I'm trying to get my hands on one or two Athearn FP45s (ATSF), but they always seem to be the DCC/Sound versions that are available. Does anyone know if these can be run as DC without modification or if DC boards are available for these? Thanks! Want to run a late 60's El Cap or combined Super Chief / El Cap.
They run on DC. Just they need a bit more throttle input normally to get started. I played around with a pair of F45s with sound a while back. Once the locos were moving, if you flip the direction switch, you can get horn activation.
Thanks BN Freak! These are the ones I have in mind. Did Athearn ever release these D.C. only? All I ever see are the DCC/Sound.
I knew about the SuperFleet ones. And while I REALLY like that scheme, they are not the era I'm looking for. It would have been nice if those had been around for passenger service. But the ones with the smaller black "Santa Fe" lettering is accurate for the late El Cap / Super Chief era.
Glenn, they take the same board as the Kato SD-40-2 analog. I have a ton of them, they are yours for the asking. Bob.
Athearn has a list of "retired" models available on their site: http://www.athearn.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=FP45&CatID=TNLD&RN=SF&PageSize=72&OA=True Wig-Wag-Trains maintains a history of prior releases on their site, as well: http://www.wig-wag-trains.com/Athearn-Pages/Locomotives/EMD-FP-45_Page.html