im planning to get this atlas loco(see link) its an alco c424 by atlas. is this loco really as good as ive heard it is?
$75 is a big expense for me, espically after $175 for all the track for the new layout, and i dont want to waste a penny.
my atherarn F7 and roundhouse RS3 are good, but i want to get something new and smooth running for the new layout. so is there any real downside to atlas, or this loco in particular? i have 18 inch minimum radius curves, and #4 turnouts.
thanx in advance
GEARHEAD426
ATLAS is good but too expensive for me. i don’t think they are as good as the M.S.R.P. suggests(any loco not just the c424) i think the athearn rtr’s are comparible to atlas. the only difference is athearns can be noisier than atlas but they are almost as smooth athearn has good detail. i have no experience with athearn genesis yet but i hope to get one soon.
Atlas is top quality! As much as I love a well broken in Athearn, I would rate Atlas second only to Kato as far as running qualities. You might shop around a bit and see if you can get the C-424 for a bit less.
The Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price has gone up for all the brands in the last couple of years and Atlas is right in line with all the other companies at the same level such as Kato, Athearn Genesis (not RTR), LL Proto2000.
While Athearn has upgraded their old BB models with a new universal and nicklesilver wheels, they still utilize the older style open-frame motor which contributes a lot to their noise and a slightly higher power draw. However Athearn RTR is still a good money value.
Remember, “You get what you pay for.”
Atlas is worth every penny and then some.
If you do some smart shopping on line or from the mags, you can save a lot of money.
Remember, there is a lot of JUNK out there…
gtr
Atlas, Kato, Stewart(got their FT and it is SILENT), Proto 2K and at the top(for me) a BLI E7 that is so smooth and well modulated I could use it as a switcher.
I’ve said in another post here but it fits with gtr’s truism of “…getting what you pay for” The variance is “I can’t afford cheap.” With cheap you get lousy performance and poor reliability. You wind up spending more in the long run when you finally get so frustrated you decide to replace your cheap purchase.
Do the eBay thing and mail order they both offer some fantastic reductions from MSRP.
From your bio: Boring CT?
Fuel your passions and the geography doesn’t matter anymore.
YES!!! I have 2 Atlas C-424s, in CP, they are the smoothest running engines I own, and the details are incredible! Not to mention the nose headlight on the CP and CN models, I hardly ever run my other locos now! And that includes a bunch of Katos and P2K!
Oh yeah, I have to disagree with some of the guys on here though, and say that they seem smoother yet than my Katos, and my BLI lacks alot being up to par with any of the others (P2K, Atlas, Kato).
I have several Atlas locos and P2K locos, and I really can’t tell any difference in the running quality between them, yet the P2K locos cost 1/2 as much. I think a lot of what brand you buy depends upon who makes a specific engine style. If brand X is the only one who makes a XYZ-8 loco, then that pretty much makes the decision for you.
Atlas is at the upper end of the mid range locos, both in quality and price. They are definitely a cut above Athearn or any other locos priced below them. They run much smoother and quieter than Athearn. Never had a Kato so I can’t compare them to that.
I have an Atlas GP-40 and a Trainline F40. Both pull identical rakes of Athearn Bombardier commuter cars. Coming out of the yard on our club layout the Trainline marches right up a grade and the Atlas spins on the same track.
What does this mean? The Atlas is apparently lighter than the Trainline, does that make it better or worse?
Oh yes, I have (gasp!) Bachman F 40’s which go up the same hill with the same load with no problems.
i had an experience with my atlas u33c today-- the gear in the rear worm housing went out (not the worm but the gear it drives) and the front driveshaft will not stay on --the motor is almost as loud as an old athearn b-b. i had it all apart today to determine the problem. i don’t think it’s much better than athearn RTR- also the driveshafts are no thicker than toothpicks -i’m serious i don’t see how they can take the torque this motor generates. b-b gp38-2 driveshafts are 3 times thicker than the atlas.
Buying quality products is cheaper in the long run. All of my Atlas engines are still in service. One or two I’ve replaced gears on but the parts were available. The availability of parts for the Atlas engines I have make them a much better value. I have only been back into the hobby since about 1989. One of my first Atlas engines stopped running. I popped new brushes in the motor and it was like new. Now I have purchased many cheaper engines over the years. Most of them are no longer on the roster. Some I just quit using and gave away to those just starting in the hobby and many died. Your Atlas engine is kind of like an investment. I’ll bet that your Atlas C424 will still be in service 20 years from now (unless, of course, some 4 year old gets his hands on it.)
i have an FP7 from the 70s or 80s -i picked out at the LHS but don’t get it til’ X-mas
the LHS had another one for $26 (i only bought one of them) which if it’s still there i can’t affoard not to get . i’ve been told a properly maintained and lubricated vintage Atlas is just as good as today’s atlas ,proto2000 ect.
Atlas really is that good. And when you think that Athearn RTR are in the 60 to 80 dollar range and the Atlas are the 70 to 90 dollar range, the difference isn’t that great.