of fun with them.

Model railroading is whatever each of us wants it to be. Let each of us enjoy the hobby as we like, without telling, or even implying, how inadequate we are because of our choices. You'd ask the same for yourself, I'm sure.

And next time you start thinking something is categorically beneath you, look at the trolly-line curves over which you're running 4-8-4s or a PA-1s or whatever, and think about how the prototype wouldn't even make it past the midway point of the easement. From that perspective, your super-detailed monster might even look slightly more ridiculous than that Athearn BB loco.

[Anonymous]

Chuck, welcome to the club. Athearn did a great deal for the hobby in the 60's and 70's. Today their older, cheaper stuff is completely inadequate in quality in every regard, and their newer, better stuff is overpriced for what it is. Go with Atlas, Bachmann Spectrum, P2K, Kato - you'll never regret it. Compared with the overall cost of your layout (and I love your pictures) the net difference in cost for quality diesels versus outmoded junk is negligible.

[CP5415]

The BB AC4400 I got at Xmas did't run worth crap out of the box.
I tore it down to the trucks & found the problem. The wheel were squeezed right up against the track frame. No biggy, problem solved.
When I ran it for the first time, wow, what a noise!!!! but only going forward!
I took it over to a buddy's on Saturday, he added an extra washer in front of the front driveshaft & VIOLA!! No more noise. WOO HOO!!!!

I can't wait for my next Blue Box. A D&H GP38-2 waiting for me at my LHS.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

I will never buy another Athearn SD70MAC again. I mean the SD75M is much better than this thing. On the SD70MAC the stupid car body comes loose from the frame of the engine. Ill keep it this time,ill just have to glue the car body very carefully! BNSFrailfan.

[Anonymous]

While the Athearn BB's are fairly basic out of the box, and may be a bit noisey, you CAN make them into a very good machine with a little work. I guess it all depends on if you want to by a RTR or a model you have to put together yourself, right?

I'm a "tweaker" from way back. I can't help but tweak and improve a car or locomotive. The last AC4400 I bought, in ATSF Warbonnet, I didn't buy any extra detailing for it, but I DID work over the drivetrain and weight BIG time. By the time I was done I added 12 ounces of lead to it and had a locomotive that ran almost silently. So far it's been almost perfect and after I get my new layout up and running I'll add details to it and weather it.

I've got a 12-car coal haul that I've put together, with real coal loads, FULL loads that is. The cars are heavy. On the last layout I had no problems pulling just over 4% grades on curves.

Mark in Utah

[BRAKIE]

Chuck,I can understand your concern..I never did like those plastic clips..Sadly I doubt if we see a ungraded frame for the BB locos.
Here is another way that you can use.
I take my Dremel and cut the coupler pad area from the frame.This will leave a opening in the frame for mounting of the coupler.
Then I glue(I use Goo but any instant type glue will work) square ABS(be sure it is the same size of a KD coupler box and is flush with the coupler opening) plastic under the pilot area next to the coupler opening and then mount the KD coupler by using the KD coupler box and a 2-56 screw.BTW this comes out to the correct height and the coupler will be insulated from the frame since it mounted on a plastic pad instead of the metal pad.

[cwclark]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

Chuck,Ever think of body mounting the couplers on a BB unit? It easy to do.

That is what i do is body mount everything and that's what i'm getting at..i have to grind away the frame with a dremel tool until I get out enough metal to meet NMRA specs...then i have to grind away the snow plows to get them to fit...then i have to build a part from block styrene to cover the enormous gap between the locomotive shell and the coupler...All I would like is if Athearn could re-engineer their coupler mounts on the BB locomotives to meet NMRA standards... as far as the locomotive is concerned, it's a good powerful motor....I have about 20 Athearn locomotives and would like to try something else for a change...I really don't mind the detailing because it is fun to do but all that grinding is for the birds...Chuck

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CP5415

Would you want your child to handle your nicely detailed Kato or Atlas offering?
I don't. I let my 3 year old handle my Athearn loco's because they have no small dainty detailing bits & pieces that WILL readily fall off if mishandled. Gordon

I'm not sure I'd trust myself handeling a Kato, Atlas or any expensive loco untill I have a fully scenic layout. I don't remember how many times my Athearn GP40-2's have taken the 500 scale foot plunge to the bottom of the concrete canyon. But they take a lick'en and keep on tick'en!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cwclark

..my main concern with the Athearn BB locomotives is the coupler ...all i'm trying to get at is that the grinding and grinding to get the coupler in specs ....Chuck

I hear ya Chuck. One one of my first three Athearn locos I ground off so much metal that the tab snaped off when I threaded it. I body mounted the coupler, but that is a b-otch too. You have to glue a pad on the shell, but that's not very strong. And I always had problems with coupler height with that one.
But that was before Kadee came out with the undershank coupler and longer shanks.

