The model nicely follows the lines of the real F59PHI, a 3,200-hp locomotive first built in 1994. The “PHI” means passenger, head-end power, with a fiber glass cab isolated from the frame for a quieter environment. The new cab gives the front of the locomotive a curved, more streamlined look than the earlier standard F59PH. The initial order of nine F59PHIs was built for the state-funded Amtrak California service, and the locomotive’s streamlined cowl has become known as California styling. Current owners include Amtrak, Agence Metropolitaine de Transport (Montreal AMT), Los Angeles Metrolink, North Carolina DOT, Seattle’s Sound Transit, and Vancouver (B.C.) Translink. The model closely follows prototype drawings published in the November 1997 issue of Model Railroader. Body dimensions match the drawings and the nose and cab contours.
Athearn’s F59 has an injection-molded styrene shell with most details cast in place, including fans, horns, grills, rear and roof grab irons, and rear m.u. hoses. Separate plastic details include vertical grab irons, a plow, and rear platform stanchions and handrails. The body detail is nicely done.
Clear styrene is used for window glazing (with wipers molded in place), headlights, and ditch light lenses. Red-tinted clear styrene is used for the front marker lights.
A plastic piece inside the cab provides a rudimentary cab interior, mainly serving to block the chassis from view through the windshield.
The truck sideframes are plastic and snap into place on the trucks. Although the model’s sideframes follow the lines of EMD’s modern GP trucks, the detailing on the sideframes is quite shallow.
Pulling the shell skirts gently outward allows the shell to be lifted off of the chassis. The single-piece die-cast chassis doesn’t carry electricity – power is transmitted by phosphor-bronze strips that run the length of each side and contact wipers above each truck sideframe. A plastic motor mount holds two contacts that carry power from the long strips to the motor.
An open-frame motor drives both trucks via standard universal joints. Brass flywheels are mounted on the drive shaft at each end of the motor. Brass worms atop each truck tower in turn power all axles via plastic gears. The circuit board atop the frame holds a pair of yellow LEDs that illuminate the headlight and rear light – a strange choice considering the current availability of bright white LEDs. The model runs like a jack rabbit, topping 100 scale mph around 4.5 volts. Although the model will run at a scale 4.8 mph, it’s quite jerky at that speed, but it smooths out at about 12 mph. At first this might not seem important, since passenger diesels rarely run that slow, but if a model doesn’t run smoothly at low speeds it’s impossible to get smooth starts and stops.
The model runs smoothly at normal operating speeds, but you’ll be using only a small portion of your throttle range. I find it hard to believe that this motor is designed for even 9V operation, much less 12V, as the model really begins screaming above 6V. No provision is made for Digital Command Control, but the motor is isolated from the frame. Removing the circuit board and trimming its mounting posts from the plastic motor mount leaves an opening of .19″ x .43″ x 1.88″ for a decoder and related wiring.
Micro-Trains Magne-Matic couplers are factory-installed at the proper height.
Model Railroader’s sample came decorated in the blue-and-silver Amtrak West scheme. Paint coverage is good, separation lines are sharp, and the lettering is clear and legible. The printed number boards are a nice touch.
Athearn’s F59PHI is a good model of a modern passenger diesel, but I hope future models offer much more in the way of speed control.
Price: $89.98
Manufacturer:
Athearn Inc.
19010 Laurel Park Rd.
Compton, CA 90220
www.athearn.com
Description:
Plastic and metal ready-to-run
passenger locomotive
Road names: (two numbers available for each)
Amtrak West, Metrolink, Sounder, Coaster, West Coast Express,
Dallas Trinity Rail Express
Features:
Directional headlights
Drawbar pull: .95 ounces
Dual flywheels
Eight-wheel drive and electrical pickup
Engine weight: 3.5 ounces
Micro-Trains Magne-Matic couplers
Minimum radius: 9″
NMRA standard wheelsets
Open-frame motor with five-pole
skew-wound armature
I have this exact same model, road # 450, surfliner paint. It runs great, nice and smooth with fairly bright lights. Too bad they couldn't make some cars to go with theSurfliner models.. Still, it is nice. I usually run it with Kato Superliner Cars.