Athearn SD70's

[Anonymous]

I need info. on how the Athearn Genesis SD70's run. I heard they run pretty good and I want to purchase 2 of them for my model railroad.

Thanks for your help,
Aaron

[Martin4]

Hi Aaron
I got two of them (SD 75i and SD 75M) a couple of months ago; they are real wonders !
They can crawl as soon as they get over one volt and run at realistic speed at full throttle. Their details is unbelievable; everything looks to scale. I also have many Katos and P2000s that do not quite match the look and performance of the Genesis'. Go and get them !.

Martin

[Anonymous]

I have several of these locos. They run VERY well--are comparable to Kato or Atlas. The only caveat is that if you are running DCC, it is a little harder (not much however) to convert them than it is to convert the Kato or Atlas. In general I am very happy with these locos.

[Anonymous]

I have one. It runs well but has a small buzz noise. I think it must be something loose or rubbing that I have not yet located. They are really nice.

[highballer1]

Highballer - Jim
I have four of them, and I guess I've got some track problems. As each one of them derails at approximately the very same points on my layout. All of the other six and four axle diesels I have do just fine at these same troublesome spots.

Any one have any ideas why this might be occuring?? I've looked and looked it all over and can't seem to find the source and have checked everything with the NMRA track gauge.

Also, anyone have any ideas about how much weight should be added to these SD70M's? Thanks.

[csxns]

Got 30 of them more comming.If you have 2 main lines each one with different power packs DC and going fron one line to the other they will go crazy.Atlas Kato Proto 2000 do a lot better.

[Anonymous]

I have three of them. I installed a SoundTrax decoder in one of them with one speaker and programmed up the alternating ditch lights that activate with the horn action. They run great on the D&J Railroad and look good hauling a mile long TOFC/COFC train.

Ken, D&J Railroad, Stafford, VA

[Anonymous]

I had some problems like that while expanding the D&J Railroad. It turned out to be unlevel track. In a short section of track one rail was a little higher than the other due to splintering of the plywood under the road bed. The trucks on the SD70s don't seem to tilt from side to side as much as other models so when one rail is high, the wheel lifts off the the other rail.

Ken, D&J Railroad, Stafford, VA

[Anonymous]

How did you get the lights working? I keep on burning out the bulbs, and can't seem to get the fix right.
S Oehme

[Anonymous]

I put these together about a year and a half ago so I might be a little rusty on the specifics. I use the grain of wheat light bulbs and a 450 ohm resister in line with each bulb. I played around with the resistors until I got the right level of brilliance that I wanted before soldering everything in place. The Soundtrax and Digitrax decoders put out 12 volts DC on the lamp leads which will make a flash bulb out of your grain of wheats if you don't use the resistor.

In the operator manual, diesel edition, of the Soundtrax you will find specific CV settings to make the ditch lights operate with the horn function.

Ken, D&J Railroad, Stafford, VA