Athearn GP15T CSX 1503

[Rscott417]

I just got this Athearn Genesis GP15T CSX #1503, IMO Athearn did a great job on this model. There's a lot of factory applied details like grab irons, lift rings, windshield wipers, working cab windows, safety/warning decals, etc. There are a few things that are incorrect to the prototype but nothing that can't be fixed. I removed the horn from the cab that came with it and ordered the correct one that will get mounted on the hood. I got this train on ebay and it had operating ditch lights installed on it. I don't know if they came factory from Athearn or if they were added by the person I bought it from, but the wiring on them needs to be changed. The front and rear are one function so forward or reverse all ditch lights stay on. I would also like to get them to alternate with the horn. I'd also like to add a crew to the cab, MU cables, paint the handrails on the front and rear pilots yellow and if I paint the handrails I'm thinking of removing the plastic chain and replacing it with a brass chain. I might also consider removing the classification light caps and adding "plates" then raise the CSX logo higher on the nose like the prototype, but that one is a definite maybe. Here it is out of the box (without the horn).







Heres a picture of the front of 1503, plated class lights, higher nose logo and all yellow handrails.

[tomustang]

Sure is nice, should be though consider it's a higher end athearn

[Rscott417]

Correct horn got installed, awaiting paint.

[faraway]

That is a great model. I missed to get one when they became available last year. They are very hard to find now.

[Rscott417]

That is a great model. I missed to get one when they became available last year. They are very hard to find now.

I've seen a few in the YN2 scheme but not a big fan plus a lot of them are getting repainted to YN3. When I saw this one in YN3 with sound then the seller told me the ditch lights worked I immediately bought it., couldn't pass it up.

[torikoos]

They are great models, I've got two myself, be it the GP15-1, in CFNR colours. I installed Loksound Select Direct decoders in them, very smooth runners.

Here they are:
Two sisters by K2K Koos, on Flickr

Koos

[Rscott417]

That's a really nice paint scheme, did you have to paint them?

[torikoos]

No I didn't, they were factory supplied like this.

I contemplated doing so after the first release of the model, and didn't include the paint scheme, so was looking for undecs , but they then announced a second run which did include them, so I pre-ordered them.
I did however order them DCC ready, so I could fit my decoder of choice (Loksound select direct) and I've changed all lights with warm white micro LED's.

Koos

[wright2626]

the yn3 scheme came with the ditch lights from the factory. mine came with the ditch lights operating using the function 5 button, and are directional. the rear are hooked up to function 6 on the board. i havent figured out how to wire the ditch lights to oscilate, and keep them directional. it would be nice if soundtraxx had a couple more outputs.

[Rscott417]

Slow goings but I got some details taken care of, although Athearn and Polly Scale have two different ideas on CSX yellow and blue. The blue is a little closer than the yellow but close enough I guess.

[Rscott417]

I picked up Floquil CSX new image gold and it was a perfect match, much better than the bright yellow.