Big news from Athearn

[cgrivno]

New locomotives and rolling stock in HO and N. Read the full story on MR Express: http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/006/019quqpd.asp

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the information.

[wt259]

$100 difference in price (MSRP) for sound and non-sound F's and SD45-2's? I don't think so, not for MRC sound.[tdn] I'll be looking for non-sound SD45-2's in ATSF, thanks just the same.

[grandeman]

HO scale
Alco RS-3 diesel locomotives. Denver & Rio Grande Western; Great Northern; Louisville & Nashville; Nacionales de Mexico; New York, New Haven & Hartford; New York Central; and undecorated. See-through cab, plastic handrails, wire grab irons, and Digital Command Control decoder quick plug. $89.98 to $94.98. November 2005. Ex-Roundhouse models. Ready-to-Roll.

That sounds like something good to me!

[UP Deano]

Crap! i was really wanting the MP15 switcher in CNW. had a couple of those that switched out all the industries in town for years. dad and i just started an HO switching layout 50s-late 60s. would have fit perfect. dont get me wrong, i like mil.road, they had a mainline through town also, but CNW MP15s switched most of it. would have been nice.

[Texas Zepher]

Thats only Big news if:
[tdn]1. The models don't fall apart (eg. Genesis SD70's gag gag, I've yet to get one that will run straight out of the box from the original or current run; RTR stuff that has to have trucks and couplers fixed before they can "roll").
[|(]2. The models actually will pull something. (eg. Genesis 2-8-2, F7's that can't even pull the SuperChief set that they were designed for. Had to break out the reliable Stewarts to do the job).
[:(!]3. They can actually deliver in a finite amout of time (I'm still waiting for 4-6-6-4 ordered in October).
[xx(]4. They ditch those cheapo "kadee wanabe" couplers they are putting on all their equipment these days. They should have stuck to the horn hooks - at least they would hook the cars together.

And ANOTHER RS-3 [zzz]. That is almost as exciting as another F3[8]!. Now if they would have sound in them, but nooooo.

Athearn is in a serious slump. After carrying the hobby for 30 years they have really gone down hill, despite the prices going through the roof. Right now Athearn is on my "DON'T BUY" List.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wt259

$100 difference in price (MSRP) for sound and non-sound F's and SD45-2's? I don't think so, not for MRC sound.[tdn] I'll be looking for non-sound SD45-2's in ATSF, thanks just the same.

WT259,

You probably read my post a while back regarding the Athearns. I did post a correction. The update I received was that Athearn will be using LOK Sound decoders, not MRC (thankfully). These are the Europeon sound decoders. You can check out their website at http://www.loksound.com

They have sound samples available, but Europeon locos, not American. However, their is a page that lists what sounds they will be making available. The offerings are very similar to Soundtraxx, but with the bonus of engine variations within the same manufacturer (EMD 2nd gen: 12, 16, or 20 cylinder engines).

If they sound as good as their advertising, Soundtraxx is going to have some very stiff competition.

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by grande man

HO scale
Alco RS-3 diesel locomotives. Denver & Rio Grande Western;

That sounds like something good to me!

Wait for the Atlas due out in August.

http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOLocomotives/hors3/7027.jpg

[Anonymous]

Iginc----
Theres no CNW's because Athearn is making MP15AC's. C&NW had MP15DC's. Atlas is making those. They are coming November or so.

[howmus]

[|)] Yawn! [|)]

Athearn is on my "Don't waste your money" list. Especially since it was gobbled up by the "Dark Side".

[Anonymous]

Good news, but I am still waiting for an excellent HO RS-3. The MDC shell is closer to scale than the Atlas, which along with those odd lugs on the grab iron is pretty much a low-fidelity shell.

P2K are you out there?

[UP Deano]

YEA! thanks cnw8835, didnt realize that,thank you for bringing it to my attention. theres hope yet! seen MP15 and just got excited.LOL.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

QUOTE: Originally posted by wt259

$100 difference in price (MSRP) for sound and non-sound F's and SD45-2's? I don't think so, not for MRC sound.[tdn] I'll be looking for non-sound SD45-2's in ATSF, thanks just the same.

WT259,

You probably read my post a while back regarding the Athearns. I did post a correction. The update I received was that Athearn will be using LOK Sound decoders, not MRC (thankfully). These are the Europeon sound decoders. You can check out their website at http://www.loksound.com

They have sound samples available, but Europeon locos, not American. However, their is a page that lists what sounds they will be making available. The offerings are very similar to Soundtraxx, but with the bonus of engine variations within the same manufacturer (EMD 2nd gen: 12, 16, or 20 cylinder engines).

If they sound as good as their advertising, Soundtraxx is going to have some very stiff competition.

Maybe Athearn will use the LOK decoders someday, but I can't imagine that they would make a major release statement with the wrong sound decoder being identified.

Sounds like it's MRC sound for these releases (ugh!).

Luckily, I don't need any of these locos, so I won't worry about it !!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lginc

YEA! thanks cnw8835, didnt realize that,thank you for bringing it to my attention. theres hope yet! seen MP15 and just got excited.LOL.

