Hi everyone, I have been reading alot of the post and many of the old post to get many helpful tips. I thank all of you who have made this happen. I was at my favorite hobby store today and came across a HO Atlas silver series GP 40-2. It is a road name I like and is hard to get. Is this Atlas’s top line and is it good? I have Athern rtr, Spectrum, Bachmann, and BLI. I run on DC. I plan on going to DCC down the road after I put an addition on my garage for my layout room in a year or two. Wife has giving me the ok for that. Right now I am working on HO 4x8 for my first complete layout. Started many times on one and that was about it. This is my first true learning curve. Sorry to be long winded and scattered. Thanks for any input on the Atlas silver series.
Atlas silver is about the same as atlas gold. Silvers won’t have a sound decoder though.
I have some Atlas Silver series locos and they are very good quality.
It is smart of you to go with a four axle locomotive such as the GP40 because a 4 x 8 layout will have small radius curves. Larger 6 axle locomotives would not look as good on tight curves and could derail more easily if track is not perfect.
Good Luck with your layout!
I have one and really like it–non DCC
For a 4X8 you might also try their RS3s --They look good on small layouts
Atlas silver is quick plug equipped but doesn’t have any decoder from the factory. Gold is DCC/Sound. It’s the same motor/gearing on Gold, Silver, and Trainman. I have several silver loco’s, about half my fleet. I’m doing the same thing you are. I’m running DC and figure at some point going DCC. Atlas silver is a good choice for this. Basic decoders are reasonably cheap when the day comes. Some of the newer silver series have the weight molded in a way that will take a sound speaker if you take an insert out.
The Atlas Silver series will run smoother and better than the engines you listed.
I have all Golds but my understanding is that the Silvers are the same exact loco without the decoder and speaker installed. I hear nothing but good things about them.
As mentioned the Silver series is exactly the same quality of drive and body as the Master and Gold series. I have numerous Silver series and over 20 of the Master series. The 1/2 dozen or so Silver series were outfitted w/ Atlas’s “Dual Mode” decders to maych the rest of the Master series. You won’t ever regret selecing any Atlas loco. They are some of the best running and most dependable engines I own.
The only better runner is my Stewart/ Kato F units.
Thanks for the input. Sounds like everyone is please with there atlas power locomotives. Of all the locomotives I have the BLI runs the best. They want $110.00 for locomotive. it seems to be a good price. Thanks again.