WOW! What a model! We (internettrains.com) got first shipment in of these babies and I just had to take one out of the pay check. The model I got was Amtrak west #461 in Surfliner paint. Out of the box all you will want to do is look at this thing for 5 minutes straight as it is such a beauty. Shell: The shell is VERY well thought out and done. Athearns engineers must have taken a considerable amount of time in tooling up for this one. The shell it's self fits together like a puzzle almost but is not complicated. The rivet and fan detail is amazing, amongst everything else. It seems to me from viewing prototype photos I shot that Athearn hit the dimensions right on the money and didn't miss a thing (for instance, there are even grab irons on the snow plow). I could go on, but you just have to see it in person to understand. Paint: The painting on my unit was the BEST I have seen, periode! The silver, black and blue are all applied very thin and evenly over the surface, resulting in a semi glossy finish that is just gorgeous! The printing on these units is appled very thinly and doesnt look thick and super glossy like Atlas's recent lettering. All together, the paint job matches the quality of detail on the shell, simply amazing! Running quality: Though not any where close to being as quit as a Kato P42, this engine does run on par with recent releases from Atlas and Life Like and uses the same, now popular split frame mechanism design. These engines will MU with Kato engines as they are pretty fast, though their slow speed performence is superb. I will try and post some pictures within the next couple of days, but untill then, I urge all of you modern day railfans to look into these units at your LHS. Seeing these units will make you want one.....I'm sure.
Here is a link to a website that has TONS of cool information on it about how things work (hence the name). The link below will take you to the article on how diesel electric locomotives work in general, the cool part is they do their article on an F59PHI. I would highly suggest taking a look. http://www.howstuffworks.com/diesel-locomotive.htm
I read the article on the F59 and it is pretty impressive. It almost makes you feel like you know enough to fire one up and go for a run! Great find Craig!
Here is the first picture. I have a few more but when trying to upload them to railimages.com I get a "cannot overwrite" message. What does that mean?
Not sure exactly but you cant upload a picture with the same file name. Craig next time it happens can you email me the complete error code please. [ 21. December 2002, 06:46: Message edited by: Colonel ]
Craig, Thanks for posting the picture...all I can say is WOW! In some ways, I am sorry my era uses F40's. Jeff The Augsburg & Concord Railroad (a freelanced shortline in central Illinois) Visit us on the web: http://www.pegnsean.net/~revnjeff
Craig, I believe that you are trying to upload an image file that has the same name as one already in your album. I had a similar problem a few months ago. I suggest that you either change the name of the file being uploaded, or delete the existing file from the album.
Yeah, now if we can get SOMEBODY to make a decent F40PH so us 70's-80's era modelers can have some of the same fun! [ 21. December 2002, 16:17: Message edited by: Maxwell Plant ]
I don't particularly need one of those but they sure are purdy!Just may have to find an excuse to spend the money.I wonder what Athern has up their sleeve for the next few releases!
just got the Amtrak West #2 and ran it on my test track,this is sweet!!!!!Went in and painted the top grills and handrails on the snowplow.Sound a little geary,but I dont mind the sound.Runs great and fast!!Athearn has done a fantastic job capturing the look of this loco!!I went to Auburn,between Sacramento and Grass Valley,where I live, to pick up my girlfriend and the train with this loco and three Superliners was an hour and a half late.The train had hit a car on the tracks!!!! Go figure
Dangerboy, They have these babies in Canadian roads as well; I'm getting the West Coast Express (when they get here). I can't remember if they have any Eastern Canadian goodies or not, but I think they do.
