The Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division F59PHI recently arrived on hobby shop shelves. Join Model Railroader editor Eric White and senior editor Cody Grivno as they talk about the features on the streamlined diesel locomotive and pull a short commuter train over the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy.
The Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division F59PHI is decorated for Metra (Chicago & North Western, Milwaukee Road, and Rock Island heritage schemes), Amtrak (silver and blue, Amtrak California, and “Be Track Smart” schemes), North Carolina Department of Transportation, and Metrolink. The diesel locomotive is offered in one to two road numbers per scheme.
Features on the Athearn HO scale F59PHI include an injection-molded plastic body; die-cast metal frame; light-emitting-diode lighting; see-through radiator and dynamic brake fans; Celcon handrails on the rear pilot; separate, factory-applied wire grab irons, air horn, and snow plow; and McHenry scale couplers. The F59PHI has a five-pole skew-wound motor with flywheels, all-wheel electrical pickup, and RP-25 contour wheels. The locomotive will operate on 18” or greater radius curves.
Direct-current models with a 21-pin NEM connector are priced at $174.99. Versions with a dual-mode SoundTraxx Econami sound decoder sell for $244.99. You can find the HO scale Electro-Motive Division F59PHI diesel locomotive at your favorite Athearn retailer and on the manufacturer’s website.
Trains.com Product Review videos showcase the latest new items from manufacturers of products in Z, N, HO, S, O, and large scales. In the videos, you can watch locomotives in action, take a close-up look at details on freight cars, see kit components, and much more.
If you are a manufacturer and have products you would like reviewed, please email Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cgrivno@kalmbach.com for more information.
Those commuters really live out there in the boonies.