| Irv Athearn, the founder of the Athearn Company, | | | | models, obtained license for John Deere kits and |
| began his passion of collecting and assembling model | | | | tractors, acquired Rail Power Products,INC, and came |
| trains in the year 1938. His work started at his mother's | | | | up with the N-scale products. They then acquired the |
| house, filling in an elaborate O-scale layout, changing it | | | | Model Die Casting to launch the 1:50 scale precision |
| every now and then. This collection proved to be | | | | products and other models like Challenger with sound. |
| worth about $10000, and the response to his | | | | Currently they are proud makers and owners of about |
| advertisement made him think about it as a business | | | | 2000 items and have also come up with custom |
| and profession. | | | | products with corporate logo, for minimum run |
| Thus, the selling of trains started from his mother's | | | | quantities. |
| house and by 1946, he became a full-time railroad | | | | The company is well known for its HO train sets of |
| retailer. He established an outlet in Hawthrone, | | | | the various series, namely Iron Horse, Warbonnet, |
| California in 1948, when he branched out into HO model | | | | Heavyweight Passenger and Streamlined Passenger. |
| trains apart from O-scale models. His HO trains took | | | | Locomotives, various kinds of Rolling stock, Vehicles & |
| shape into a new series as the reefer kit with a | | | | accessories, and other products are available in the |
| preassembled body and spot-welded underframe, | | | | HO scale. The HO premium trains have the |
| which was a precursor to the Ready to Roll line. The | | | | locomotives and the Rolling stock products. |
| products of the company found its way into the | | | | The latest range of products include various new |
| market with a reputation of innovations in quality, | | | | models in the Genesis models with Tsunami sound and |
| workmanship and excellent value. | | | | DCC control from SoundTraxx. The HO Ready to Roll |
| Irv constantly changed his models, keeping up with the | | | | series has a few additions with colourful paint and |
| latest trend, and stayed up in the market through the | | | | numbering schemes and separately applied parts like |
| years. After Irv Athearn passed away in 1991, the | | | | MU hoses, coupler lift bars and air hoses. The N-scale |
| company strives to be as strong as ever, continuing | | | | products also have expanded with new paint |
| Irv's pledge maintaining the standard in quality and | | | | schemes and safety slogans. |
| innovation. They added the Genesis line of premium | | | | |