Just subscribed to the channel, Nice to see someone excited about Athearn offering's in spite of some issues. I live in the U.P. and like to shop engine house services when I can as well. I models the late 80's CSX in Michigan. Looking forward to more videos.
Great looking locomotives! I know alot of people dunk on the fantasy schemes Athearn and a couple of other manufacturers does, but they're a fun take on what could have been, I love them!
I'm definitely planning to pick up one of the SP SD70M-2s, but I didn't know they were planning to do something CNW-related, too. Though I collect Conrail, I _do_ generally find these "What-if" locomotives neat, and my personal wish is for an NYC "Lightning Stripe" SD60/70M or a Dash-8 series locomotive.
I have a pair of recent run NS standard cab SD70s and they are probably the coolest looking locomotives on my layout. On one of them though, the front coupler sat really low, despite the pilot being straight, and as a result the front truck was catching the corner of the couple box and causing it to jump the track (didn't happen in reverse interestingly), so carefully using a flat file to sand the top of the couple box so it sat correctly on the chassis fixed the issue.
I wonder if Evemodel's replacement wheels will work on t this loco? You would have to know the gear size, although I assume Athearn would fix the locomotive for you if you notify them of the problem
hello shawn !!! i was watching your video on speed matching from several years back and was wondering... where did you get the blue and white cement trucks that are in the background of the video ? all i can find is plain white ones and i am not a very good painter !!! please inform and keep up the good work !!!
I ran into the same large wheel issue on an Athearn Genesis SD90MAX. I loved the locomotive but could only get it to hold the track in reverse. I ended up selling it…
@@ShawnsTrains265 I haven't installed a Tsunami in about a decade. I use only it's successor, the Tsu2, unless a loco owner specifically requests an ESU. After programming, my Tsu2 power operates as the prototype does in all respects. Also not a fan of not being able to tailor the EQ to the locomotive. Drive Hold is a nice toy, but I have never encountered that function on an actual locomotive. The worst is the ScaleTrains power with the thinnest, shrillest sound in the industry. Their SDL39 is like a 22 year old Geddy Lee is screaming the engine sounds in the Temples of Syrinx. We put a ST SDL with ESU side by side with one with a Tsu2, and the Tsu2 wins that Pepsi Challenge every time. JT Burke's very excellent speakers seem to be the only way to give an ESU diesel some couliones. The Rapido E8 benefits greatly from this easy install. Other installs are much more problematic with all the extra lighting in the way. ST wedges their speaker into the weight opening to the gearbox below, letting all the treble fly right out, making a bad situation worse. ESU's tinny sound works well for Alcos and Baldwins and that power with ESU sounds good, but not EMDs and GEs. "But you can load different sound sets on an ESU!" The ESU power is so shrill, it's hard to tell the difference. I like the brake sounds though, a high pitched sound that ESU excels in replicating.
@TomKlimczak I guess I'd have to really listen to each of them back to back. I'm not as specific to the sound as I am to the ability to program them as I like for protothrottle operations. I thought my SDL's sounded excellent, although I'd like to upgrade the sound on my SD40-2s. I'll pay more attention next time and may have to earn how to better program Tsunami 2 decoders for PT operations. I do love the interface that ESU provides. I appreciate your feedback! If you'd ever like to get together and talk about the differences in detail on video, I'd love to have that conversation. Shawn
@@ShawnsTrains265 I saw a non functional prototype PT at the Naperville RPM years ago. I told Scott T. to take my money. All my engines respond prototypically to throttle input from 'plain' NCE throttles (including braking), but to have an interface that mimicked the feel of the prototype at the input end as well was perfect. A lot of guys have never been in the seat, so it's just a novelty. I think the PT is pure engineering greatness. You'd have to explain options for video conferencing...pm if you want to.
Just subscribed to the channel, Nice to see someone excited about Athearn offering's in spite of some issues. I live in the U.P. and like to shop engine house services when I can as well. I models the late 80's CSX in Michigan. Looking forward to more videos.
Thanks for the sub! Maybe I'll see you at EHS!
Great looking locomotives! I know alot of people dunk on the fantasy schemes Athearn and a couple of other manufacturers does, but they're a fun take on what could have been, I love them!
