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Product News & ReviewsReview: Trainman Alco DL600 (RSD-7/15) MSRP: $239.95AtlasO LLC 378 Florence Ave, Hillside, NJ 07205908-687-0880 • www.atlaso.comReviewed by Brian ScaceI have a soft spot for the DL600. Three ex-PRR RSD-15s(6813-15) were the “bulls of the herd” in the Alco-ruledDeWitt/Syracuse of my day. By then, they were used ashump engines (one of these 2400hp units was enough) withtheir smaller 1800hp brethren, the RSD-12s. They werelong, lanky, and impressive.Offered in both high-hood and low-hood (the famous“Alligator”) configurations, AtlasO has produced the DL600as part of the “Trainman” series. These are models intendedfor the more budget constrained among us, as opposed tothe “Master” line, so they don’t have the detail level of thehigher priced spread. Check the detail level out anyway,because it’s quite high. There are no split end-rails here,for instance, to accommodate the swinging pilot configurationused by our three-rail friends. The grabs go all theway down to the bottom of the fixed pilot on the two-railversion. The grabs on the hoods are all separately appliedand there are plenty of appropriate add-on gubitzes, suchas sand-lines and separate slack adjusters on the trucks.The basic dimensions are where they should be, and the fitand finish is as we have come to expect (spoiled, aren’t wenow?) from Atlas. Everything applicable checked out withthe on-hand NMRA and Kadee gages.These units feature the twin-motor vertical-mounted“China-drive” common today. Mine ran smoothly, usingan MRC Controlmaster “transistor” throttle. These drivesare a little hard to control on the low end in straight DCusing simple rectified/rheostat power supplies, but a moresophisticated throttle will tame the enthusiasm a bit. ADCC harness and decoder installation instructions are provided.Directional lighting for the headlights are there, andthe pulling power is quite capable. This unit was pullinga heavy train without slipping or protest up and down my1.5% grades and tracking well out of the box, even over myless than stellar trackwork. The train was heavy enough thatthe rear coupler was extended to the draft-gear stop, by theway.I’m happy to have this model. I remember them (mostly)fondly. They were, and the model is, big and impressive.Scace’s Notes for the NeuroticFirst off, understand that the Trainman line is meant as agood alternative for the budget-minded who are not necessarilyconcerned for each and every bump and pimple on aspecific unit. These units fill the bill well, looking good andrunning in a solid and dependable fashion, for quite a bitless of a dig at the wallet. The details are generic on the twoversions produced, one of the trade-offs to get the Trainmanprice-point.Although not intended for us, the rivet-counters of theO Scale world, they are worth looking at merely becausewhat’s there is quite good without fatal dimensional compromisesostensibly to accommodate two- and three-railfeatures. Because the basic dimensions are good, they canbe easily noodled up to the specific unit/road detail levelof the Master line by us. In the case of the version I have, acouple changes to handrail stanchions, horn placement, andthe like will get me to a nice PRR-specific RSD-7. The steamgenerator detail is appropriate, as Pennsy’s RSD-7’s wereintended as passenger helpers. The RSD-15 shared carbodieswith the RSD-7, though the old 244 series prime-moverchanged to the new 251-series. PRR RSD-15s looked kindof bizarre, because they didn’t have the steam generator.Hence, the forward tank under the frame (used for water onthe PRR RSD-7s) wasn’t present, leaving lots of air betweenthe lead truck and the fuel tank. Since there aren’t drivecomponents in the way on the Atlas unit, this is a configurationeasily replicated. I want another one, so I can buildthis.In the end, a nice model as it sits, dimensionally good,complete, and certainly good enough for most of us. Thesearen’t priced like the Master line, so don’t expect the prototypespecific detailing of the Master line. For the rest ofus who can’t resist breaking out the photos and the box ofdetail castings, this is a solid unit with lots of potential.54 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’07