The GP40-2W's are in....

[squirrelhunter]

Not sure if these pics help, best I could do without prying the shell off. The wired pickups on the trucks (last pic) was a surprise... is this new or have I just not been paying attention?

That next to last one is very helpful, it looks like Atlas didn't use the widecab to widen the frame to add more weight. I'll buy a no sound version to play with.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

From what I remember during a conversation a few years ago... The GP40-2W is the first engine to use an updated chassis. This chassis will allow short fuel tank engines in the future and will be adopted to their other GP engines. They also mentioned adding ditch lights, so my guess is there may be room in the chassis to run light pipes.

Atlas REALLY needs to make a retrofit kit available for existing engines. Frame halves, motor contacts, speaker and speaker contacts would be perfect. Maybe they can include wired versions of the wheel wipers, but that seems to be a pretty easy conversion.

I have dozens of GP units that are now very difficult to convert because ESU decided to retire the board that didn't require frame milling.

[reinhardtjh]

I have dozens of GP units that are now very difficult to convert because ESU decided to retire the board that didn't require frame milling.

If you mean the old 73100 board then the replacement is available now.  It's the 58751 LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct Atlas Legacy decoder.  Just hit the stores last week.  Bryan at Streamlined Backshop has 138 (currently, down from 150 originally).  And other places (Yankee Dabbler, Tony's Trains, etc) have them too.

https://store.sbs4dcc.com/ESU58751LokSound5MicroDirectNMRADCCSoundDecoder-AtlasLegacyTyp.aspx

[dandopinski]

Yes. They were far more accurate with the GP38-2 models as to which RR got the appropriate truck. I have many Atlas donors for my Briggs CN GP40-2L (long range) models

[daniel_leavitt2000]

If you mean the old 73100 board then the replacement is available now.  It's the 58751 LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct Atlas Legacy decoder.  Just hit the stores last week.  Bryan at Streamlined Backshop has 138 (currently, down from 150 originally).  And other places (Yankee Dabbler, Tony's Trains, etc) have them too.

https://store.sbs4dcc.com/ESU58751LokSound5MicroDirectNMRADCCSoundDecoder-AtlasLegacyTyp.aspx

Hot damn! How did I not know about these?

[Wardie]

Mine arrived today. I am quite happy with the level of detail and the running characteristics of these.

[Scottl]

Those look really great.  I'm pretty excited to have these on the market.

I'm a little concerned that the CN cab number is not quite right.  The font looks chunky to me, first thing that grabs my eye.  Not a deal breaker by any means.

[wazzou]

Mine arrived today. I am quite happy with the level of detail and the running characteristics of these.

They look nice but shouldn’t the correct trucks be considered a level of detail, and a pretty big one?

[kscessandriver]

Mine arrived today. I am quite happy with the level of detail and the running characteristics of these.

They look good. I missed pre-ordering these so I’m waiting for someone to have the Huron Central ones in stock, somewhere

[lock4244]

They look nice but shouldn’t the correct trucks be considered a level of detail, and a pretty big one?

You'd certainly think so.

[wmcbride]

I had taken to buying Atlas Silver engines because of the pre-installed speakers. I can then add Loksound decoders later for those needing sound (as I win the lottery).

Looking at the current price difference between Silver and Gold units for the GP40-2Ws (for example, Lombard Hobby at $95 and $170) the factory installed sound is certainly less expensive than paying $90 to add a LokSound later.

[oakcreekco]

I didn't realize that Atlas went to the wired trucks.

Are any of the wired truck parts interchangeable with the old style contact strip trucks?

[peteski]

I didn't realize that Atlas went to the wired trucks.

Are any of the wired truck parts interchangeable with the old style contact strip trucks?

Looking at the info on spookshow's website, the wired trucks use the same parts as the older non-wired trucks. They simply soldered the wires to the metal bearing/pickup pieces.  The different part is the loco chassis, where they modified it to accept the wire "plugs".  So you can either "upgrade" older truck to fit the new frame by soldering wires with plugs to them, or "downgrade" the wired trucks by unsoldering the wires.

[oakcreekco]

Thank you sir.

[lock4244]

So is anyone besides Lombard Hobbies selling these online? I've not seen them listed on MBK, N Scale Supply, Trainlife, or any other online retailer yet.