Yes its true! Athearn will be releasing the SD60M and SD60I in its genesis line. ETA is March the roadnames are BN, UP, BNSF(9297), and Conrail hense the SD60I. They are going to be 2 window so you can bet im going to get a couple in BN.
What do you think, are they going to be better than P2K’s? Hopefully their equipt them with sound and working ditchlights. Then I’d be very interested.
Zak,Not to start a fuss but,P2K is losing face with a lot of the local modelers mostly due to detail boo-boos and some running issues-mostly different gear ratios.Many feel P2K is no longer worth the price.
Larry,
I would put up a huge fight with you on behalf of P2K if we were having this conversation about 2 years ago because my SD60Ms from them run great (in DC) but last year I bought a GP30 and a GP38 and both of them were horrible when it came to performance. I couldn’t even run then right out of the box because both of them had problems. With all the crap that everyone gives about Athearn’s, my Athearn’s run so much better than those two.
This is also good because you can’t find a P2K SD60M anymore.
The P2K SD60M’s were great models i had one but the one i had was way too slow. I hope the athearn models do have ditchlights that would be great!!!
I’d have to agree with Larry about Proto 2000. Ever since the GP60 and SD60 came out, the prices have sky rocketed and various niggles have abounded (SD50/60 side frames,SD45 running at a different speeds than most other engines, etc etc.)
I do own a goodly number of P2K but they are stored in boxes right now so I can’t comment on running qualities of most. (2 SD7’s, 2 SD9’s, 1 PA, 11 GP30’s, 1 GP60). I opted not to get the SD50 based on a number of factors like the side frames and the color they painted the Rio Grande units was yukky. When they offered the SD60M, there was an unsightly gap between the cab and the body! It appears that Walthers is reversing the trend of issues with the models with the release of the F7 which is reportedly a very nice model. I have pre-ordered some and they may be the first P2K model I will purchase in many years. (due early next year).
In the mean time, Athearn has been getting the lions share of my loco purchases with the tunnel motors and the up coming RTR SD45’s etc.
I have a SD60, I believe it’s a P2K and it runs ond looks fine. I haven’t experienced the problems mentioned but I only have the one. Good reason to run it tonight to make sure it’s OK. [:D]
So the gap between the separate cab part and the body wasn’t that noticable on your model? At the time they were released, people complained about it and it was easy to see in pictures.