Hi all,

Well I'm much more of a big fan of the big MTH diesels but I thought I'd share my Atlas GP15-1 with you all.

The model is very modestly priced and has the popular twin motor drive (PC correct term for china drive). My experiences with these types of drives are that the Atlas models have a much smoother drive in the 4 wheel truck than the MTH 6 wheel truck. Atlas also puts in much bigger flywheels and I believe this helps contribute to improve drive characteristics. The smoother drive combined with a protosound2 upgrade made this switcher an incredible dream to run. I am very pleased with the results.
I used the standard PS2 diesel kit. The only odd ball was one kadee coupler, one Atlas electro coupler and an extra pair of lights I used as truck lights.

DCS or DC its crawls with incredible precision and will not stall thanks protospeed control. The model will pull up to 10 modern 50' hy-cubes.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pitogo,

Mike:

When I saw the title of this thread, the first thought that entered my mind was trainman 2-rail with Proto-2. I was wondering who'd be the first one to implement one.

Good review. I'm still waiting for one in CNW.

I agree. I stripped a couple of CR and UP units when they were first released. Of course Atlas finally released them in Mopac after I made custom decals for the cab and numbers. ~Tim

Well Matt I think you proly know me like that! Besides John, I'm one of the only few who openly admits we like the play value of PS2/DCS in 2 rail. Maybe Phil will joint the camp when PS2.3 includes DCC compatibility. All my youtube action has been of models on mainline, I think I'll add some slow creeping models around the area I will be transforming into a diesel fueling and maintenance yard for CSX at NYSME.

Nice Job Mike!!

I had PS-2 put in two Trainman RSD-7s. It was a bit of a job to shoehorn the PS-2 in, so I am very impressed you got it into a GP-15

I agree these Atlas Diesels run great with PS-2. And now that MTH came out with the proper ALCO sounds, it adds even more to the fun. Here are my two RSD-7s towing 50 cars up a 2.2% grade at an indicated 3 smph:



You can see about half the cars in this picture

Hey Michael,

Thanks for posting the pics!

Was it easy to upgrade to PS2? What did you use? Expensive?

Thanks again,

Marek

Looking at these, I'm starting to see images of a Proto-2 hybrid in my future.

quote:

Originally posted by pitogo:
I'm one of the only few who openly admits we like the play value of PS2/DCS in 2 rail.

Hi Michael, Can the PS2/ DCS fit into conventional 2 rail diesels or are the parts still too big? .....dave

dear pitogo,

thx for posting the article with the pictures. i loved the detail closeup
shots. i think atlas details are a bit sharper than the MTH. also, the
blumberg trucks done in plastic is much sharper and better formed than the
OMI or anyone else's brass castings. for quality reasons, brass castings
dat i have from OMI have always 'melted' parts and the brake cylinders are
smashed or mushed. also, the panels, hendges, and latches on atlas or MTH is better than the 2 dimensional etched brass of OMI.

carman

quote:

Hi Michael, Can the PS2/ DCS fit into conventional 2 rail diesels or are the parts still too big? .....dave

daveb

I think it would be a bit of a challenge with the conventional horizontal motor drive, unless it was a large diesel


Mike should chime in here as well, as he has more experience installing PS-2 into a wider variety of locomotoves

Nice engines and great info, and thanks for the pictures, Joe P

quote:

Originally posted by carman:
dear pitogo,

thx for posting the article with the pictures. i loved the detail closeup
shots. i think atlas details are a bit sharper than the MTH. also, the
blumberg trucks done in plastic is much sharper and better formed than the
OMI or anyone else's brass castings. for quality reasons, brass castings
dat i have from OMI have always 'melted' parts and the brake cylinders are
smashed or mushed. also, the panels, hendges, and latches on atlas or MTH is better than the 2 dimensional etched brass of OMI.

carman

Atlas GP15-1 Trucks are metal..and heavy!

Mike, I can't find any info on the Atlas electrocoupler. Why did you only install one? Are they available? Also, Does the trainman series have a smoke unit? I like the Atlas detailing. Looks like they sell so cheap it would be worth the effort to add ps2, thanks, Joe

Well, since we are posting our GP15s, here's mine!

