Genesis GP 38-2 arrived today

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Just at my LHS picking up more ME ladder track turnouts and my long awaited GP 38-2 had arrived.

At the risk of generating controversy, which I studiously eschew as everone knows, does anyone really make a nicer running locomotive than a Genesis?

Also, I couldn’t help noticing that this model starts its sound effects when operating in DC mode at pretty low voltage, followed by very smooth start up at very low speeds. Dare I say the DC operation seems even smoother than when starting up in DCC mode…

2

I’m sorry Mike, but if you believe that statement to be true then you are totally out of touch with the impact that your past posts have had on many members of this community. You have upset more people with your past statements than any other forum member that I am aware of. With respect, you need a reality check.

Dave

3

Yes. I have several Atlas and Stewart locomotives that run better than my Genesis F3A-B.

4

Yes I had a Genesis and got rid of it, was not impressed at all. Kato, some Atlas, some stuart, even some Proto. How about MTH, I only have used one example of these, but the one I have runs much nicer than than my Genesis ever did, not to say that the new stuff is not a whole lot better than the older stuff, after all Bachmann started out with just toys and I got to tell you for the street price point, they are very nice in their better models (they still make toys too though).

5

I did mean now rather than at some point in the past.

I have one Atlas Silver series S 3 (? not sure which one as I sit here) and it does run well, if a little fast.

I have yet to acquire a DCC Atlas locomotive.

6

I have noticed a number of members taking me literally.

I have also wondered at the remarkable responses to many of my posts by members choosing to do so, for reasons still not clear to me.

I have not deliberately offended anybody.

7

We do tend to take each other at our “written” word around here - i.e. unless a phrase or comment is accompanied by an emoji that indicates that the statement isn’t to be taken too seriously. If not, we ask for clarificaton. That’s the challenge of written dialogue vs spoken dialogue; “obvious” nuances of tone and meaning get lost in the translation.

You know your own heart. If you don’t then you are out of touch, as Dave stated…

Tom

8

Yes you have.

If you seriously meant this comment about not intentionally generating controversy in the community, then you are very out of touch.

I have a feeling I just fell for another baited trap.

I have not been impressed with the Genesis locomotives. Their diesels seem about on-par with Life-Like Proto 2,000, and the Genesis steamer I had was junk.

My best running locomotive is powered by a Proto-Power West chassis with a Mashima can motor. Kato locomotives are magnificent runners. As mentioned previously, the Stewart/Kato F units are possibly the best overall running HO scale locomotives ever made. I have never seen a Scale-Trains locomotive in operation.

-Kevin

9

In all fairness, it’s really clear that this was self-deprecating sarcasm.

He is who he is, and he’s said he ain’t gonna change. That leaves our concern only with amending any wrong impressions he makes when he misses the facts, and that’s something that can easily be restricted to correcting facts rather than reproving people. I myself have often benefited from the former here… including quite recently. I note that in a reasonably large number of instances so has lastspikemike (it’s enough that he straightens up and flies right rather than giving thanks for learning the lesson, at least in my book.)

10

I own many Athearn Genesis locomotives. I did not and will not buy them for their running qualities. While they may be as smooth as many other premium locos from Atlas, Proto, and IM (locos I am familiar with), more often than not the Genesis locos have either a truck tower noise or a motor noise.

I actually think their standard motored RTR SD40s run better.

I’m speaking in terms of DCC.

Additionally, Athearn’s LED migration uses individual LED bulbs in individual sockets, instead of the normal fore and aft LEDs broadcast to the sockets via light pipes. Installation of these LEDS is often not very precise, with some sticking out, crooked, pointed unstraightly. I’ve sent two Genesis locomotives back to the dealer simply because the LED installations were not uniform.

I’ve been on a bit of a rerostering binge and Athearn Genesis and RTR have been my loco of choice. But out of the 14 I have purchased, I have sent 5 back for either noise or LED reasons. Over 33%.

11

I have several Scale Trains locos and several Athearn Genesis locos and i run DC and i can say the Athearn Genesis run better that the Scale trains.

12

Not sarcasm. Irony, yes, but definitely not sarcastic. Mind you, the secret to successful use of sarcasm is concealment of the sarcasm.

Still a simple post generated extensive controversy.

I did notice in one didactic post the connecting of controversy with some kind of personal attack which is revealing.

It seems I must run my new Genesis more extensively before forming an opinion. Although, the identical model I’ve been running for weeks now impresses me identically.

I agree that the best value in running quality from Athearn is their roundhouse line.

13

None of my locomotive fleet has been recently purchased…

The only Genesis locos I have are EMD F units, seven of them. They are DC, they run very nice.

I can offer no other experiances with Athearn Genesis diesels, I have been inactive in the local group around here for a while, and don’t recall any particular opinions or observations from others about other Genesis diesels.

