Atlas Winter 2025 Catalog

[R L Smith]

To follow up on Bruce's concerns with the D&H units. All of the D&H rebuilds were former E-L units (Phase 1 body). The magazine article I found notes that the 45x units had the rear overhang removed, but the 46x units did not.  So if Atlas numbered the D&H units as 461-463, they would be a bit more correct.

Here's hoping a "Hornell rebuild" would be offered in the future...

RLS

[lock4244]

Best I can determine it was changed some time in the early 1980s. There was no date on that particular photo.

I do agree you have to ask what's the point! But CP did odd things! 

I read about it having been rebuilt, and though I cannot recall and this is pure speculation, wreck repair would be the most sensible explanation.

[sp org div]

Only BN pool power here but needs the correct a$$ end before I replace mine
Hoping the rumors for correct phase come true
I ripped those tsunamis out of my atlas 45s due stalling issues after futile KA success
Couldnt be happier with esu replacing them so… what are you doing atlas?
As mentioned they look great after the install of styrene frame rails!

[sizemore]

I think we're all assuming that Atlas is re-using at least some of the LL Berk tooling that they presumably got from the Walthers deal.  But honestly, none of us know for sure.  All speculation on our part.  The boiler and tender shells would still be good, but the chassis would need some alteration to accommodate DCC/Sound installation.  Probably not a lot, though.  Run a wire from the top and bottom motor brushes; thin wires to light the headlight (AND MARS LIGHT!!); a slightly revised piece of circuit board for the headlight (AND MARS LIGHT!!); and a traction-tire equipped 4th driver set and you're mostly there if you want to keep changes to a minimum.  The wires can be routed in channels in the chassis and out a slit between the shell and chassis bottom to a plug in the tender.  Everything else is going to go in the tender, and it has plenty of room inside.  This is the way I do my conversions now, and just cut a channel with a 1/8" ball cutter in a Dremel.  Such a cut could easily be done at the manufacturing stage.

I can't see Atlas investing in all-new tooling for a steam engine.  They don't do a lot of steam to begin with, so I've got to believe this is the L/L tooling brought back to life.

John C.

The Bachmann is beautiful until you see its undersized drivers, really grinds my gears. I'd have to go back and look but Life-Like had some revisions between the multiple runs where they added better pickup in the tender, along with a pin to hold the drawbar to the locomotive. A traction tire greatly improves the performance of the Berk without any other changes. Someone was cutting the last driver on a micro-lathe to accept traction tires. I was lucky enough to get a handful for my Berkshire projects, 53 cars with no added weight.

The S.

[EmdFan]

The numbers on the D&H C424 are being changed to 461-463.

Steve W

[Philip H]

Well now - a factory painted Green Bay and Western Alco.

And here I thought I’d settled my road and era. Mr.Wallet and I are consulting.

[Bruce Archer]

Hi All!
    The D&H C-424m Locos were of EL and RDG origin. These were acquired in two batches.  Both batches were rebuilt by GE to 2000hp at Hornell, NY. The first batch, 451 to 456, was financed by the D&H and had the "horns",  the overhanging number boards, removed and an extra blower duct was added to the engineer's side. The second batch, 461 to 463 was financed by Sterling Salt to ensure Sterling's salt trains had sufficient power. These had stock bodies.

     As for any other issues with the ex-Life-Like C-424s, the cab is not rounded enough. It had the roof "squashed" down a bit. Steve Adair showed this to me, and I have taken his advice and used  Atlas C-630 cabs for my existing C-424s. Then there is the excessive gap between the frame and trucks, Life-Like did not fill this in with a frame rail as on the prototype. What we need now is for the cottage industry produce a frame correction set for these C-424s.

     Lastly, I contacted Atlas about the C-424s in D&H paint, and they assured me they had made a mistake with the numbers, and they are being changed to 461-463, the correct numbers for the body style announced.

