Steam Engines

**stepchild** · March 11th, 2008, 04:08 PM

I would like to get a steam engine that is DCC ready or decoder already installed and will go around an 11" radius.

Do they make any that fit this criteria?

TIA

**Fotheringill** · March 11th, 2008, 04:28 PM

There are varying definitions of "ready". I am not being picky, but there is a wide range of what people think it means. Do you really mean, just plug and play or do you mean drop in and do a lot of soldering with taking apart and putting back together the steam engine?

**AB&CRRone** · March 11th, 2008, 04:34 PM

What are you thinking of? Small, medium, large? Any particular type?

Most any small steam will negotiate that radius. But little is DCC ready. The Life-Like 0-8-0 is one that comes to mind. Larger locos from Bachmann may negotiate that radius and are DCC ready or decoder installed. Even larger like the Athearn Challenger reportedly will negotiate 11" radius (but don't look too good doing so) and are available decoder equipped only. The Kato GS-4 4-8-4 is not quite DCC ready but soon will be.

A lot depends upon what size/type you are interested in.

Ben

**stepchild** · March 11th, 2008, 07:21 PM

Hey, thanks for the info.

I would like any steam engine that would go around 11" radius and was a plug and play for dcc.

I'm new to this hobby and not sure I want to have to do a lot to make one work on dcc.
Mainly because I wouldn't know what to do.

I have looked at some online stores and there don't seem to be any available. Or I'm not looking in the right places. Any help here would be appreciated.

**TrainGuy** · March 11th, 2008, 07:28 PM

Hi,
We have several Steam locos that we custom intalled DCC.
Walthers 0-8-0
ConCor 2-10-2

Bachmann has a 4-8-2 Heavy Mountain with factory installed DCC that runs very nicely.
Here is the link
http://www.tophobbytrains.com/index....TS&Category=57

**stepchild** · March 11th, 2008, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by TrainGuy

Hi,
We have several Steam locos that we custom intalled DCC.
Walthers 0-8-0
ConCor 2-10-2

Bachmann has a 4-8-2 Heavy Mountain with factory installed DCC that runs very nicely.
Here is the link
http://www.tophobbytrains.com/index....TS&Category=57

How well do they negotiate a 11" radius?

**TrainGuy** · March 11th, 2008, 08:27 PM

The 0-8-0 and the Heavy Mountain will run on 11" radius with no problem
The 2-10-2 will run on 11" radius but looks better 12" or better.

**SPsteam** · March 11th, 2008, 08:28 PM

Go with a bman 4-8-2 heavy if you want an installed decoder in a smaller locomotive. If you want to go all out, get the challenger or bigboy, that way you'll have sound too. That is if the road name is not important.

**stepchild** · March 11th, 2008, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by TrainGuy

The 0-8-0 and the Heavy Mountain will run on 11" radius with no problem
The 2-10-2 will run on 11" radius but looks better 12" or better.

TrainGuy,

Thanks for the info.

Do you have these in stock?

**stepchild** · March 11th, 2008, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by SPsteam

Go with a bman 4-8-2 heavy if you want an installed decoder in a smaller locomotive. If you want to go all out, get the challenger or bigboy, that way you'll have sound too. That is if the road name is not important.

Hey SPsteam,

I'm not sure the challenger or bigboy fill work on 11" radius. However the Bachmann looks promising.