im thinking about ripping up my newhaven layout(4x8)(if anyone wants to critisize the trackplan i found, ill email it to youi want to go all code 83 atlas truetrack) with a useless trackplan in favor of a guilford layout.(dcc)
the $ is gonna be tight, so im only going to get 1 loco–a guilford gp40. its either gonna be atlas or athearn. i like the superdetail on atlas locos, and the paint looks better than athearn, but they’re expensive. and ive never ran an atlas loco. ive had good servise from an athearn F7 gor a few years now. its a bit noisy, and the headlight shines up into the cab, but its a good puller.
i want everything on the possible new layout to be as good as a finacancaly challanged 14 yearold rookie railroader can make it. should i slap down $130 for atlas’s detail, or $70 for athearns relailabality? how good do atlas locos run? are they worth every penny of that relativilivy huge chunk of $? im willing to pay big muney for a loco that pulls well and looks nice, becayse im tiered of jerkey operation from every loco in my fleet(excluding my f7 and rs3–they run good)
thanx in advance for your knowledge …and stuff…whatever [8]
gearhead,
I think most agree an Atlas runs better and has better detail than the Athearn. Try the mailorder route to save a bit if you need to. I’ve had good luck with Trainworld and M.B. Klein comes well recommended as well. I would stay away from the folks that are more than a day or two away through normal UPS. At 14 you’ll need to enlist the parent(s) for a credit card or money order, but it can save you a bunch. Good Luck, J.R.
I think it will boil down to which one paint’s the prototype you want. Custom painting today run’s $100 - $150 per unit, plus the engine cost … detail and running qualities aside.
I would also agree to watch for the deals. Several of us were at the train show in Atlanta today and one of the guys bought 3 fine Atlas locos in Southern colors for $250, and they’re dcc. I’ve not owned either of these brands so I can’t help you much there, but the guys in the mrr club say Atlas makes a fine locomotive.
Jarrell
I saw this title, and nearly died comparing the athearn BB locos I have to my new atlas C-424. Atlas all the way, even with the new genisis units. BB is good for cheap and reliable, though.
Matthew
Don’t count out Proto loco’s either. Very nice looking and great quality (give the broken gear problem a rest people, its fixed) at a very affordable price. They don’t make GP40’s but I’m sure they have something you would like.
Why not wait till Atlas releases the TRAIN MAN series GP38-2? These will be discounted down to about $55.00 or less…[:D] These are due in Feb-06. As far as e mail why bother? E-mail me and I will show you some fairly good prices that beats the lunacy bids on e-bay.
Hi Gearhead, to my way of thinking Atlas are good ,but I don`t think they are twice as good as Athearn, which is what the prices would suggest, my layout is in an outbuilding and the trains then run out into the garden, they run in all weathers. I run both Atlas and Athearn with no problems, so if moneys tight then I would go for the Athearn model.
Atlas locomotives are higher quality than Athearn. They cost more than Athearn (but not twice as much as a current Athearn). That being said, a modern Athearn is still going to be a reliable, smooth locomotive, even if not as nice as an Atlas. (I own both brands and I like both). If intricate detailing is not as important to you, I think Brakie has given you good advice: Wait for the Trainman by Atlas and get the Atlas quality running at less than Athearn price.
Tough question since I swear by both Athearn Blue Box and Atlas. I like them for different reasons, though. To me, HO just ain’t HO unless you open up a blue box, shake out the parts, assemble the wire railings and glue the bad boy together about once a month. I love the way blue boxes locomotives come “sound equipped”. Who needs QSI when you’ve got good old Uncle Irv’s original HO sound system?
But Atlas runs like a watch. It creeps around the layout at a scale speed of about six miles per hours.
Tell you what, wait until Trainworld runs a special and buy both locomotives for less than the list price of a single Atlas.
Brakie, I guess nothing’s perfect. Sorry you’ve had trouble. All I can go by is my own experience. I’ve got 14 Atlas engines. Every one is nothing short of spectacular – perfect in every way. All are newer products (I’ve only been in this a year). I also have one brand new Athearn which is nice, but not as smooth, not as detailed. – Bought it cause I wanted the paint scheme. Have had lots of problems with Athearn rolling stock, none with Atlas freight.
II never said that! Plus, the rtr locos have plastic handrails!
Even Katos don’t compare to Atlas, so I don’t think that unless athearn comes out with a evolutionary drive, Atlas is the best choice. But their C-424s are the best locomotives I’ve ever seen!
Matthew
atlas may be the best quality but athearn’s are okay (I have 3) but if you can affoard atlas go for it ,if you can’t athearn’s rtr’s are excellent considering they are cheaper than atlas
thanx a lot all this really helps, but ive heard of people upgrading athearn locos to rival overland brass–is it cheaper to upgrade the crap out an athearn or just get an atlas?