Got mine yesterday. What a pain! The nose door had become dislodged inside the unit. I had to tear apart both the cab and long hood to get the thing back in and then glue it. Don't recommend this without proper planning. Very poor quality as far as this was concerned. Runs fine and looks nice, but the individual details are not put on well and can be easily lost if not careful. I feel that they should have done a better job in this area. Overall, though the unit looks and runs fine! Don't think I'll be getting a second one though.
Perhaps you can do me a favor. I'm thinking about getting one in Amtrak scheme but I don't know its top end speed. Can you pick out a section of your maine-line or the whole line, whatever, and at full throttle record the # of seconds it takes to cover that distance you selected in FEET. All I need are the feet & seconds. How's your LifeLike steamer replacement doing?? While I'm on the subject can you do same for me on the Heritage? I'm not DCC, so knowing the top range in advance is one of my requirements. I could not use the Proto 2000 SD60 because of its speed limitation. Thanks, Chuck Walsh-Grand Rapids Mi
I will see what I can do on the speed issue for you. I will say that it is roughly the same speed as my SD75Ms from Athearn's Genesis line. They are much quicker than the Protos!!! Proto did replace the steamer for me as promised. I can't measure speed for you on this one since it is packed away for now. I will say that when I had it out running with the SD60s the Steamer was a bit slower. It's not fast by any stretch of the imagination. Top speed is about 60-60 smph. I work on getting the other speeds soon.
bnsf At your convenience. I won't do anything till after Christmas. Just step back & get the H--- out of everybody's way. I thought the SD60 was slow, I wouldn't want something slower. I love the life warranty, BUT may have to review the merits of the New Rivs. I'm Chuck Walsh-Grand Rapids Mi locomotive2@hotmail.com
Locomotive2: I haven't found my stopwatch yet, but I can say that the Atlas (SF colors) makes it around the track 1.5 times faster than the SD60s. It also requires 33% less throttle to cruise at the same speed as the SD60s. I am planning on getting the Riv Allegheny (it will be signed by the US project consultant for Riv) and expect it to be faster than the Y3a. However, the Y3 is prototypical in speed and I think it would look a little funny running at a higher speed. It just doesn't look like it should go any faster---those poor driver arms are already blazing along with those small prototypical driver wheels. My Riv Big Boy looks better going faster, but it has the bigger driver wheels as on the prototype. The Y3 does pull well and is really quiet--to the point you can hear the "pounding" of the driver arms on each revolution! I like that! I will post when I find the stopwatch and get some accurate times. [ 08 December 2001: Message edited by: bnsf4354 ]</p>
I just got an SF Warbonnet, and I must say I love it. I had no problems with any details, and it runs like a dream. To get this kind of detail and performance at $79.99 (even including a DCC decoder), is unreal. The detail on Life-Like's P2K S-1 is awesome too. I wonder if brass locos will eventually become of thing of the past. Between Atlas diesels, Bachman Shays, and Riv Alleghenies, are we in the golden age of model railroading or what?