[Anonymous]

For the money, you just can't beat the BB loco with a stick.

And even if you do, it'll still keep running[;)]

My P2K's have been nothing but @#$&% trouble...I will buy no more of them.

[BRAKIE]

Chuck,Ever think of body mounting the couplers on a BB unit? It easy to do.
Also its very easy to mount a KD coupler box by sanding the coupler pad some.
I use my good old Dremel tool for that job.

BTW the newer RTR locomotives like the CF7,SD50/60 and the SD45T-2 has screw on coupler boxes.

As far as plows I had to sand the bottom of the plows on my Walthers GP15s and 60% of my Atlas locos(GP38/40)..I had to change out the gears in all of my P2K GP7/9/30s and my SD7/9..I won't even go into the minor fixes I had to do on some of my high dollar locomotives.In the mean time my Athearns kept right on running..

[Todd McWilliam]

My enjoyment in this hobby is detailing BB locomotives, and then selling them on e-bay. I get great pleasure in this side of the hobby. I have a BB Milwaukee road SD40-2 that has more detail than the Kato version and runs just as quiet after some engine tuning. I have some of the nicer brands of locomotives, but I prefer to run my BB at the club, where some members ask where did you buy that nice locomotive?

[SP4449]

I am probably repeating someone in this thread but the blue box locos can "take a licking and still keep on - running" which is important in the realm of modular layout shows. The equipment is handled a lot and run long hours and the wimpy stuff soon falls to display status on the sidings while the good old Athearn pulls the trains. Fine details are knocked off and couplers drop off (soon to derail a passing train). Hardy trains are good.

[cwclark]

I got a lot of responses on this thread..and thank you guys...my main concern with the Athearn BB locomotives is the coupler and that's why i don't think i'm going to purchase them anymore...I have nothing but Athearn that i've collected over the past 25 years(except for a proto 1000 Alco RS-11 and an Alco PA-1 A/B/A unit)...all i'm trying to get at is that the grinding and grinding to get the coupler in specs and then the detailing of the snowplow which also i have to grind away to practically nothing to get it to fit sends the front of the locomotive into a state that isn't prototype...I want my engines detailed to the gills but when a guy has to grind that much metal out of the frame and then grind the detail parts to get stuff to fit then it gets really old really quick....my point is that if Athearn doesn't get their coupler mounts right from now on, it's going to be my last....Chuck

[Virginian]

Well, I hope they come out with some more steam engines. The 2-8-2 and 4-6-2 were both nicely done, and the Challenger seems even better (except the sound). It was kinda strange how they came with the handrails not installed but a lot of other little things already in place, but it was somewhat more convenient for taking it apart, painting, adding weight, etc.

[Anonymous]

Foregot the sideframes on Athearns are 100% better than Katos.

[Anonymous]

All my UP SD40-2s are athearn BB or RTR (3300 unitedway) retooled ones and I sold my Kato -2s and Atlas does not make a SD40-2. Added about $20.00 in detail parts and with scale handrails look far better than Katos.

[Anonymous]

Maybe since Horizon's bought them the quality will shapen up!
I gave up years ago....the substandard electrical, motor, and "stancions" pushed me over the edge.

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

. . . but I would hope my appreciation level has .Isn't that where it's 'AT'?

To you but not to everyone. I like to work on my cars and locomotives. I do not like opening a box and have the product complete are close to it. I want to assemble and detail it myself, so do many other people. And wanting to do these things ourselves does not make us any less of modelers. As a matter of fact, one could probably argue the opposite.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CP5415

Just bought my latest Athearn BB.
My first U-boat. I've never been a U-boat fan. Then again I wasn't a GE fan until i saw my first AC4400 hauling an intermodal train for the CPR! [:D]
It's an ugly locomotive, Especially in Missouri Pacific livery
But the price was decent so I couldn't turn it down.

Gordon

Sucker.......LOL![:D] There not as ugly as the SD70ACe's. BNSFrailfan.

[aloco]

I kept all my Athearn road engines but the switchers were given the heave-ho.

[Don Gibson]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

I guessed some of us 'Graduated' - some of us didn't.

QUOTE: So Don, I take it that if I still like and run Athearn's then I'm not a real modeler? Well then, I guess after nearly 30 years of modeling, I haven't graduated to being a real modeler either.........I haven't acquired the challenging skills required to open a box and set on a track.........Do I sound offended...I am.

Understand there are better running (and looking) engine's out there than B.B. - Even Athearn recognizes that .

