Athearn's Portland General Electric Bethgon Coalporters

[cfritschle]

This is a heads up for anyone who may have ordered the Athearn's Bethgon Coalporters in the Portland General Electric (PGEX) paint scheme.  The models do not match the artwork in the announcement, or on Athearn's website.  Yesterday I received two of the three 5-packs I ordered, and something did not look quite right.  Finally it dawned of me (after looking at my deLuxe innovations PGEX Coalporters) that all of the Athearn cars are painted as double rotary cars with the red stripes and roses at both ends of the cars.  Only one car out of the ten was correctly numbered for a double rotary: PGEX 6.

An email to Athearn's customer support generated what looks like an automated reply that due to the pandemic and lock downs in California, a response addressing my concern will not be forthcoming anytime soon. 

On the positive side, the cars look really nice.  However, it looks like I am going to have to figure out how to remove the roses and red stripes from one end of all but one of these cars before I can add them to my train that supplies coal to the Boardman, Oregon power plant.   

[RSWController]

It’s funny you mention this. I got my DEEX’s and I think the paint is wrong as well. It is very, very dark orange, pretty much red. The prototype is clearly orange. The artwork is correct on the website. Was waiting to decide what to do.

[James Costello]

I've got some similar concerns about the forthcoming 53' X-Post containers, where the artwork is wrong. I've emailed them about the corrections so hopefully it gets addressed.

Athearn's artwork and decoration seems to be one of the emerging issues facing as as modellers and it's pretty widely complained about.

The Athearn guys are pretty active on socials - probably neck and neck with Scaletrains - so I hope you get a reply Carter.... but I wouldn't let this rest - especially when the artwork was correct.

[learmoia]

One of our customers was trying to contact Athearn to discuss inaccuracies on the Western Maryland Genesis F7s. With a list of things wrong.... (Supposidly Athearn outsourced the quality control?)

He was having an issues contacting Athearn as well...

~Ian

[carlso]

Ian,

I can say, without hesitation, based on my experience with the purchase of a brand new N scale big Boy about 3 years ago. BTW, I personally made the loco run and run well.

When it comes to "Quality Control", Athearn No comprende nada ! ! !

Personally, I will not ever give them another penny of my money for the crap they put out. In their case, I think some manufacturer is totally running the show and they have no say so regarding what goes and what does not.

Be well,
Carl

[wazzou]

...I think some manufacturer is totally running the show and they have no say so regarding what goes and what does not.

Be well,
Carl

I think there may be some possibility this is true.

[bman]

On the positive side, the cars look really nice.  However, it looks like I am going to have to figure out how to remove the roses and red stripes from one end of all but one of these cars before I can add them to my train that supplies coal to the Boardman, Oregon power plant.   

Athearn has a how to on Youtube for removing the printing off of rolling stock. I've used this method a few times remembering a bunch of Wheeling and Lake Erie open hoppers from Atlas. It worked well for me.
 

[w neal]

Athearn has a how to on Youtube for removing the printing off of rolling stock. I've used this method a few times remembering a bunch of Wheeling and Lake Erie open hoppers from Atlas. It worked well for me.
 

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I've often wished I could remember my open hoppers too when I'm at a show table. Perhaps a good swabbing would help me too.

But seriously, aren't these the coalporters that are famous for riding too high anyways?

[learmoia]

Yep..the ones MDC was selling as $5 kits 25 years ago..  literally body, brake wheel, weight.. then add the trucks.. (which were also kits)..

~Ian

[cfritschle]

Yep..the ones MDC was selling as $5 kits 25 years ago..  literally body, brake wheel, weight.. then add the trucks.. (which were also kits)..

~Ian

Athearn acquired the Thrall high-side gondola tooling from MDC, which had been around since the 1980s if not earlier..  Athearn's Johnstown America Bethgon Coalporters were tooled much more recently than that.