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jlong
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 Posted - June 30 2013 : 12:50:35 AM
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I do not have a home HO layout but do belong to an HO club. I own and enjoy a handful of current engines loaded with detail, DCC, and sounds and all. But, what I have really been drawn to recently is vintage Athearn blue box (60's and 70's). I love the stuff and a $25 engine score is just as exciting if not more exciting as a $250 modern high tech score. A blast from the past so to speak. I briefly collected Rivarossi and Tyco 7 or 8 years ago but the interest sort of died as the stuff doesn't run so hot compared to blue box. I do pick up a few Rivarossi(AHM) pieces now and then.
My HO buddies don't quite understand my affection for vintage blue box engines. The stuff is all around crude compared to what is made today and what they've come to expect. "They're noisy, the cabs are too wide, and the paint is too fuzzy" I am told. "Well I know..that's why I like them. T:ey're funky" I say.
I guess my affection has some to do with nostalgia because as a 14 year old, I had one of those Walther's wishbooks I practically wore out gazing at Athearn engines and rolling stock (this was the early 70's).
For me, the crudeness gives blue box character. The human touch so to speak as the tooling was cut by hand unlike the CNC robotic tool making macines in today's China factories that no human hand can come close to matching. But then no machine can match the human hand which is what makes blue box so appealing to me.
Athearn blue box engines are nowhere as smooth running as todays precision silky smooth engines but blue box runs and forever it seems. Repair parts are easy to get for pocket change. The interchangibility of parts is another thing that makes blue box so appealing mechanically. I will say the gearbox noise does have a faint EMD tone to it so I'm getting sounds for free.
Other than 2guyz in some ways, I can tell right off this is the only forum where one can have a lively discussion about vintage blue box. I've noticed at least two posters I know of on the Model Train Journal. On other forums, the subject of vintage blue box often goes ignored if not sour and has been known to provoke riots in some cases. Well, you know. It's the internet where phsycopaths are free to roam.
I'll get off my soapbox and say it's been great lurking here the past few days. Lots of great photos to gaze at. Especially the rare IM&C double geep set. Holy moly what a find.
John Long
Edited by - jlong on June 30 2013 01:18:29 AM
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Posted - June 30 2013 : 06:40:51 AM
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| The older stuff isnt that bad -or at least to me its not - It is the root of the hobby in which many don't know about or haven't a clue. Grant it - Tyco engines weren't the best made motor wise and until recently - one of the only if not very few that have ever made the alco 430. - However - if cleaned and taken care of - the ones i have run smooth for being what they are and my videos show them running flawlessly. The track and power packs of today compared to yesteryear are leaps and bounds better and defintiely improve the running ability of older equipment - i too like the blue box kits as they are still available cheaply at shows. While the new stuff is nice and very detailed - for me - why do i want to buy a 35.00+ ready to run tank car with full undercarriage detail that no none is going to see and when it derails going to damage it? - To each their own.
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jlong
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Posted - June 30 2013 : 07:27:24 AM
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I share the same feelings on $35 freight cars. They look great up close and personal but from 3 ft away, at 35 SMPH, I can't tell the difference.
John Long
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Posted - June 30 2013 : 08:57:04 AM
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Yup...there's more, second only to Rivarossi big steam on my favorites list...
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Posted - June 30 2013 : 09:54:59 AM
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JLong says very well what I feel, as well. I regularly find old BB cars and kits at swap meets, then take them home and use TLC to give them a second life. Intermountain wheels, Kadee couplers, painting that weight bar flat black, installing additional weight inside the car (or in a car load) to properly adjust them to NMRA recommendations makes old Athearn rolling stock work - and present- very well. I have over 100 Athearn BB cars in my rebuilt/enhanced inventory at present and look forward to acquiring many more. They are excellent platforms for kitbashing, are durable and- as JLong says- they hold up quite well in operation on a layout.
The Athearn engines can be upgraded and improved easily at a low cost- various inexpensive motors with a lower rpm, quieter linkages- using R/C flexible fuel tubing for transmissions- and if you want to customize, DCC convert and detail-enhance an old GP or SW, the cost basis is reasonable when using an Athearn BB engine.
I remember my first Athearn BB in 1965- it was that flat car kit that got me into model railroading seriously.
Looking back all these years later, without Athearn, where would the hobby be today?
Siouxlake/Ron
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jlong
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Posted - June 30 2013 : 10:30:51 AM
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The club I belong to has a procedure for any BB car that goes on the layout and that is to slightly ream the plastic truck frames for Intermountain metal wheel sets along with replacing the EZ Mates or horn hooks with Kadee No 5's. When I was in grade school, puberty meant ditching Tyco for Athearn and installing Kadee No 5's.
Shay, love the Espee DD!