Gotta look before you weep, Iginc !!! [;)]

Besides, I think you will get a better loco with the Atlas model !!!!

[cefinkjr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher
Athearn is in a serious slump. After carrying the hobby for 30 years they have really gone down hill, despite the prices going through the roof. Right now Athearn is on my "DON'T BUY" List.

This couldn't be a result of the change in ownership, could it?? Nah -- everybody knows that was a great thing for all concerned....wasn't it?

[xx(]
Chuck

[loathar]

I haven't bought any Athearn stuff in about 20 years.Should I take it from the jist of the posts that they're no longer the good, dependable, trouble free engines like my old GP-38 and SW-7 have been. I don't care about sound. I have been eyeing one of those Genesis SD-70's though. Bad investment? Is that why theres so much Athearn stuff for sale on E-Bay?

[Anonymous]

Hey, lets go easy on Cody, OK? Don't shoot the messenger.....

[Anonymous]

Athearn is not JUNK.The SD50 they did awhile back is excellent.I dont like the RTR rolling stock though.Id rather buy the kit and fix it right from the start.I only buy the RTR rolling stock when the paintscheme I want is offered.The GP38-2 is still a good engine.Too pricey for RTR though,buy the kit.Has the same hex drive now.Paint is not as good as RTR.Athearns paint work is excellent.Cant wait to see the Chessie SD40.Dan

[mustanggt]

Sweet! Nice to see such unusual engines being produced ( SD38 and MP15 )
Nothing I can use really, except the MP15 in CSX.

P.S. Why the anti-athearn attitudes?

[loathar]

I always thought you got a lot of bang for the buck with their semi-RTR engines.But that was 20 years ago and they still run great today. Is this not true of their new stuff? I'd like to know before I spend over $100 on one of their new locos.

[cheese3]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher

Thats only Big news if:
[tdn]1. The models don't fall apart (eg. Genesis SD70's gag gag, I've yet to get one that will run straight out of the box from the original or current run; RTR stuff that has to have trucks and couplers fixed before they can "roll").
[|(]2. The models actually will pull something. (eg. Genesis 2-8-2, F7's that can't even pull the SuperChief set that they were designed for. Had to break out the reliable Stewarts to do the job).
[:(!]3. They can actually deliver in a finite amout of time (I'm still waiting for 4-6-6-4 ordered in October).
[xx(]4. They ditch those cheapo "kadee wanabe" couplers they are putting on all their equipment these days. They should have stuck to the horn hooks - at least they would hook the cars together.

And ANOTHER RS-3 [zzz]. That is almost as exciting as another F3[8]!. Now if they would have sound in them, but nooooo.

Athearn is in a serious slump. After carrying the hobby for 30 years they have really gone down hill, despite the prices going through the roof. Right now Athearn is on my "DON'T BUY" List.

[#ditto] We all ready know how I feel

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by loathar
I haven't bought any Athearn stuff in about 20 years.... I have been eyeing one of those Genesis SD-70's though. Bad investment?

I have three of them. Two from the old original run and one from the latest (Why I didn't learn from the first two I'll never know). One is just flat noisy. Much worse than the original Athearn drive from the 1980's. The second one's wheels are so loosey-goosey one can never tell which way it will go when it comes to a turnout. It certainly has nothing to do with the setting of the turnout. On the other one the rear truck only rides on the rear two axles. The front axle rides up in the air. Occasionally these wheels will catch on something and derail it (usually in a tunnel).

One would think if the design and manufacturing was any good at all that at least one out of three would have worked properly right out of the box. I have never had worse luck with any single product. I would definitely not recommend them unless you can pick one up for about $30.

[Paul3]

Nice to know that all that RS-3 info I posted back in March is "official" now. [:)]

Texas Zepher wrote:

QUOTE: 1. The models don't fall apart (eg. Genesis SD70's gag gag, I've yet to get one that will run straight out of the box from the original or current run; RTR stuff that has to have trucks and couplers fixed before they can "roll").

The funny thing is that the Chicago museum (IIRC) rates these engines very highly for their reliability on their "torture" layout. That's were the models run many actual miles every day until they fail. Just ask David Harrison either here or on the Atlas Forum...

QUOTE: The models actually will pull something. (eg. Genesis 2-8-2, F7's that can't even pull the SuperChief set that they were designed for. Had to break out the reliable Stewarts to do the job).

While I agree the steamers are a huge disappointment, the F's are great models. And I disagree with your example. At my club, we had the whole Super Chief set running around just fine with an Athearn A-B-B-A set of ATSF units, and that included a 3.5% grade on a 40" radius curve. What grade was this train of yours running on?

QUOTE: They can actually deliver in a finite amout of time (I'm still waiting for 4-6-6-4 ordered in October)

Nobody's perfect. Atlas just delivered some new NE-6 cabooses and they were supposed to be out in February. And who knows when Bachmann will release that HHP-8 of theirs... Either way, compared to the wait for the Highliner A units, a year is nothing! [;)]

QUOTE: They ditch those cheapo "kadee wanabe" couplers they are putting on all their equipment these days. They should have stuck to the horn hooks - at least they would hook the cars together.

