James, I just noticed this video is over 11 years old now? This around the same time I returned to the hobby after retiring from the Army. I picked up one of these (DDA-40X w/ sound) at a local train store here in San Antonio, TX and I remember watching this video to help me with the features on this model. I recently picked up another Athearn DDA-40X from their latest production run that I found on eBay for $275 (with sound also) so I’m pretty happy, I’m amazed at how well this model has held its value over the years, almost like investing in precious metals, lol. Hope life is treating you well and thanks again for these videos.

Just dropping a line im a conductor on w&a heading off for deployment for a few months where u stationed out off. And thanks for all the vids really help out alot

Books and magazines will often state that the Big Boy was the largest steam locomotive ever built. When steam locomotives are compared, many different quantities can be considered. For example, weight, length, horsepower, and tractive effort are all characteristics of how "large" a steam locomotive is. In each of the above categories, a locomotive "larger" than a Big Boy can be found.

Stop at 0:28 LOL THE FACE XD =) Sorry that but it to funny!!!!!!

@RailBrothersProductions

3 жыл бұрын

I know I thought the same thing

@muhammadrashaalfath2008

3 жыл бұрын

Stopped in😂

Hey mate. Your layout is looking great. Really impressed with your collection of auto racks and it looks like Athearn is back to making great quality models again. Thanks for sharing and take care.

James-just enjoying this review and not sure if anyone mentioned yet, but that roof beacon is LED, and is spot on with a rotator. They are using the same circuit as for model aircraft...low light, then a sudden burst for the reflector sweep passed effect.

Wow! Just ran across this by accident but impressive unit... I'm an armchair modeler these days but Athearn's come a loooong way since the old days of $20 units... I'm all for the fine details these days, fragile or not. Nice review and shall have to check out some of your others soon. Thanks for sharing this...

Great job as usual, you must be a tactical briefer in your day job, lol. I've looked at oodles of your reviews to get up to speed on things since my absence from the hobby. Athearn has really stepped up. I sent Athearn a new product suggestion to make a "display deck" to allow a loco to be on a section of track with a wall wart powering the deck and which allows everything to operate minus the wheels, would make a great gift or allow us to enjoy one at our place of work (if applicable) lol.

Very nice review. The duel decoders sound amazing. Thanks!

Great intro! Looks like a great locomotive, really liking the beacon light to!

I just got mine in the mail. No. 6939 same as yours. Absolutely stunning locomotive to say the least

Nice review! Just received the latest Athearn news update and the next release of this model includes the 6936.

Love this train. Will own someday for sure.

my Bachman DDA40X is quite rough to operate and doesn't have an empty walkway in the middle. Great video! Thanks for friending me on Facebook!

James super video again . Athearn is climing the detail ladder and raising the bar in the plastic model market . However it is not enough yet . I want to see the roof fans , ie cooling fans , rotate and in addition I want to see smoke come out of the exhost stacks . I say this to you James because Athearn will listen to you before me . LOL . Keep up the super videos .

Fantastic detail, Great video review!

Excellent review,"I have the U.P. 6936 DDA40X ,"I love the engine and all the detail,"Job well done Athearn and jlwii2000

Great video thanks , QQ if I’m using Kato, which track from Kato should it get?

Great model gives Brass a run for there money.Thanks for your reviews. Just realized this thing has around 200 dollars worth of sound decoders in it.Do you know if they are pluged into the board or just integrated in 1 single board?

Excellent training. Cheers!

And is the the M5R24 horn that was used on 6936 for a while or the giant S3LR?

Love the video, but I have one question I noticed that you had the DCS system were you using that on the Athearn Thanks

It is very hard to determine what factor makes the locomotive largest: It could be the heaviest, longest, most cylinders, most horse power, or most wheels. It is often defined as the longest in absolute length, however there is even a debate on whether or not to include the tender in the measurement. To establish the "largest" category, several base factors simply take precedence: overall weight, which gives traction over driving axles; actual size (length & height of engine itself);

@jlwii2000 how are u running dcs and dcc at the same time? (I saw your dcs commander plugged in as well)

Awesome review. One question though,how in the world did you get the beacon light to come on ? I have tried everything on mine and can't seem to figure it out !

