If you've got a diesel that's a poor puller, try ading as much lead inside the body as possible. I've been able to add between 6 and 12 ounces of lead to my diesels. They'll run smoother, pull harder before slipping, and won't be as likely to de-rail. Most locomotives are under-weight, to save the production costs. Make sure your bridges are able to carry the increased load. Mark in Utah
That's exactly what I did to my RS2M- there was enough room in the GP9 long hood I spliced onto the RS3 chassis & body to add weight- it's a great yard switcher. One diesel I have, an S2 from Atlas, is heavy and slow enough to do the job without additional weight- if and when it dies, I'll be able to use it as a boat anchor (LOL).
Well overall I would have to rate them as: 1. Kato, windshields are the best, and the driveline is hands down unrivaled. Tons of add-ons too. 2. Great paint, perhaps the best molds (sd70), good truck frames, bad lights, warped trucks. 3. Proto 2000, heavy, smooth, great detail out of the box, but no pre-drilled holes, poorly geared, and flywheel provides no momentum on anything other than the passenger versions. 4. Of the 3 Atlas locos I have I cannot say that any of them are on par with the above 3 manufacturers. Poor window detail, vibrating shells, and motors that skip. I have GP-38, C30-7, B40-8w, they do have good shells and trucks and the decoders installed are a very nice touch! Considering what the MSRP looks like for a Proto SD45 versus Kato the value just isn't there anymore especially if I can't run it with anything else because of those zany gearings. I will however, skip the kato and get the BN proto. As long as I can get a new Kato for about the price of a new Proto I will be getting Kato! And I can't see spending more for a SD75M H2 from Athearn Genesis than I could for an SD90/43mac from Kato. $99 v. $95. Just my 2 cents.
Watash, try loading it again. If you get more gobbledygook, hit your Refresh button on your browser's toolbar. I get some weird green screen with boxes and unfinished pics everytime I open this thread, but hitting the Refresh button sets it back to this format. Hope that works. Now, since I'm a N&W steam man, my vote goes to P2K, as my 2-8-8-2s and 0-8-0 run, look, sound, perform flawlessly. My Riv 2-8-8-2 also performs well, but since it wasn't DCC ready, it lost a few points. The Bachmann Spectrum J's look great and are DCC-ready, but they require a couple of Kadee donut shims on the rear drivers to keep them from dogging around curves and turnouts. Also, they only come in two numbers and the 611 is shiny, like the excursion engine. So Spectrum loses points. I am patiently awaiting the Heavy Mountain that is coming out though. The Genesis NKP 2-8-2 is gorgeous, but grossly underweight, and very little room for lead. Some lead shot in 7 1/2 size did wonders, but it's still weak. Since Kato and Atlas do not make affordable fine steamers in HO, I guess I just won't know their finer points. But, Broadway Limited has a Class A that is coming soon, and from what I've seen and read, there shall be no peer. Come on lottery tickets... [ 25. February 2003, 08:34: Message edited by: Black Cloud ]
Interesting.......all these comments, and nothing on either Hobbytown or Tiger Valley Models? OK, OK, Hobbytown is just a power drive, but still........
If I were ordering for my railroad today, I would choose from Lima, Alco or Baldwin. Since I am New York Central, Baldwin is probably out right away. Al Perlman. OOOPS. Wrong forum. Sorry, guys, I have been seeing this topic and as an old steam curmudgeon, just couldn't resist.
Fitz, I agree! I was tempted myself! I too like the Baldwin, Lima and ALCO. However, Baldwin sits on top. Afterall they did make my heartsunk EM-1! And Runner up the H-8 Allegheny was from Lima!
Your comment about Mantua is interesting. On another list when I observed that NORTHLANDZ specifically , and all the other demonstration layouts that employ 'HO' trains in some part of the show -only use Mantua DEs because the tower drive with individual motor on each truck, was the only one that stood up to the 12 hr. x 7 days a week usage. By and large just a function of its all metal gears, simple motor, and serviceability , it provoked some amazing" frothing at the mouth". Some people couldn't discriminate between Mantua and TYCO. Nor could they grasp that the choice of "professional" toy train operators , who have an entirely different set of interests than "model railroading" toy train users , are necessarily significantly different . It was really amazing as some of these model railroaders had their whole sense of self wrapped up in whose toy locomotives (and don't tell me that we aren't playing with toys, because we are 60 years old- for unless you are delivering coal in those Ulrich hoppers behind a Trix 4-8-8-4 to Con Ed's "Waterside Plant" to light New York City or the equivalent- what is going on is PLAYING with our model railroads) . MODEL RAILROADER's motto is model railroading is fun!-not work. In any event, they attacked these professionals , because the trains weren't long enough , and the speeds weren't slow enough , and they didn't have enough switches , etc. They didn't get it! I thought that was strange, to tell you the truth. If they go to Darlington/Charlotte/Trenton (take your pick) in their "Caravan" or "Explorer" or even in a "Taurus" - they have no expectations that the multicolored and multi-trademarked, numbered "Taurus", on the track cost the same 20 grand they paid ($600,000. avg.) or their going to find their backyard barbecue buddies behind the wheels of NASCAR's offerings. Mantua made (makes I guess, since Model Power is now making them) noisy, drive systems that can run flat out all day. Others that model railroaders like to buy, crap out , under these conditions. It is why American Flyer and LIonel used to build trains that kids could run flat out... all day with. LGB , Marklin (large gauge) still do. That really doesn't mean you should throw your Katos , Bachmanns, and everything else out. All it means is if you have to have a train running somewhere all day long to keep visitors interested on your club layout; getting out a Mantua GP-20 , lubing it, and turning it loose for ten hours- you are much more likely to avoid any failures than alternative brands. For the most part, we don't ever think of doing that, since it isn't the way we normally play with our trains. We try to copy , to some extent , the way the real railroads would use the limited space we bring to represent the world on our layouts. That's OK too. I'm glad to find a group where our models aren't taken so damn seriously that it becomes some sort of surrogate for us. Good-Luck, PJB