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

quote:

Maybe Phil will joint the camp when PS2.3 includes DCC compatibility.

I do plan to. Since I already have DCS I someday want to have both systems available to be used on the layout. Only 4 more months until the first PS2.3 locomotives are announced. Unless of course they get pushed back again. I hope not.

quote:

Originally posted by carman:
the blumberg trucks done in plastic is much sharper and better formed than the
OMI or anyone else's brass castings. also, the panels, hendges, and latches on atlas or MTH is better than the 2 dimensional etched brass of OMI.

Check out the P&D brass blombergs if you wanna see some nice trucks.
The MTH and Atlas body details are certainly bigger but I wouldn't say better. They seem to overstated to me.....dave

quote:

Originally posted by John Sethian:

I think it would be a bit of a challenge with the conventional horizontal motor drive, unless it was a large diesel

Thanks John, I guess I'll just hafta stick with DCC. If MTH ever gets serious about promoting aftermarket DCS for 2 rail they'll hafta come up with smaller parts for us old guys who are happy with our present locos.

For all those that want to know. The PS2 diesel upgrade kit is a perfect fit for the GP15. You couldn't have asked Atlas to make it easier. Every install I do is a custom fit. Harness pins and wires are removed if not used and all wires are cut to length soldered and covered in heat-shrink tubing. Another cool feature is the lift top, perfect for access to the battery.


Enginear-Joe,

Fortunately or unfortunately the GP15 does not have a smoke unit. I'm not too big on smoking locomotives, bad for my health. Only once in a while like xmas around the tree with the pine tree scent.

I only installed one Atlas scale electro coupler because I wanted to have to option of doing both kinds of switching. I like the release of the electro coupler and the option to do it anywhere and I also like the coupling action of the kadee so its a good compromise to have both.

Dave most likely it is too big if you are talking about the standard center motored type such as a P&D. It may fit in if you were to do a USH with the motor on one side using a center tower transfer gear in the fuel tank. One thought I have had in doing a set of brass like an F3 ABA combo would be to have a powered A with the motor weighted down, a center dummy with the PS2 electronics and a powered A with the motor weighted down. The single PS2 is good enough to power two motors in G scale so two O scale motors are fine. I would small connectors between the models as MU hoses for the motor leads, head lights, mars lights and power pickup to each of the powered A's.

quote:

Originally posted by daveb:
Hi Michael, Can the PS2/ DCS fit into conventional 2 rail diesels or are the parts still too big? .....dave

Another nice job Atlas has given us. Also I see the step well is correct for the GP15-1 unlike the MTH GP40 that used the GP9 step and pilot.

Greg

If you like the TrainMan GP15, you should try the Atlas GP9. A beautiful running loco. The best.

Dick

quote:

My experiences with these types of drives are that the Atlas models have a much smoother drive in the 4 wheel truck than the MTH 6 wheel truck. Atlas also puts in much bigger flywheels and I believe this helps contribute to improve drive characteristics. The smoother drive combined with a protosound2 upgrade made this switcher an incredible dream to run.

Ok Michael, you've triggered my curiosity... what is the gear ratio of the Atlas 4-wheel vertical motor drive??? I'm guessing about 10:1 (because that's what MTH is). Also, great pictures as always!! -Ted

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ted Sowirka,

Pitogo,

I've been away from 2Rail for a while. Who makes this PS2 upgrade kit that you used? Atlas or MTH? Or did you just gut another loco and install the electronics?

Thanks!

Ted,

I' m not sure I'll will have to calculate it.

Jonnyspeed,

PS2 is an MTH only item.

Hello All,

For any one who is interested, I am selling an Atlas Trainman Conrail GP-15 (2-rail, DC, MIB) $200 plus shipping and insurance.

Also, I have already listed on eBay a Lionel Conrail bay window caboose (stock #17642, 3-rail) at $80 Buy It Now, along with some other modern CR era freight cars.

I interested, please contact me at lmrahilly@yahoo.com or 856-313-6273. The items on eBay are listed under seller id jersey_engr. If anyone is serious, I will pull the item from eBay.

Thanks.

Michael