Thinking about vintage atlas, rivarossi, ahm

I have 4 of the Atlas F-9s and 2 of the C-liners.  I bought the F-9s years and years and years ago and the C-liners off eBay within the last year.   I don't have a layout up only a loop of track.  I don't run my trains very often and the ones that get run the least are the F-9s and the C-liners.  Surprisingly, they all run very well for how old they are.  I really like them a lot.  F-9s pull pretty good but can't pull a lot of cars.  Don't think I've ever pulled any cars with the C-Liners.  Sorry, I can't give any advice on the couplers.  They have what they came with.  They both come up on eBay a lot.  Sometimes you can find them at train shows.  Prices, I've seen, vary.

Rick

I wouldn't pay more than $30 or so, the F9's can suffer from split gears, there not hard to fix or, you can replace the axles with NWSL replacements, the axle on the inside of the gear tower can brake away, this can be fixed with a 3mm piece of steel rod or a nail. They both suffer from being under powered. The thing is all these things can be relatively easily fixed if you don't mind fiddling, and kadee's 805's would be fine.    cTr...( Choose the Right )

For the most part, I agree with the above. The nice thing about the Atlas F9 is how simple the mechanism is, so it's easy (and fun) to modify so it can become a good "puller". I put a large CLW open-framed motor in one, added a bunch of weight, and it pulls quite nicely. And yes, I've had to replace the gears/axles/wheels on all of 'em; which is also easy to do...

Mark in Oregon

I sold a 8 of of the F9s in the last 2 years.   4 went for 50 apiece.    2 went as a pair for 125 I think, they had low end DCC decoders.   These locos will run with HO size decoders.    The last 2 I sold for 200.    I had converted them to Pennsy.   remved the pilots and added passenger pilots.   I cut off all the cast grabs and replaced them with wire.   I removed the steam generator exhaust on the hood and patched it.    Then I added PRR antennas and painted them PRR Freight scheme - very dark green with singel yellow stripe.    I think in the 30 years I had them, I replaced one axle.   

Paul,

You might want to keep an eye out for All Nation diesels also. Their motors and drive systems are quite a bit more robust, but are usually reasonably priced for the value.

You will find them either single or dual powered, and either delrin chain or gear drive. All run well and are often seen right around the $100 price range. They are smooth, powerful runners.

Jim

I also have 4 AHM c-liners.   When I got them they were very common.    They are only powered on one truck, but it is self contained.    I got a bunch and double powered all of mine, it is a drop in job.    They are still running after 25 or so years.   I have two converted to DCC now and 2 on the shelf.    As mentioned, the mechanisms are lightweight, but seem very well engineered to me.    I filled ithe big holes in the pilots, shaved off the cast grabs and added wire ones, and put on PRR antennas.    I also repainted PRR freight scheme.    I did kitbash a B unit out of 2 As.

All nation produced EMD F7s, F3s, and NW2 switchers.    These were handed down through a couple of companies over the  years.    I think General Models was the immediate predecessor.   it was All Nation from the 60s or earlier until Bill Pope died a few years ago.    There was also a line of steam engine kits there generic and included a 4-4-0, 4-6-0 (B&O prototye), 4-6-2, 2-6-2, 4-4-2 and 4-8-2.    The 4-6-0, 4-4-2, and 4-6-2 are pretty common and show up used at shows at decent prices.    The diesels were pretty much screwdriver assembly.    The steamers required some soldering for detail work.

prrjim posted:

I also have 4 AHM c-liners.   When I got them they were very common.    They are only powered on one truck, but it is self contained.    I got a bunch and double powered all of mine, it is a drop in job.    They are still running after 25 or so years.   I have two converted to DCC now and 2 on the shelf.    As mentioned, the mechanisms are lightweight, but seem very well engineered to me.    I filled ithe big holes in the pilots, shaved off the cast grabs and added wire ones, and put on PRR antennas.    I also repainted PRR freight scheme.    I did kitbash a B unit out of 2 As.

Do you have any pictures?  I'd love to see those.

I have one of the Atlas F9's . Nice model for the price. Gonna buy another and a ton of P and D hobby parts and build them up. Overall not bad locos and they run  pretty good for what they are. I got mine for 25 bucks.

For medium to heavy service I recommend modifying the Atlas F9 drive for "sure footing".  As built the power trucks will rock up off the rail head under load due to it's high in the body truck mount.  John Armstrong wrote an excellent article in a 1970's/80's Issue of MR on sure footing the F9.  I don't have the reference but a search of this forum may reveal the issue with the article as it has been previously discussed here.

If you want to model an F3 or F7 instead of an F9, P&D still has kits for the bodies/units as an alternativer to kitbashing.    I have an A_B set of the F3s with high fans and small number boards, and the they built up very nicely.

Ed is correct. In a previous thread, I had made a copy of the Armstrong article available for those wanting to download it.

 

 the Armstrong article ..

MR, June 1976, p 48.

To tempt you with vintage 2 rail.  He is a All Nation F7, beautifully assembled, painted and detailed for the GN, sporting a CLW power chassis(sprung brass trucks and huge open frame motor between them). I am just not a big GN fan, so not sure what I am going to do with the paint scheme yet.  I am more of a down and out shortline fan.  I have some ideas I am kicking around though.   Mike

I just picked up two new/old stock C-liners for $35 each.  They will be detailed and repainted... So they're out there. 

Good luck.