Atlas Trainman GP15

[MichaelT]

Has anyone purchased one of these yet? If so, what do you think?

I got one and have run it on the micro layout...good puller, quiet engine...not as much detail, but that can be resolved in time.

[MichaelT]

 ;D

[Nato]

  For an all new model that is part of Atlas's low end line these are quite nice. I purchased three to represent the transition period locos I saw here on UP in Utah, two Union Pacific Painted (newly repainted) locos and one nice Blue Missouri Pacific (not repainted yet) locomotive. The run very nicely and forall of you DCC users ,I havent reached that stage yet,they are DCC ready ,Digatrax has I believe announced what number decoder will work. Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah.

[Ian MacMillan]

I got 2 Conrail ones and love them. I did a review on my web site, but I need to add
a few more observations I have found in the last few days.

http://www.amoskeagnorthern.com/v2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=104:atlas-n-gp15-1&catid=34:reviews&Itemid=80

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I have a pair and ran them around the NTRAK layout at the WGH show.

I like them quite a bit, and they pull quite well for something of their size. I was actually suitably impressed by their pulling ability.

[Jim Starbuck]

I think Atlas did a fine job with this loco. It looks and runs very well.

Fresh from the paint shop, here is the newest addition to my lease fleet.

Details are BLMA trainline hoses, MU hoses and cab shades. Paint is Floquil and Polly Scale.
It has a TCS 4 function decoder which allows for nice lighting affects. It has independently controlled headlight, rear light, front and rear ditch lights. The head light and rear lights are set for directional dimming with pushbutton dimming also enabled.







I've been lurking over here for quite awhile and really admire the caliber fo modelling presented.
Thanks for the inspiration!

Jim

[Ian MacMillan]

Jim,
Very impressive! How did you go about doing the ditch lights? I'd like to add them to mine.

[MichaelT]

Agreed, that is nice Jim; I too would like to know how you installed the ditch lights??

[Jim Starbuck]

Thanks,
The ditch lights are done with surface mount micro LEDs and magnet wire. I drilled a #61 hole in the pilot and glued the LED to the back side.  The LEDs nestle in between the coupler and the steps nicely. The wire is thin enough to route up through the shell and connect to the function pads on the decoder. Each LED and the back side of the pilot were painted with silver then black to eliminate light leakage.
I put a tiny spot of Micro Krystal Kleer in the hole for a lens.
This works really well for models with ditch lights under the anticlimber.  When turned off, you can barely see that they are there.  There's nothing to the outside but the "lens", but I was thinking on the next one to put on a small wafer of styrene and drill the hole through it to give a raised detail.

Jim

[Dave V]

They're hawt!  The DCC install is quick and painless, and they haul like a Clydesdale.

[Walkercolt]

Right out of the box, I could pull 15-16 MT 40' boxcars on the shop layout with one unit, and would expect it to improve when the "shine" is off the wheels. Just a notch noisier than a "Classic" Atlas 4 axle, but IMHO, better top-speed(lower) and very good low-speed performance. When the Frisco's hit, I'll have a couple at least. Except for the "non-road specific" details, I can't understand the "Trainman" designation. Being smaller and lighter, they won't pull as much as the Life-Like GP-20's with flywheels, but I think they are as good or better as the GP-20's. No, they aren't $39.95, but they are a good value I think.