For those who are interested I see the Athearn Genesis FP7 California Zephyr power is now in the hobby shops. I think I will pick up an FP7 ABB set with sound. I already have the F3 ABB set from a few years ago.
do they have sound and how good are they?how is the price?rambo1…
do they have sound and how good are they? hows the price? rambo1…
You can get the AB pair with sound or without. The list price is $459.00 so should be able to get it for under 400.
Here’s a link to one of them on the athearn page
http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATHG22317
Here’s a link to the prototype of the same A unit
ML Klein has them for $329.99!! ML Klein is my favorite online HS.
I had been waiting for Athearn to release some of the Genesis EMD F unit sets in the CNR and CPR passenger paint schemes.
To date Athearn has only released CNR F units and they were in freight colours. I was quite happy with the Genesis units I have, several sets of CN and GN but I was really wanting some Canadian passenger F units.
I was very surprised to stumble upon Intermountain’s FP7 and FP9 EMD units in both the CPR and CNR passenger colours. Well as there was nothing forthcoming from Athearn I bought a couple of sets. I am so pleased with these units, they run very well and the sound is very good.
In fact I was so pleased that I order a few more sets of the CN and CPR along with a few GN F units as well. I am an Intermountain convert now. I doubt very much if I will be buying any more Athearn Genesis F units ever again.
I find the Intermountain sets to be superior to the Athearn Genesis sets in both running characteristics as well as the quality of the sound.
Hold on. You are talking out of both sides of your mouth? OTOH, you are quite happy, on the other hand you may never by any ever again?
Genesis F units are the best looking rendition of the F unit nose and overall shell, bar none. If you never buy another Genesis F, it will be your loss. Intermountain are ok, and probably the drives have an edge in the average quality dept. As for sound, the newer Genesis use the Tsunami sound which is widely considered the best or among the best out there.
I will not buy any more Genesis F units as I prefer the Intermountain units.
The Intermountain quality is in my opinion just as good as the Genesis, Intermountain F units are now less expensive than the Genesis models, and most important as they have released CNR and CPR units. Hence I have no need for a Genesis CN or CPR F unit.
I have just ordered a couple more sets of Intermountains new FT GN series units.
Genisis and Intermountain are both very good. I’m curious as to your perceived sound differences as the current versions of both companies F units use Soundtraxx decoders.
Good point, same sound units. I’ve gone ahead and ordered a single FP7A which even without sound is a bit of a splurge at $126 shipped right now. I wouldn’t mind having the sound for the novelty but it would be nearly $200 for a single engine - main thing is I get one while they are available. At worst I could add sound to it later.
I already own a Stewart F3ABB set and IMO, the KATO drives in the Stewart F units are among the best available in HO. I’m only hoping that the orange paint on the Stewarts is reasonably close to the orange of the Genesis. I’d like to match them up for a prototypical FP7A/F3B/F3B power set for my BLI CZ train.
I have a Genesis UP FP7 on the way from MB Klein. Does anyone know if there is a Genesis B unit available for this?Or if the P2K B would be a good match?
Bill
I just ordered a WP FP7A myself. There is always a risk that a different brand won’t be a good match color wise. I am planning for now to use two Stewart F3B’s with the Genesis FP7A I ordered.