KATO
I have Atlas, Kato, P2K, BLI, and upgraded BB Athearns. I didn’t have any Atlas engines until this year and I am really impressed with them. They run and look great. If I had to pick a best overall brand I think it would be Atlas, which isn’t to say the others aren’t good.
You can upgrade your Athearns until they rival anything. I have a few of those. However, between the drive upgrades and detail parts you’re probably going to spend as much doing that as you would on an Atlas or a Kato. It’s not necessarily bad, though. One thing I like about Athearn is that parts are readily available.
The best thing about Athearn is they are simplicity at it’s best!!!
I have had no problems letting my 4 year old daughter handling one.
Has anyone let their 4 year old handle a Kato, Proto or Atlas units?
I know I won’t let her handle my Proto units due to the detail parts on them.
The BB’s will let my children enjoy my hobby. They are hard to kill, even if they get dropped.
Gordon
Uhhh, it’s not been fixed from what I’ve been hearing.[:(!]
Atlas all the way. does athearn make a Guilford GP40??? atherns are VERY loud!!! Tim
No they don’t. but then again I haven’t seen Atlas make a CPR SD40-2 or AC4400.
As others have stated, Athearns had the origional loco equipped sound system, with out speakers.
I had a couple of my BB SD40-2 at a freinds club layout & I could always tell when they hit this one grade that was out of my line of vision from the cab I was at.
Gordon
They make a Guilford GP40-2. I’ve got 2, and they run just as good as the Atlas’s, but faster and noisier.I also have 10 Atlas loco’s, Including a Guilford Geep and I can’t find one problem with any of them.
I’ve got both Athearn and Atlas. The Athearns are BBs with some extra details I’ve added. They are good workhorses and have never failed to do their job. But, if Athearn is good, Atlas is better. BBs have these anoying grinding noise and jerk a bit when working at ultra low speeds. Atlas work like a swiss clock. Installing dcc in Atlas is very easy, BBs are a bit complicated to adapt dcc boards in them, they’ve got the space tho… In my opinion and experience, I’ll stick to Atlas or Kato, they can be as twice as expensive as any BB, but their worth their price, and sometimes you can find some real great deals on them.
Dave,I find my RTR GP38-2,GP40-2s and SD40-2 s runs smoother and much quieter from the box then my older BB units did from the box.[:D] Better still is I don’t need to tweak my newer GP38-2/SD40-2 like I did my older BB units…That to me is a plus.[:D] I am thinking about replacing the older drive shafts with the new HEX drive shaft on my older BB units[:D]
Why pay $130? Trackside Sales in Attleboro MA are listing the HO version from Atlas for $99 on eBay, item number is 5998761331.
I have purchased from these folk and found them good to deal with. They respond wuickly to emails and are cheerful and helpful on the phone. But beware, they keep modelers hours - 1pm - 8pm weekdays, 10am-4pm Saturday and play with their own trains on Sunday.
John
But I now note that Kleins have the Guildford GP-40 for $60!
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/manufacturer/atlasenginesn_sale.html?scale=N
John
THE OLD Athearn’s were simple - cheap and dependable - if one didn’t care about jerky stops and start’s, unprototypical dimension’s, paint, and a headlight inside the cab.
Atlas engine’s had a superior drive resulting in smoother start’s and stop’s, using half the current, better paint, and more prototypical appearance.
TODAY Athearn’s new RTR line compete’s with Atlas’. Each new release takes aim at the other in attempt’s to match it. So far Atlas has been more consistant, but each new offering need’s to be evaluated on it’s own merit’s. My CF-7’s match anything Atlas put’s out, but I still have more Atlas’.
For me Atlas put’s out more engine’s of the ‘Classic’ Diesel era where Athearn has more emphasis on ‘Modern’ power. Side note: TWELVE wheeled diesel’s do better on larger curves than a 4X8 can offer.
I just bought several Athearn ready to run to try. The Gp 38’s and the Gp 40-2 are running great. I bought a Dash 9-44 cw and what problems! The dcc board is not soldered wires they are clip on wires, the locomotive jerks all over the place, even after soldering all the wires in place. It doesn’t seem to get a good ground. Now I will really look carefully before buying another Athearn ready to run. I think I will put more money into purchase and buy more Atlas!
David,I suggest doing some research on the Atlas forum concerning some reported problems with Atlas engines…Not many but,there are a few.I had DCC/Light boards to go bad in 4 of my 8 GP38s…Easily fix once I realized what the problem was.I had few other minor nuisance problems that was easily fixed including what appeared to be either a piece of dried rice or Chinese noodle in the lead truck of one of my SD35s that was making a clicking noise…[:0] As far as those DCC/light boards I am not sure what happen but,it happen to all 4 units at once at the club.A short perhaps?
So what’s next on the Brakie “hit list” Kato or Stewart?
Thats all thats left, lol.
Naw,You guys forgot Walthers…Kato gets hit enough as it is over poor paint,wiring problems etc…Besides I only own 4 Kato GP35s that I traded for…[:D]
My roster breaks down as follows:
Proto 2000: 16 units
Athearn Blue Box: 13
Bachmann Spectrum: 9
Stewart Hobbies: 8
Athearn Genesis: 4
IHC (Steam):3
Atlas: 2
Kato: 2
Walthers Trainline: 1
Total Roster: 58 units
Don’t get me wrong, I like Atlas and Kato engines, it’s just that they haven’t produced anything lately that would fit in on my layout (Southern Railway in 1957).
Brad