I kind of like the rattling noise some of my Athearn diesels make? It sort of reminds me of an idling diesel. My silent smooth running engines seem a bit unnatural. Why are we so hung up on quietness?
I’m not overly hung up on them being silent but a large amount of noise means a lot of inefficiency in the mechanism. That means less pulling power and poor slow speed control. For those that use sound systems for their layout, they probably don’t want the mechanism to be overly loud either.
Warren
I have an old AHM loco that was remotered and when it excellerates it sounds like a real train it even vibrates the layout and it adds somthing to the realism. But all my athearns that make noise buzz like an electric razor no realism there. The athearns are so unpridictable. Some are as smooth as an atlas or kato. Some are so noisy the kids run downstairs and asked what that awful noise it. I certainly dont want people saying my trains sound awful. Joe
I own an Athearn GP38-2 and GP40-2. One is from the early '90s and one was produced in 2003. They both have a low growl that is fantastic.
Some of my Athearn locos are noisier than others. I have a GP60 that’s amazingly quiet and smooth, but I also have a Dash 9 that makes strange clicking noises when running backwards, despite my best efforts to find the cause!
I agree I LOVE the sound of a growling Atheran In fact a few months ago I put up a post about this very subject and I think about 50 people agreed with us that they liked the sound of there noisy Atherans.
Jeremy
My athearn engines do the same as every one else but i have a proto 2000 sd45 i was modify the light dodad and i put tape over the U joint and i forgot to take the tape off and when it runs at a slow speed or it runs backwards it sounds kinda like the real thing.
Well, they do make noise, but they are also more reliable and can run longer at a time than say… Life-Like s or AHM s
Most of my Athearns are noisy as well. My newer SD40-2’s & my VIA P42 are actually rather quiet.
I kinda like them noisey as I know they are working. I can turn my back & know they are still moving around the track.
Gordon
Saw the thread and was wondering which Athearn was considered noisy, as I thought they all were!
Yes, they are!
i find that most of my athearns have some noise, others are very quiet. i like some of the sounds as they are quite realistic. in fact i have an OLD varney that sounds so much like the real thing it is hard to believe.
jon
Personally I don’t like noisy locos. Some noise is expected but quiet is better when you are considering using sound effects. Also the swishing sound is just irratating on cheaper models. I do have some Athearn switchers that run really quiet.
RMax
i got a question. yesterday i bought an Atlas GP40 Burlington Norther locomotive. I already have a Athearn GP50 Burlington Northern locomotive and i want to run the two together when i finally get a layout started. so i set up a 5 foot section of straight track today just to see how much Great Northern stuff i have an test out what i bough yesterday. so i set up the 2 locomotives together and start moving forward. i hear this rattling sound or something like that when they started to move. so i took off the Atlas locomotive and ran the Athearn and again i heard this same sound. i’ve ran the Athearn on my friends layout without a problem, no noise at all, nothing. i’ve also ran it a couple times on my straight section of track without a problem. my friend cleaned the wheels so i don’t think it would be those but i haven’t ran any of my trains for at least a month or 2.
what should i do about this?
When someone comments on Athearns being too noisy, I say the real thing is not quiet. Or if I happen to be railfanning with an anti-Athearn modeler and a train goes by, I say that is too noisy like an Athearn!
I agree with you 100 % rocky451…
Hello Rocky & Jeremy,
[:)]You’ll find that most modelers are not “anti Athearn”. Please keep in mind that realistically It’s more of the scenario that:
[1] [4:-)] Atlas, Kato, Stewart and some of the other model locomotive manufacturers have raised the standards by producing detailed locomotives with much tighter fitting gears that have resulted in quiet running. This has “spoiled” many of us.
[2] Because high quality “sound systems” for HO and N scales are now available, many modelers (yes, me too) have looked at Athearns and started to “notice the things that we took for granted before”. Since EXACT prototype locomotive sounds are available, modelers will suddenly find the “growl” from some Athearn trucks a little distracting or annoying. Should we stop buying Athearn’s blue line? No! Truck gears can be polished and A-LIne offers quiet running Athearn replacement trucks.
Keep in mind that Athearn helped set the standards back in the 60s and 70s when we had HO scale Tyco and Bachmann locomotives with 3 pole motors & rubber traction tires jerking down our brass model railroad track! Believe me, I was pleasantly surprised when I bought my first powered Athearn in 1977 took off the shell and saw a DRIVESHAFT and a motor in the center, instead of a sorry 3 pole truck motor! It was a thrill then!
Athearn locomotives are now, unfortuantley, in the same position that Tycos and Bachmans were back in the 70s. Companies have come along and raised the bar! Athearn is fighting back with the Genesis line. I do see the days of the affordable "Blue Box Athearn locomotive numbered. I still need one more Santa Fe FP45. Price has jumped from $39.50 to $52.00. Yipes![:0]
Most of us age 30 and older got started with “realistic model railroding” wit
To Antonio:
Im not bagging on the other companies, I agree that companies like Kato and Atlas have raised the bar. But people get these engines and feel the need to start saying things like " i’ll never use Atheran" or Atherna engines are crappy " knowning darn well that they started with them and still use them on there layouts,
You’re right Jeremy, but just consider that they’re probably venting. (And yes, I’m guilty as charged, [:p]as I’ve been one of them). 4 months ago I bought a brand new Athearn FP45. I almost “blew my stack”[:(!] when I test ran it and a loud “click-click-click” noise came from the front truck. At 5 scale mph the unit “jerks” slightly which reminded me of Tyco units from years back. It’s likely flashing or spurs in the gear, so I have to:
[1] Take it apart, check and clean the gears,
[2] Apply Pearl Drops tooth polish, as recommended by a close friend of mine.
[3] Reassemble the truck, Run the engine for 30 minutes straight.
[4]Take the truck apart again, wa***he gears and lubricate them with gear oil.
[5] reassemble it and it should run more quietly.
[*] In this case, might as well do the rear truck…
In my case with family, work, and obligations, my model railroading time is very limited as I’d rather spend the time detailing, painting, or upgrading - [|(]Not repairing a brand new locomotive!
Again, cases like this are maybe why you hear modelers make negative comments about Athearns, but just like me, they will probably continue to purchase them new or used. Most of us can’t affort to buy Katos or Atlas units regularly, but Athearns are still affordable (for how long?) and for a few dollars can be “tweaked” and made to run well. Peace![:D][8D][8)][:)]
Try putting the strip of the thin foam sheet that comes with Athearn’s locomotives to work to reduce noise resulting from the motor vibrating and this sound resonating within the shell. Cut a strip just a bit wider than the motor is long, and long enough to make a “U” about the motot from the frame over the top of the motor and down to the frame again. When the shell is returned to the frame, it should be a fairly snug press fit. This reduces or oven prevents the motor from vibrating and the result is a 50% plus reduction in the echo chamber noise.