Hi all. I just found your forum and I need a little information. I read you post about brand names, so I do not know if this is against your rules or not. I am building another layout, my 3rd. I thought that the last one would be my last layout, but as usual I was wrong. I got rid of my rolling stock, so I need to buy more. I use to have Athern F units. They cost only 25$ and were trouble free and pulled great. At the time Bachman locies were rather cheaply made and did not pull well. This was 22 years ago, and things change. How are these more affordable locies rated now? You can mention any other brand name that I might need to look at. Thanks
Welcome aboard. Athearns are still mooses in the pulling power department. Their F-units are heavily weighted and run (and sound) much better than their ancestors. Detail is also somewhat better than older units. Bachmann "affordable" locos, i.e. train set locos, are not so great, lack detail and are often improperly painted/lettered/numbered. They still don't pull squat, and are quite noisy. Other brands? You can't go wrong with Intermountain, Atlas, Kato, and Proto. As for the definition of affordable, as you mentioned, a lot has changed in 22 years. Unless you buy used, then you might get a bargain.
You won't find locos in the $20-$30 range anymore unless you shop the sales, the swap meets and the consignment shelf at the LHS. The sweet spot that used to be $20-$45 Athearn is now $75-$120 Athearn and others. In that space are Athearn, Atlas, Walthers-Proto2k, Bachmann Plus/Spectrum. These are your bread and butter locos. From that point prices go up. There are locos less expensive than this that might be interesting to you, especially if you're getting started. Walthers-Trainline offers a few locos down in the $40-$70 range with items often on sale. These are basic locos along the lines of old Athearn. There is not a broad selection. Walthers-Lifelike should be avoided. Bachmann also has some basic locos that are OK. In particular, the Bachmann DCC line is quite a good value if you want to start into DCC. These locos have basic detail and the decoders aren't any great shakes, but they are ok as a starting point. Bachmann also makes a series of Trainset engines that are all wheel drive all wheel pickup. Their quality is about as good as Atlas/Roco was back in the 80s. So below current standards, but not unusable. I know a number of people who have these and with some TLC, they are great runners. In Particular, the Bachmann GE 44 tonner and 70 tonners are well liked inexpensive locos. You're going to get a lot of opinions telling you to avoid the lower end engines, I agree, if you can afford to, but if buying lower end is the only way you can get back into the hobby, then don't hesitate to look at Bachmann all wheel and Walther's trainline. If nothing else, they offer good platforms to learn to superdetail. Also, do shop swap meets, shows and other used sources. There's lots of older Athearn stuff still out there.
I can' really add anyhing o what YoHo has written, but Bachmann seems to be entering a new era as far as their offerings go. I have 3 of their H16-44s and at age 15 yrs. plus, they're still smooth, good runners. And their new GP-7/RS-3/S-4 and FA-2 really do look good and have running qualities on about a par with the "front-line" engines.
I have been able to find plenty of New engines for under $40.00 that look and run very well. Bachmann, Athearn BB, and Walthers Trainline. All the new Bachmann and Trainline engines run and look as well as my Athearn BB. Athearn BB are ok if you can paint handrails and assemble the rest. Shop the sale items and Ebay. With Bachmann just make sure you are getting an engine with 8 or 12 wheel drive. Stepping up you can go for Athearn ready to run, Atlas trainman, and Proto 2000 engines. these are going to be $50.00 and up. The Proto 2000 engines are going to have the most and best detail. Bob
Are you referring to their diesels? I have a Life Like heritage 0-8-0 steam engine that is possibly the nicest running and detailed engine I've ever seen. Not trying to argue, but their steam locos in the Heritage line were/are very nice.
Can't speak to that, the only life like imprinted ho locos I am aware of steam or diesel are the low low train set quality. Maybe your loco is from before Walthers bought them and restricted the use of the Lifelike name?
Yeah I know the ones you are talking about, like the Santa Fe F's that come with three cars, etc. Yep, those are trash. I don't think Walther makes the Life Like heritage line anymore, couldn't find it on their site. Here is a detail shot of the 0-8-0. I fitted mine with a sound decoder. VERY NICE!!!!
I wouldn't call the Walthers(former Life Like) P2K low end diesel locomotives.. Walthers(former LL) p2k. Now if your talking about the Walthers/Life Like train set type locomotives I agree.
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Thank you so much for all of your posts. I found me an A-B Athearn at my local hobby shop. Nobody has mentioned Mantua, I had an older Mantua steam, and it worked well. The hobby shop has a Mantua steam for $155. It looks good to me, but I am not an expert by any means. Thanks for your answers. Dave
For Steam engines I would look at the Bachmann Sperctrum line or the IHC steam engines. Mantua is OK but not as well detailed and the others are far ahead in new design and running. Bob
Is your a-b set a newer release? Even the older stuff was good, but the new releases are phenomenal. As to steam, you might want to decide what type of engine you want, then look and see who makes them.
