Hi everyone and thanks in advance to anyone who replies. I am hoping to organize a locomotive consist for a special passenger train. I model Canadian Pacific and my lay-out is DC. Canadian Pacific had a specially painted GP38-2 that ran in passenger service with an F7A/B pair. The GP38-2 in question was/is road # 3084 and is painted in the old maroon/grey script lettering style. I already have the matching locos (road numbers 1401 & 1900)…they are an Athearn RTR F7A/B pair (the “B” unit is a dummy). This F7 is one of my “medium-to-fast” locos (running in DC of course). My question is which GP38-2 to buy, as I already have the paint job covered, to try and match the F7 speed wise. Proto 2000 makes an excellent GP38-2 but I already have one in another paint scheme and it is one of my “slower” units. That leaves the Athearn GP38-2’s (either BB or the newer RTR’s) or spending the time/energy modifying an Atlas GP38. Which would you fine people recommend? Speed-wise, the Atlas would be closer to the F7 (I have a couple of their GP38’s) compared to my Athearn BB GP38-2’s. Anyone have any of the newer Athearn RTR GP38-2’s as I don’t?? Any help or alternate ideas would be appreciated.
I have the last edition of the Athearn GP38-2 as RTR. It has the newer drive train and plastic handrails but is otherwise a BB (bluebox) model.
Supposedly the next release of GP38-2s RTR will have metal grab irons installed, whether it will have the newer circuit board that is DCC ready and has directional lights id doubtful.
To match the athearn F7s I’d stick with athearn too.
First off, that is one very snappy-looking prototype!
Personally, I would kitbash, paint and detail my own from an undecorated GP38-2 kit… The prototype has many features that aren’t on the stock Athearn model, including things like the winterization hatch over one of the radiator fans, angled blower cover, the different long-hood handrail profile on the fireman’s side because of the blower, CP-style handrails over the pilots with their unique bends, and other CP-specific details like the square sandfiller hatches, cab-mounted bell, etc.
It looks like the upcoming Atlas Trainman GP38-2 might be a better starting point. The trainman is a later production GP38-2, so the radiator grills and air filter box will be good to go. The CP-specific parts wound have to be done regardless, or not, depending on what ou want to do. It should run close enough to the Athearn to be OK. Real engines don’t always start up in perfect unison. If the faster one is behind you, you will get a poosh.
