Athearn Genesis' HO Scale GP15 Review

The EMD GP15 has been recreated in many scales, including HO, before. Athearn's long-awaited release of a new model of this prototype in its Genesis line delivers on all of the hype. This small and versatile locomotive will be as usefull on many model railroads as it is in real life.
Three numbers are available per road in DC or DCC / sound versions.
Roadnames (first run): Conrail, Chicago Northwestern, Norfolk Southern (former CR), Missouri Pacific, Undecorated (multiple versions)
MSRP: $269.98 (DCC / sound) / $169.98 (DC)
A second run with new roadnames and detail variations has already been anounced.

Prototype History

In the 1970s, the Electro Motive Division of General Motors (EMD) designed a new locomotive program to compete with growing locomotive rebuilding programs. Railroads across the country were having older locomotives rebuilt to save on the costs of a new locomotive. Many of the rebuilt engines were older EMD models.

EMD designed the GP15 to handle many of the same roles performed by the locomotives it would replace, from yard and switching to mainline duty. Railroads purchasing GP15's supplied an equal number of trade-in locomotives which would supply traction motors, generators and other components that could be rebuilt and included in the otherwise new locomotive. The GP15 featured 1,500 horsepower and had numerous options including dynamic brakes and different air filtration systems. Later variations included a turbocharged 8-cylender version of the 645 diesel engine. EMD built 368 GP15s in a variety of arrangements between 1974 and 1982 for six railroads.
Historical Background from: Athearn Trains GP15 Instruction Sheet

Performance

The Athearn Genesis GP15 sounds as good as it looks.

®2010 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Athearn has a long tradition of building reliable models. The GP15 is no exception. The model is offered in both standard DC and DCC equipped versions which include a Soundtraxx Tsunami sound decoder. The DCC version was tested for this review.
Although they could and did stretch their legs in road service, GP15's are normally assigned to yards and local freights which feature a lot of low-speed running. I put mine to the test working a small yard and some local freights for an evening.

The GP15 started up to 20 cars at a smooth and realistic slow speed without stalling on my yard ladder which includes a very slight uphill grade. Above 20 cars, the locomotive would stall frequently, including efforts to take slack in the couplers. Many prototypes operated the GP15's in pairs, so a second unit would not look out of place if your yard crew regularly handles larger cuts of cars.
While the locomotive will zip along at a top speed that is probably somewhat greater than the prototype's, it's slow speed performance is outstanding. Acceleration is smooth and sustained low-speed performance is phenomenal. I had some problems early on with stalling on tracks that hadn't been used in a while. A little overdue track cleaning elimiated this problem. This may be the quietest locomotive I have ever tested (not including the sound of course). Even at top speed, there is no motor or gearbox noise. This allows the Tsunami decoder to shine.
I coupled the locomotive onto several different cars with various knuckle couplers. Some couplers with longer trip pins did interfere with the plows.

Sound

The Soundtraxx Tsunami decoder has already received positive reviews in other locomotives and is becoming the new standard for DCC sound. One of the features that set these decoders apart is the ability to customize virtually every feature. I left my locomotive on its factory equipped settings for this test.
One of the first things to jump out about the factory settings on this sound decoder is the low overall volume. Compared to other locomotives out-of-the-box, this locomotive is very quiet. While sound is a matter of personal taste, I have to say that I like the settings. On larger model railroads, a room full of engines cranking away at full volume can be very distracting. The locomotive can be heard from a comfortable distance, but not from anywhere in the house. One nice feature is that all of the sounds are nicely balanced; no overpowering bells or whistles. I'll probably leave most of the factory settings as-is, but the volume settings can be adjusted for each sound if so desired.

Details

The GP15 features numerous railroad-specific details.

®2010 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Athearn proclaimed that this would be the most detailed model of this locomotive ever produced in HO scale, and they delivered. With all of its options and production changes, the GP15 is a challenge for model makers. No two railroads' locomotives look the same. One look at the parts diagram on Athearn's instruction sheet tells the story. From the air intakes down to the coupler cut levers, Athearn has reproduced just about every variation in production big or small. Locomotive details often change over time, so for those who strive to model a very specific prototype or time period, there will still be room for some tweeking. For most, a good weathering job is all that will be needed to put this locomotive right into service.

I tested the Conrail version. For more on the Conrail-specific details, see page two of this review.
Overall, this locomotive is very high on detail. The see-through screens on the radiator, sand and air lines on the trucks, cab interior and pilot details stand out among the rest. An all-weather window and sunshades are included as add-on details for the consumer.
Paint is evenly applied and all of the lettering, including the tiny safety decals, is clear and crisp. Most of these locomotives toiled in yards and received a good coating of exhaust and grime. A good weathering job will really make the small details pop.

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Model Train Track Curves and Minimum Curve Issues

Image via WikipediaModel Railroad track curves may seem like a simple issue, but there can be much more to them than meets the eye. Track curves on model railroad layouts require some planning and knowledge of a few relevant issues. People new to model railroading are sometimes unaware that model train track curves are sold in various radii. Modelers frequently like to run tracks parallel to each other, and this requires curves of different radii. So what's all this about radii? Track Curves Radius and Arc ""Author's photo (Click to enlarge). A radius in geometry is the distance from the center of a circle to any point on the circle. Smaller circles have shorter radii (the plural of radius is radii).

