yesterday i got my first Proto 2000 engine from my LHS, it’s a CN high nose GP #4525, it looks great and runs awsome, makes my athearns look like crap.
They are infectious, you buy one,then another,then another,etc etc, i love em, i got 3 SD60’s now the Athearn’s don’t see much lite of day, but i won’t be getting rid of them as they still have a place on the layout
Purchasing that first quality locomotive is a breathtaking experience. I still remember the first time I put a new Atlas on the tracks after running “cheap stuff” up until then. I was nothing short of astounded. Model railroading got a whole lot better. I now own many Atlas locos, --and still have the cheapies-- which I always think I’ll run sometimes, but just never seem to be so inclined.
I agree Shaun, the BB Athearns don’took as nice but the RTR ones are decent looking.
Congrats on the purhase though. I have 3 P2K & 4 P1K units including 2 RDC’s.
Did you buy it at the hobby shop on Ontario St or at Bluewater Trains?
Just curious
Gordon
Nice… I just bought my first engine in 14 years three weeks ago. Its the Proto 2000 GP9 Phase one with DCC/ and QSI sound. It was jaw dropping and the guys loved it at the club layout.
Shaun,
I bought my Proto 2000 Alco S1 switcher last year for 70% off list. Boy! Is it one SWEET running and looking switcher! [:D] Oozes slower than a slug and doesn’t leave behind a trail of slime. (You Oregonians ought to understand that one. BTW, what happened to the Ducks in the 2nd half of the game on Saturday?)
Tom
Ah, I remember my first P1K.
I was running at the time with a mix of BB SD40s and SW1200s, and I thought an
RDC-3 would look nice. When I first ran it, the tears nearly poured from my eyes!
A year later, for christmas, I got a pair of C-Liners (A-B) Suddenly, the fact that the Athearn SD40s didn’t have couplers didn’t seem important. Now I have 4 P1K, 7P2k, 6Kato, and 2 atlas locos. In the past 4 years, I have spent $4000 on locos! I didn’t know I had that much money!
Congrats,
Trainboy
My 1st experience with P2K loco’s was a pair of FA-1s that I painted for the L&N. I have prchased several since, my favorites being my SD45s and my GP60
Bob DeWoody
I bought it on the LHS on ontario street, it’s the only one here.
You will have to get #4588 as well that way you will have a matching set. I have both of them and I think they look incredible, its almost like Life Like lightly weathered them too.
That D&H loco look’s GREAT Gordon, i must get one
Thanks Steve.
If you find another, see if they have two! [;)]
I can never have enough D&H PA’s.
Shaun, D&S Hobbies is the place where I purchased my first Athearn BB SD40-2 CP Rail # 5415.
He’s a bit pricey, but still save you a bunch of time than driving out of town or across to Bluewater Hobbies in Port Huron.
Gordon
I bought a P2K GP7 last year…and it’s so smooth, I can’t believe it! it hasn’t run very much, so it’s a bit noisy, but other than that…it runs great. My roster is still mostly Athearn blue-box but I don’t think that’ll change soon. They run well, and are easy to work on.
I have an athearn blue box that I super detailed that has out lasted my p2k gp18, which I have sent into life like 3 times for new motors. I must have been made on Friday.[:D] I prefer the p2k GP38-2’s, but I buy several of the Athearn rtr when I get a good price.
Even the difference between my PK2 2-8-8-2 and my BLI Class J is amazing, I hope the J gets better after some run time. BLI could learn some lessons on gearboxs from Life Like!!
Ken.
Go for the sound next their great. I love them ! go for the sound go for the sound .Got the gp9 c.n in sound. rambo1…