I would like to add a couple UP and BNSF 8-40CW units to my roster but I searching for the best possible deal that I can get. Been buying Kato locos like crazy on the internet at an average of $50.00 (shipping included). (1) UP Ac4400CW, (4) UP C44-9Ws, (1) BNSF AC4400CW, (1) BNSF C44-9Ws, (2) BNSF SD70MACs and (1) Conrail SD70MAC....... YES! The most expensive of the lot cost me $55.00 but here's my thing.....I've been scouring the internet for 2 whole months now and to date I haven't come across a single Atlas 8-40CW below the $80.00 price line. They must be some really good keepers. I live in Jamaica W.I. and we don't have Hobby shops here that stock N scale model trains. The only trains you see is some G scale and HO model and there are good for a couple revolutions around the Christmas tree. This should give you an idea why I rely so much on the internet. I welcome any bargain I can get because the Jamaican dollar is 89 to 1 US dollar. I'm selling out my HO and N scale brass collection to fund my new layout. I'm not into 'shelf pieces' anymore so the Brass items must go.
Pictured are four of the UP units. I have three C44-9Ws with 9726 on them but that be easily changed.
FWIW, I figured that I'd sell off some of my "extra" Kato Dash 9s with the arrival of the Atlas Dash 8s. No longer. I'll keep my 2 C40-8s, but I won't purchase any more. And my Dash 9s aren't going anywhere. I, too, have multiple units in the same number. It will be well worth the effort to change the numbers. Jim
How does the 8-40Cs pull? I am loving the pulling power of the 8-40Bs. Below is a link to a vid that I took on my old layout of two 8-40bs pulling 40+ cars. [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqSg6DG14I4"]YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]
I assume you are finding your Katos used on eBay or other places. The ones you show have been out for a while and apparently were fairly large runs. The reason that Atlas 8-40C(W)s are so much more expensive is that they were just released recently and apparently in smaller numbers (so far), so you're just not going to find the same supply in the used market. Also, the retail price for these units was higher than usual. Eventually they will probably be available "pre-owned" for $50, but you might have to wait a couple years. As far as the quality, I generally find that I prefer Atlas shells slightly over Kato, and Kato mechs slightly over Atlas. The 8-40C(W)s have a few problems that other Atlas don't usually have, most notably a gap between the fuel-tank and the rest of the shell, which is visible if you view the loco from a lower angle. On the other hand, they come with things that Katos don't have, such as painted end rails and a separate speed recorder detail. And if you get the DCC wide cabs, they come with separately programmed flashing ditchlights, which is a first for N scale. The pulling power is as good as the 8-40Bs or better.
Thanks for you reply to my post jagged ben, you are correct about my source for these engines. I'm a very patient model railroader so I'll continue to wait until that 'steal of a deal' comes my way. They really sound like they're going to be welcomed additions to my layout.
try modeling Norfolk Southern there loco are as rare as snow in jamica:tb-biggrin: i was waiting on the atlas 8-40b in NS but waited to long and i'm in the boat as you!! i will not pay $80. plus shipping
They are at least the equal of the 8-40Bs... IMHO: better. :thumbs_up: Then you ought to love seeing the CWs mixed with Bs!! :tb-cool: I haven't taken any video of my units yet, but I did do a lashup with my three BNSF Warbonnet 8-40Bs and my two ATSF 8-40CWs.... they were all very, Very, VERY close in speed range (DC) and were quite a sight!! As for Atlas pricing... no comment.:tb-wacky:
As stated above, the Atlas locos are new. By the same argument, try and find a Kato SD70 ACe for the prices you have been talking about. Atlas and Kato locos always stay at a high price and then the price drops once everyone who wants one gets one after a couple of years.
I agree- as secondhand "like new" units come on the market, the prices on eBay will gravitate down. That said, I am very happy with the one Conrail Atlas Dash 8-40CW loco I have. It runs great, looks great, and the working ditch lights really take the realism up another notch. Jamie
I have a pair in the CSX paint scheme DON'T buy them yet Atlas made a HUGE flaw with these locos. I fixed mine but if you can't fix them don't buy them. The flaw is that they made the fuel tanks to short or some say they put the shell on too tall and you can see the motor, anyway u look at it it needs some kitbashing, the way I fix this problem is that I made the fuel tank taller by adding some resin to it and paint it back to black. If you want to see PM me and I will send you some photos.
Can you post some photos and share them on this thread? I am very happy with the one Dash 8-40CW I have and am not familiar with any such gap. There were similar comments posted about a gap in the shell under the cab when these models were first released, and the only way I could see the gap was if I took a high-res digital picture and zoomed way in. Sure enough the gap was there, but it was just a non-issue (to me) unless you were really looking for it. Jamie
There is good and bad with the CW version of this model, there are some great details, flashing ditch lights etc., but the ride height is high high high, here is a picture to show you: obviously the plow is way off the track and the metal contact strips are plainly visible, depends how big a deal it is to you, but I like to do photography of the models and this is not so good, my best, Jan
That not a flaw, the gap and the tank are prototipical for a CW40-8. You only see the motor if you are really looking for it and its barely visible because the motor is silver and the rest of the frame is black. Now if Atlas would have made what Kato does on there locomotive they would have made a piece to simulate the frame that would cover all the undershell parts. I have six of them and the only real fault is the gap in front of the battery boxex that Atlas will fix on the next run and the glue use in the cab to hold the windows. Other than that they are perfect. The reason this are hard to get a resonable prices was that they are more expesive than any other locomotive produce by Atlas before and there is/was a high demmand for them because the other CW40-8 produce was made by Bachman and those are consider by many including me to be an inferior overprices product compare to what Atlas and Kato produces.
"the metal contact strips are plainly visible" but this is also the same thing with the older kato c44-9w i thought i read somewhere on here about clipping the tabs to get the bodies to sit lower on the chassie
My IM SD45 models have their plow equally too high. But that does not really excuse Atlas, of course.
I agree with you 100% Sundowner about the fact that Atlas could have made a piece like Kato to simulate the frame, but they didn't and this was my way to fix this issue I didn't like the gap but now its not there and I'm happy, the reason I fixed it this way cause if I lower the shell then the couplers will be lower and will not align with the freight cars that the loco pulls, anybody can fix it any way they want this was the best way to fix it for me.
Thanks Sundowner. I know U can see where I glued the two pieces together but the are perfectly aligned and besides you can't see it when the loco is on the track.
