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Athearn HO scale GP15-1 diesel locomotive
This is a top notch model and manufactures are listening to their customers as a close friend of mine Dennis Norris and I talked with Athearn about the correct sound of the gone type bell and here it shows up on the production model!!!
This is the new standard for models.
When I received my 2 Conrail units, both of the speaker enclosures had been drilled on the bottom for the pickup wires for the rear truck. The front of the enclosure had been broken out ( a jagged hole) on both units to feed the truck pickup wires to the circuit board. As a result, my initial programming resulted in very faint sounds from the units. After removing the shells and patching the speaker enclosure on each loco, I was able to get adequate sound out of the engines. It would seem that Athearn should know better than to punch out the speaker enclosure. After making the repairs I am happy with the units.
Just purchased the Norfolk Southern version, really like the paint and details. Hope to see a Chessie GP-15T in a future run.
Sure sounds a sweet unit and it’s in the right colours how thoughtfull, looking forward to the road test video any day now I presume Cody!!
Ifr I’m going to fork over $270 for a model…it shoudn’t have “sink holes” and “fuzzy lines” I’ll stick with BLI
Hi James,
The version that we tested includes a dual-mode DCC sound decoder. That means that the sound operates on DC as well as DCC. Athearn also sells a version without a decoder.
Hope this clears things up.
Dana Kawala
Senior editor
Thanks, Dana. Good review. A question that popped up for me is: You describe the sound of the engine under DC only, yet after the price it says"DC no sound." Is there another price for a DC model WITH sound?
They have done an supurb job of reproducing the GP 15-1 as a basic model, but what are they going to do to produce vbariations such as the various orders of Mopac’s, with thicker frames and type M trucks. I have asked Athearn about type M sideframes for my MP 15’s and was told none are available.
Looks good. I wish it was in “n” scale.
I like the realism that DCC brings to model railroading.
AWOSME loco!!!
I have recently purchased this model and am most disappointed with the Soundtraxx Tsunami decoder. Originally the one in my model did not work t all and I had to send it back to Athearn for replacement. Not an easy thing to do from South Africa. However the replacement decoder is not up to the standards of other industry players such as QSI Industries. Despite setting the master and other CV’s that control sound to maximum the sounds are only really discernible if the loco is directly in front of me. At a distance of only 10 feet on the layout the engine sounds can only be heard with difficulty. Th bell and horn sounds at this distance are hardly audible. For a factory fitted decoder with a factrory fitted and designed speaker enclosure this is just not good enough. I think Soundtraxx have spoiled an otherwise superb model.
I do believe that Athearn is aware of the sound issues of this unit.I have a couple CSX units pre-ordered,and the original release date was to be 12/20/2010,but according to their website,a new release date of 3/20/2011,which in my opinion might be that Athearn is re-deisigning the speaker enclosure.Others that i have spoken with have said that the speaker enclosure was installed upward(face of speaker facing up,not down above the rear axle where the side radiator grills are.That would make sense,don’t ya think?
Hey I have a single Mopac unit with dual snowplows I live in North Carolina we have had snow twice this year,but the
Thing is Athearn got it right. I have a small dual loop setup outside about 100 feet by 6 feet. I shaved down plywood it seemed to look good covered with snow, but i had left cars on the track. GP 15 to the rescue long hood forward. Mine has actually plowed snow and was able to drag 24 cars while doing it. Well heres a suggestion GP 35 & CF 7
do them and I will stay loyal to you guys forever.
Try the Mopac on an outdoor layout, I have and North Carolina has had snow twice this year. Although people will criticize my using it outside it has a snowplow at both ends.
I enjoy the version with sound. Oh yeah 24 cars, long hood forward plowing REAL SNOW! Hey Athearn I’d like to
place an order for 12 more using your old GP 7-9 junkers I have. EMD demanded a trade in. I want more Mopac units.
I kick myself for not doing a video of it. Would prove that Athearn has raised the standards of excellance. Now CF7 and GP35 do them I’ll scrap 30 other units of various sources.
I recently purchased the Norfolk southern version and it looks really good. I got it to pull 20 cars up a 4% grade! Apart from a few marks in the paint it looks good. I especially like the ditch lights on this version.