You can define modellng skills any way you want - but BB's have generally been considered 'Entry Level' , which is part of their charm . I bought them. I'm not offended. I have also upgraded them to match with today's level of product's.

Perhaps my 'skill's haven't improved in the last 30 years, but I would hope my appreciation level has .Isn't that where it's 'AT'?

[Anonymous]

Dharmon -

I can't speak for Don, but when I said "graduated" I didn't mean that I consider myself a better modeler than those that continue to buy Athearns, but only that I have reached a point where the Athearn blue box locos and rolling stock no longer seem to meet my needs and desires.

Sorry for any misunderstanding.

Tom -

There is also this mode - I buy Atlas and P2K ... AND detail them !!!!

I like having to buy and add fewer parts, and having IMHO a better looking and running loco when I am done than I get when I start at the blue box level.


- George

[tomwazy]

I started 30 years ago buying those old Athearn shells,detailing them,and putting Hobbytown drives in them. Today it's obvious to all that P2K,Kato,Atlas,and Genesis are far superior to the BB Athearn. I think it's a matter of what you expect for the dollars you spend. Would you expect Mercedes quality for the price of a Yugo? Probably not.(dating myself with that Yugo reference,maybe I should have said a Kia?) Thirty years ago those Athearns were state of the art ,but now they are just 30 year old technology.Athearn BB nowadays are entry level models,much as Tyco and AHM and Model Power were back in the day. Some modelers might prefer to buy the $20 BB,then add $80 worth of details,others might just prefer the Atlas,P2K,et al for $100 and be ready to go.It's a matter of choice,and I for one am happy that choice exists,especially for the younger modelers who might not be able to afford "quality" in one fell swoop,but who can get enjoyment from adding one detail at a time as funds permit.

If you want all the bells and whistles,it's there, but to buy a $20 BB loco than complain it's not an Atlas is unfair.

Tom

[CP5415]

Just bought my latest Athearn BB.
My first U-boat. I've never been a U-boat fan. Then again I wasn't a GE fan until i saw my first AC4400 hauling an intermodal train for the CPR! [:D]
It's an ugly locomotive, Especially in Missouri Pacific livery
But the price was decent so I couldn't turn it down.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

You must have bought the older SD40-2.The retooled version has coupler boxes that screw on.What kind of detail parts are you buying?I find for about $10.00 I will have a reasonably detailed locomotive.I use DA grabs,lift rings,precision scale hoses,various Details West parts and matching Poly Scale or Floquil paint.I agree the older wide body diesels are a waste of time to mess with.The newer driveline with hexed flywheels are smooth and quiet.I see no need to remotor them.The older SD40-2 has its issues.But you can detail it into a nice locomotive.Details west makes the buffer plate to fill in the big opening in the pilot.I would search for the newer run of SD40-2.They are great locomotives.Dan

[hd8091]

I have to argee with Brakie...You got to start some where, or restart in my case. I started Tursday with aProto 2000 was emergeny hopper.First kit iv'e bujilt in ages! God what handful I was definately out of pracrice, next was a Branchline 50'autocar,then a Bowser PS-1 a couple of walthers and some old trainminatures. Feelig somewhat dishearted. did two Acurailand finally did some good old blue boxes. I feel like I'm regressimg but my modeling skills are improving.. Next t ime we go up the ladder . It was a good learning experience and a hell of a lot of fun. Just don't lookat my work bench....HEH;;
Tom

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

I guessed some of us 'Graduated' - some of us didn't.

I do not see how is not buying Athearn considered graduating. It does not take more skill to buy or run a Kato, Atlas, etc. Off of the top of my head, the only thing I can think of that one has to have more of to buy these "top of the line" locomotives is money.

Count me in also Eric..

So Don, I take it that if I still like and run Athearn's then I'm not a real modeler? Well then, I guess after nearly 30 years of modeling, I haven't graduated to being a real modeler either.........I haven't acquired the challenging skills required to open a box and set on a track.........Do I sound offended...I am.

[Anonymous]

I own a NEW BNSF SD75M HO Scale Athearn. I haven't ran it yet but.........
I also own 8 Kato's too.
I can't wait till I get my Athearn SD70MAC.
Oh by the way,My friend own's a Athearn BN SD70MAC and he says it run real good. He says it's a great Locomotive.
BNSFrailfan.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

Guys,I think its time for a reality check..First we are adults playing with adult toy trains so there is NO Graduation from one class to the other except in the minds of the few that forgets this is a hobby and we are playing with toy trains.
So,It doesn't really matter in the end of what we buy irregardless of brand,details or the cost of our toys.After all our trains are just that toys for adults-well kids even since our trains can be ran on the floor.

BLASPHEMY!