The new Atlas Trainman Gensets (NRE 3GS21B-DE) with Dynamic breaks arrived an hour ago.


A direct compare with the "old one"


The new handrails are finer but Atlas is not trying to do the most fine handrails of the world. But they are still quite robust. I had absolutely no problem handling the engines while installing the DCC decoders.
Detail compared with the "old one"






The DCC decoder installation is different. The 8-pin connector is at the front of the PCB and the "old" location under the weight in the rear is to far away to be reached with standard supplied wires (of the Zimo MX630R decoder). The front has no space and the shell will not close if the decoder is simply put on top of the drive/PCB unit. Close to the motor is a large gray block/capacitor used for RFI suppression. The decoder fits well on top of the PCB if that capacitor is removed (cut off).
Note, please understand your local RFI regulations and possible penalties before removing the capacitor!



An open problem is the changed shape of the platforms and the handrails at the end in tight curves. The platforms touch, the handrails jam and one engine derails if the rear engine is pushing. On the photo is Kadee #156 installed on both engines. The shape of the old Genset ends did not cause this problem.

Prototype of a quick fix

is good enough in the curve. Looks the same but the pushing power is at the rod and not the handrails.

and a black painted brass wire with two loops solves the problem for the next time. Anyhow be carefully if you intend to run a pair of the new Gensets if you have tight curves on your layout!


How does it run? Like an Atlas locomotive usually run

It looks like there's an 8-pin connector there, too. Is this the case?

jwb Wrote:It looks like there's an 8-pin connector there, too. Is this the case?

I am sorry, my fault. There is "no" 9-pin connector but only an 8-pin connector on the PCB.

I corrected the typo in my posting.

They look good to me and I think I agree on the handrails. It will be more obvious if placed next to a model with truly fine ones, but on their own they look decent.

Wonder how these will look in the brick jungle you're building ;-)

Koos

PS: They shipped quickly too didn't they?

faraway Wrote:An open problem is the changed shape of the platforms and the handrails at the end in tight curves. The platforms touch, the handrails jam and one engine derails if the rear engine is pushing. On the photo is Kadee #156 installed on both engines. The shape of the old Genset ends did not cause this problem.

That's pretty disappointing, why would they sell products that won't work with each other. I'd be pissed if I had to add that styrene bar in place of couplers. You're definitely taking it better than I would have.

This is a direct comparison with an Athearn SD60 (hand carried home three years ago from Caboose hobbies in Denver, Co!).



Well, the coupler situation is somewhat relaxed because I am not sure NRE Gensets (prototype and Athearn model) are explicitly designed for my tight curves and CSX runs Gensets pretty often alone. It takes 2 minutes to instal the brass wire to run a pair of Gensets in my curves.

Rscott417 Wrote:....
That's pretty disappointing, why would they sell products that won't work with each other. I'd be pissed if I had to add that styrene bar in place of couplers. You're definitely taking it better than I would have.

The engines are currently not coupled. The brass wire and the long Kadee couplers are removed too. Both engines have standard Kadee coupler at each end. I coupled them long hood to long hood just for curiosity well knowing that would fail at my tight curves.

The handrails touch each other on standard Atlas #6 switches. The noise is very unhealthy. The engines to not derail but the handrails are stressed on each #6 switch.
Looks like Atlas made a big mistake. Atlas #6 switches are a very wide used standard configuration that should be mastered by all standard diesel engines.
I do fully agree with your statement after testing with standard Kadee on Atlas #6 switches :oops:

That's disappointing Reinhard,

If I understand you correctly, with a long version of the Kadee couplers it 'just' works?

Where did Atlas go wrong, did they make a mistake with the dimensions of the platform, or is the genset like this in real life, and therefore not able to be a true HO model that operates on our (much too tight) curves and turnouts, and compromises should be made to the model?

Koos

This photo shows the long end of an old (left) and a new (right) Genset equipped with standard length Kadee couplers.
There are two small but important differences
1. The new platform is a fraction of a millimeter longer. There is less coupler visible on the right engine
2. The platform got an other shape while the hand rails kept a very similar shape. The old one (left) is square. The handrails are always over the platform. If the pushing engine touches the pushed one it will do it platform to platform. The recessed corners of the new one (pencil tip) force the handrail in curves into contact. That makes a nasty noise in #6 switches and leads to a derail in sharp curves. The long coupler is not of relevance because they will swing away if the second unit is pushing hard.
Only a stiff brass wire coupler can keep the overhanging handrails out of contact.

Is there anyway to trim or file the platform of the newer genset? Even though you shouldn't have to make such a modification like that on trains priced the way they are these days, but maybe if you got it to the shape of the older genset you won't have as much trouble.
That picture shows a good comparison of the thinner handrail replacements to the ones that come with the engine.

Rscott417 Wrote:Is there anyway to trim or file the platform of the newer genset? Even though you shouldn't have to make such a modification like that on trains priced the way they are these days, but maybe if you got it to the shape of the older genset you won't have as much trouble.
That picture shows a good comparison of the thinner handrail replacements to the ones that come with the engine.

You would have to add something to the corners of the platform to ensure the platform is larger than the handrails. But you would also have to paint it and add a perfect golden line and end up with a model with a phantasy platform shape. A simple black wire to couple the engines is much easier.

Now, that is all far from perfection but CSX runs Genset quite frequent as single units. That makes it easy for me to run them as two single units or couple them some times with the black wire to run a pair. They match also perfect with Atlas/Trainman GP38/38-2 and 39-2.

I made another (and hopefully last) test and installed long couplers (#156) at both ends. It did not cure the problem but it is good enough to prevent derails. The handrails do still touch und make nasty noise in a lot of curves when the 2.nd engine is pushing but the couplers are even fully pressed to one side long enough to keep the full power from the handrails.
It looks really strange. The tip of the uncoupling pins of the long couplers are outside the rails when the rear engine ist pushing.

The platforms are so long that the standard couplers are mostly hidden. Uncoupling is really nasty. I did install #156 (long) at the front too to make uncoupling easier. That is also a goody if the engines are running solo.

Could someone tell me what the minimum radius a pair off the latest Atlas Trainman HO genset can negotiate without binding and having to install longer couplers.
thanks
Dale