Hi Guys!
I wonder what the difference is between regular Atlas products and the Atlas Trainman line?
I can read on Atlas Trainman’s website that it’s state of the art and so on… That sounds like Atlas to my ears. They look superb, they are running like an Atlas. I really don’t understand the difference.
For the engines, the drives are the same. 8-pin plug for a decoder, instead of factory installed. The bodies have less added detail: no grab irons, lift rings, MU hoses, uncoupling levers, etc. The locations are on the shell, as on an Athearn. The handrails are a bit thicker, for durability. My son was still able to break part of one off.[censored]
The freight cars are a mix of older tooling (PS-2 covered hopper, 2-bay hopper), and brand new. Most detail molded on. Less fragile parts to break off.
The whole line is designed to be in stock, not limited run. I have 4 engines, and plan on some freight cars. I feel the line offers a good value for the money. At the club, more durable rolling stock is a plus. The cars only need a coupler change to Kadee no.5, the wheels are nice, and they roll very well. Weighted properly for good operation.
Here is my pair of RS32s on the club layout.
The drive is the same as the RS11, so a low-production prototype (65) can show up in plastic.
Trainman locomotives share the same drive as the other Atlas locomotives. You have to add most of the freestanding details yourself. Also, the Trainman locos use blue-white LED headlights as opposed to the golden-white ones on the other Atlas units.
Nick
Actually the Atlas Trainman line is the “low end” Atlas.Since modelers come from all walks of life and financial means Atlas wisely came out with the Trainman Line to enter the low end market.
What I like about the Trainman GP38-2 it compliments the Athearn GP38-2…How? One is a early GP38-2 and the other is a late model GP38-2s as per the air filter box.[:D][8D]
I will be adding 2 “Early” GP38-2s in the future.
My GP38-2s came with bulbs, not LEDs. They were from the first batch of Trainman engines. The RS32s have the blue LEDs. Now that I hooked them up right, they are very bright. When I installed the NCE DA-SR decoders, I hooked up the LEDs backwards. No light. Finally had time to fix it.[;)]
Really? That must be a recent development, my Gold Series Dash 8-40CW that I bought in early 2005, came with blue light LEDs. I’m still trying to figure out how to correct the ditch lights without breaking anything…