Looking for BN switcher in HO

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi,

I’ve been looking around on the web for a Burlington Northern yard switcher. It seems the Athearn line of SW1000’s have been discontinued. I have found the following MP15DC at Trainz.com but am hesitant because it shows a CAD drawing and not an actual picture. Does this imply a pre-manufacturing order?

http://www.trainz.com/p-178542-atlas-9951-bn-mp15dc-1000.aspx?CAWELAID=514508728

I have also found one at Historic Rail but I did a forum search here on the company and don’t want to take my chances (time and quality of product). Plus, it doesn’t list the manufacturer. I’ll have to say, it looks really good in the small picture, but the price seems a little low to me for those details.

http://www.historicrail.com/product_info.po?ID=20153&product=Models+and+Kits&category=railroads&subcategory=North%20American

I like this style of switcher but am open to other options. Do you guys have any suggestions for locomotive type that are in production and quality manufacturers?

2

Athearn are releasing a BN sw1500 at the end of march

3

Cool!

I just found some Broadway Limited EMD NW2 locos. These seem like quality locos with great sound. Are they worth the price?

4

I guess that would depend on “what” that price is and how they’e equipped, DC, DCC, Sound?

Just like buying a car or most anything else, the options run the price up…

Mark

5

I’d recommend the athearn SW10/15s. I have an SW10 awaiting a soundtraxx install.

The Level detail on the athearn is far better than the BLI and the Atlas (at least as far as prototype stuff)

6

I have a BLI NW-2 with QSI factory sound. It’s a great runner and sounds great too.

FWIW when I visitied Northtown (Mpls) yard in the eighties / early nineties, most switching was being done by SD-9s.

7

If’n you’re after a “switcher” with more beans, you might try an SD9. Both Broadway and Walthers are coming out with BN versions. They should pull a good bit more but aren’t a whole lot longer than a regular switcher. But I doubt they’d work if you’re talking about 15" industrial curves.

Ed

8

How is the Athearn as a runner? All I’ve ever owned were Athearns so I don’t know if I’m missing out on something. I guess prototypical details are at the top of my list followed closely by smooth, quiet operation at low (scale) speeds. DCC w/ great sound out of the box would be a great bonus. Basically I want it to look awesome, run awesome, and sound real.

9

Regarding the Athearn SW1000, the one I have is as smooth a runner as any of my Atlas, Proto, BLI or Stewart engines. This newly retooled run has a different motor than the traditional Athearn RTR & Bluebox motor, it makes all the difference in the world.

The details on my Burlington one match the prototype very closely and the paint is excellent.

I don’t think you will be disappointed in either the SW1000 or SW1500.

Mark Gosdin