Well, Atlas has been on the top of my list for a while. I am planning on getting wider curves, to accomodate the min. dia. that the engine, as well as most of the freight cars need.
So my main 2 questions are :1) Do you have an Atlas GP30, and 2) have you had any problems with it?
Since no one else will break the bad news to you, I guess that I will.
Atlas don’t make a GP-30 [:(]
They do make a GP-35, but the GP-30s are (and have been) made by Lionel and MTH
As for Atlas’s locomotives, the are great engines, good looking, well detailed, and good runners.
The only problems I’ve had with my SD-35 is the 2 rail couplers (I have the 2 rail version) are too stiff, and occasionally, the reversing headlight won’t come on in the forward direction.
I just remembered that Atlas makes the GP35, not the 30. Thank you for the rest of the information.
Lionel has just made a partial shipment of their new UP and CSX GP30s. See the other O forum for a brief review of the CSX version – the reviewer liked it! I preordered the UP version and hope mine comes in soon![:)]
I just acquired an atlas classic n scale GP-30 per the case it came in. I am just beginning modeling and need some advice on this engine. My starter setup is a walthers life like GP-18 that runs well. The power controll of course the cheap starter type. The atlas takes 80% throttle to start up and runs runs very fast. The cab light starts flickering at about 40% throttle and stays bright when it is running. When reducing the throttle the engine stops at about the 40% mark. Slow speed operation is impossible. The track is new unitrack. Another new life like sw-8 runs fine and so does a used bachmann f7 although it takes higher throttle to start rolling but runs fine. The atlas I got on ebay looks like new. I would guess it is contacts, with no screws visible what is the correct way to disassemble it.
I kept fooling with it and found how to get it apart. I found it has a Digitrx DZ121 decoder installed. Does this affect how it runs on dc?
tmcc - give it time, my man. Atlas seems to be following the protocol of producing in O-gauge the engines, rolling stock, and cabooses (or cabeese if you will) that they first produced in HO and N.
I myself own a MTH Premier GP30 (Chessie 6964). It is nothing less than the workhorse of my fleet, probably logging more “mileage” then all our other engines put together. I wouldn’t trade it for a free Atlas anything.
Colin, remember this old picture?
Will run throught 027 switches if it does not hit the switch stands. Pulling a long line of grain cars on the new layout right now. Great with TMCC and Railsounds.
Colin,
I have one of their GP-35’s and it is an impressive runner. Excellent slow speed, quiet, and a good puller. The cruise control is very good and the detail is what you’ve come to expect from Atlas.
Nice too see this topic back up. I was going to post one about it again, but I see that it is back up. I found an Atlas Reading GP35, with TMCC, RS, and EOB for, wait… $295.00 blowout. Is that a good deal or what. I don’t know if I am going to get it, because I just found a $520 BMX MirraCo bike that I want.
If it is not the Trainman series, yes.
Atlas doesn’t make a Trainman series GP-35. The only Geep unit they produce in the Trainman line is the GP-15…