As I don't own any Intermountain Locos (yet) I was just wondering how they are (running, details, paint). Thanks in advance.
My experience with Intermountain F7s and FTs I have 4 A-B F7 sets and 2 A-B FT sets. I also have an extensive collection of IM rolling stock. Running: Excellent slow-speed performance, VERY quiet. Scale speeds or close to it, unlike Kato's locomotives, which can hit 200 scale mph at full throttle. Reliable so far. MT couplers - no need to change them. Details: Much better than Kato. Mesh exhaust fans, wire ladder handholds. Paint: Crisp, well-researched, the equal of the best custom jobs I've seen. Customer service: Excellent. Quick and friendly response to emails. The F7s were shipped with incorrectly molded B unit shells. When the next set was run, they ran additional B unit shells and shipped them gratis to customers who had requested them. This was the right thing to do. I can sum up my experience by saying that I wouldn't hesitate to order more locos from IM. To be sure, like every other vendor, including Kato, they sometimes ship products with issues, which leads to a round of sometimes sharply negative commentary about the company in general. You may run across posts like these on Trainboard. Although I sympathize with peoples' frustrations when a loco isn't performing as advertised, some of this commentary strikes me as unfair. IM has made a tremendous contribution to N scale model railroading, they care about their customers, and they do the right thing if there's a problem. --Bryan
I have two Lehigh Valley FT's, three New York Central F3's and four Erie-Lackawanna F3's. They're all wonderful runners, the paint is excellent, the detailing is also excellent and DCC conversion is via drop in boards (although the headlights have to be resoldered on the A units). I replaced the couplers between the F3's with Unimates so the gap is more realistic. Otherwise, these engines need nothing to look and run great. In my opinion, Intermountain sets the standard for F units.
Great to hear, Bob, I have LV f7's on order with Fifer right now. These will be my first Intermountain loco's. Ralph.
I have had an FT A/B set running with DC power for over 5 years. I concur with everything Bryan says. Although I'll take his word for Customer Service because I haven't needed to contact IM for anything.
Intermountain is bringing out a CN N SCALE SD40-2W which looks interesting. Their F units seem to be winners but I have read somethings about other units like: Shells popping off Trucks falling out The infamous tunnel motor Glued shells (too much glue). Although I did read that Intermountain does have great costumer service.
I have 3 Tunnel motors and they run very well. Two are DCC for my home layout and one is DC that I run with our N-Trak club. I like them. They pull as well as any Kato that I have. One challenge: great details as bryan9 said, but I stripped and repainted mine into my home road. They were a bear to disassemble for painting. Each window is an individual piece of plastic. The mesh screens are very fragile. Dave G Cache Valley & Northern RR
Mesh I do have a problem with the mesh (or grill) - it doesn't stay glued, but is arching toward the outside. As to the rest you said, I'll second that. I do have an F7B Amtrak (# 154). Does this model have an issue with the shell? Cheers Frank
I sent back three tunnel motors with the bowed shells and got back replacements as promised. I'd say they're doing their best to keep customers happy as they work through a few manufacturing missteps.
I have several F3s, F7s, & F7Ps. They are my favorites locomotvies and they run great. Also, I received outstanding service from IM when needed. The only thing you have to be careful with is when handing them. Don't pick them up wiith your fingers holding them on their grills. These are quite fragile and will bend easily.
I don't have the F/FT locomotives, but I do have 11 Tunnel motors. Have not had problems with them, since I've gotten them. Shell problems had been corrected by then. The only problem I have, are the handrails are WAY to fragile! Even with careful handling, I've managed to destroy a couple of handrails. Haven't contacted IM about replacements yet. One of these days maybe. Other than that, I've been very happy with mine.
I have FTs, F3s, F7s and FP7s. They all look good and run well. I once had an issue with broken coupler mounts, replacement parts were sent free of charge to Germany. The freight cars are great quality, too, I have lots of their older prototype cars (transition era), and some of the newer ones, too. I can really recommend them
I got a pair of SD45-2 and I will not buy another. The shells are glue together and have numerous errors, the ones that I notice the most are that pilots look wrong to me like they are to fat compare to an Atlas or Kato unit, the walkways have no tread like an Atlas or Kato unit, and on both of mine from two different runs the front of the locomotive looks like its drooping instead of being straight like the prototype. They do run quiet, but are way overprice for what you get specially when you compare it to a Kato or Atlas unit. I wish they would get them right because I own over sevety of there hoppers, boxcars and flatcars and have no problem with them.
I dont have any IM locos, but do want to get a set of the FTs, just for comparison sake. If you are looking for FTs, consider the MTL FTs. I have 3 A/B sets of the MTL FTs, and I got to say, I really do like them. They are some of my best runners. Very smooth, very quiet, and very dependable. Detail is very good as well. I hear the same reports on the IM version, and do run several IM rolling stock that I am happy with. I do want to get a set of the IMs and compare them, but just want to add not to rule out the MTL version because they are very nice units.
Everybody seems to like the F units but has anybody recently bought an Intermountain Loco thats not an F unit? Have they solved all of the problems of the past? One thing you all seem to agree on is that the customer service is great and thats always a big plus! Oh..are they shipped in jewel boxes?
I have FTs, F-3s, F-7s. They all operate well. Paint and details are good. Their strongest recommendation is the customer service-ABSOLUTELY TOP DRAWER. You may buy IM products with confidence. I would recommend IM F-units to anyone.
I have 3 ABBA sets of F7's, two other F7 ABBA sets I'm changing to F5's, and 3 ABBA sets of FT's - I have another FT AB set that I run with a Micro-Trains FT AB set. They all run incredibly well and I haven't had a problem with any of them. (I can't wait for IM to make an F3 in the Erie scheme - the Erie had a bunch of them). IMHO, the IM FT looks much better compared to the Micro-Trains. I think the detail is better and I think the proportions are better as well. The see-through screens make all the difference.I do have one of the Micro-Trains AB FT's in Erie and the only reason I've kept it is because F units in Erie are hard to find, and this one comes in the as-delivered scheme. My only complaint is that it can be hard to find the roadname you want if you don't buy them right away. It took me a very long time to accumulate all of the ones I have.
They are shipped in locking lid jewel cases, similar to that used by later run Atlas locomotives. I have my eye on an SD45-2. I'll let you know how I like it if and when I end up with it.
I have 4 SCL SD45-2's and I love them - no problems with them. I am ordering 2 of the FP7's in SCL. So as you can see it is just like any other brand some like em', some don't. Just my $ .02 Eddie
I have a pair of SD40-T's, one SD45-T & a SD45-2. They run fairly well but not as good and smooth as a Kato. I believe that the earlier tunnel motors engines have Atlas mechanisms. I rate the details as fair though I had problems with the handrails on the SD45-T which are too fragile and tend to slip out often. I like the MT couplers that come with the engines, saves replacing them unlike other makes. They have an excellent after sales service. They sent me a replacement set of handrails without any charge. Cheers, Cliff
