HO Atlas Locomotives

Premium HO Scale Atlas Diesel Locomotives

HO Atlas Locomotives represent the pinnacle of ready-to-run diesel locomotive modeling, combining meticulous prototype accuracy with reliable operating performance. Atlas Model Railroad Company has earned its reputation through decades of producing highly detailed HO scale locomotives that faithfully replicate the diesel workhorses of American and Canadian railroads. This comprehensive collection features over 150 models spanning multiple locomotive types including General Electric Dash 8 series, EMD GP and SD series, and specialized switchers in authentic liveries from Class I railroads, regional carriers, and shortlines. Each locomotive delivers exceptional detail with factory-installed handrails, separately applied details, authentic paint schemes, and smooth-running mechanisms suitable for both display and operational layouts.

GE Dash 8 Series Locomotives

The General Electric Dash 8 series revolutionized diesel locomotive design in the 1980s and 1990s, and Atlas captures these modern workhorses with exceptional accuracy. The collection includes Dash 8-40B models in CSX, LMX Leasing, Providence Worcester, RJ Corman, and Western Maryland Scenic Railroad liveries, plus Dash 8-40BW wide-cab variants in Amtrak California and BNSF paint schemes. The Master line Dash 8-40CW models feature Canadian National, Conrail, CSX, LMS, Santa Fe, and Union Pacific schemes with enhanced detailing including etched metal details, factory-installed grab irons, and separately applied air hoses. These models accurately replicate the distinctive angular carbody, radiator configurations, and truck details that characterize GE's successful Dash 8 platform, making them essential power for modern-era model railroads.

EMD GP Series General Purpose Locomotives

Electro-Motive Division's GP series represents the most successful diesel locomotive family in North American railroad history, and Atlas offers comprehensive coverage of these versatile workhorses. The collection features GP40 models in CP Rail, MKT, Rio Grande, Union Pacific, and Operation Lifesaver schemes, plus GP40-2W wide-nose variants representing Bangor & Aroostook, Guilford, Indiana Harbor Belt, Kansas City Southern, and Pan Am Railways. The legendary GP7 appears in over 40 variants with both Silver and Gold finish levels across numerous railroad liveries. Trainman GP38-2 models provide affordable options in Amtrak, BNSF, Canadian National, Conrail, and Delaware & Hudson paint schemes. These GP models feature accurate phase-specific details, correct truck sideframes, and authentic paint applications that capture the evolution of EMD's general purpose locomotive line from the 1950s through the 1980s.

EMD SD Series Six-Axle Locomotives

For heavy-haul operations and mountain railroading, Atlas offers EMD SD series locomotives with the extra tractive effort provided by six-axle trucks. The Master SD-35 line includes over 30 variants in both Gold and Silver finish levels, representing this transitional 1960s design that bridged the gap between early road switchers and modern high-horsepower units. These models feature the distinctive long hood, dynamic brake blisters, and phase-specific details that varied across different production runs and railroad modifications. The SD-35's importance in diesel locomotive development makes these models essential for modelers recreating 1960s through 1980s operations when many SD-35s received rebuilds and continued service long after newer models arrived.

Trainman Series Affordable Locomotives

Atlas Trainman locomotives deliver exceptional value without compromising essential detail and operating quality. The Trainman RS-32 models represent Alco's powerful road switcher in Delaware-Lackawanna, Penn Central, Southern Pacific, and Tishomingo Railroad schemes. Trainman RS-36 variants include Delaware & Hudson, Lehigh Valley, Nickel Plate Road, and Southern New England liveries, capturing Alco's distinctive styling and sound. These Trainman models feature simplified but accurate detailing, reliable mechanisms, and authentic paint schemes at accessible price points, making them ideal for operators building locomotive rosters or modelers seeking specific road names without Master line pricing. The Trainman series proves that quality HO scale locomotives need not require premium investment.

Specialty and Switcher Locomotives

Beyond road locomotives, the collection includes specialized units for yard switching and industrial operations. The MP15DC models in LTEX and Prairie Line schemes represent EMD's popular switcher design with its distinctive end-cab configuration. The HH600/660 Southern Pacific Lines model captures Fairbanks-Morse's opposed-piston switcher design. The U30B models in Burlington Northern, Chessie System, and Western Pacific liveries represent GE's successful 3000-horsepower road switcher. These specialty locomotives enable authentic yard operations, industrial switching scenarios, and branch line service on model railroads, complementing road locomotives with the diverse motive power mix found on prototype railroads.

Atlas Quality and Operating Features

Every Atlas locomotive benefits from the company's commitment to smooth operation and long-term reliability. Features include precision gearing for quiet operation, heavy die-cast frames for superior traction, dual flywheels for momentum and slow-speed performance, and electrical pickup from all driving wheels for reliable current collection. The mechanisms accommodate DCC decoder installation with designated spaces and electrical isolation. Paint applications use authentic railroad colors matched to prototype specifications with crisp lettering and accurate placement of road numbers, logos, and safety markings. These locomotives operate flawlessly on layouts alongside HO Scale Boxcar, HO Scale Flatcar, and HO Scale Caboose models, creating authentic freight consists that replicate prototype railroad operations across multiple eras and regions.