Atlas Model Railroad Co. Product Review

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This review was taken from the January, 2001 issue of Model Railroader Magazine and is reproduced with permission of Kalmbach Publishing Company, Waukesha, WI.

New HO GP38 comes with dual-mode DCC decoder

Review by Jim Hediger, Senior Editor

Atlas has introduced an all-new HO model of an Electro-Motive Division GP38 road switcher that includes a dual-mode Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder. The locomotive can be switched back and forth between DCC and conventional DC by moving a jumper plug on the circuit board.

Atlas sold European-built GP38s 25 years ago, but this locomotive is a totally new model with much finer detail and a smoother mechanism.

According to Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 years (Kalmbach Publishing Co.) EMD introduced the 2000-hp GP38 locomotive In January 1966 and built 739 units for North American railroads by December 1971. These locomotives were built for 20 original owners and many have been rebuilt and continue in revenue service.

Prototype GP38 specifications and drawings were published in the 1970 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia (Simmons-Boardman). The new Atlas model matches these prototype dimensions.

As illustrated instruction sheet contains exploded isometric drawings that show how the body and chassis go together. Some minor assembly of end handrails and a few details are required, but the only tools needed are a sprue cutter, a hobby knife, small pliers, and a drop of cyanoacrylate adhesive (CA).

Like their prototypes, the Atlas GP38 and GP40 (reviewed in the October 2000 Model Railroader) are quite similar in construction. The GP38 has a superbly detailed plastic body shell with a separate cab that has an interior and a crew, clear window glazing, and flexible acetal plastic handrails. All of the walking surfaces have safety tread and the steps have see-through openings.

Many parts that formerly were considered add-on details are now included, such as drop steps, m.u. and brake hoses, wire grab irons, uncoupling levers, lift rings, and windshield wipers. An optional electrical cabinet air filter box, pilot steps, and a plow are also in the package.

The body is attached to a heavy die-cast chassis with six plastic latches. Two are hidden up in the fuel tank, which must be removed to separate the shell and chassis. The five-pole motor and dual flywheels are mounted in the middle over the fuel tank to drive both geared trucks. The well-detailed plastic fuel tank snaps into place underneath the frame.

A printed-circuit board mounted above the motor contains the dual-mode decoder. The jumper plug controlling the mode of operation is accessible by removing the dynamic brake hatch. A separate instruction sheets explains how to reposition the plug to change control modes.

Directional lighting is included in this decoder and it functions on DC or is programmable to one of the DCC function keys.

The decoder conforms to the National Model railroad Association’s DCC standards. It can be programmed for 14-, 28-, or 128-step speed control (it comes with 14 steps as the default); has two 200ma function outputs for directional lights, ditch lights, or other similar functions; handles advanced consist control and extended addressing, and supports NMRA recommended practice RP9.2.3 for programming (service mode). It provides 1 A of continuous motor current, which should be sufficient since our sample locomotive stalled at .94 amps.

Decorated units are programmed to the channel number matching the last two digits in the locomotive number, while undecorated models have the NMRA’s 03 default channel. We tested our sample GP38 on a Lenz DCC system and found it performed smoothly and quietly throughout its speed range.

When switched to conventional DC the GP38 started and operated smoothly and quietly throughout its speed range. (The performance tests were done on conventional DC.) Its starting voltage is quite low and it ran smoothly and steadily at that settings. The GP38 should pull about 47 free-rolling cars on straight and level track.

The model rides on EMD’s well-known two-axle GP “Blomberg” trucks. They have detailed acetal plastic sideframes with the brake cylinders, brake pipes, and swing hangers supplied as add-on details for greater realism. All of the axles are powered and all eight wheels pick up electrical current. The wheels pick up electrical current. The wheelsets have RP25 contours and they match the National Model Railroad Association standards gauge.,

Atlas offers the GP38 with an optional dynamic brake housing on top of the long hood and either the 2,600 gallon or 3,600 gallon fuel tank. Undecorated models include these parts, while decorated models include only the appropriate parts to match the specific prototype paint scheme.

Accumate knuckle couplers come mounted in the pilots, but horn-hook couplers are also included. The coupler boxes are mounted with screws and they help secure the body on the frame. The coupler height matched a Kadee coupler gauge.

Our sample cam beautifully decorated in CSX colors. The paint masking and printing is simply excellent. Everything is sharp and readable right down to the colorful EMD builder’s plates on both sides of the frame.

Once again Atlas has done a superb job of producing a common prototype locomotive. This new GP38 will certainly be popular with diesel modelers.