I mentioned this a week or so ago but I was just running trains as I do when I decided to place my old reliable on the tracks. Thirty-Seven years ago I purchased an Atlas GP-38, Illinois Central engine and was so impressed how it ran. It now stands as the oldest on the WTRR.
The motor is still quiet and runs like a charm, it is truly old reliable.
ICG even dedicated on of these to Casey Jones.
She still works the yards and sometimes she’ll even take some freight for a short run to the next town. I don’t have a train museum but if I did she be the first to be inducted.
Still working the yard like she’s out looking for the next run.
I have three Atlas locos from the 70’s. Two GP40’s that are now wearing Bachmann shells and sporting Digitrax DZ125 decoders. The third is a FP7A in original Pennsylvania paint. All three run quiet and smooth.
Those old Roco-built Atlas diesels were made to last! I have an old SD24 I picked up at a train show, and even before a tune-up, it ran as smooth as a brand new engine![:D]
My uncle used a modified Atlas/Roco GP chassis to repower a Bachmann GP30 a while back (before they upgraded to a Spectrum chassis). I was tuning up his old stuff, which had been sitting practically un-used for a decade, and I was impressed with how smooth and quiet that Roco drive was. The 4-axle gearing seems to be quieter than the 6-axle. I also once saw an old MR article that showed how to improve Athearn performance by replacing the trucks with Roco trucks.
Yeppers, those Atlas/Roco units are plenty durable. This is a pic of one I purchased back in ‘74 shortly after they were released, an SD24. I used a Tyco GP20 low nose on her and here she is very recently pullin’ the 2.5% grade on the Mt Hood RR.[C):-)]
Believe it or not, the ole gal on the left is a Mantua model purchased in 1969, and it still runs! Better than some newer stuff I’ve seen. The one on the right is a British Triang piece that lasted 25 years before it fried (notice the hook and loop coupler!).
Yeah, those were great locos. I had six of them, SD24s and SD35s. I converted two of each to Canadian-style safety cabs, but eventually got rid of them all when I backdated my layout to the '30s.
This old girl, from John English, is still around, although she’s currently torn-down for another cosmetic rebuild. Still equipped with the original open-frame motor and a very smooth runner and great puller, I got it, used, in 1957.
I still have an SD40-2 that I bought when my son was young, about 25 years ago. I took it down off the shelf, set it on the tracks, and the thing would barely move. I guess it was just optimism that made me think otherwise. I disassembled the trucks, cleaned them and repacked (loosely) with LaBelle’s white grease. A drop of LaBelle oil on the u-joints, motor bearing, and it’s running as good as new (well, it still has that Athearn Blue Box locomotive growl at low speeds). I still have a dummy SD40-2, painted in the Spirit of 76 colors, that’s still in the box. Maybe one day, I’ll get some trucks, driveshafts and a nice can motor and make it a live unit.
I dont own it any more but when I was a kid I had like many from the 70’s a Tyco GP20 Chatanooga Choo Choo set. It was the christmas train and served at that role for many years. Some time later my sister’s friend gave me a bunch of other Tyco stuff and it had a BN GP20 that was dead. I swapped shells and ran the BN engine for a few more years. I liked the BN engine better since I would see BN engines pulling trains around my home. That engine sat on a shelf for the next 20 years until around 2004 when I started building my first “real” layout. I put the train on the rails not expecting much and to my disbelief it ran great and was still able to pull a good amount of cars. By this time I had moved on to higher quality models and the Tyco just did not fit with my collection any more so I sold the engine, along with all my other Tyco stuff at an auction. As far as I know that engine still runs with it’s new owner.
Three of my locomotives are 47 years old, dating from 1964–Akane Yellowstones. I bought one new, acquired the other two used. The only thing I’ve done mechanically to them is to replace the original one’s motor and the rubber tubing on all three with NWSL Universals. Two still have their original open-frame motors.
They’ve been giving me trouble-free performance for decades–built like Sherman tanks, pull like a team of oxen.
When it comes to non-Atlas old runners one of the oldest I have is a 70’s era AHM/Rivarossi U25C that has the original motor and drive and still runs good. It didn’t run worth a hill of beans when I got it but after a good cleaning and servicing it’s now a fairly descent runner considering it’s age. Another old loco I just rebuilt is a 70’s era Athearn SD45. It’s also a good runner and has been upgraded with a new motor, nickle silver wheels and DCC. You can tell at a glance it’s an old model because of the wide hood.