The image at the left shows curved sections of Kato Unitrack in four different radii. Kato actually offers curved sections in seven radii, one smaller and two larger than those shown. The term arc refers to the segment of a circle, and is expressed in degrees. An entire circle has an arc of 360 degrees. So half a circle is a 180 degree turn. This is the arc necessary to turn a train around. The curved pieces in the photo each have an arc of 45 degrees. Depending on scale and manufacturer, track pieces may be found in 15, 22.5, 30, and 45 degree arcs. Ads AusRAIL 2011 ExhibitionFree exhibition entry. 15000sqm. 300 exhibitors.

3000 attendees.Ausrail.com Melbourne Toys DealUp to 90% off on Toys See Today's Offer in Melbourne !www.ouffer.com/Toys-Melbourne Railroad track layoutsFree scenery tips and collection of track plans for your railroadmodelrailroadlayoutsandscenery.com/ Track Curves Are All About Space ""Layout diagram by author (Click to enlarge). Track curves can be used to break up the monotony of long straight sections of track. But their real utility is realized in turning your trains around. The rule of thumb in model railroad layout construction has always been to use the largest radius curve that you can. One of the signs of model railroad addiction is "You look at a table or other flat surface... and start estimating the largest radius curve you can put on it." I agree that you should use curves with a radius of 18 inches or larger in HO and 11 inches or larger in N scale... if you have the space. The Problem With Narrow Spaces So what if your available space is 2 x 5 feet? Many experienced modelers would tell you that you can only build a switching layout, a layout with no 180 degree turns, in such a space.

On switching layouts your trains can only run back and forth, and modelers simulate setting out and picking up cars from industries and connecting up cars to make a train on them. Some people really enjoy doing this. But if you really want a continuous loop layout in your small space, despite the fact that it may not look prototypical, then minimum radius becomes very important to you. Don't let someone else's rule of thumb ruin spoil your fun. I've said a lot more about space in my article on train tables and boards for children. Minimum Radius and Diameter ""Table by author (Click to enlarge). The smallest space a train can turn in is its minimum radius. When choosing a scale in model railroading it is important to remember that the larger the scale, the larger the minimum radius for your curves will be. The chart at the left shows the minimum curve available in various scales from different model railroad track manufacturers. Click the link to read it. In geometry, the diameter is twice the radius. But when planning space to turn your trains around, you need to remember that the radius given by the manufacturers is measured from the center of the track, not the outside edge. So you need to add the overall width of a track piece to the diameter in order to properly calculate the space needed to turn a train around. N Scale Note ""Image courtesy Plaza Japan (Click to enlarge). After writing this article I learned that the Japanese manufacturer Tomix offers N scale minimum curves of 103mm radius, or 4 inches. Serious prototypical model railroaders regard Kato's 8.5 inch radius track, as much too small for their layouts, so they certainly won't take Tomix' 4 inch curves seriously.

I think that for children, if you ensure that their trains can handle these tight turns, these Tomix curves will allow them to be much more creative in laying out track on an under-the-bed board. However, Tomix track isn't readily available in the US, as Kato track is. It can be purchased online from Plaza Japan. If you know of other sources for Tomix track in the US, please notify the guide so that they can be listed here. Locomotive Size Is An Issue For navigating tight turns your primary issue is the wheelbase of your locomotives and rolling stock. The tightest curve Kato manufactures for their N scale Unitrack has an 8.5 inch radius. This means you can fit an oval of Unitrack in a space as tight as 18 inches, or a double track in an area with a width of about 22 inches. However, Kato warns you that six axle locomotives won't be able to navigate the 8.5 curves. As long as you're aware of this fact, you won't waste your money buying big modern diesels or long articulated steam locomotives and face the disappointment of them derailing on your curves. Short trains pulled by smaller steam locomotives, or short cuts of modern cars pulled by a switcher look fine on these curves.

Don't Be In a Hurry to Glue Down Track If you're new to model railroading, don't be in a hurry to glue down your track and start landscaping. Throw out the buzzwords "prototypical scale model" and remember that these are toy trains. So play with them. Change your track around and experiment. Discover what works and what doesn't... and what you like and don't like. Use a segmented track for this... preferably one with an integrated roadbed. If and when you go to build a permanent layout you'll likely want to change from segmented track to flex track, but everything you learn from segmented track about curve radius and arc will still apply. I don't think you'll be unhappy with your investment in the integrated roadbed track... unless you bought a number of expensive turnouts. Camouflage If Un-Prototypical Bothers You If the look of tight turns is going to bother you, and you don't have space to widen them, you can camouflage your curves with tunnels and narrow canyons.

For a great example of this take a look at the PRR layout by Dave Vollmer. Dave built this layout on a 36 x 80 inch door. I'm not saying Dave's curves are too tight, I'm saying that even if by some people's standards they happen to be, I can't see it. In any case, this layout doesn't look like a double track oval. If you hide tight curves, don't forget the limitations imposed by them. Camouflaging doesn't let you run six axle locos, it just makes the trains that you can run look more realistic. In any case remember, never let other people's opinions spoil your fun.
 Of course My Favourite Resource can be found at the Link below :

http://www.model-train-help.com/?hop=fossie09

Many Thanks Again,
Donald Foster