John Long
Edited by - jlong on June 30 2013 10:41:23 AM
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Posted - June 30 2013 : 2:36:19 PM
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Of all the 60's and 70's era engines to chose from the Athearns are probably one of the best to retrofit with updated hardware and detailing, not to mention DCC. While I like the hyper-realism of modern HO scale equipment, quite a bit of it is more modern diesels or steam, try to find a BL-2 or Krauss Maffei ML4000 in a modern chassis. Some models can only be found within the vintage community, and I don't have much interest in modern operations. So I prefer the older BB and other makes of engines due to the lack of selection sometimes of models I like which were only produced by certain companies many years ago. Heck, Lionel guys operate THEIR trains and aren't concerned about ultra realistic looks or operations, they're happy to operate decades-old equipment, and I feel the same way about HO. I'll buy select pieces that appeal to me, but when I can't find what I want, I buy vintage and enjoy that just as much if not more. Keep the oldies rollin' !
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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jlong
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Posted - June 30 2013 : 4:52:36 PM
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The old Lionel's are much like the old Athearns. Simple and reliable. And of course that old school charm.
John Long
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Posted - July 01 2013 : 03:17:08 AM
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I have to agree with all this! I have a few of the newer offered stuff, but not nearly what I got in the old school days!
I like Jerry said, enjoy running in DCC, BUT, I'm NOT going to convert to DCC, the 2 DCC loco's I have right now, will both run Cab Control as well, and that I like. BUT the rest, that are strictly Cab Control, will remain DC! HOWEVER, there are a few I'm going to build that will become dual mode as well, as I want to be able to run it/them at home, AND at the club!
Its our hobby, we all have fun in our own way..... and THATS the way it should be!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - July 01 2013 : 8:41:18 PM
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I agree with JL. Also, nice as the new stuff is, it has one massive drawback: replacement parts are unavailable. Unless NWSL is still around in the future to come to the rescue, model railroaders are going to end up with some very pricey paperweights when gears start splitting. I've already heard complaints about this happening in high-end steamers.
A few years ago BLI had a warehouse blow-out where they offered parts grab bags for $29 each. I bought a few, and recently tried searching the BLI section on eBay for either parts or shells, and came up with nothing. Say what you will about the older stuff, but it doesn't strain the budget, it's fun to modify, and parts are still easy to come by.
Besides, I think I've had more fun learning about the evolution of HO trains and the various Rube Goldberg drives that were tried out than I have learning about actual railroad history. 
The Tyco Depot
Edited by - NickelPlate759 on July 01 2013 8:42:25 PM
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Posted - July 01 2013 : 10:33:11 PM
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Welcome back John! Haven't seen you in these parts in a bit.
The old BlueBox Athearn is the stuff I graduated to after Tyco.
My first BB loco was the B&O PA-1,I busted my hump cutting lawns to buy that one.
Still have it,and it still pulls.
President of the Cape James Terminal RR.
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jlong
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Posted - July 01 2013 : 11:20:50 PM
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Nelson, I hear you on lack of parts for modern high tech. Yes, BB parts are very interchangable between models and part donors are easy to come by.
Choochin, great to be back. Been lurkin awhile. First Athearn was an NP F7 I got for a birthday. Odd job money financed a Milw RD SD-7 (or 9?). My brother got Daylight PA's and BN F45.
John Long
Edited by - jlong on July 01 2013 11:22:04 PM
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Posted - July 02 2013 : 06:26:52 AM
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You know guys, I just got to reading and thought about this thread a second.....I can not seem to remember what my first Athearn blue box loco was!
I'm going to have to put this one in perspective a bit! As that's a REALLY odd one that I just can't seem to remember what the first one was!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - July 02 2013 : 11:02:38 PM
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Oh I is jealous & envious of your collection, shaygetz hehe
Anyway here is my fave Athern loco I got for $15 with 3 cars
This loco is AWD & has flywheels inside
I always thought the rubber band powered locos were weird & cheap 
Edited by - microbusss on July 02 2013 11:03:52 PM
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Posted - July 02 2013 : 11:36:23 PM
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quote:You know guys, I just got to reading and thought about this thread a second.....I can not seem to remember what my first Athearn blue box loco was!
Originally posted by EM-1Â -Â July 02 2013Â :Â 06:26:52 AM
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I remember mine. It was a NYC U28B I got around 1973. Oval Jet 400 motor without flywheels. I also remember that the motor had a brass commutator instead of copper, and the brushes wore a deep trough in it, enough to eventually wear through the plates!
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - July 03 2013 : 06:11:06 AM
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Nelson,
That's AWESOME! To funny that you literally wore a groove through the comutator plates!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - July 03 2013 : 09:29:51 AM
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just a few of the many treasures in my vast collection my first Athearn (and I still have it albeit in rough shape) was a Santa Fe F7A in warbonnet with the then all new plastic blombergs
Larry
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Posted - July 03 2013 : 11:22:14 AM
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Larry, NICE collection of the old Athearn GP30's! I have not even been able to locate one of those, as I got all the others to date but the GP30!
And might I add, NICE shot with the Southern 4610!
I'll toss out a few of mine now!
Come to think of it....That Athearn S-12 in B&O number 9274 Was my FIRST Athearn Locomotive!.....It has been custom painted! Just as the GP35, its 3502 and was 3509! Which, I also have!
