Trackside  “Tid-Bits”  Product Review

Buy Athearn RTR Locomotives

It seems these days that every manufacturer has an SD40-2, just like the F7, and they all look about the same. This is now far from the case. Athearn who came out with their original SD40-2’s in 1983 have done it again with face lifts and body tucks to make even an aging Hollywood actress envious. While others have come out with sound versions and smoother drives,  the re-introduced Athearn units have for the most part come to represent good value for the money.

Athearn has chosen to retool their molds in such a way that many different variations and options will be offered on these units.  All three versions tested weighed in at a hefty 1.3 lbs.  The Milwaukee Road version was painted in its commemorative bicentennial scheme.  The colors were accurate, but the blue seemed a little thick in some areas around the nose and front porch.  The most notable feature on this unit was the accurate reproduction of its 3200 gallon fuel tank.  It was well detailed in plastic complete with spouts and gauges located in their correct places.  Athearn’s rendition of EMD’s HTC truck frames the “shorter” fuel tank and gives the unit a stretched out appearance.  This was a nice looking version of a “customized” SD40-2. 

The Southern unit is customized with its prolific high short hood nose.  This is a look that can not be confused with any other version of this unit.  My only complaint with the Southern version is that its 5 chime horn cluster looks a bit “chunky” and oversized in relation to the rest of the roofline.  Both the Milwaukee and the Southern locos have the basic EMD 81 inch nose which is consistent with early SD40-2 production ranging from 1972 to late 1976.  Athearn did their homework here. 

The final member of this trio is the BN version which has the 88 inch nose, front extended anti-climber and corrugated radiator intakes.  The BN unit is an excellent representation of a late 70’s early 80’s version of this unit.  Also included up on the roofline are rear “Q” cooling fans which were mandated by EPA standards as a means of suppressing exhaust sounds on locomotives.  Again Athearn hit the mark in duplicating these prototype specific features.  Athearn  also introduced a Santa Fe version “Snoot” unit with a correct 123” nose.  Unfortunately, one was not present to be reviewed. 

The units all ran within the normal limits of the current Athearn line of  ready to run locos all pulling an average of 18-24 cars on level track.

Another new feature is that Athearn has introduced an upgraded DCC board that will now accept an NMRA    8-pin decoder as well as the previously available 9-pin JST 'Quick-Plug'. The modeler now has the option of installing 8 or 9-pin decoders. 

With due respect, these new units from Athearn are significantly upgraded from their older cousins.  With an emphasis on railroad specific options, modelers may want to consider several for their coal or manifest trains.  Other road names and options should follow shortly.

Price points as reviewed are an MSRP of $99.99 and $109.99 for the Milwaukee Bicentennial unit.

Buy Athearn RTR Locomotives