I can’t help but wonder what’s with the glass (for both sides) at the end of the locomotive and what’s with the doors at the tail?

I have 6904 and love it. I wish they would do a 2nd run and do the class unit 6900 as delivered from EMD.

i almost picked one up at an event recently, it was $600, luckily i found a bachmann one for $110 and I love it

Very nice Engine, love thw detail on it.

How did you ballast that track and what kind of track is it?

Q: How does it do on 18 Radius curves? Does it do good on 22 radius?

What engine brand do you prefer more (besides brass)? Genesis, intermountain, or MTH? I am looking to expand my RR collection.

Gotta love Big Jack!!!

The reason Athearn puts McHenry couplers on their locomotives is because they own the company that manufacturers those couplers. So they would not pay some other company for their couplers, when they essentially own their own couplers. It wouldn't make much business sense.

Yea it lights up. Its in the video if you watch the whole thing.

Very nice loco. Mine just came in so I have to make a run to the hobby store to pick it up. Can't wait. That would be nice to have number 6936.

i model o scale but my uncle gave me a bunch of old and new accesories for ho and some rolling stock and some engines could u make for begginers?

Does the cab roof open like the SD70ACe's? It looked like it would.

Every time I watch one of your reviews I wind up broker, now ya got me buying this one! lol... Great review, definitely going to grab this thing ...... Thanks for the time you put in, really helps in making a decision.......... Ricky'

I finally picked mine up. I got 6904. I love the detail. I notice in the instructions they have foglights and mention its for 6936. I'd like to get one if they make it.

are you going to do a video now on both DDA40x and see the differents on both of then?

so did you have the DCS on a separate track

Hi Can you tell me who makes the UP coaches to go with this loco to make up the special Business train. I am new into HO USA so please be gentle :-))

You have 24 minimum radius curves on the main right?

How many motors and driven wheels?

Good review & thanks!

Okay I realize you did this in 2012. So I have a couple questions. How much were they back then? And what do you think of its performance today?

Hey have you bought 6936, my local dealer has one in their shop. I bought 6904 wanted to UPRR on the shield not just UP

I saw one at my LHS today (mine will be here Thursday) notice the trucks! They are a work of art. Also, I believe the loco has 2 motors, that's why the walkway is open. The couplers are McHenry (also owned by Athearn). They are decent but Kadee's are still better. I'm ready for Athearn to bring out the DD35 A & B's now followed by the 8500hp Turbine. JW, one of the reasons the loco may be struggling is due to the length of the auto racks plus being on a curve which increases drag.

What is the main part of the model made out of?

would it be cheaper to get it re numbered

Could you do an athearn vs bachmann dd40ax? Like what you did with mth & athearn aces?

Can you run it with the bachmann DDA40X?

I touched the DDA40X at the Illinois railway museum it was number 6930

Great review I do believe the prototypical one has ditch lights that don't flash I am I correct

Does that locomotive fit on your new turn table? and please keep more videos coming!!!

Are you gonna be selling any of your train stuff

Very nice review. What are the different horn CV's for this locomotive? (if any) Thanks. -Frank

Is it all wheel drive?

What Dcc control do you have ? Perhaps the Bulb might have fused ! Try replacing the Bulb

Another great vid. Double thumbs up!!

6904 works at 22 radius..? Bachmann or Athearn..?

There's great HO stuff out there. I'm using 3 rail O scale trains but I still like the HO trains for the size and price!

OK.....how about the beacon light on top of the cab....does that light up too? I know I'm thinking of Bachmann's not-so-hot effort on the DD, but then Bachmann doesn't hold a candle to Athearn.

