Atlas Winter 2025 Catalog

[EspeeGoldenState]

Hmmm, I'm not savy to what is what in regards to Alcos but where do the Apache Railway C424m's fall into this? Phase 1? Phase 2? I know they were rebuilt CP motors, but thats about all I know. My pair of C420s could use some more brethren. Heck I'll take close enough even I guess.

[lock4244]

Hmmm, I'm not savy to what is what in regards to Alcos but where do the Apache Railway C424m's fall into this? Phase 1? Phase 2? I know they were rebuilt CP motors, but thats about all I know. My pair of C420s could use some more brethren. Heck I'll take close enough even I guess.

Regardless of the phase Atlas does, the ex CP units have a very distinctive rear end that, to my knowledge, only CP ordered on their C424's. CN's MLW C424's came with the notched rear end like many Alco's did.

I'd love to see an Atlas C424 with this rear hood end, but I'm not holding my breath.
https://www.railpictures.net/photo/753240/

[vermonter_railfan]

Regardless of the phase Atlas does, the ex CP units have a very distinctive rear end that, to my knowledge, only CP ordered on their C424's. CN's MLW C424's came with the notched rear end like many Alco's did.

I'd love to see an Atlas C424 with this rear hood end, but I'm not holding my breath.
https://www.railpictures.net/photo/753240/

Not to mention other differences including the extra air filters and such on the long hood. While its unlikely Atlas will ever make an accurate CP C424, I too would be down for more Apache Railway power!

[SkipGear]

So is the Atlas Berk just the old LL Berk?

Send them your Berkshire and show them how to build it right. 

[PRSL66]

Thank you, Atlas for the Mp15's and C424's, in Reading!!

[jdcolombo]

Send them your Berkshire and show them how to build it right. 

Well, not sending it to them, but here are a couple of photos:

Scotch double-sided tape used as a traction tire on 4th driver set:

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Headlight circuit board with two 604 LEDs to light headlight (lower LED) and Mars light (upper LED), separately controlled by Aux1 on ESU LokSound 5 micro wired decoder in tender:

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[SkipGear]

If you remember Chris333's version, he close to doubled the weight with Tungsten inserts in the frame and a brass boiler that made it correct for Erie. Was/is a beautiful piece of work.

[Chris333]

LOL I don't even remember, but I still have the photo


Guess I can no longer post photos?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/QihSq77gBh7sjPzn6

https://photos.fife.usercontent.google.com/pw/AP1GczNA3laLzJy1qPyTcdl5d2F98onHh5KMTr9oA6rikoedjTxDVM-R2d4x=w1524-h868-s-no-gm?authuser=0

[jdcolombo]

Ah . . . yes, now I remember this.  Incredible.  And far beyond my capability . . .

John C.

[nickelplate759]

I'm trying to figure out my Berkshire plan...

I have five already, as follows:
1 rebuilt, repowered Rivarossi (779) w/DCC and working Mars light.   A keeper, if only because I'm proud of the work I put into it.
1 2nd-run LifeLike, w/DCC.   Also a keeper, even though it doesn't pull great. 
1 Bachmann (759)  w/DCC and (so-so-) sound.
2 1st run LifeLike, no DCC.  These need some work - replace the bulb with LED (easy) and improve pickup, install DCC at least.  They do run nicely, only pull about 10 cars... (assuming no sound).

 I have other NKP steamers as well - I have a bunch of Mikados (2 BLI with sound + DCC, 2 MP with DCC that pull poorly, 2 Kato heavy) and a Pacific (MP DCC+sound).

My layout is small enough that 5 Berkshires are certainly enough, but...gosh, the LifeLike (and thus Atlas) are far nicer than the Bachmann and Rivarossi. 

SO, what to do?

I'm leaning towards selling the two non-DCC Life-Like, get 2 Atlas (with Sound) to replace them.   I figure it would cost me at least $75 each to upgrade the LifeLike, and they still won't pull great.
Or maybe get rid of the Bachmann and get all three Atlas.

Someone please talk some sense into me!

[mu26aeh]

Someone please talk some sense into me!

Buy 3 new Atlas ones !

[jdcolombo]

Hi George.

IF the Atlas units end up having traction tires, I'd definitely replace the 1st run LL units and the Bachmann.  The first run LL's did not have all-wheel pickup in the tender - only the back truck.  You'd probably get decent results with a sound conversion if you installed a TCS KA-1 along with the sound decoder (which is what I do on all mine), but having all-wheel pickup in the tender is a huge help.  I only have 2 from the first run, and I bought replacement tenders from Bachmann way back when they were available as parts for those two engines.  The Bachmann tenders are great!  The engines, not so much.

You can solve the pulling power issue like I have with some strips of Scotch double-sided "photo mounting" tape, but traction tires would be a way better solution.  If Atlas does do traction tires, I'm hoping they will make a traction-tire equipped 4th driver set available as a part so I can replace all mine.

I really hope we can get confirmation on what upgrades Atlas is going to do on the Berk.  Pre-orders need to be in by March 12 . . .

John C.

[mkearns]

I wish the 2-8-4 had the correct sand dome orientation for the C&O models (in front of the steam dome). But I recognize this is unlikely with the re-use of the Life Like tooling. Perhaps something for Atlas to think about after tooling costs are recouped from the first run.

[Mark5]

I wish the 2-8-4 had the correct sand dome orientation for the C&O models (in front of the steam dome). But I recognize this is unlikely with the re-use of the Life Like tooling. Perhaps something for Atlas to think about after tooling costs are recouped from the first run.

In HO, the Lifelike Berk had some road specific details:
C&O https://www.walthers.com/heritage-steam-2-8-4-quot-berkshire-quot-powered-w-sound-dcc-chesapeake-ohio-2744
NKP https://www.walthers.com/van-sweringen-2-8-4-berkshire-standard-dc-proto-tm-heritage-nickel-plate-road-738
VGN https://www.walthers.com/van-sweringen-2-8-4-berkshire-standard-dc-proto-2000-r-heritage-virginian-505

Lifelike even tooled the correct tender for the Virginian version.

N scale got none of this for the C&O or VGN versions. 

Mark

[jdcolombo]

At the time these models were produced, LifeLike did a much better job with road-specific details in HO than they did in N.  The LL NKP PA-1 is the best example.  The HO model was excellent.  The N scale model wasn't even close - wrong number board position (on the side, instead of the correct angled front ones), no lower headlight with the upper light being a Mars light; incorrect front logo size/position; etc. 

The PA-1 ran superbly and had unmatched pulling power, but I ended up making several modifications to the shell (including the correct number boards via Kato's parts department); when BLI came out with their close-to-prototypically-correct PA for the NKP, the LifeLike models went on the shelf and have never been resurrected. 

The same is true of the Berks.  In HO they tried.  For the NKP, they adopted a roller-bearing lead truck for S-2 numbered models, and worked to get the C&O and other roads close to correct.  In N scale, the shell was based on an NKP S-1 (road numbers 715 - 739, built by Lima), and that's what you got, whether it was a C&O, Pere Marquette, or NKP in S-2 class numbers. 

Not expecting Atlas to do anything to the shell on these re-releases, but hopeful for traction tires and for NKP units, a Mars light as a separate detail part . . .

John C.