It's time for a new locomotive for the switching layout. It has to handle #4 and #6 turnouts with unpowered frogs without stalling, it needs to creep slow as it can go, and it needs to do it under DC power. Don't care about sound. I had an Atlas B23-7 that weighed a ton and did an amazing job until it lost a battle with gravity. In order of importance, 1: low speed performance, 2: detail, 3: price. I've been waiting years to put price at the end of the list instead of first.
I have watched this post off and on all day. I too, am a DC guy. How many cars is this expected to pull? Atlas locos have had a good reputation for a long time. Proto is good too. I have very little experience with BLI, MTH or others. With #4 turnouts, I can see why your B23-7 was a good choice. I will be watching and hope others will chime in.
With the Inglenook Sidings layout I favor, the maximum load is five freight cars. It's a dead flat layout as well, no grade.
I would go with the Atlas or Athearn MP-15's, I know the Athearn one is better detailed than the brass one available, as one of my club members has both. The Broadway Limited SW-7 only comes in DCC mode which would have to be de-activated to run well on a DC layout. Another choice would be the Atlas S-2 or any of the Bowser Baldwin Switchers. Rick Jesionowski
DC guy here, too. I run mostly Proto2000 and Kato locomotives satisfactorily. #4 through #6 turnouts on my layout, with grades and little or no lurching going downhill. John
