WTB Rail Pro Products ?

[LVRR1856]

Hello All you Railpro Brothers and Sisters ! Happy Spring !

Just kicking can down the road, anybody know where to buy RP Modules lately ?

SSS website shows no stock, and I emailed him about availability,
Let's just say he did not sound too enthusiastic about selling RP. - He did not say he wouldn't, but ...

Just checking the waters before purchasing my next batch of LMs. Never hurts to compare notes.
If anybody has a surplus they want to off load - (prefer un-used) ... reach out to me.

Thanks
Pat

[JRad]

There are quite a few stocking dealers. The few that I have used are Don Sweet at RCS of New England and Robby D. ar RLD Hobbies.

[LVRR1856]

Thanks JRad, I will check those out for sure. Never heard of them.

[Coupe633]

LVRR1856 I understand your dilemma with so many locomotives. I too started collecting my locomotives over 40 years ago and have a number of Athearn and Yellow box Atlas. Fortunately most of my recent acquisitions were Broadway Limited and they are very suited for digital and Railpro. I have converted pretty much all of them or while be doing the last batch of Broadway Limited soon. I have decided to not convert my Athearn as it would also require re-motoring them which I don't want to do. I have avoided the AHM/Riverossi locomotives like the plague as they are very old school technology. I do intend to convert my Atlas Yellow box locomotives are they are very good runners, however some will require some creative methods to fit the modules in. I have 3 S-1 switchers next on my list and the modules are slightly wider than the cowling so I may need to bring out the dremel tool. All that said, I want my best runners and best detailed locomotives on my layout. The Athearn are not bad but the detail is not as good as more modern models so I have eliminated converting those. Bachmann is another locomotive that I will not be able to convert. The design of Bachmann is unusual and while I have a number of K-4's I ripped out the motors and will just use them as static scrap models awaiting the torch in the yard. These decisions have to me made considering practicality, economics and physical limits. Older locomotives just did not imagine adding anything additional and used up all the space with weight, etc. You have to take all these factors in to determine what will get converted and what will not. It may seem overwhelming to calculate your total fleet and automatically think that they all have to be converted. Once you make these decisions it will seem like a loss at first but in the end you will have to compromise and you will have your best locomotives running with Railpro. Whether you sell the rest of just shelve them is up to you but you start to accept your decisions and feel better about them.

I Just ordered some LM3s from SSS and got the same response of lack of enthusiasm for Railpro but I think we can change that. I had been waiting to order from the few dealers but they all seem to be out of stock. At SSS I could not order from the website since they were out of stock so I sent an e-mail stating my needs and they will be ordered for me. I can understand not wanting to tie up a large amount of money in stock that doesn't move. Although it may take a month or more to get them back in I have been waiting since the end of the year and had to take a proactive move to get the LM3s. I suspect that it may be that there are issues with tariffs and supplies coming out of the east. I let SSS also know that will be wanted to order a few more at the end of the year so hopefully they will see more demand and keep them in stock once they are more available. I really loved working with Bill at PDC and that was a huge loss but that is the way it is. I hope SSS will become my main go to like Bill was.

[gregeusa]

what is the issue with the Athearn and Bachmann motors?

[LVRR1856]

Coupe - yea there are a few in my 30 year collection that may not see a RP modules. I will also try to thin the hoard of a few off name ones.

I have a batch of old Tycos from when I was a kid, keep those for sentimental reasons, but not worthy of a RP Module. I also think I can have a DC/RP switch so I can run DC stuff at times. Good to be able to test them on DC first before the RP installs.

I probably will try the Athearns with existing motors, See what happens. even tho they draw about 1 amp, the RP should handle it ?

[sieggs1]

Hey All,

I have an old Athearn GP35 with the original motor and it's running with a LM-3S module just fine.

However, I have replaced most of the original Athearn motors with newer can motors since they are quieter, smoother and more efficent. You can buy generic motors with flywheels off eBay in lots of six for $12-15 each. Don't spend $30+ each on newer Athearn motors. They're just not worth it.

I also forgo the Athearn motor mounts when replacing motors on old blue box locos. I just build mounts out of sheet styrene and glue in with Goop.

Rob S.

[LVRR1856]

I have a passion for taking an old Loco - especially a Proto2000 and giving it a new life. I completely tear them down, clean, lube, regear, then add RP modules to some. Just about everyone- New in the box, had all 4 gears cracked. Also had the gummy brown grease, stuck bearings on the worm gears ... complete cleaning with IP and a tooth brush ... fun to see them purr again.

Athearn Blue Boxes are on that list also, but not all of them. I clean and rebuild them, but some are pretty old, they have the Steel flywheels ... I think I will get those running and sell them.

Since I have done quite a few P2Ks, I will start on some Athearn BB's and some Atlas Yellow Boxes. They are like tanks also.

Lots of Satisfaction giving an old DC loco a new life !!