July 2009 News USA Trains new center cupola caboose is out now for purchase for those who have been waiting for it.
Seeing as this is a custom run for a specific store, RLD Hobbies is now stocking a Custom Run Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Aristocraft E-8.
Aristocrafts GP-40 sorry i guess i should have quoted the thread that brought me to this question. is the Aristocrafts GP-40 a bad train? and did i make a mistake by buying one?
the GP40's run great. It wasn't a bad move. The only problem is the GP40 handrails are very fragile. Be very careful in handeling them.
Everyone has thier own opinion and experience with what manufacturer they had luck with. I on one hand had the best luck with USA Trains, then there are others I met who run Aristocraft trains and tried USA locomotivves and had bad luck. The one I here the most bad experiences with as far as USA Trains goes is the SD40-2 locomotive. This is a real finiky locomotive which has small diameter drive wheels so having a just about perfect level track is important, especially in the curves. When the Aristocraft GP-40 locomotive came out last year I seen them run at the 2009 East Coast Large Scale train show and one guy bought 4 Burlington Northern units and one did break down at the show, but Aristocraft took care of it right at the show. I shouldn't single out the one manufacturer break down to be fair. I did see at the 2008 East Coast Large Scale train show where a club person bought a USA Trains SD40-2 locomotive and broke the connecting shaft in the front motor block. But he did manage to take the shaft completely out and just ran it on 4 wheel drive on the front motor block. USA Trains also fixed that one if I remember right. Run what works for you and Aristocraft has come a long way in alot of thier products. Every manufacturer had thier run on products that didn't quite work out. I agree with DragonFyreGT, you did good, the Aristocraft GP-40 actually has the best motors in it out of all the other locomotives Aristocraft ever produced. It has Mitbachi 550 motors in it which have ball bearings, so it should last a while.
I've got a pair of Rio Grande GP40's with DCC/Sound board installed. Other than sound failing after board overheated, I have not had any problems! Granted, running a black locomotive in direct 95*+ heat didn't help!! After cool down, all worked just fine. Have an article for a cooling method that I've seen on another forum, that works very well, according to author. Just need to get the small fans required and work on doing an installation. Also have a couple of USAT locomotives that I've not had problems with. An SD70MAC, with DCC/Sound added. And an ALCo PA. Both run very well. Agree that smooth trackwork is a requirement! Mine derailed in a couple of spots because of slight uneven track. Once leveled, things ran fine. Just need to get a replacement handrail for one GP40, and get replacement lights for my USAT SD70MAC and I'll be good to go again. Would like to get a set of USAT GP30's too. Would have to locate a power supply that would run multiple trains, without tripping circuit breaker all the time!
more questions thanks for all your help but, i have one more question for you. i ordered a usa trains SD-70MAC Union Pacific Heritage/D&RGW. My power supply is a CONTROL MASTER 20 made by mrc . MRC - DC POWER Series - CONTROL MASTER 20, Item: AA444, TRAIN CONTROLS/DC POWER as far as i know its only 5 WATS. is this enough to run my sd-70?
Don't take this the wrong way, but LOL No Way will the USA Trains SD70-MAC will run on that little bit of power, heck the smoke unit by itself needs almost that much power to work. I burned out a 10 amp MRC years ago trying to run only 3 USA Trains in a multiple lash up DUMP the MRC on the Train Boards store My suggestion which will match most others suggestion is to move on to Brdegwerks Transformers, expensive yeah, but it will be the last transformer you will ever buy and it will have plenty of beef to run the power hungary USA Trains locomotives. I have a Magnum 1000DL 15 amp 24 volt transformer for each mainline and I have 3 mainlines all together. I have no problem running a F3 ABBA set up and every unit is powered. Here is a link to see what Bridgewerks has > www.bridgewerks.com Some like the new big MRC transfomers, I even heard some use Blue Streak transformers, but to each thier own, Bridgewerks peforms well for me and had my first one on mainline #1 since 2000.
The USA Trains GP-30 locomotives ran flawless for me, although the smoke units were wired wrong and burned out when I first got them. But the running reliability of the USA Trains GP-30 has been great. The USA Trains love to suck up power and is the main thing most complain about. I suggest the Bridgwerks Magnum 1000DL. First it's got a kicking power of 15 amps and 24 volts, next it's a fully remote control transformer. Bridgewerks makes a bigger transformer yet thats 20 amps, but only the throttle is remote, switching directions is done manually.
Keith & Jonathan_huse. If either of you decide to go thru with buying a big powerful Bridgewerks such as the Magnum 1000DL, make sure yo don't stop there. Make sure you get proper sized wiring which a hobby shop sells Gauge #10 2 wire cable just for this application and also buy the Hillmans rail clamp track power connectors. PM me for the hobby shop name as we are not allowed to list hobby shop or vendor names here in the main forum.
that sucks that sucks i guess i shouldn't have spent all my money on that new sd70. looks like its going to sit on the shelf for a little bit. :tb-sad: thanks again for your help.
Before my AirWire throttle was damaged beyond repair, I used an MTH Z-4000 transformer to provide power. With it, I could run both GP40's with power to spare! What else can I use, to power current layout, and expansion, now under way?? And still be able to use DCC?? I have NO plans on going battery either. Not worth the effort. Not when I'd have to be changing batteries every 2 hours. Would like to keep Didigtrax system in use, if possible. Although, I'm curious to find out more information about the new NCE G-Wire throttle. Quick review in latest GR magazine. But, would still like to get more info. Would also consider using my Z-4000 for power. Or maybe add a second one, creating 2 seperate power districts. Not sure if that'd work though, without electrical problems! As for track clamps, I'm using the Split Jaw clamps, and am quite happy with them. Have been in use out back since last year, and I've had no power problems with them. For now, I'm not gonna worry about powering layout. I'm more interested in getting expansion started!! Removed small section of grass in front yard earlier tonight, with LOTS of work still to do!! Gonna be at least a summer long project. Or longer, as I'm thinking it may take. Weekends, early mornings after work and June vacation time......So, who know's what's gonna happen! Anyway......
Keith, Bridgewerks also offers power supplies for people who just need a constant power supply to the track and run DCC. There is a product called Powermag and is available in 18volt 30 amp supply or 24 volt 25 amp supply which would also require #10 gauge cable that I previously talked about. The downfall is this model has nothing available under 18 volts if you are not running high voltage DCC components, this is something you shouldn't consider. Airwire I believe does offer high voltage components and companies such as Ram Trax offers very few items that will operate on voltages from 18 volts to 24 volts. That can be a catch 22 sometimes getting more power to the track but yet still be able to run or find accessories to run on voltages above 18 volts, most accessories are made for 12 volts for some reason.
Not to get too off topic here but you might have success with tweaking your voltage to....1.21 JIGGAWATTS!!!! You might even let your locomotives go up to 88mph
As mentioned, I've used my MTH Z-4000 to run my GP40's, with great success. It's 22V, 5Amp, fan cooled power supply. The QSI sound boards in the GP40's and the USAT MAC run just fine. Or did, with G-Wire throttle/Reciever, before throttle was destroyed. Want to continue using my Digitrax system, to operate. Or, if the NCE G-Wire throttle would work better, with Bridgewerks power supply you mention, I might have to look into it. Have to find out where I can get either piece, for a reasonable price. Right now, my Digitrax system will handle things nicely, since current layout has no more than 45 feet of track, at most! Too small to run more than one train at a time. Single unit and up to 7 cars is about the maximum. Anyway, information so far is much appreciated. Thanks.