"Playing with toys"......perish the thought! Actually, you're quite right, but we modelers don't like mentioning that dirty little secret. No matter, we're having fun anyway. As far as Mantua goes, if you're happy with Mantua, by all means go for it! I've seen those older Mantua drives, and even though they ARE a bit noisy, they run- more than I can say for Tyco, pre-Proto LifeLike or AHM. We have all different types here- those who are into prototypical operation, and those who just couple 'em up and run (and all those in between). Sounds like you musta run across either Flameorders (er, I mean Trainorders) or the AOL free-fire RR boards. Your type of model train runnin' is more than welcome here! [ 27. February 2003, 20:42: Message edited by: friscobob ]
You guys must be talking about the TYCO Mantuas, or maybe their Diesels, because all of my Mantua steamers run quiet. That was the beauty of the worm gear drive, no spur gear noise. My 1937 Mantua 8-Ball Mogul is still quiet and has run hundreds of hours and is the oldest engine I have in HO. (I still have my Dad's 1928 Lionel, and it also still runs, but it does have spur gears, so it has a whine at elevated speeds.)
Thinkin of it, None of my Mantua's are noisy! They all run really quiet! Which I like the things will run forever! I tell ya I have the "Mantua Signature Locomotive" the little 0-4-0 "Goat" an that little thing is amazing with power! It pulls as good as my Riv articulateds, an run the same speed an pull the same long train an never slip a wheel. I got just under $100 in the lil thing an it was worth ever cent I paid for it in 1995! First Mantua I ever bought. He sets proudly in a custom made display case I made for it an my Mantua 4-4-0 General.... Its only 2 shelves under glass.... But those 2 were my pride an joy for some time for their size an still are to this day! Even tho that little 0-4-0 is the first Mantua I bought its sure not the oldest Mantua I have I got the dixie Belle 4-6-0 thats from the early 1960's that still runs very well.. Which I believe to be the oldest Mantua I have. Unless the last Mantua loco I got is older, I'm not quite sure, as I have a few things to do to it, I got in parts as a gift! So.. It may be older then my 4-6-0.... But thats a 2-8-2, so.... A dear friend had sent it to me for a Christmas gift this year an I've been working on getting it under power an on my roster!
The votes are in! Your favorite locomotive manufacturers are, by number of votes: LifeLike Proto2000, 9 votes Other (Mantua, Pennline, Rivarossi, et al), 7 Athearn (incl. Genesis), 5 Atlas, 5 Kato, 3 Stewart, LL P1K and Walthers Trainline got no votes. I apologize if I didn't include your favorite manufacturer by name, as there are so many out there, but I'm not sure how big I can make the ballot. Thanks to the 29 folks who voted, and for all the comments!
In HO scale, the finest ever made is the Lifelike Heritage series 2-8-8-2. I have brass with better detail, but nothing that runs as well, steam or diesel. I have three of these, two with soundtrax. Pete
THREE??? I remember when they first came out- they went quicker than snow in July. Form looking at the pics, they look sweet- bet they run as good as they look. And oh yes, welcome to Trainboard!
Friscobob: I have 3 of those 2-8-8-2s as well---UP, ATSF, VGN and they all run soooo nicely! I remember when they were about $375 a piece, but now you can get them for $195 each. In fact for my 3 I have paid a total of less than $300(all new in box). Trainworld has them for $195+. The only thing that runs as well or better is the Riv Allegheny! That thing beats the proto in just about every category including price! John (EM1) I am hoping to have the Class A from BLI in my hands withing a week of them being on the market. It is being shipped from my contact back there in MD. I'll let you know how it looks and runs once I get it. Long live articulated steam!
I love my Kato SD80MAC, quite impressive although I did wieght it down more (improved pulling power considerably) Its my most expensive yet favorite unit to run.
BNSF, I hear ya on the Riv Allegheny. I still have yet to get one or built the old Arbour model I have! Anyway fella. take a look at a few of the topics I posted, "Some Time Ago...", and a few of my projects, an last, but not least, "The train that made me & my shop famous".. you'll see some of my work.. lots of it actually....
Being a diesel weasel myself, I can't speak for the smooth-running steamers. One question I have- how does the Spectrum Russian Decapod run? I've got my eyes on the Frisco version, which IMHO only needs Kadees and the repositioning of the "doghouse" on the tender to make it correct.
Bob, Mike "6206_S1a" an myself both have a Spectrum Decapod, an they run like a dream. specially from Bachmann! I wouldn't trade in mine for anything on the Spectrum line. Well yes maybe. a 3 truck Shay, but still it pulls great with my Rivarossi Challenger (the one I got pictures posted here lately) and runs the same RPM an all. they run great together, however the Decapod is alittle slippery so... It isn't real heavy to bear down and thump up the rail, but on a small 8 to 10 car drag, he does very well! Well worth the $69 I got in mine! (YES, I said $69!) so..... Best 2001 year investment my roster cordinator made!
