Atlas U25B - Recent Release - Handrail Caution

[C855B]

I received the long-awaited reissue of Atlas' U25Bs a couple of days ago, and - not complaining mind you - want to spread the heads-up to be very careful in handling. It appears that the handrails are not molded in the usual resilient "engineering plastic", but will break at the slightest bit of finger misplacement. At least the front cab handrails are this way. I broke both on the first one I tried to install a decoder into simply trying to disengage them from the cab... so they wouldn't break.    I plan to fill the gap with spring bronze wire and a dab of CA.

The non-sound (DC) version model is packaged as "Classic", and uses the pre-sound chassis design. I don't mind since it is my belief that the loss of chassis metal for a speaker on this smaller model would mess with tractive effort. I know nothing about the sound version. There is no sound-equipped version. I assumed the a sound-based chassis and ordered three ESU LokPilot decoders, but once the body was removed realized it was the old style. Thankfully I had the right one (TCS AMD4) in the decoder stash to upgrade.

One other caution - the shell is a major PITA to remove. Yeah, it's the "wiggle off" style like other Atlas models, but the sill/walkway assembly hangs up everywhere. Combine this with fragile handrails and you can understand why I felt obligated to post this here.

It also has the blackened wheel problem. Reliable operation only comes after the wheels are thoroughly cleaned. Not a biggie.

EDIT: Implication there was a sound-equipped version was incorrect.

[peteski]

There should be no good reason for any company to make models with fragile handrails. Sounds like someone at the factory did not pay attention as to what type of plastic to inject into the handrail molds.

[nscalbitz]

>.Recent Release - Handrail Caution

Same as the Intermountains SD40-T2s issued '99/2000s or so- quite fine and stayed intact, but 'loose' because the posts/ rails were a different and finer plastic. Eventually a friend with shaking tremors managed to fumble and drop one of mine.
Oh well.. 
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[Ed Kapuscinski]

Man, I wish they had done sound versions of these. If so I'd have grabbed a few, but so far I've been holding off.

Thanks for the handrail heads-up.

[CRL]

Mine are the “non-sound” versions, but the box is clearly marked “Decoder Ready” so there should be no chassis milling… right?

The Atlas U25B is really a full circle n-scale locomotive for me. I was starting to get interested as an adult in model railroading and it was seeing a modern n-scale loco run that did it. A “guy hanging out” in the hobby store saw me looking at the n-scale locomotive display cabinet & asked if I had any questions. I told him there was a pretty dramatic price difference between the locos, and other than the cosmetics of the paint & finer detail, was that the only difference? He said “come with me & I show you”… dangerous words, I know.

He took a couple of locos out of the display and we walked over to the shop test track. He plopped the first one down, which was the cheaper one & ran it back & forth a couple of times. Frankly, I was impressed how well the cheap one ran… so much better than earlier one I had seen years before. Then he put the Atlas U25B on the track & it ran like a fine tuned Swiss watch. I looked at him & said… “So you’re telling me that this is just like every other hobby in that you get what you’re willing to pay for.” He said exactly! Incidentally, we’re still good friends even though he moved back to Oregon to be closer to his & his wife’s families several years ago.

[C855B]

Yes, no chassis milling. DC version is decoder-ready.

I was incorrect in implying there was a sound-equipped edition of this model. There is not, and I edited the original post to reflect this.

[rrjim1]

There are 4 tabs at the bottom inside of the body, I cut them off flush with the inside of the body.  This helps in removing and installing the body.  Mine run super smooth and quiet.