Atlas Model Railroad Co. Product Review

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

ATLAS CLASSIC HO GP7 IS MUCH IMPROVED OVER ORIGINAL

Review by Jeff Wilson, Associate Editor

Electro-Motive’s GP7 is the latest release in the Atlas Classic line, which features upgraded versions of models previously offered by the company. Atlas originally released an HO scale GP7 in 1989. It was highly regarded at the time, but it has been out of production for several years. Improvements made on the new model include separate grab irons and other details on the shell as well as a new circuit board with a DCC decoder socket. The original GP7s were built for Atlas by Kato in Japan; Atlas is making the new models in China.

The prototype GP7 was introduced in October 1949, and more than 2,600 were built through May 1954. The GP7 was essentially an F7 with a hood-style body and was the locomotive that convinced railroads that the road-switcher design was the most practical and versatile for general-purpose use. Along with its successor, the GP9, the GP7 was the main road freight power on railroads across the country well into the 1960s. Many GP7s survived in local and switching service through the 1970s and into the 1980s, and many were rebuilt and continue in service on short lines today.

The new Atlas ready-to-run model follows the same construction as the earlier GP7, with a two-piece (cab and hood) injection-molded styrene shell that snaps in place on a heavy die-cast metal frame.

Separate details on the shell include wire grab irons on the roof and each end and plastic horns on each side. The molded-on detail is very good, including the screens, door latches, and the roof-mounted radiator fans. The hand-rails and stanchions are molded in acetal plastic, and they’re in proper (multiple if appropriate) colors based on road name.

Other detail improvements from Atlas’ earlier model include separate uncoupling levers and m.u. hoses on each pilot, automatic knuckle couplers (Accurail’s Accumate) on each end, numbers in the number boards, and figures on each side of the cab. The truck sideframes have been upgraded and now have separate spring hangers, brake cylinders, and piping.

The model is available with or without dynamic brakes (decorated models match their prototypes). Models with dynamic brakes have a 36” dynamic brake fan, marking them as early (pre-August 1952) GP7s.

The model’s dimensions nicely match drawings published in the Model Railroader Cyclopedia: Vol. 2, Diesel Locomotives (published by Kalmbach).

The GP7’s heavy die-cast frame includes a tread pattern along the walkways. The frame casting also has the side skirts, fuel tank, and air reservoirs molded in place, which would make modifying those details difficult.

An enclosed five-pole, skew-wound motor sits in the middle of the frame. The motor has turned brass flywheels at each end. Universal couplings at each end turn brass worms above each truck tower, which drive gears that power all axles. All wheels pick up electricity, and all wheelsets matched a National Model Railroad Association standards gauge.

Coupler boxes are cast into the frame, with couplers secured by small screws. The coupler height matched a Kadee height gauge. Horn-hook couplers are also included.

The GP7 preformed beautifully, running smoothly and quietly from its impressive minimum speed through the top end. With its 4.5-ounce drawbar pull the model should be able to pull about 63 free-rolling cars on straight, level track.

The circuit board includes an eight-pin socket for a DCC decoder. I tested the engine with a SystemOne SH-154 plug-equipped decoder using a Lenz DCC system, and performance was excellent. In fact, slow speed was better on DCC (about .2 scale mph) than with DC power pack.

The paint and lettering were good on our Wabash sample, with sharp color separations and lettering.

With its Classic GP7 Atlas has done an excellent job of taking an already good model and making it even better. – Jeff Wilson, associate editor

HO EMD GP7 road switcher

Price: $94.95

Description:

Plastic and metal ready-to-run locomotive

Features:

DCC ready

Directional headlights

Drawbar pull: 4.5 ounces

Engine weight: 16 ounces

Minimum radius: 18”

Road Names:

8400 Undecorated (no dynamic brakes)

8401 Undecorated (with dynamic brakes)

8423 Boston & Maine no. 1557 (blue McGinnis with stripe on hood)

8424 B&M no. 1559 (Blue McGinnis, no stripe on hood)

8425 B&M unnumbered

8426 Chessie System no. 5705

8427 Chessie System no. 5713

8428 Chessie System unnumbered

8429 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy no. 208 (red and gray)

8430 CB&Q no. 225

8431 CB&Q unnumbered

8432 Delaware, Lackawanna & Western no. 951

8433 DL&W no. 954

8434 DL&W unnumbered

8435 Missouri-Kansas-Texas no. 1501 (red)

8436 MKT no. 1504

8437 MKT unnumbered

8438 Wabash no. 450

8439 Wabash no. 451

8440 Wabash unnumbered