Now there, I can sympathize with you. Those are truly horrid couplers. But then, Atlas still makes a junky coupler, so Athearn's not alone in that regard (the difference is that the Atlas one's won't uncouple).

QUOTE: And ANOTHER RS-3 . That is almost as exciting as another F3!. Now if they would have sound in them, but nooooo.

This is where I strongly disagree. Did you know that there were more RS-3's than F3A's made? More than SD45's? More than GP35's? In fact, the RS-3 is in the top 10 all time list, and yet, only three different plastic models exist, one of which is utter crapola (the Stewart). Of the other two, one has major dimensional and detail flaws (the Atlas). Only the MDC is actually an accurate model, and I think Athearn's going to have a great product for a reasonable amount. I don't see how you can say "ANOTHER RS-3" when there's really only been the Atlas model and the old MDC available for the last 20 years.

QUOTE: Athearn is in a serious slump. After carrying the hobby for 30 years they have really gone down hill, despite the prices going through the roof. Right now Athearn is on my "DON'T BUY" List.

Oh, yeah, right. They only make the best F-units ever made in any medium, engines that set endurance records for long-term running (see above), state-of-the-art truck models, more products per month than probably anybody else, and still offer freight car kits for under $10. Yeah, you're right, Athearn's a lousy company and nobody should ever buy from them again. [xx(]

QUOTE: Wait for the Atlas due out in August.

Well, if you want to ignore the tapered stack, the wrong cab location, the messed up corner grabs, & various other imperfections...

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Paul3

QUOTE: The models actually will pull something. (eg. Genesis 2-8-2, F7's that can't even pull the SuperChief set that they were designed for. Had to break out the reliable Stewarts to do the job).

While I agree the steamers are a huge disappointment, the F's are great models. And I disagree with your example. At my club, we had the whole Super Chief set running around just fine with an Athearn A-B-B-A set of ATSF units, and that included a 3.5% grade on a 40" radius curve. What grade was this train of yours running on?

Interesting discrepancy. The grade is no where close to 3.5% but the curves are 36" rather than 40. Perhaps the difference is in what we are calling a set of cars. I don't have just one of each type of car. I don't run the RPO but do run multiple sleepers to get a full 12-14 cars. I'll have to find them and get them out and do more extensive testing. I was so upset with them I just threw them into some box under the layout.

[steveblackledge]

My BB models run better the the Genesis stuff, i sold my SD75's almost as soon as i got them, My dash 9 BB loco dived off the track 4' onto conctete and after a bit of tweeking of the wheels it still runs like a dream, i don't think a Genesis would stand for that abuse, i will sooner go with P2K models or BLI first

[BRAKIE]

Steve,Not fussing or picking on you from what I seen of BLI locomotives at the club-I don't own any nor do want to-I would rethink about putting any BLI diesel locomotive above a Genesis also My own experience with my P2K GP7/9/30s I would need to study hard on buying any more(including the newest release) due to the fact I had to replace the gears in all of 'em due to the LL gears cracking..The last GP9 I bought had crack gears from the box...[:(!][V][:(]
As for me there is only 2 brands of locomotives I will buy..Athearn and Atlas.[:D]

[jfugate]

I rank locos brands from 12 years of intensive layout operation, and having to pull maintenance on various loco brands:

Kato - they run well out of the box and just run, and run, and run with very little maintenance

Atlas - almost as good as Katos, with the exception that the mechanisms run a bit tight

Stewart - run well, but not quite as good as Atlas or Kato, easy to maintain

Athearn - good basic mechanism, with some tuning will perform well, easy to maintain

Bachman - run fairly well, but a pain to maintain (oddball frame and chassis)

Lifelike - run okay out of the box (great looking shells), but inconsistent quality, and a maintenance headache.

That's been my experience, and we've put a lot of hours on the locos on the Siskiyou Line.

I will confess I have not used steamers, so this is all based on running lots of diesels. Steamers could be far different (does Kato even make steamers?)

[METRO]

Nice to hear another RS3 is coming onto the market, but I think I'll stick to Atlas for mine. And I won't have to wait until November for them to be avalible.

[espeefoamer]

Athearn engines have always run fine for me. I have two SD70s,an SP SD70M,and a ARR SD70MAC.Both are sweet runners[:)].I have several RTR locos and all run fine.I have had to do some fine tuning on some of my BB locos,but got them all running.My only complaint with Athearn, is I bought an SSW GP 35 yesterday and there is no road number painted on the nose[:(!].

[Darth Santa Fe]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Paul3

Now there, I can sympathize with you. Those are truly horrid couplers. But then, Atlas still makes a junky coupler, so Athearn's not alone in that regard (the difference is that the Atlas one's won't uncouple).

Atlas doesn't make their own couplers. They use Accurail's Accumate couplers. I got an Accurail car with the Accumate couplers and replaced them with McHenry couplers, which work very well for me. I use the Accurail couplers as dummies. The couplers that are on Athearn and Bachmann engines are McHenry couplers. (they all have the same E-Z stamped on the bottom.)