New locomotives and rolling stock in HO and N. Read the full story on MR Express: http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/006/019quqpd.asp
Thanks for the information.
$100 difference in price (MSRP) for sound and non-sound F’s and SD45-2’s? I don’t think so, not for MRC sound.[tdn] I’ll be looking for non-sound SD45-2’s in ATSF, thanks just the same.
HO scale
Alco RS-3 diesel locomotives. Denver & Rio Grande Western; Great Northern; Louisville & Nashville; Nacionales de Mexico; New York, New Haven & Hartford; New York Central; and undecorated. See-through cab, plastic handrails, wire grab irons, and Digital Command Control decoder quick plug. $89.98 to $94.98. November 2005. Ex-Roundhouse models. Ready-to-Roll.
That sounds like something good to me!
Crap! i was really wanting the MP15 switcher in CNW. had a couple of those that switched out all the industries in town for years. dad and i just started an HO switching layout 50s-late 60s. would have fit perfect. dont get me wrong, i like mil.road, they had a mainline through town also, but CNW MP15s switched most of it. would have been nice.
Thats only Big news if:
[tdn]1. The models don’t fall apart (eg. Genesis SD70’s gag gag, I’ve yet to get one that will run straight out of the box from the original or current run; RTR stuff that has to have trucks and couplers fixed before they can “roll”).
[|(]2. The models actually will pull something. (eg. Genesis 2-8-2, F7’s that can’t even pull the SuperChief set that they were designed for. Had to break out the reliable Stewarts to do the job).
[:(!]3. They can actually deliver in a finite amout of time (I’m still waiting for 4-6-6-4 ordered in October).
[xx(]4. They ditch those cheapo “kadee wanabe” couplers they are putting on all their equipment these days. They should have stuck to the horn hooks - at least they would hook the cars together.
And ANOTHER RS-3 [zzz]. That is almost as exciting as another F3[8]!. Now if they would have sound in them, but nooooo.
Athearn is in a serious slump. After carrying the hobby for 30 years they have really gone down hill, despite the prices going through the roof. Right now Athearn is on my “DON’T BUY” List.
WT259,
You probably read my post a while back regarding the Athearns. I did post a correction. The update I received was that Athearn will be using LOK Sound decoders, not MRC (thankfully). These are the Europeon sound decoders. You can check out their website at http://www.loksound.com
They have sound samples available, but Europeon locos, not American. However, their is a page that lists what sounds they will be making available. The offerings are very similar to Soundtraxx, but with the bonus of engine variations within the same manufacturer (EMD 2nd gen: 12, 16, or 20 cylinder engines).
If they sound as good as their advertising, Soundtraxx is going to have some very stiff competition.
Wait for the Atlas due out in August.
http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOLocomotives/hors3/7027.jpg
Iginc----
Theres no CNW’s because Athearn is making MP15AC’s. C&NW had MP15DC’s. Atlas is making those. They are coming November or so.
[|)] Yawn! [|)]
Athearn is on my “Don’t waste your money” list. Especially since it was gobbled up by the “Dark Side”.
Good news, but I am still waiting for an excellent HO RS-3. The MDC shell is closer to scale than the Atlas, which along with those odd lugs on the grab iron is pretty much a low-fidelity shell.
P2K are you out there?
YEA! thanks cnw8835, didnt realize that,thank you for bringing it to my attention. theres hope yet! seen MP15 and just got excited.LOL.
Maybe Athearn will use the LOK decoders someday, but I can’t imagine that they would make a major release statement with the wrong sound decoder being identified.
Sounds like it’s MRC sound for these releases (ugh!).
Luckily, I don’t need any of these locos, so I won’t worry about it !!!
Gotta look before you weep, Iginc !!! [;)]
Besides, I think you will get a better loco with the Atlas model !!!
This couldn’t be a result of the change in ownership, could it?? Nah – everybody knows that was a great thing for all concerned…wasn’t it?
[xx(]
Chuck
I haven’t bought any Athearn stuff in about 20 years.Should I take it from the jist of the posts that they’re no longer the good, dependable, trouble free engines like my old GP-38 and SW-7 have been. I don’t care about sound. I have been eyeing one of those Genesis SD-70’s though. Bad investment? Is that why theres so much Athearn stuff for sale on E-Bay?
Hey, lets go easy on Cody, OK? Don’t shoot the messenger…
Athearn is not JUNK.The SD50 they did awhile back is excellent.I dont like the RTR rolling stock though.Id rather buy the kit and fix it right from the start.I only buy the RTR rolling stock when the paintscheme I want is offered.The GP38-2 is still a good engine.Too pricey for RTR though,buy the kit.Has the same hex drive now.Paint is not as good as RTR.Athearns paint work is excellent.Cant wait to see the Chessie SD40.Dan
Sweet! Nice to see such unusual engines being produced ( SD38 and MP15 )
Nothing I can use really, except the MP15 in CSX.
P.S. Why the anti-athearn attitudes?
I always thought you got a lot of bang for the buck with their semi-RTR engines.But that was 20 years ago and they still run great today. Is this not true of their new stuff? I’d like to know before I spend over $100 on one of their new locos.