Athearn Announcements August 30, 2024

[Mark5]

N BethGon Coalporter: https://www.athearn.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-athearn-us-Library/default/dw66138115/announcements/september-2024/05_ATHN_Bethgon_083024.pdf

N 53ft Stoughton Container: https://www.athearn.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-athearn-us-Library/default/dwa4156255/announcements/september-2024/07_ATHN_53ft_Container_083024.pdf

Announcement page: https://www.athearn.com/new-announcements

[High Hood]

Can’t say I’m too thrilled with the selection of Bethgons. They are all foobs except for the KCLX cars. 

[Englewood]

Make fun of me all you want, but I do like the Southern Pacific and Seatrain 53' containers!
Now if only we could get that SDP40 in N scale....

[wcfn100]

I could be interested in the KCLX Bethgons but Athearn already burned me with the TGNX cars by never having another release. 

10 cars does not a coal train make.

Jason

[Missaberoad]

Thankfully it's a pretty quiet month from everyone for me.
Mr wallet has enough catching up to do and there's lots still in the pipeline.

[jagged ben]

Make fun of me all you want, but I do like the Southern Pacific and Seatrain 53' containers!

Just to be clear those are both 'legendary liveries'.

[Rivet Miscounter]

10 cars does not a coal train make.

So have there been ANY manufacturers making more than 10 or maybe 15 numbers since DI/LBF dropped out?  I know Atlas did several dozen numbers on their Coalveyors...I think we're at 70 numbers on the UFIX cars.   I know Athearn has done in the 20s or 30s on Thrall cars too.

Why is the BNSF a foob...panels or something else?   I haven't paid close attention to the N stuff, and in Z we're just lucky to get *something*....still don't even have BN aluminum bethgons....at all.  Well, except for the black cars, which have an incorrect early-phase BN aluminum scheme applied.  (and yes I'm doing some N too but it's pre-Bethgon)

[kiwi_al]

BNSF appears close

http://m.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1471120

[Rivet Miscounter]

BNSF appears close

http://m.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1471120

Thanks, yeah the panels look good?   I've been trying to figure it out since I posted and I guess I need to phone a friend.

I've been researching BN/BNSF cars to pitch to AZL and I've got blurred bethgon vision but anyway...not of interest to me anyway.

I would like to get good pics of any Athearn BN or BNSF cars, especially BN and both sides.   Not sure if Athearn did any "Phase I" BN's but that would be of interest too.  Black BN cars, anything and everything.  There is shocking dearth of good photos that show the paint scheme details.    All I have are pics that are of cars that are 10 years old and weathered significantly.

I really wish Atlas would do Bethgons in Z.

[High Hood]

So have there been ANY manufacturers making more than 10 or maybe 15 numbers since DI/LBF dropped out?  I know Atlas did several dozen numbers on their Coalveyors...I think we're at 70 numbers on the UFIX cars.   I know Athearn has done in the 20s or 30s on Thrall cars too.

Why is the BNSF a foob...panels or something else?   I haven't paid close attention to the N stuff, and in Z we're just lucky to get *something*....still don't even have BN aluminum bethgons....at all.  Well, except for the black cars, which have an incorrect early-phase BN aluminum scheme applied.  (and yes I'm doing some N too but it's pre-Bethgon)

The BNSF is a Trinity prototype. The main differences are the thicker side ribs and the sides of the car extend further down on the tubs.

[Rivet Miscounter]

The BNSF is a Trinity prototype. The main differences are the thicker side ribs and the sides of the car extend further down on the tubs.

Thanks.  I did remember thinking there was something different about the sides extending down but thought it was just lighting.

[Ike the BN Freak]

Now if only we could get that SDP40 in N scale....

You mean the SDP45s, Athearn still hasn't done a Genesis SDP40

[thomasjmdavis]

Maybe it's just my monitor.... but what jumped out at me is the Athean artwork for the BNSF is light blue, while the photo is silver gray (but I see bits of blue sky in the background, so its not camera exposure).

But... the release for this month has nothing for a mid-1950s modeler, so I'll get back to work on my recent switcher project, and leave you all to figure out Bethgons.

[Rivet Miscounter]

Maybe it's just my monitor.... but what jumped out at me is the Athearn artwork for the BNSF is light blue, while the photo is silver gray (but I see bits of blue sky in the background, so its not camera exposure).

I think Athearn uses that light blue color in their artwork to signify the aluminum panels set against the aluminum posts just for contrast.   Any Athearn Bethgon I've seen in person comes out looking like one would expect...with the aluminum-colored panels and aluminum-colored posts.  And most--if not all--had that light blue color in the PDF.

[Scottl]

Pretty sure the CN cars are not foobs and that is at least a second run.

My problem with the Athearn coal porters is the ride height and coupling distance.  I'm not interested in investing almost $10 more per car for new trucks and couplers.  I can do better with Intermountain and LBF cars in the secondary market.