Ive got one of the Roundhouse (Athearn)2-8-0s and that little thing will outpull a lot of the bigger N scale steamers. Why? Traction tires. I here the Challenger is going to have them also.
Maybe I was looking in the wrong place, but I checked his website and it says $424.98. It's a bit far for me to run over for a look, but if anyone does could you tell us how many cars it will pull.
Hemi, In my expierience, I do not have any hopes of a decent puller. I had an SD70M from Athearn that was comparable to an old B'mann diesel. It was noisey and would not pull worth anything. The details were obscured by a thick coat of paint and there was lots of glue on the cab windows. It could not pull it's self up my 2% grade on the helix. I have a few of their 65' gondolas that needed stripping and repaint to correct the excess that was applied at the factory. I also have a few of the John Deere tractor loaded flats that are exceptional. All were at prices that were comparable to (and of the quality) MT,Atlas, etc... offerings (except the SD70M, traded for a Kato SD70). My hope is that the delays in shipping are due to them taking pride in product; and holding off on the release until they get them right. That being said, I have already ponied up the bucks for the Clinchfield version of the Challenger at the LHS. If needed, I'll have to order a second one if it pulls like the LifeLike mallet, or classify it as a shelf queen, but if that is the case, I will not throw anymore money at them. With the LL mallet, I have to double up to pull 20 coal hoppers up a hill.
The HO Scale Challenger is reportedly a very strong pulling loco and does have traction tires. Surely Athearn did not depart from this success. Ben
What I'd like to see in D&RGW steam... On my reluctance to get a Challenger because it's outside my layout's time frame, Calzephyr suggests that I "'fabricate a justification' that there could be an excursion special from a museum or even a historical society associated with the railroad." Believe me, I'm tempted, but I'm not entirely sure I'd go with the Challenger for this purpose. D&RGW got these during the war and unloaded them almost immediately afterward (they went to the Clinchfield). You got me thinking, though, about what I'd like to see in D&RGW steam. See my post on the D&RGW forum! Here's something to whet the appetite... L-62 Mallet, the mainstay of the Grande's helper services. Not particularly big, not particularly beautiful. Just totally cool. Regards, Bryan Pfaffenberger
TRACTION TIRES on two axles. See the William Cowie photo on this page (3rd or 4th one down): http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?p=305697&posted=1#post305697 Ben
Big Steam...Yum! The double TT was a good thing to see... but... IIRC the other issue is whether all the drivers are geared. Another concern was weight... not that it will be as significant a problem with the two TT... but speakers and DCC will take-up a chunk of weight. The Challenger is still a 'buy' for me. Hopefully not a shelf queen. Bryan... the B'mann 2-6-6-2 MM (mallet-mogul) are my 'stand-ins' for those D&RGW L-62's (& yes quite coooool). The B'mann MM is not quite right; but, close enough for now. I'd sell my B'mann MM if a better alternative for a more comparable L-62 MM were available.
I don't remember seeing anything specifically mentioning this but I would assume the decoder and speaker/s would be in the tender, this would maximise weight on the drivers. Two traction tyres should let you pull a train worthy of a Challenger.
Hmmm... didn't think of that... I was expecting the sounds to come out of the engine itself. Many N scale DCC upgrades to steamers are in the tender instead of the engine... but... wouldn't the sound seem more realistic coming out of the engine itself?
Jose: The speaker and the decoder will be in the tender of the Athearn Challenger. There's no room for a speaker in boiler. The wiring for the speaker from the decoder will be in the confines of the tender. Stay cool and run steam.....
I wonder how these are going to sound? I heard my firct PCM E8 this weekend. Pretty cool sound but not enough bass or volume. I think PSG's solution is probably the best available. Bob, You should comercialize a plug n play version of your concept....would probably sell well. I am very tempted by this great locomotive but will hold off as I did not include it in my budget for this year as of now. If this loco does rock....I am sure I can find one for sale in the future......maybe at a premium price...oh well Focus for this year is to get as much track down as possible. Maybe I will get lucky at get all of the track down in 2007
Matt: I have an SP ABBA consist of the PCM E-8's and after adjusting the sound, the units sound pretty good to me and run superbly. I highly recommend these units to those that are reluctant to try them. You'll be pleasantly surprised. As for the sound on the upcoming Athearn Challenger, there are some folks who have the HO version say the sound is just okay. Time will tell. I have several on order. I have four RR 4-6-6-4 Challengers that I want to convert to DCC with sound.I just have to figure out how to isolate the frame from the motor. The question that I'll throw out ; is the frame isolated fom the motor in it's original state? I have little experience with these loco's as far as how they're constructed. I really don't want to take them apart as parts are hard to come by.I'm looking for an easy solution for isolating the frame. As far as the sound on the JJJ&E goes,I use the Soundtraxx DSX sound decoders with four inch RS speakers under the bench work. It's a great idea, and I'm very happy use the combined components as described. A PNP decoder iin steam loco's might not work because of the space needed. The decoder with a speaker in the tender, is the way all steam loco's will be outfitted with sound. I've already done it with Kato Mikado's and recently with a Bachmann 2-6-6-2 using a Tsunami decoder. Stay cool and run steam.....
I found myself starting out by running PCM E7's at highest volume but I eventually turned them down to lowest while operating alone. The exception is when the room is filled with noisy grandsons, all both of them, and the sound is again turned up in volume. The steam sound of LokSound decoder in a Kato Mikado adds more in my opinion than sound in a diesel. Although at highest volume it is fairly quiet and probably won't be audible when the room is noisy. I'm hoping the Challenger will have a bit more volume. And I'm looking forward to the sound of the PCM PA's. Ben
Nothing runs like a steaming deere? I'll be waiting for the 'Caterpiller' diesel steamer version of the Challenger... oxymoron intended .
Latest news I have heard from dealers is that the latest delay was caused by Athearn wanting to make right something in the sound system. The frame is not isolated from the motor in its original state. I have mine apart all the time (for various upgrades but not for DCC) Bob and if you need a drawing or photo let me know. Dave
Dave: I could use a photo and probably a drawing how to take the motor off so I could isolate it from the frame. Thanks. Stay cool and run steam.....
PSG, I guess this is a good lesson for me to doucment my projects for future reference for others and myself
Do you remember lifting the motor out to isolate the motor from the frame? The 2-8-8-2 is similar to the Challenger in the respect they both were made by Rivarossi. I have three or four RR 2-8-8-2 sitting, waiting for decoders, maybe I'll take one apart and check it out. Hate to take something apart when replacement parts are scarce. The one's that I have are in great shape. Stay cool and run steam.....
Yes I remember taking the motor out. On the 2-8-8-2, I remember taking apart most of the locomotive short of the running gear. Now the specific details on how I broke down the loco I do not remember. Back then (2000) I used electrical tape to isolate the motor from the frame. More specific details are fuzzy at best. There were some minor mistakes made such as not properly wiring the headlight / replacing the incadesenct bulb with an LED, and I would now use Krylon tape (I think that is the name) as opposed to electrical tape. There were no real surprises in taking apart the loco. Based on the fact I had very little experience in N scale when I did this, I think you would good to go as long as you proceed with caution. You have significant experience with loco maintanence and decoder instalations.