I do have one of the infamous Genesis 2-8-2’s that so many people like to hate on. Admittedly they had some problems. I had two, sold one, one of the very few things I ever sold off.

The other one runs fine - now, like Dr Wayne I disassembled it and added all sorts of weight. It has never cracked the drive gear.

Back to diesels.

I model 1954, the only Genesis diesels that fit my era are the F units and the GP7/GP9.

My roster was full of Proto2000 GP units long before Athearn offered the Genesis GP locos.

Most of my diesel fleet is pre Walthers Proto2000, they all run great, after some gear replacements and sometimes a lighting board rewiring. It is a pretty big list - ALCO FA/FB’s, ALCO PA’s, ALCO S2’s, EMD BL2’s, EMD GP7’s, EMD SD9’s, EMD E8’s, etc, lots of each in most cases, about 65 powered units in all from this brand.

Again remember my disclaimer - all my locos are DC, no decoders, no sound.

The rest of my diesels are mostly Intermountain EMD F units and FP units, they run great as well.

Despite my love of EMD F units, I don’t own any Stewart/Bowser F units. I know they run well, but the lack of detail on the original RTR versions, and the need t find the “version” shell in undecorated, nearly always sent me to Genesis and Intermountain for F units.

I have a few Bachmann diesels, just the GE switchers, 44 ton, 70 ton, and few other odds and ends from other brands.

I don’t own any Atlas locos, the few they have in my era never seemed “available” when

14

That doesn’t change the fact that you have offended several people, some deeply. You seem oblivious to the impact that your printed word has had on some people. Recently there was a flurry of PMs between several members who were upset by the way you state things. Several requests were made to the Moderators to address the situation.

If you are getting this much flak perhaps you need to rethink the way you state things. You claim that your statements are “ironic” but many people are not seeing them that way. At the very least, start using the emoticons. That’s what they’re there for.[*-)]

Again, with respect,

Dave

15

Irony and sarcasm often do not translate well to the written word…

Sheldon

16

So I guess National Lampoon and MAD Magazine didn’t translate well?
I quickly perused Lastspikemikes 10 most recent posts and didn’t see anything snarkier, more opinionated or less tolerant than anybody else’s. I think I did see something about glass houses though.

17

Those publications worked because you knew when you picked it up, what you were getting into…

Assisted by artwork…

And with simple well known cultural references…

Not exactly the same as an online forum where at least some readers are here for somewhat more serious conversation.

I pick up on most of Mike’s comments, but I have taken issue with his insistence on repeating false technical information, or even posting it the first time if he was not really familiar with the science/engineering.

I have no problem with snarky, I’m snarky now and then too.

Some things are opinion, and some things are engineering facts.

My response to this thread was not in agreement or disagreement with Mikes recent purchase experiance, but it is my typical response to most any “brand bashing” responses.

Mike bought the loco and is happy with it, but it does not take long for the Athearn bashers (or Bachmann bashers, or even Proto2000 bashers) to start telling us how good Atlas, KATO (really an N scale company who makes next to nothing in HO), Stewart, BLI and MTH are - they have to be better, they cost more…and they have to be preordered because they make fewer of them…

Everybody in this hobby today owes thanks to Athearn, LifeLike, Roundhouse, Walthers, Bachmann, Atlas, Bowser and a few others for all they have done over many decades to bring this hobby to where it is.

Sheldon

18

Actually, Sheldon, the Stewarts I was referring to are all 20-25 years old and the Atlas, mostly 15-20 years old. Nearly all were purchased NOS off eBay and none of them were pre-ordered. And, because they were NOS, I generally paid 30-50% off MSRP for any one of them. Same with my Proto 2000.

Mike is entitled to his opinion on the Athearns Genesis. He asked an open question in his original post so I answered it. For looks I generally think Atheans are among the best - i.e. at least for the F-units and RS3s. However, I don’t have as high an opinion of them in regards to their runnability. I wouldn’t call that bashing; just stating my own experience with them.

Tom

19

Tom, I understand, and yes he did ask the question.

I was purposely being a little snarky myself.

Most of my fleet was purchased in similar ways, I have 140 powered locos with a dollar cost average of less than $100 each, and 40% of them are steam.

In the last 11 years, I have said more than once that it is foolish to judge these products by the brand. They all have made winners, they all make a few duds, that can often be made to run fine.

They all have strong points, they all have weak points.

I was very clear in my first response that my ONLY Genesis experiance is with seven

20

I have quite a few of Athearn genisis engines from the past 5-6 years and nary a problem with any of them. I can also say that about the other brands I have like scale trains, Walthers, bachmann and a few others.

Every mfg. Has made good and bad locomotives and some have made some real clunkers. I do stay away from the older engines now because I just can’t rebuild them like I used to. Today’s engines are mostly just wonderful to look at and run.

If I get a bad one today I just send it back and ask for a new one or a fix.

Dave