Manufacturer:
Athearn Trains
1600 Forbes Way, Suite 120
Long Beach, CA 90810
Era: 1950 to present
Road names: Burlington Northern; Alaska RR; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Canadian National; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Milwaukee Road; New York Central
Comments: Another round of Athearn rotary snowplows is ready to keep HO scale mainlines clear this winter. The model with operating blades is available in multiple roadnames and includes a matching non-powered Electro-Motive Division FB unit.
Part of the Athearn Ready-to-Roll line, the snowplow and B unit feature plastic body shells. Most of the detail is molded, including the handrails and the air intake screens on the sides of the B unit. The running board on the snowplow roof is separately applied. The snow deflector on top of the blade housing is also separate, and like the prototype, can be pivoted to each side.
Our review sample is decorated for Burlington Northern no. 972558. The road number matches a BN rotary snowplow built by Cooke. However, the Athearn model is based on a larger prototype built by Lima-Hamilton.
The plow weighs 3.7 ounces and the B unit weighs 3.4 ounces. Both models feature metal RP-25 contour metal wheels that are in gauge. The snowplow and B unit tracked well as I pushed them around our layout with an Athearn GP40-2.
The first and second axle of the plow’s rear six-wheel truck pick up track power, while a can motor turns the plow’s blades. The limited pickup cause the blades to stutter a bit through some turnouts.
The model also includes factory-installed McHenry knuckle couplers on the B unit and the rear of the snowplow. All the couplers are at the proper height, according to National Model Railroad Association S-2.
With its operating blade, the Athearn rotary snowplow is an eye-catching piece of equipment.
