Atlas F40PHs Arrive

Nice looking engine!  Do you live in the Syracuse area??

@roll_the_dice posted:

Nice looking engine!  Do you live in the Syracuse area??

I do!  I work in Liverpool and live in Rome.

If you're looking for a set of your own, Phil ordered two sets.

Thanks!

- Mario

Thanks Mario!  Yes, they are IN STOCK NOW and here's the direct links to them:

30138060 Amtrak F40PH No. 216

30138061 Amtrak F40PH No. 308

NOTE:  These are 2-RAIL SCALE units.  Unlike the models previously produced by MTH Electric Trains, these do not include the third-rail pickup rollers.

@CentralFan1976 posted:

I do!  I work in Liverpool and live in Rome.

If you're looking for a set of your own, Phil ordered two sets.

Thanks!

- Mario

Awesome...and here I thought I might be the only 2 rail guy in the Syracuse area!  I live and work in Manlius.

Finally got them home… Not too shabby; a little paint here and there to accent the MU receptacles, silver sharpie on the glad hands and mount the plows and we have some darn fine models.

It was nice to see that Atlas upgraded some of the plastic trim to metal, like the air tank piping. But all in all, nice units at this price point for 2-rail diesels from my childhood. Thanks Atlas and thanks @JR Junction Train & Hobby.

- Mario

Those do look real nice! Atlas is doing a great job with their models.  Great pics too-

Are the NJT versions out yet? I was curious as to what details they included or omitted.

If they are the older version F40 with the “back porch”, they shouldn’t have the rooftop AC unit or ditch lights. Those two items were added to the real F40s after they were rebuilt with Cat powered HEP motors, resulting in the longer car body. The MTH model had the AC and ditch lights, but the body configuration was wrong…

I hope I don’t come across as too picky. Those elements just jump out at me…lol.

Tom

@JR Junction Train & Hobby posted:

Thanks Mario!  Yes, they are IN STOCK NOW and here's the direct links to them:

30138060 Amtrak F40PH No. 216

30138061 Amtrak F40PH No. 308

NOTE:  These are 2-RAIL SCALE units.  Unlike the models previously produced by MTH Electric Trains, these do not include the third-rail pickup rollers.

In the owners manual it says 3rd rail pickups included.

@clem k posted:

In the owners manual it says 3rd rail pickups included.

I can confirm; no pick ups.

Here’s a quick review.

I like the black windshield wipers better on MTH’s version. Atlas 216 left and MTH 251, right.

Atlas grab irons are very nice and colors are correct for units in typical service. The last MTH is correct for a single unit; The 406 used for the anniversary train.  This is my biggest gripe with the MTH, which is they painted everything white. The grab irons, rear platform railings and step edges. Totally wrong for in service.

Atlas included the white sill stripe. Awesome!

Atlas did the silver around the market lights.
But MTH’s LEDs are nicer; lower profile.

MTH has the Danger 480 volts signage on the front, below the ditch lights. Atlas does not.

Atlas’ nose lettering is thicker, as is the road number on the side.

Atlas on top. (Don't try this at home.)

Atlas Lettering is further forward and wider font. The "t" is on the door rather than on the panel, and the font is larger too.

Both the MTH and Atlas “Amtrak” side lettering is in the correct location based on photos I’ve seen.

All in all, the improvements that Atlas made on the paint scheme is very nice and puts it slightly over the MTH version. With that being said, paint masking isn’t as good as the MTH, especially at the corners, but the MTH came in with paint nicks that the Atlas definitely does not have.

Some other observations that could have been prevented with a little more research. The first order of F40PHs, which 216 is a member of, had the battery boxes ahead of the fuel tank, so any number outside that first order would have been correct. Also, like was mentioned before, the front pilot should have two steps, not three like the rear. As new pilots were made for this model, I believe this could have been fixed, and should definitely be fixed on the next run. Getting these to market quickly probably helped recoup some of the tooling costs and improvements could be made going forward. The natural plastic colored windshield wipers are tacky, but could be overcome.

