Atlas Model Railroad Co. HO scale Alco HH600/HH660 diesel locomotive

Atlas Model Railroad Co. is reissuing its HO scale Alco HH600/HH660 diesel switcher, this time equipped with Digital Command Control (DCC) and sound. The authentic sounds and powerful controls add a new dimension to an already impressive model.

When we originally reviewed this locomotive in June 2009, we noted the model’s many individually applied detail parts, finely molded acetal handrails, smooth-running drive train, and fidelity to the prototype’s dimensions. These features still apply to the new model. The paint on our Erie-decorated sample was even and opaque, with the yellow lettering straight, crisp, and opaque. The builder’s plate on the back of the cab was not quite legible under magnification, but other, nearly as tiny lettering was.

The difference between the old and new models is under the hood. A QSI Quantum DCC decoder is secured on top of the engine mount; an enclosed speaker faces downward from atop the front truck’s gear tower.

Test run. The decoder in our test sample is dual-mode, meaning the locomotive runs on direct current as well as DCC. I tested the model first on direct current. Sound and lights came on at 4 volts (V), though the locomotive didn’t start moving until 9V. At that point, it rolled slowly and smoothly at just 1 scale mph, excellent for yard switching. At 12V the model topped out at more than 75 mph, which is considerably faster than the prototype, which for safety was limited to 40 mph.

The sounds were strong and clear, with the Alco engine’s distinctive burble increasing appropriately as I raised the voltage. In addition to this automatic sound, many other features, including the horn, bell, and decoder programming, can also be accessed under DC through various combinations of flipping the power pack’s direction switch. Features that can be programmed this way include starting and maximum voltage, volume of individual sound effects, and overall sound volume.

DCC sound. The model was even more responsive under DCC. At speed step 1 it started rolling at a speed too slow for our test bench speedometer to measure; using a ruler and a stopwatch, I calculated it as .5 mph. At speed step 28, the model again exceeded the prototype’s speed limit by a wide margin, though that’s easily addressed by programming Configuration Variable (CV) 5.

I had a good time testing all the different sound options available under DCC. In addition to the horn and bell, there are radiator fan and coupler sounds, various air releases, a wheel flange squeal, and the engine load and Doppler horn effects, among others.

Though the manual lists function F11 as turning on or off the front number board lights – a feature this locomotive doesn’t have – I found that instead F11 switched the horn from a single-chime to a three-chime sound. The model is equipped with a single-chime horn.

Worth a listen. Atlas has improved an already fine model by adding a powerful QSI sound decoder. Alco didn’t build many of these compact workhorses, but some of them stayed in service for
decades. Atlas’ smooth-running model would therefore be a great addition to many HO railroads’ diesel rosters.

Price: Silver series (with eight-pin Digital Command Control decoder socket, no sound), $149.95; Gold series (with DCC sound), $259.95

Manufacturer
Atlas Model Railroad Co.
378 Florence Ave.
Hillside, NJ 07205
www.atlasrr.com

Road names: (two numbers each) Erie (HH660 only), Boston & Maine, Central of New Jersey, Milwaukee Road, New York Central, Relco, Southern Pacific (HH660 only), and Wabash.

Features

• Accumate magnetic knuckle couplers, mounted at correct height
• Acetal plastic handrails
• Directional (dimming) light- emitting-diode lighting
• Engineer figure and control stand in cab
• Five-pole, skew-wound motor with dual brass flywheels
• Prototypically accurate Blunt trucks with user-applied brake chains
• QSI Quantum dual-mode DCC sound decoder (Gold series only)
• See-through radiator fan grill
• Wire grab irons and lift rings
• Weight: 7.36 ounces