Atlas Auto-Train U36B

[High Hood]

I finally received my long awaited Auto-Train U Boats, and I immediately noticed how warm the purple is compared to prototype photos. I understand how film can render colors differently, but then I noticed in the photo of 4012, the cab and fuel tank are clearly different purples. The fuel tank seems to match the color Atlas chose as well as the purple in the photo of the 4000. Did Auto-Train actually switch their purple paint out at some point? [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[CBQ Fan]

The Rock Island is a very purple maroon in my opinion. After doing some research I don’t think it too far off but much darker than I would have thought.

[AlwaysSolutions]

I don't know if they switched paints over time or if there's repainting going on with a different batch that causes the color delta.  I used ACL Royal Purple on my models.  It's the red that i have trouble matching so what I've been doing is taking a regular red and add drops of the royal purple in until it seems right.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

-Mike

[chessie system fan]

The color purple fades fast.  That's why ACL gave up and went to black.    That picture of 4012 probably had original paint on the fuel tank and the body had probably been repainted by 1977.

[High Hood]

The color purple fades fast.  That's why ACL gave up and went to black.    That picture of 4012 probably had original paint on the fuel tank and the body had probably been repainted by 1977.

You can really tell a difference in the cabs on the lead and trailing motors in this screenshot. Plus the underbody is almost black! [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[robertjohndavis]

How well do they run?

[CBQ Fan]

Mine run just fine!

[AlwaysSolutions]

So I got mine yesterday.  Very nice looking locos.  It's been years since I've bought anything new and I swore I was done unless something comes along that I really wanted (like these.)   I know Atlas has been doing separately applied grabs for a while - at least nose grabs.  On the U36B I noticed they also had a grab applied to the cab - nice touch!  But in the rear - molded on grabs?  They have an applied cut lever bar, too.  Seems kind of like a half effort to leave molded grabs on the rear - is this normal?  If it weren't for the grab on the cab I wouldn't have thought anything about it but they obviously have the tech to do it.  Anybody else slightly disappointed in that?

Mike

[spookshow]

I'm surprised at the lack of conversation re the new Atlas U33/36B loco. I mean, most new locos seem to achieve at least 10 pages of chatter on TRW within days of their release, no?

Anyway, performance-wise I think this one is a notch above some of Atlas's other recent loco releases (I'm talking to you SD45).

Cheers,
-Mark

[AlwaysSolutions]

I do have one gripe, on the paint - you can actually see this in the photo at the top of the thread.  In the recessed areas along the long hood, the paint doesn't quite make it to the bottom of the recess, so you have vertical white stripes breaking up the red/purple.  One of my locos isn't too bad, but another looks just like the picture here.  I don't even know how I'd fix that because any paint applied would run along the groove into the white areas that should remain white.    ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

-Mike

[davefoxx]

You fix it by weathering the crap out of the U-boat.  Also, I doubt that they changed the color purple during the original Auto-Train’s existence, because they didn’t even wash their equipment much, if at all.  Whoever chose white for the main body color obviously knew nothing about road grime.  I suppose the wrecked rolling stock and motive power could have been repainted, but I don’t even know if any of these pieces returned to service.  These derailments were the nail in the coffin for Auto-Train.

I’ve been tempted to pull the trigger on an Atlas HO scale version of the Auto-Train U36B, because I’ve seen photos of at least one in RF&P’s Brian Park Terminal for servicing.  I just can’t confirm one was ever used to power an SCL train south out of Richmond, Virginia.  I thought I had read many years ago that the SCL might have taken a locomotive or two for the debts owed by the Auto Train at liquidation to cover the expenses for running on the SCL’s tracks, but I have never confirmed this.

DFF

[Ike the BN Freak]

Would be nice if someone would do the autoracks they used, both the 75' ex CN bi levels and the trilevels they got new

[robertjohndavis]

I'm surprised at the lack of conversation re the new Atlas U33/36B loco. I mean, most new locos seem to achieve at least 10 pages of chatter on TRW within days of their release, no?

Anyway, performance-wise I think this one is a notch above some of Atlas's other recent loco releases (I'm talking to you SD45).

Cheers,
-Mark

Your review was part of my impetus to breakdown and buy another Atlas locomotive after swearing off them due to a string of bad experiences. I got a PC U33B.

I guess I am spoiled by the detail of ST and the crispness of Kato, but the shell looks 10 years old in terms of quality. It’s not terrible. And I guess it’s appropriate for the price point.

Once it’s weathered it will be fine. And it does run nicely out of the box. I got it at a good price, so happy overall.

But the horn sound…

Mine warbles with a noticeable digital echo like a cheap guitar amp simulator with the tremolo turned all the way up. How does yours sound?

Rob

[crrcoal]

Look at the bottom of the fuel tank. If it has holes in it, cover with a piece of tape. Should improve the sound 10 fold.

Your review was part of my impetus to breakdown and buy another Atlas locomotive after swearing off them due to a string of bad experiences. I got a PC U33B.

I guess I am spoiled by the detail of ST and the crispness of Kato, but the shell looks 10 years old in terms of quality. It’s not terrible. And I guess it’s appropriate for the price point.

Once it’s weathered it will be fine. And it does run nicely out of the box. I got it at a good price, so happy overall.

But the horn sound…

Mine warbles with a noticeable digital echo like a cheap guitar amp simulator with the tremolo turned all the way up. How does yours sound?

Rob

[robertjohndavis]

Look at the bottom of the fuel tank. If it has holes in it, cover with a piece of tape. Should improve the sound 10 fold.

Will try. I’ve wondered if that really works. Time to give it a shot.