A welcome addition to my Amtrak family!

Thanks!

- Mario

Wiper comparison… MTH genesis, then MTH F40PH then Atlas F40PH.

Beautiful models which definitely look better than the catalog photos. I'm a 3RS guy, so while these don't come with center pickup rollers, could they still be installed and switched to 3 rail operation or are these permanently 2 rail?

@Will Ebbert posted:

Beautiful models which definitely look better than the catalog photos. I'm a 3RS guy, so while these don't come with center pickup rollers, could they still be installed and switched to 3 rail operation or are these permanently 2 rail?

Yes!  I’ll be ordering the pickups this week, and the instructions show how to install them.

Oh, and Atlas!  

Thank you for allowing us to drop in a Kadee box!

- Mario

Mario, your photographs and review is excellent.  Thank you for sharing them with us.  Sales on these units have been good....Thanks everyone who purchased from us!  We only have one locomotive left available as of this morning.  Here's the link to our web site here:

https://jrjunction.com/product...61-amtrak-f40ph-308/

We are taking a few weeks break starting Wednesday so any orders we get after this Tuesday will ship after 15th April.

One last… once everything dries, they go back in the box and into the library.

I lied.

I picked up a blue paint pen to do the 480V cable receptacle covers.

More to follow when I get the brass wipers from P&D…

Thanks!

- Mario

NOTE TO ALL USERS!

My volume and smoke controls are reversed, the one marked smoke controls the volume and the volume controls the smoke output.

Video… sorry, it’s the only 2-rail track I have currently.

thanks!

- Mario

These look really nice. Nice to see Atlas producing new o scale.

They are gorgeous!

I’m kinda upset… I went to purchase the last 2-Rail one Phil had, and it was sold!  I wanted to convert my MTH from the last run; the 251 above to 2-rail.

oh well!  Next run!

- Mario

@CentralFan1976 posted:

NOTE TO ALL USERS!

My volume and smoke controls are reversed, the one marked smoke controls the volume and the volume controls the smoke output.

Same on my 3R MBTA version

Dear Mario,

Do not hate me but I bought the other F40ph 30138061.

Now I am looking for 30138060 !!!

Model Railroading is Fun

Strasburg 04-15-23

John

@jdunn  I could have picked it up for you and brought it to Strasburg.  Jr Junction is only 10 miles from my house.  However, it does look like they are closed until after April 15th for vacation...but I would have!

@jdunn posted:

Dear Mario,

Do not hate me but I bought the other F40ph 30138061.

Now I am looking for 30138060 !!!

Model Railroading is Fun

Strasburg 04-15-23

John

Must have been pretty quick after I posted because it was gone when I called Phil!

you should have it by now; what are your thoughts?

I know that @emdalco01 only found one, too. On the west coast… they went quick.

We’re waiting on the 2-rail P42s next; Pepsi Can for me!

- Mario

@CentralFan1976 posted:

Must have been pretty quick after I posted because it was gone when I called Phil!

Mario you know anytime something is posted as almost out of stock here it sells out immediately! 😁

Dear Mario and Andy,

I delayed my FedEx delivery until we get home from Easter/Passover vacation visiting our daughter/ family in Pearl Harbor where he is a O-6 stationed.

Andy, thank you for your offer to pick up model for Dtrasburg show!!

Mario, we have to get you down to the Strasburg meet with all of your neat goodies!!

time to get rid of the pizza cutter wheels as you got rid of the lobster claws !!

Welcome to the Dark Side !!!

John P Dunn Sr.(AKA Darth Vader)

Hey @jdunn, try Caboose Stop Hobbies. They showed one of these on their live stream last night. It wasn't the one that you're looking for, but Merlyn usually orders extras.

Dear Bigboy, et al,

Thank you!!

Sent  Merlyn a email and sending engine tomorrow at a very fair price.

