Guess that'll depend on your budget. These are what I have, but I like the higher end stuff...read $$$ I like the Athearn Genesis line because they have truck end caps that actually spin. I did a double take the first time I saw it on the Genesis 5161cf Trinity Hoppers I picked up. MSRP is up there, but I've scored a bunch for less than $20 each. Grain: Intermountain - Cylindrical, 4650cf, and 4750cf (all the same as their N scale offerings) Atlas Master - 5748cf Tangent Models - 4640cf Exactrail - 4780cf Athearn Genesis - 5161cf Athearn RTR - 5161cf Boxcars: Atlas, Intermountain, Athearn Genesis, Walthers (Gold and Platinum Lines), Exactrail, Intermountain PS-1 Cars: Don't own any currently. Have a bunch of PS-2 cars though from Atlas Trainman and Athearn RTR That's my .02 cents for today. Aren't you glad you asked... Brian
Just had a thought, Paul. You have a 10 unit limit on locomotives (which will easily be blown out of the water!), do you have any limits on freightcars? But I guess you will need a finalised trackplan with industry capacities to know what you will need to operate them, allowing for empties/loads in/out. An interesting time is the planning stage, and you have plenty of time. You could have everything you need by the time you start construction!
Alan, i am currently working with someone on a design for the layout. I am off to the new house on the weekend to take a few measurements
That's great. You can then gradually formulate in your mind how the layout will look and how you will operate it. I love the planning stage of a new layout, especially when you can share via sites like this and get feedback
As my N scale sale has been going so well i am converting that into Ho purchases. I have just ordered 11 Aztec cars to the roster. Mainly boxcars and a couple of gondolas
I would say most manufacturers don't use Kadee. I can't speak for H0 modelers, but I always change my couplers to Kadee steel couplers and steel wheels. Probably just a habit I carried over from N scale by converting everything to Micro Trains. If you ever get a 100 car train in H0 scale it can be very heavy on the draw bar pull. I have been told that the non-Kadee couplers can break under heavy loads. OTOH I don't run 100 car H0 trains so changing is just a practice of mine. Also, I use picks to uncouple. Much more convenient and also a carryover from N scale.
Thanks Flash but I don't think I will be RI Ning more than 8 to 10 cars on my layout however if I join a club I may run a little longer
What about McHenry couplers. I've never tried em but I hear good things about them. (I may have the name wrong but it's something like that. )
They're all compatible unless you buy something with hornhooks. Also HO scale Kadee wheels are junk. The blackening comes off and dirties up the track. Stick with intermountain
