Atlas Model Railroad Co. Product Review

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This review was taken from the October, 2000 issue of Model Railroader Magazine and is reproduced with permission of Kalmbach Publishing Company, Waukesha, WI.

HO EMD GP40

Review by Jim Hediger, Senior Editor

Once again Atlas has broken new ground by producing a completely revised model of the popular GP40 the firm introduced more than 20 years ago. While this new GP40 shares the same 3,000-hp prototype as its predecessor, the current model’s detailing and smooth operating characteristics are far better.

According to the book Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 years, the GP40, was introduced by General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division in November 1965 and more than 1,200 were built for North American railroads by the time production ended in December 1971. The Atlas model matches the GP40 dimensions shown bin the 1970 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia (published by Simmons-Boardman).

A well-illustrated instruction sheet shows how the locomotive is assembled with exploded isometric drawings. Some assembly is required, but the only tools needed are a sprue cutter, sharp hobby knife, modeler’s pliers, and an occasional drop of cyanoacrylate adhesive (CA).

The GP40’s construction follows the proven basic design found in most contemporary HO locomotives. It has a highly detailed plastic body, clear window glazing, flexible acetal plastic handrails, and a heavy metal chassis with twin flywheel drive. A printed circuit board over the motor includes diodes for directional headlights and a National Model Railroad Association standard Digital Command Control socket.

A single large body casting and a separate pilot and sill assembly provide a solid foundation for the numerous parts which are added individually. All of the running boards and end platforms have safety tread details. Undecorated models include a choice of two roof panels (with or without the dynamic brake) while decorated units include the appropriate hood top to match each model’s prototype.

Many details are included on this GP40 that were formerly added with after-market parts. The individual fan assemblies are made up of a base, moveable fan blades, and a grill, and each assembly is cemented into the body shell. All of the steps have see-through openings and there’s a cab interior with a crew. The bell, grab irons, hood vents, lift rings, m.u. hoses, snowplow, sunshades, uncoupling levers, and windshield wipers are all included.

The chassis has a husky can motor, dual turned-brass flywheels, and acetal plastic gearbox assemblies. Cast metal weights are mounted with screws and they support a PC board across the top of the mechanism.

The EMD trucks have excellent detail with outside brake hangers while the brake cylinders, brake pipers, and spring hangers are add-on details. All of the axles are driven and all wheels pick up electricity. The RP25 contour wheelsets match the National Model Railroad Association standards gauge.

Two different fuel tanks are supplied, representing prototype 2, 600 or 3,600-gallon sizes. Once again, the painted models come with the appropriate size fuel tank.

Accumate knuckle couplers and horn-hook couplers are both provided. They’re mounted in plastic coupler boxes which slip through the pilots and are secured with screws. The coupler height is correct and these boxes are used to mount the chassis within the body.

Our sample operated very smoothly and quietly throughout its speed range. The slowest speed was exceptionally smooth and steady. The GP40’s 4.2 ounce drawbar pull should handle about 58 free-rolling cars on straight and level track.

Our sample came neatly decorated in Western Pacific’s original GP40 paint scheme. It has some of the best commercial production finishing I’ve seen. The printed end stripes, multicolor herald, and road name are all clear and sharp and there’s even a pair of EMD builder’s plates beneath the cab.

Atlas has certainly done its homework on what modelers like in diesel locomotives. This new GP40 is bound to be a very popular model.