Bruce Archer

[EmdFan]

Hi All!
    The D&H C-424m Locos were of EL and RDG origin. These were acquired in two batches.  Both batches were rebuilt by GE to 2000hp at Hornell, NY. The first batch, 451 to 456, was financed by the D&H and had the "horns",  the overhanging number boards, removed and an extra blower duct was added to the engineer's side. The second batch, 461 to 463 was financed by Sterling Salt to ensure Sterling's salt trains had sufficient power. These had stock bodies.

     As for any other issues with the ex-Life-Like C-424s, the cab is not rounded enough. It had the roof "squashed" down a bit. Steve Adair showed this to me, and I have taken his advice and used  Atlas C-630 cabs for my existing C-424s. Then there is the excessive gap between the frame and trucks, Life-Like did not fill this in with a frame rail as on the prototype. What we need now is for the cottage industry produce a frame correction set for these C-424s.

     Lastly, I contacted Atlas about the C-424s in D&H paint, and they assured me they had made a mistake with the numbers, and they are being changed to 461-463, the correct numbers for the body style announced.

Bruce Archer

The cab has been retooled and has the currect curvature on the roof. We also adjusted a few things on the sill.

When we work with purchased tooling we generally try to run it one time relatively untouched to help offset the purchase cost. In this case I was able to do quite a bit.

This round is all Phase 1, the next run will include Phase 2.

Steve W

[chessie system fan]

Thanks for popping in, Steve! It's great you're able to fix those discrepancies. Since you're designing a new mechanism for sound anyway, is there anything you can do about the lack of an underframe?  As is, the model looks like it's on stilts. and adding the frame detail to the mechanism would make a big visual difference as well as increase pulling power from the added weight.

And add my voice to the chorus saying that adding traction tires to the berk is a necessity that would turn a beautiful shelf queen into a winner people can use.   

[EmdFan]

Thanks for popping in, Steve! It's great you're able to fix those discrepancies. Since you're designing a new mechanism for sound anyway, is there anything you can do about the lack of an underframe?  As is, the model looks like it's on stilts. and adding the frame detail to the mechanism would make a big visual difference as well as increase pulling power from the added weight.

And add my voice to the chorus saying that adding traction tires to the berk is a necessity that would turn a beautiful shelf queen into a winner people can use.   

Right now the Chinese are out on the new year holiday, lasting about 2 weeks. Once they're back I'll talk to them about the C424 underframe.

Someone else in R&D is working on the Berk but I'll forward this thread to him.

Thanks

Steve W

[nickelplate759]

Right now the Chinese are out on the new year holiday, lasting about 2 weeks. Once they're back I'll talk to them about the C424 underframe.

Someone else in R&D is working on the Berk but I'll forward this thread to him.

Thanks

Steve W

I'd very much like to know what enhancements are planned for the Berkshire (beyond Sound & DCC).

[Mark5]

Steve @EmdFan

I am thrilled to see the LL Berk resurrected! 

I was disappointed that you guys didn't include #759 in this release. 759 was in excursion service from 1968 through the mid 1970s, and #759 pulled the final run of N&W's Pocahontas passenger train (Amtrak was the next day). Maybe next run? 

Mark

[jdcolombo]

They ARE doing the "Golden Spike" version of 759 . . .

I suspect that if this initial run is successful, we'll see a lot more numbers.  LifeLike originally did 3 runs (the last came after the Walthers acquisition if I remember correctly); I think 717, 738, 765, 779, 740 and one other #?  There are 74 numbers to go, 71 if not counting this upcoming release . . . 

John C.

[Mark5]

ha thanks John, I missed that (Golden Spike). 

I never saw that loco (759) in that scheme, kinda always thought that was a fantasy scheme. 

This is what 759 looked like when I saw it back in those days: https://www.railpictures.net/photo/395593

Mark

[jdcolombo]

And that's exactly what she SHOULD look like . . . complete with MARS LIGHT!! 

John C.