What was interesting I talked to him at the March Meet in Chicago and I am glad I could do business with him.

John P Dunn Sr.

Just got my 2R F40PH from Beth/PDT today.  It's great!  DC operation with sound, engine startup, idling, brake squealing on deceleration add a new dimension to my office loop.  My smoke and sound controls were also reversed.  This F40PH along with a couple of Phase 3 coaches and a dining car will be my Amtrak Missouri Mule, now known as the River Runner:  https://www.amtrak.com/missouri-river-runner-train

Merlyn had one at the DuPage show a few weeks ago along with some other VERY new releases from Atlas.  Very sharp.

The P&D Hobby wipers came so I threw one in  an old shell, I like it….

Stay tuned.

Ok. It’s simple.

Pull out the stock Atlas wiper, strip a piece of insulation from some wire and use it as an adapter for the P&D Hobby EMD F a unit wiper, and insert the wiper into it and then it’s a friction fit into the stock hole.

thanks!

- Mario

Not just for Amtrak…

I assume Atlas don't want to waste time upgrading and getting some cash back from their MTH acquisitions and the F40PHs are nice.  OK ... done that ... anybody else see things that get the twitch going?

This is an inheritance from MTH, the handrail posts.  On the F40PH there are only a few and they're at the back!  Thanks CentralFan1976:

They're not the correct square U profile, like the Atlas Master GP60:

They are the disappointing MTH-style stampings, what I call Pastor's Hat, flat with a semi-circular stamping.  The GP and SD MTH stampings are the first problem I see.  I realise their use makes things quicker to offer by Atlas, but I hope they have time to fix this problem.

Anyway, our Coronation's still on the tele, so back to reality?! 
Jason

So I needed another 2-Rail unit to convert the #251 over, and since we had a nice trip the NYC back in December to take my daughter to Radio City, I figured why not commemorate the trip with a Metro North unit! (And then swap chassis…)  Off to @JR Junction Train & Hobby!

before:

after:

in progress…

Thanks!

- Mario

@Jason Dickie posted:

I assume Atlas don't want to waste time upgrading and getting some cash back from their MTH acquisitions and the F40PHs are nice.  OK ... done that ... anybody else see things that get the twitch going?

This is an inheritance from MTH, the handrail posts.  On the F40PH there are only a few and they're at the back!  Thanks CentralFan1976:

They're not the correct square U profile, like the Atlas Master GP60:

They are the disappointing MTH-style stampings, what I call Pastor's Hat, flat with a semi-circular stamping.  The GP and SD MTH stampings are the first problem I see.  I realise their use makes things quicker to offer by Atlas, but I hope they have time to fix this problem.

Anyway, our Coronation's still on the tele, so back to reality?!
Jason

Hi Jason!

I agree, and mentioned before that the easiest way to get these upgraded is to do exactly what Atlas did; get them to market and gauge their demand.  From what I can tell, demand exceeded their expectations.

If they're listening, here's a list that would make these from good to great!

• Upgrade the front pilots to the correct 2-step configuration which differs from the rear 3-step.
• Use color-correct Amtrak strobe LEDs and change to more of a flash that blink.
• Switch to individually mounted and correct cross section rear handrail stanchions.
• Make the fuel tank reversible to cover Phase I units where the battery boxes faced forward (Units 200-229) with Nathan P1234a5 (P5A) horns.
• Add (remove?) the nose corner notches
• Have the forward facing LED marker have clear lenses and light up red.
• Have the center red emergency air light be a strobe effect.
• Body mount the ladders
• Phase 3 body style with recessed Q-fans (Units 329-409)

There's some worries about the pilot on the upcoming Genesis; but we shall see.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, and more of a wish list than anything else.  Everyone knows I have enough F40s!

Thanks!

- Mario

I forgot to mention that one nice thing was that behind the rear handrail part, the car body is painted and lettered!  Under the stamping!

Thanks!

- Mario