I am in the process of Buying a Pair of HO Scale BNSF GP38-2 from Athearn’s.
How well do these Units run? What about their performance? Any ideas?
Please someone tell me there much better than the SD70MAC’s. LOL. Thanks.
BNSFrailfan.
Genesis or BB?
If BB they run just like any other BB. kinda loud but they pull well and are very reliable
If genesis…Well, I didnt know there were Genesis GP38-2s
No there not the Genesis type. There the Ready to Run type. By the way,What does BB mean?
BNSFrailfan.
Blue box, Athearn’s answer to Mr Coffee.
RTR is an improved blue box, or BB. It is the same frame with a better motor, better wheels, more details and some are DCC ready. You should be very happy with them. Reliable like a blue box but alot quieter and look better.
Thank you all for your help.
BNSFrailfan.
The P2K GP38-2 is FAR superior to any of the Athearn products.
Athearn is fair value. There are other manufactures at higher prices as your tastes change. To get the maximum performance and reliability from your Athearn, google Athearn Tuning. I own several Athearn and though there are features I don’t care for like the bon fire in the cab lighting I also like it as a good solid base for kit bashing.
I think athearn is superior to proto 2000, not in detail, but running wise.
Yeah, until the gears crack and the circuit board craps out.[xx(]
I’ll stick with the big A, thanks.
Which one? The P2K or the Athearn?
BNSFrailfan.
The P-2-Krap
Oh thank God because I still am gona Order the Athearn’s this Monday.
BNSFrailfan.
BNSF
I have 2 RTR series (same as yours) but in GP-60M BNSF. I woudl imagine the boards and motors would be very simialir. I have found they take a bit of cleaing on the motor once and awhile. , (easliy done with small brush and a bit of oil) For me, maybe once every 2 months. I dont get to run them much. They are also bit a light I think comapred to others… But.
They are great runners. I put in the DCC chip \via the plu and play, very simple. And the headllights are great. I will be buying more in that lne for sure. Great inbetween detail/performance/price.
You will be happy. Im a jeaous, I want to get some of the GPs they came out with.
Best Rgerads
Johnk
Do they [ the Athern units] come with metal handrails or plastic like the
protos? Or can you add them?[^]
As far as I know and what I have seen, the Athearn Genisis and the Ready to Run serires are plastic hand rails… At first I was very nervous, but they can take quite a beating.
John k