Roundhouse 4-6-2 Pacific

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Anyone familiar with Roundhouse steam locomotives? Roundhouse is now a subsidiary of Athearn. I've been emailing Athearn. I wrote that I was in the market for a good-quality 4-6-2. In Atheran's reply, it was explained that the new Roundhouse is an upgraded version of the Genesis 4-6-2. If this is the case, I've found the 4-6-2 I've been desiring.


Happy Railroading,

Tom

 

[UP2CSX]

That's basically correct. It's the Athearn Genesis with an upgraded drivetrain and and is DCC ready. Unfortunately, this model is long delayed. It was announced in March of 2008 with a delivery date of July, 2008 and it is not yet in stock anywhere that I know of. You can make an advance reservation but, in the present economy, more and more products are being indefinitely delayed, so I wouldn't count on getting one soon.

 

[jbaakko]

Good thing they're upgrading that locomotive, it was nasty in the way of failures!

 

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UP2CSX,

I see you're up as well!!! I just finished entering semester grades! They're due this morning @ 8:00 am. Good thing I didn't procrastinate!!!

Thanks for the Roundhouse 4-6-2 info. I did make a few hasty purchases, but I've tempered my rush for locomotives. I do want a Pacific, but I am not going to rush into one. I think I'll wait until they are on market and read reviews. I have had buyer's remorse, and I want to avoid another case of it. In fact, I'll probably get an Atlas Gold BNSF Dash 8 Warbonnet first. That is a damn good-looking locomotive.

BTW, are locomotive reviews available prior to release? How reliable are reviews? I might buy a Roundhouse 4-6-2 as soon as they're on market if reviews are favorable.

Take care,

Tom

 

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jbaakko,

Thanks so much for your heads up. I want a 4-6-2, but I want to avoid having to make lemonade.


Take care,

Tom

 

[Cjcrescent]

BTW, are locomotive reviews available prior to release? How reliable are reviews? I might buy a Roundhouse 4-6-2 as soon as they're on market if reviews are favorable.

Take care,

Tom

Don't know about prior to release unless its a review of a pre-production locomotive/product. There have been a few of these, but not enough. Best reviews on any MR product IMHO are found in Model Railroad News. This monthy mag has the most unbiased reviews of products available. They pride themselves on the quality, and honesty of their reviews. Part of the reason is most of the reviews are done by everyday modelers like us and not some writer whose job may depend more on advertizing revenues than whether a model is a really good product or not.

 

[UP2CSX]

Tom, you sound like me when I was a TA in college. I always got the greades entered on the last day too.

I agree with CJ about Railroad Model News. Much more trustworthy reviews than either of the two major MRR mags. I would approach reviews of pre-production models with caution though, no matter where they are reviewed. The manufacturer knows these will be used for publicity and review and they are basically hand assembled versions of a mass production model. As such, they may be better or worse than the production model. I always wait until a model has been out at least a month and see what other modelers are saying. You won't die if you're not the first one to get that new Pacific but you will be pretty cranked off if it turns out to be a piece of junk and you were an early buyer.

 

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UP2CSX,

God, I bet you remember those days of your youth when you were able to get everything done at the last minute, sleep for but a few hours and were unfazed. But now at my age staying up until 1:00 am, sleeping for a few hours and going to work is exhausting. I'm still trying to recover..

I did go to RMN and signed up for three free issues. I am sure I'll like it and become a subscriber. As it is now, I must have spent a hundred hours here and at other Websites just trying to learn more about this fascinating hobby. And I still have so much more to learn!

So far I have spent a lot of money of products I have found I would be better off without. So now I am committed to researching before I part with more of my meager railroading funds. And most of all, I want to buy products that will work as advertised. I guess the adage about getting that for which one pays especially applies to model railroading.


Take care,

Tom

 

[UP2CSX]

Tom, I don't know how old you are but I didn't go back to college until I was 26. I was a TA in my first (and last) year of grad school when I was 31. I had a wife and two kids and was still working part-time as a deputy sheriff. I remember most of those years as an exhausted haze. I'm surprised I never shot anyone by accident.

I went the same route as you, buying the newest stuff and finding out some of it was either junk or I didn't really need it. I now let other early adopters be my beta testers. It's a lot less expensive and easier on the nerves.