I purchased two of these locomotives, an undecorated one and the Santa Fe. My searches for the dcc with sound version recently do not turn up any of these as available. In my opinion they are very smooth running and nice locomotives. Atlas is re-running several n-scale diesels with dcc installed. More S-2 seem would be a logical item in their plans. PUZZLED.
Maybe you should count your blessings. The undecorated one I received needed some assembly; I found it very difficult to install the hand rails and other small parts included. Actually, I wanted a Baltimore and Ohio one which was not offered. After close examination of the Santa Fe version, I decided it was a close enough stand in. I relettered it for Baltimore and Ohio. I did have the undec one custom painted for Baltimore and Ohio; love it, but no hand rails so far. No parts listed by Atlas at the present October 2015.
The first run of these has been received and shipped. They came in two batches. The second run is scheduled to ship to us before the end of 2015.
Since Undecorated models need to be painted and lettered, the majority of our customers request that as many parts as possible be left off so they don't have to worry about breakage while disassembling and preparing for painting. We try to do this and still have the model and parts protected during transit. Leaving parts off also reduces the chance the factory will accidentally glue something in place.
Paul, my problem at age 75 is the lack of agility or ability to get the parts especially the hand rail to the step in place to fasten. I found the only way I could get the details for the end to stay fixed was to apply cyanoacrylate to them. Hired the painting and got a nice Baltimore and Ohio S-2...without hand rails to steps. [Painter seems to have lost the horn.]
I bought an Atlas S2 and took the shell off to put a straight 6 pin DCC decoder in it. I would be really interested to see one with the shell off with DCC sound in it. I dont see how anyone could cram sound in one of these things !!
And the typical conundrum of manufacturers. 99% of guys are buying undecs to paint and detail themselves. Less than 1% need an undec for any other reason. Wait.....it's not really a conundrum, is it? Trust me, even as I have aged through N scale over the past 15 years, I've started to struggle with some stuff, and I have 20/20 vision (unless I've been sitting at a computer monitor all day). You either skip it, or find someone that can help you out. Or wait until the release you want arrives. It's a hobby. Of toy trains. It shouldn't be stressful.
Look here: http://www.trainboard.com/highball/...-esu-loksound-and-a-speaker-transplant.84110/ John C.
Thnxs John Nice to know the cab interior pops off. I didnt even try that when putting the 6 pin decoder in it. That would have eliminated finagling the board back in.... You do some great sound installs. I dont do sound...but like reading about your installs...thnxs again
That's why TB is such a great Forum, there's something for everyone, regardless of scale or interest....Thanks Charlie, Moderators, and Admins.
Paul, Thank you again for the update on the second run. Here is one of the Santa Fe locomotives "purchased by" Baltimore and Ohio.
Obviously, I am NOT a rivet counter. Based on photos of B&O S-2s I have found they did not have the yellow nose. The numbering early on was in the 4800 series as I recall. Most photos I found were after they were renumbered in 9000 series. The decal I used is from a Microscale Steam Locomotive set, thus the font is probably not the font B&O used. For my purpose, as a modeler of B&O, it is a close enough stand in. Bottom line is the locomotive exceeds my expectations!
I just ran my 2357 on the test loop. I would purchase a second locomotive, but still have not found the second or whatever run any place in US dealers.
If you're looking for another one of the Atlas S-2 Santa Fe units with DCC and sound, Trainboard advertiser Trainworld seems to have all three roadnumbers in stock: http://www.trainworld.com/manufactu...726-S-2-Locomotive-with-Sound-Santa-Fe-2350-/ http://www.trainworld.com/manufactu...727-s-2-locomotive-with-sound-santa-fe-2357-/ http://www.trainworld.com/manufactu...728-S-2-Locomotive-with-Sound-Santa-Fe-2367-/ Note that Trainworld is closed this weekend, as a result of the blizzard, so there's likely no one available to answer the phone, but you could still place an order on-line.
Thanks for the update. I I was hoping that Paul Graf from Atlas might post an update on these locomotives as he did earlier.
I'm sure Paul is stuck in the same blizzard as the rest of the mid-Atlantic. Though, assuming his power is still on, monitoring Train Board might give him something to do on an otherwise snowed-in boring afternoon.
I preordered an undecorated non sound, non DCC version when the S2 was announced. I haven't heard a thing since. I've checked several retailers and they seem to be either sold out or haven't come in yet.