My Second Athearn locomotive, was the first one, the DD-40 B&O #8500
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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 Posted - July 03 2013 : 3:18:19 PM
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| Larry - Awesome sauce shot of the HO Southern on the 1:1 & yes am envious & jealous of your collection too
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jlong
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Posted - July 03 2013 : 11:39:57 PM
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Nice stuff, Larry!
John Long
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Posted - July 04 2013 : 01:27:02 AM
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Vintage Athearn pieces have never quite given me the same vibes as my old Tycos, but I can definitely appreciate the quality that went in to them
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Posted - July 04 2013 : 04:38:50 AM
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Cheez, those B&O PA's make me SICK! They're the only Athearn B&O models, I don't have but I have to say even tho the B&O NEVER had PA's, they sure look good in B&O passenger livery!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - July 04 2013 : 11:30:24 PM
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| They look even better attached to a set of streamliners They're definitely among my favourite Athearns...right up there with my North Coast Limited F-units
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Posted - July 05 2013 : 02:45:14 AM
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I bet they do! I also bet they look good pullin' a heavy weight set from Athearn too!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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jlong
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Posted - July 05 2013 : 9:19:28 PM
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Man, I picked the right forum. You guys have a lot of nice stuff! This evening I popped the top on a 70's Milw geep I just picked up. Popped the worm covers and gave the worms a shot of grease and the motor bearings a shot of oil. With a Qtip, washed the commutator, and wheels. After about twenty laps, she slowly increased speed and runs like a watch now. Real, Real simple. Took 15 minutes. Irv was a genius for sure. The hot grease and electrical aroma old school Athearn makes is soothing. My trigger finger is loaded for more.
The modern stuff with sounds and DCC....Good grief. Talk about chineese jigsaw puzzle. Itsy bitsy screws to get at the worms. A tangle of angle hair wire to trudge through getting to the bearings. Getting the shell back on without snagging a wire can put one to the test when it comes to cursing fits. It's nice stuff but servicing them is a project.
The only complaint I have about Athearn geeps is they put the light bulb on the short hood end. Running geeps short hood forward is soooo uncool!!!
John Long
Edited by - jlong on July 05 2013 9:44:48 PM
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Posted - July 06 2013 : 02:42:53 AM
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| Vintage Athearn: It's inexpensive, many great locomotives, and you just can't beat them. I have a Hustler, SD's, Universal's, Geep's, an ALCO PA, Trainmasters, an S-12, F-Units, even a pair of two B&M 4-6-2 "Super-Pacific" and they all run pretty darn well (except for the S-12, it needs a large internal ring drive shaft four-spur ring!). I'll keep picking them up as I go, and hopefully they will all run fine on into the future. -
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Posted - August 08 2013 : 10:34:32 AM
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| I too like the Atheran BB locos. They are economical and run forever with minimal maintenance. For my level of hobby thay are perfect. I can't justify spending hundreds of dollars for a locomotive. I just like to run them - I don't care about detail. They run great at slow speed and have a lot of pulling power. The sound they make "almost" sounds realistic. I run DC and with the flywheel they start smoothly and drift to a nice smooth stop.
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Posted - August 08 2013 : 6:15:41 PM
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Dave,
I agree, I have a few "Big Money" models, but they're likely to be the only ones I'll ever get, as I have plenty that can be worked and such.....
One thing to remember with the old Athearn blue box models....they make GREAT starting points to make VERY detailed models, and will then look just like those expensive, "detailed" models!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - August 09 2013 : 5:51:02 PM
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Cant forget or ignore all the great freight and passenger cars either! Here's a small sampling from me.
Rare RTR (and mint with no run time) Frontier Chemical chemical tank car and a mint RTR ATSF RPO with metal trucks. Both 1960's vintage.
Larry
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Posted - August 09 2013 : 8:01:31 PM
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quote:
Larry
Originally posted by SOU2645Â -Â July 03 2013Â :Â 09:29:51 AM
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First... cool picture of the model and prototype!
Second... I had mentioned a while back about my going to my latest train show and locating a Pennsy F7 with a "Single Drive" chassis...
This IS an example locomotive, I saw at the show, posted above! It has a single powered truck!
Larry, could you, would you take a picture of this locomotive with the shell off?
Awesome thread! Awesome pictures!
John
I don't have a one track mind. It depends on the turn-out.
"I love your catenary!"
Is that a power-trip or just another pick-up line?
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Posted - August 16 2013 : 11:16:26 AM
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I'd have to agree Athearn run the best of any older model. I just returned from camp, where I had brought along some equipment to try to teach railroading merit badge (there wasn't enough time nor a place to teach it). The had a duo of RDC's. One I had repaired right on the spot, the other was a dummy. Oddly enough, the powered on runs better with a dummy to drag along, as it smooths out the jerks from the rubber band drive.
I love finding an old athearn at the flea market to get running. Unlike a Bachmann (which tends not to run again), or an AHM (blender), athearns can always be saved.
Uncle Irv knew what he was doing when he designed his trains. I'm sure it's thanks to his designs that the rest of the industry had to improve!
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 Posted - September 23 2024 : 8:02:06 PM
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Nice photos.
My engine is not one of the older ones but it did come out in the early 1970s. A favorite for some members. I believe a GP35.
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