+jlwii2000 what controller do you use I'm looking into a more advanced controller for future use

@ajoyfulnoisepianostudio

5 жыл бұрын

Esu ecos I think

Very nice review man that's is a very nice dd40ax locomotive

Great review to a great engine! Send me one!

yes but there are no ditch lights and there are other little details that are different

I'll get one next year when they drop in price lol.but all in all its a awesome engine and great review

How much are they today? I'll go to there web and find out.

Neither function works out of the box. What change did you make when you took a break in the video to figure yours out ? I imagine you imputed a CV but which one ? My user manual says to look at page 20 for the answers but it only has 18 pages !

In my book ,athearn is still just in front of bachmann in products but bachmann has stepped up their game with their GG1 ,I model the Pennsy, have 12 bachmann GG1 s ,and a 3unit set of f-3 by MTH ,1 alone can out pull anything athearn has done, my horseshoe curve has 54 inch radius curve ( inside rail) up a 1.85 % climb ,80 hoppers get pulled up by these loco's Broadway limited --- one J1 texas --- one I1 decapod with an extra traction axle added ,one M1a , one L1 mike ,one set of centapedes , 3 sharks as a set, two Atlas H-24-66 trainmaster, and it takes 4 of my buds athearns DDa40x to pull ,once I get farther a long I will do some horseshoe curve videos , with a J1 on the point followed by 2 F2 ab set, followed by a centapedes snapper ( pusher) on the rear moving 100 + loaded hoppers, just like the Pennsy did ,

Awesome video, as always. Are you going to renumber it or get another DD40AX?

DCS can only be used on MTH locos or to operate any DC loco in DC mode.

Should do a pull test on this bad boy. what how many grams it can pull

You do know how to turn down the loco volume ...right?

Do you have any locomotives you are selling i would like to buy one of the ones you dont use anymore?

i got to play with these at work today. good thing im not interested in getting one because they're to expensive for me. but they're great looking, and sounding units.

I find it intesting that the in the EMD E unit Tsunami decoders they dont start up the same way because the E units have two prime movers also.

Preordered mine with tsunami 2.

F5 or F6. I would try both. If it doesn't come on call Athearn because it may not be hooked up right.

Now I know what I want for my birthday.

how much horsepower does that monster have?

what i have noticed about pulling power in any ho scale locomotives is that most have a max pull of 20-25 cars only Katos top them ho ac4400 80 cars. i think the intermountain ho gevos can do 30 ish

They had a review of this model in Model Railroader. It has good info and even includes the current draws of locomotives. Price, manufacturer, all that good stuff. Maybe that could help you in your reviews.

How much it cost ?

The only one with ditch lights is 6936, which I hope Athearn releases soon.

I think it's a bit too loud for an HO Scale Diesel, Don't you think?

Is running one of those HO locomotives hard on sharp turns or pretty easy o and awesome video oil man out

You got 2 now got to have one

i just got 6904 for $400 with sound and it actually works on my 22 radius curves on my branch

What a GREAT Clip ! (Thanks)

Yep sure does. Everything fits on that turntable...even a big boy

in bachmann the couplers are E-Z couplers

I agree with Shrinehillrail when your paying 400 bucks their should be no corners cut at all. I couldnt imagine if i paid 400 and then when i received it the railing came off or a horn was off. I would be very upset

Price ?

Hi, first of all, thank you very much for your informative videos! I am a beginner model railroad enthusiast. I have learned to make good decisions after looking at your videos I appreciate your efforts and passion towards Model Railroading. Do you plan to sell any of your old dcc locos (HO scale) sometime soon? If not, it's ok. But keep up the good work! Good Luck!!

I'm guessing not all of them had the ditch lights.

Do you use DCC on your layout?

@bryceweeks7685

10 жыл бұрын

yes he does

parabéns bela locomotiva