I'm not sure exactly whats available an how to proceed. Hopefully you can help. I'll try to keep it short, but I need to explain what I'm trying to do. Last weekend I bought one of the new Atheran Ready to Roll engines (the UP United Way engine). The new drives ARE indeed smoother and quieter. So now I want to buy the BN GP-38-2 ready to roll and swap the shell (I want Southern Pacific). Does Atheran make a SP gp-38-2? or will a gp-40 or something else fit the gp-38-2 chassis?
Athearn's GP38-2, GP40-2, GP50, and GP60 all utilize the same chassis. One thing to watch for, though, is that Athearn produced many of their GP38-2's with the small fuel tank option on the chassis (even if the prototype didn't). And yes, Athearn does produce a GP38-2 painted for Espee. [ 21 May 2002, 06:24: Message edited by: SP 8299 ]
I don't have one (yet) and can't say for sure, but I understood the BN rtr GP38-2 did NOT have an updated drive, the only update is to the handrails, you might want to check it out before you buy, as otherwise you may as well start with one of the kit loco's. Hope that's some help.
Thank you SP 8299 (again!) and Martyn for the info. Its good to know that they are interchangable. As Martyn said, I'll be sure to check if the drive is updated before buying. I was really impressed with the updated drive in the UP r-t-r engine. Not a major difference, but definitely smoother and quieter... I was only after the updated drive in the GP-38-2 to use as my yard engine - lots of slow movement over turnouts and such.... But I do already have a SP GP-60 that operates quite well! I guess I'll have to roll her into the paint shop to be patched!
Just a little clarification... As far as I'm aware, the SD40-2 drive update was nothing to do with it being issued as an RTR model, it was changed when the SD40-2 was totally retooled and re-engineered a couple of years back, none of the other Athearn standard line loco's have had that kind of treatment yet. The better SD40-2 drive should be the same in any of the recent SD40-2 "kit" machines. Hope that's of some help, I just thought you'd have wasted your money buying a GP38-2 to swap the chassis with if it turns out to be the same as the standard line anyhow! All the best!
Actually Martyn, newer releases of the C44-9W have received the updated drive as well. The grand plan is for all of the standard line units to receive the updated drive. Check on the end of the box of the newer releases; it should have a blurb that says "New Drive" or something to that effect.
What I want to get is one of those Pac Pride II shells, preferably without the drive and I'll just put it in a proto or Atlas drive. It's one of those projects that is way out of my time period (65-72), but I see that unit on a fairly regular basis and I agree they are Very cool. Too bad it's Athearn making them.
cthippo, I have an idea coming on.... You want the shell, I want the chassis. Perhaps we could work something out.....
