All three of our samples were neatly painted, with white lettering legible even on the COTS (Clean, Oil, Test & Stencil) panel. The Watch Your Step lettering on the stairs was well done. Our model of no. 4600 bore Gothic reporting marks and car numbers, as delivered; the SP later repainted these to Roman lettering, as seen on our other two samples.
The model has rotating wheel bearing caps and a journal-mounted generator on the B-end truck. (This was introduced with the C-50-7 class and wouldn’t be on all versions.)
The model comes with four etched-metal screens for the bay windows. Since these were sliding on the prototype, the modeler can install them in any position desired. Other details include wire grab irons, etched-metal screens on the side windows, the metal disk antenna on the roof, and detailed underbody brake gear that matches prototype drawings.
Two of our review samples were equipped with lighting circuits, though all three had all-wheel electrical pickup. The interior lights and marker lights are light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Both the markers and interior lights shone steadily when I placed the caboose on powered track. The lighting board inside the model includes capacitors that kept the lights on after track power was removed. Using a DC power pack, the direction of the marker lights changed with track polarity; under DCC control, this function is programmable.
The metal wheels match National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) RP-25 and are mounted in gauge. The plastic McHenry knuckle couplers were mounted at the correct height. With or without lighting, the cars weigh in at 3.5 ounces, which matches NMRA RP-20.1.
Athearn has hit a homer with this impressively detailed, accurate model. And the available lighting is a winner, too.
Price: $69.98; with lighting, $99.98
Manufacturer
Athearn Trains
1600 Forbes Way, Ste. 120
Long Beach, CA 90810
athearn.com
Road names: Southern Pacific class C-50-7 (mineral red with orange ends, Roman or Gothic lettering, nine road numbers available), SP class C-50-5 (red/orange, four road numbers), SP class C-50-9 (red/orange, six numbers, or “Kodachrome” pre-merger scheme, one number), St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt) (red/orange, four numbers), and Western Pacific (caboose red, six numbers). Also undecorated.
Era: 1974 (C-50-5) / 1978 (C-50-7) / 1980 (C-50-9) to 1990s
Features
- Available interior lighting and working marker lights
- Clear window glazing
- Detailed interior
- Etched-metal details
- McHenry scale knuckle couplers, mounted at correct height
- Metal wheelsets (with all-wheel electrical pickup and rotating bearing caps), in gauge
- Weight: 3.5 ounces (correct under NMRA RP-20.1)
- Wire grab irons
