Who still runs Athearn switchers?

bogp40 · October 28, 2004, 8:22pm

QUOTE: Originally posted by aloco

Formerly known as the SW1500, the Athearn SW7 was the most popular plastic model of a GM switcher in HO scale. I had several of them, but they began to disappear when I started replacing them with Life-Like GM switchers. Both makes have their pros and cons. The Athearn switcher shell is more durable and easy to remove without breaking, while the Life-Like switcher shell is more accurately detailed. The Life-Like switcher runs better, but the weight of the Athearn switcher is more evenly distributed.

I used to have some Athearn Baldwin S12s too, but I decided to let them go because Baldwin switchers didn’t fit in with the theme of the CP Rail segment of my railroad (prairies and southern Ontario). I do have a Stewart VO1000 done up for my fictitious short line, and while the shell looks great it doesn’t run much better than an Athearn Baldwin switcher.

You must have a defective VO1000- Any of the new Stewart Baldwins I have seen or used run smooth and quiet. My only problem with them is that they are a bit to light and had to use N scale decoder.
Bob K.

Anonymous · October 28, 2004, 8:30pm

I have 5 Athearn sw7 and 1500, UP, WP,SP…

Anonymous · October 28, 2004, 11:25pm

2 Athearn SW1500. Detail being added as per prototype. Directional lighting awaiting installation.

Anonymous · October 28, 2004, 11:30pm

On another thread I listed my Athearn SW-7 as my favorite. I’ve had it for 25 years. It’s gone through 4 sets of brushes and been converted to DCC. Still holds its own in the yard. When I converted it to DCC, I soldered jumper wires from the frame to the trucks. This improved electrical pickup alot. The other side of the truck used the metal strap that ran across the top to get juice to the motor. It was replaced when the DCC conversion was done. I have since done all my Athearns like this.

ericsp · October 28, 2004, 11:55pm

I have a SP SW1500 and a WP SW7 (carrying an SW9 number).

Anonymous · October 29, 2004, 12:01am

I have probabaly 4 or 5 SW7’s, (Plus a couple more train show second handers waiting for rebuild) and I have no complaints! I painted one up as NKP 233, and another will be 239 , Both SW’s that my Uncle ran out of Toledo in the 60’s for the NKP. They run great if you keep them clean and lubricated.

Anonymous · October 29, 2004, 6:39am

I have a couple of SW7s - one’s an Amtrak example while the other’s from the Special Edition set they did a few years ago for the PB&NE steelworks line. Both run, though they’re not amongst my best Athearns - problem would seem to be that the flywheels are not big enough, and they both growl worse than the rest of the fleet. Having said that, I’m keeping an eye out for an undecorated dummy “Calf” unit to convert into a slug for use with the PB&NE example, as per prototype.

rogerhensley · October 29, 2004, 8:50am

Yes, I run a 20 year old Athearn SW-7 custom painted as a local road CIW #88. It started as a ATSF cow and calf set, but the powered calf chassis found itself under the tender of a 2-8-0. Both are still running well, thank you very much.

CP5415 · January 28, 2005, 8:55pm

I have 4 of them
A pair of SW7’s, one of which I just picked up today brand new from my LHS & one each of a SW1000 & SW1500

Gordon

Anonymous · January 28, 2005, 9:39pm

Does this count? I have an Athearn fframe powered by Proto-West and a bod y I cant identify. Its got a short pug nose. It did run on a stock Athearn frame, and ran quite well, but now runs smoother.

Art

mustanggt · January 28, 2005, 10:35pm

I have a dummy Rock island SW1500 and a 60’s-70’s vintage Santa fe SW7. the dummy sits with a ballast train and the other one is in a box somewhere. Hopefully Athearn will make the SW1500 in the ready to roll line someday.