in under five hours. Although TankTrain cars can be spotted in
several regions of North America, few can match the drama
of a Southern Pacific train of “oil cans” traversing the famous
Tehachapi loop. Appropriately enough, Athearn unveiled their
new model at the HO scale Tehachapi loop at the San Diego
Model Railroad Museum on August 17.
Athearn will replicate the original 23,000 gallon GATX 282 series
cars from 1977 (above) and the 486 series cars built in 1982.
Both versions of the prototype are still in service. The Genesis
series models will have all of the correct transfer plumbing and
rigging including a soft vinyl transfer hose that bends as the car
negotiates curves. Intermediate cars will have an MSRP of
$49.98. A matching pair with A/B end tanks will list for $99.98.
Delivery is expected in April 2014.
Athearn’s Genesis series GP38-2 locomotive is scheduled for
arrival in March 2014 decorated for Frisco, Lehigh Valley, L&N
(in simplified yellow nose scheme), Penn Central (three ver-
sions with cabs stenciled Stanley, Enola, and Collinwood),
Union Pacific, and EMD Leasing (four paint schemes including
one ex-Conrail with fading CR logo). Standard DC non-sound
units, priced at $169.98 each, will be DCC-ready using Quick
Plug™ technology. Sound-equipped models have Soundtraxx®
Tsunami® DCC decoders and are priced at $269.98. DCC
equipped models come with a chart and instructions for altering
numerous CV functions.
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