Manufacturer
Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc.
378 Florence Ave.
Hillside, NJ 07205-1102
atlasrr.com
Era: 1962 to 1964 (as decorated)
Comments: The HO scale Fairbanks-Morse H-24-66 Train Master diesel from Atlas is now available in this late version Wabash paint scheme. We reviewed the previous release of the Atlas Train Master in the January 2005 Model Railroader.
The model is available in versions that represent what railfans call the “phases” of the Train Master’s 1953 to 1957 production run. Wabash no. 599 was renumbered from no. 551 (formerly FM demonstrator T-2) and repainted after it was rebuilt by Alco in 1962. After the 1962 rebuilding, the phase 1a Train Master looked more like a phase II, as depicted by the Atlas model. Prototype photos from 1973 of no. 599 after it was renumbered to Norfolk & Western no. 3599 show the engine with phase II handrails that have a recessed center, not the straight handrails found on the Atlas model.
The gold series model has a dual-mode QSI Digital Command Control sound decoder with engine, horn, and other sound effects that accurately reflect the prototype. The engine ran smoothly on DC and DCC test tracks.
See the Atlas website for a listing of available road names.