I'm definitely planning to pick up one of the SP SD70M-2s, but I didn't know they were planning to do something CNW-related, too. Though I collect Conrail, I _do_ generally find these "What-if" locomotives neat, and my personal wish is for an NYC "Lightning Stripe" SD60/70M or a Dash-8 series locomotive.
I don't buy many North American Prototype locomotives anymore, but these are nice looking locomotives.
I have a pair of recent run NS standard cab SD70s and they are probably the coolest looking locomotives on my layout. On one of them though, the front coupler sat really low, despite the pilot being straight, and as a result the front truck was catching the corner of the couple box and causing it to jump the track (didn't happen in reverse interestingly), so carefully using a flat file to sand the top of the couple box so it sat correctly on the chassis fixed the issue.
Fantastic locomotive by athearn, wonderfull locomotive and Paint scheme ❤❤
great honest review thanks!!
Thank you for your honest review. I agree with you that for the price the manufacturers should do better.
Have you tried the Frasteschi AC440! The AC440I Is the South American version of the GE AC440ACW
I wonder if Evemodel's replacement wheels will work on t this loco? You would have to know the gear size, although I assume Athearn would fix the locomotive for you if you notify them of the problem
hello shawn !!! i was watching your video on speed matching from several years back and was wondering... where did you get the blue and white cement trucks that are in the background of the video ? all i can find is plain white ones and i am not a very good painter !!! please inform and keep up the good work !!!
I ran into the same large wheel issue on an Athearn Genesis SD90MAX. I loved the locomotive but could only get it to hold the track in reverse. I ended up selling it…
I'm shocked with athearn I have the old John deer ho train set runs great
Look at smt mainline for vintage model ho trains
The wheel issue is perplexing. Can't agree on the ESU though.
Why do you prefer Tsunami?
@@ShawnsTrains265 I haven't installed a Tsunami in about a decade. I use only it's successor, the Tsu2, unless a loco owner specifically requests an ESU.
After programming, my Tsu2 power operates as the prototype does in all respects. Also not a fan of not being able to tailor the EQ to the locomotive. Drive Hold is a nice toy, but I have never encountered that function on an actual locomotive.
The worst is the ScaleTrains power with the thinnest, shrillest sound in the industry. Their SDL39 is like a 22 year old Geddy Lee is screaming the engine sounds in the Temples of Syrinx. We put a ST SDL with ESU side by side with one with a Tsu2, and the Tsu2 wins that Pepsi Challenge every time.
JT Burke's very excellent speakers seem to be the only way to give an ESU diesel some couliones. The Rapido E8 benefits greatly from this easy install. Other installs are much more problematic with all the extra lighting in the way.
ST wedges their speaker into the weight opening to the gearbox below, letting all the treble fly right out, making a bad situation worse.
ESU's tinny sound works well for Alcos and Baldwins and that power with ESU sounds good, but not EMDs and GEs.
"But you can load different sound sets on an ESU!"
The ESU power is so shrill, it's hard to tell the difference. I like the brake sounds though, a high pitched sound that ESU excels in replicating.
@TomKlimczak I guess I'd have to really listen to each of them back to back. I'm not as specific to the sound as I am to the ability to program them as I like for protothrottle operations. I thought my SDL's sounded excellent, although I'd like to upgrade the sound on my SD40-2s. I'll pay more attention next time and may have to earn how to better program Tsunami 2 decoders for PT operations. I do love the interface that ESU provides. I appreciate your feedback! If you'd ever like to get together and talk about the differences in detail on video, I'd love to have that conversation.
Shawn
@@ShawnsTrains265 I saw a non functional prototype PT at the Naperville RPM years ago. I told Scott T. to take my money. All my engines respond prototypically to throttle input from 'plain' NCE throttles (including braking), but to have an interface that mimicked the feel of the prototype at the input end as well was perfect. A lot of guys have never been in the seat, so it's just a novelty. I think the PT is pure engineering greatness.
You'd have to explain options for video conferencing...pm if you want to.
hello shawn's trains it's is randy and i like yours video is cool thanks shawn's trains friends randy
Wait anthern does a what if series?
They have a select group of Fallen Flags that they have been running in Genesis.
What cvs did you use , would they be the same a tus 1 ?
Heritage units
They would be heritage units if they were plated for CN