Atlas C630 from blwnscale

[ek2000]

Did anyone preorder a Atlas c628 or 630 from blw and receive it? I have a non guaranteed preorder but haven't heard back if the reservation is confirmed. I see this in other stores now. I emailed and called but haven't seen a response

[reinhardtjh]

Yesterday I got an email from the former LHS that I had ordered mine and he said Walthers (distributor) was taking it's time unpacking their shipment so he's still waiting.

Pete sends out his pre-orders in order order before updating the web site so he may be in the process of shipping unless his distributor is slow too.

[rrjim1]

Did anyone preorder a Atlas c628 or 630 from blw and receive it? I have a non guaranteed preorder but haven't heard back if the reservation is confirmed. I see this in other stores now. I emailed and called but haven't seen a response

Yes, and No! He does his best to fill all pre-orders even the non-guaranteed ones.

[Joetrain59]

Got an email from Pete @ BLW that my sound equipped D&H C628 is shipping.
 Joe D

[wmcbride]

I'm curious to read reviews of these.

[rrjim1]

I received two D&H C628s today, very smooth, quiet(sound off), sound is really good, very happy. Without even cleaning the wheels both locos would creep(speed step 1) threw several medium insufrog turnouts.   The only - is front headlight isn't very bright, but that doesn't bother me. 

[Albersala]

I've received my sound equipped D&H C-628 and I'm a bit disappointed. Yes, It runs quietly and flawless, It can easily negotiate tight curves but the sound is not what I expected. In my opinion, overall volume is too weak (even at maximum level) and It has few sound functions. Very far from IM SD-40-2 or BLI Paragon3 latest locos, for instance. On the other hand, as rrjim1 has said, front headlights are so dimmmed that at daylight is hard to say whether they are lit or not. The funny thing is that function 12 dims those lights even more.    If had known this, I would have saved that money for other locos that are going to appear in the near future. A pity.

PS: I forgot to mention that inside the box there isn´t any manual or paper with a list of the different functions or CVs to modify. You must search the ESU website. I hope it won´t become an example to be followed by the rest of the manufacturers.

[C855B]

... front headlight isn't very bright, but that doesn't bother me. ...

... rrjim1 has said, front headlights are so dimmmed that at daylight is hard to say whether they are lit or not. ...

Once you open it up you will see why. If it is anything similar to the placement on the DC board, the LED is 1/2" away from the end of the light pipe. Rear headlight isn't a lot closer to its own LED. That's not a good formula for "routing" the light. I'm 90% certain the board is the same one used in the new SD35, so it is designed for the shorter loco. One idea is to glue new LEDs to the light pipes and wire with a connector to the board, or you could simply replace the LEDs with old-fashioned 3mm leaded LEDs, using the leads to reposition the light emitters.

EDIT: I just checked my 1st-gen C630s, which also had dim headlights. Yep, same problem, LEDs too far away from the light pipes. I'll have to fix that, too.

[rrjim1]

I've received my sound equipped D&H C-628 and I'm a bit disappointed. Yes, It runs quietly and flawless, It can easily negotiate tight curves but the sound is not what I expected. In my opinion, overall volume is too weak (even at maximum level) and It has few sound functions. Very far from IM SD-40-2 or BLI Paragon3 latest locos, for instance. On the other hand, as rrjim1 has said, front headlights are so dimmmed that at daylight is hard to say whether they are lit or not. The funny thing is that function 10 dims those lights even more.    If had known this, I would have saved that money for other locos that are going to appear in the near future. A pity.

PS: I forgot to mention that inside the box there isn´t any manual or paper with a list of the different functions or CVs to modify. You must search the ESU website. I hope it won´t become an example to be followed by the rest of the manufacturers.

I would say there has to be something wrong with your loco, both of mine are just as loud as my BLI E8s and my IM SD40-2s, and I can see the headlight it's just not as bright as expected. Manuals not in the box is something that all manufactures are going to and not just model railroad manufactures. I do agree that Atlas should include a short list of important CVs. Sorry your not happy with yours, I sure am love that Alco sound!     

[edge8300]

I received 2 c630’s CP from BLW off preorder. First impression was that the sound was clear and loud. I have 9 IM SD40-2’s to compare. Although I’ve turned the volume down on those dramatically as I always run in consists of 2 or 3, I’m used to a much lower volume than what the c630’s came factory. I think the volume was at 140 but don’t quote me on that.  In my opinion, way too loud and risking blowing the speaker (as I’ve done a few times making loksound a too loud). I’ve turned mine down to 80 (all my intermountains are at 40) I think I’ve got it louder because it’s new and there’s only 2 in the consist and I really like the throaty sound of the Alco 251C. I’ve loaded a different 251C onto the other loco and it’s pretty great. Listened to them idle while working for an hour yesterday.

Out of the box running was smooth, electrical pickup was good—no issues, not loud mechanism but not totally silent. Perfectly fine for how well the speaker is translating that Alco engine.  When I loaded my default settings and speed tables, I got a little surging out of the motor speed ( same exact speed curves on 20+ loksound decoders). Haven’t seen that before. I’ll keep and eye in it, and see if it’s noticeable within consist.

Overall very happy. I also got 2 SD35’s recently as well. The smaller sd35 will pull the much larger (at least longer) c630 likes it’s a caboose. Wow can those sd35’s pull. They feel nice and heavy. The c630 will drag an IM SD40-2 al little better than the SD40-2 will drag it.  Not scientific, but it’s some sort of barometer.

I might weigh each loco to get a better idea next.

[Joetrain59]

Ran mine for first time tonight. On DC. Volume was very acceptable. Will try to run it with DCC over the weekend. (More rain coming, I've got moss for a moustache now;)
 Joe D

[bdennis]

Received by D&H C-628 today.. the sound is great.. Exactly what I was looking for. Of note the D&H grey for the new batch is a different, slightly darker grey colour to the original batch of D&H C-628's. The bogie colour is also darker.. Now reaching for the manual to find the CV to turn down the prime mover sound. In my small room it is fairly loud. All in all very happy..