Speculation can end... http://download.atlasrr.com/ASC4Q2008/87-104%20N%20Ann.pdf Working ditchlights: Illuminated in DC On/Off/Alternating on DCC units Seprate cut levers. Is Atlas trying to one up Kato? Isn't this the first Atlas with working ditchlights and then they go and set them up with individual LED's.
Yep - this ought to be good! I too was curious about the NS units: are they a match for any of the 3 undec styles being offered (CSX/UP, ATSF, or CR)? Now, if only we could pry some new BNSF-style Dash-9's out of Kato...
Me: Yaaaaaaaaaaay! (My wallet: Pleeeeeeease stop...I hurt. ) Alternating ditch lights!? Separate cut levers too. Atlas isn't trying to one-up Kato, they ARE one-upping them. I may have to go factory DCC on these. And three numbers for each roadname, too. Oh, and did you notice the code 55 curved turnouts? Almost makes me wish I was building a layout.
Just from looking at a few pics (including the one in the catalog)... CR and NS have cab headlights. Others have nose headlights. ATSF of course has the gull-wing cab. You've said that before! And I've agreed with you before! Now I want them to wait about a year, though, so it doesn't all hit at once.
They are only doing two road numbers in DCC though, I would have thought DCC would have gained enough popularity by now to warrant all three, they should sell especially well with the addition of the extra functionality of the ditch lights in the DCC version. I guess just getting two will save me a bit of money as they are scheduled to arrive around the same time as my FP45's. Do you think the Atlas photos are of HO models? The detailing looks too fine to me. The curved turnout looks great, I'm almost tempted to hold off track laying until they come out but I want to get trains running. The Atlas code 55 range seems to be growing all the time, this is one area where ME code 55 loses points.
Heeeeeyyyy!! Wassup with this?? NO BNSF Warbonnet Red/Silver???? :tb-tongue: Oh Well ... I can always do what I did with a couple of Kato C44-9's ... decal them myself....:tb-cool:
Just like the presidential candidates: if you say it often enough, it becomes true. Speaking of wallets, don't forget the 70Ace's coming our way too. BTW, it looks like many of the NS units are ex-CR, so CR it is. I think I can handle an NS paint job...
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Not just ditch lights--operating ditch lights! I was actually looking at my preorder for the C40-8s today and was going to post a thread asking if they would do these in widecab versions. Now I know! And yes this will be an expensive next few months: (3) Atlas Dash 8-40C, (2) Kato SD70ACe, and at least a couple of these Dash 8-40CW. With decoders that's about $700--I guess I'll be selling a good bit of stuff on eBay to subsidise this. Jamie
OK, I just posted this YESTERDAY in the FP45 thread.... Wow, working ditchlights even...these look like they are going to be way cool. Lot's of people (me included) have been waiting for these for long time . So lets see now, GP15s, Heritage 70ACe's, FP45s, and now these. It's been a good year....Yowsah!!!
If anyone has seen my wallet/credit card, please let me know. I think they both went into the witness protection program soon after the Dash 8-40C was announced and then really disappeared after the Kato SD70ACe was announced, now this.....poor guy... Just when I went and ordered a new soldering iron and miniatronics bulbs to get the blinking ditch lights on my lead Kato's (Thanks for the motivation Leo!!!), Atlas goes the extra mile. Bravo Atlas!!! Brian
My error, I should have read the fine print.:tb-embarrassed: If they had sound as well they'd have all the bells and whistles (pardon the pun) that the HO guys have. Good thing I have a job where there's plenty of overtime. Makes you wonder whats next, will someone finally get around to an RSD15?
It's been a long time since I bought an Atlas engine with a factory-installed decoders. Early ones were not silent running. Has Atlas improved its decoders of late?
Gary, NS got loads of these puppies from Conrail, some re-painted, others patched, looks like I buy one CR and do a patch and wait with crossed fingers for NS in the future, in any event one heck of a great announcement! Delay the pain on my wallet- more good news! My new Atlas GP40's with factory DCC are very quiet my best, Jan
I'm excited about this one! This will be my first foray into modern equipment. I have many photos of these units, patched and unpatched BNSF. I'll probably order the DCC installed.
Even the first 125 Dash 9s NS purchased were standard cabs. They march to a different drum (quite successfully). Jamie
