I'm looking to buy some UP and ATSF/SF engines and I would like to know which of the Kato diesels pulls the best. If there is another brand out there with great details, smooth and quite running (no brass please) let me know about that too. Who makes the best non brass articulated steam engines? And I'm talking sound, details and running quality. Can't touch the $1000 plus price tags at the moment so I'm staying away from brass, unless ebay throws something my way. I'll be picking up 2 SD-70macs, BN paint scheme today and they're going to test track later today.
Got em. I'm going to test run them shortly. These are some fine looking engines. Hope they run that way. Later. verse
I'm now running AC4400's on my layout and they are out pulling the Proto SD60's I have .Grades are average 1:30 on layout with a small pinch section on 1:25. gives me 12 to 14 car trains big enough on my 10 X 8 sorry I dont run steam cant help there Regards Les
Thanks for the response Les. I was wondering about those AC4400CWs. They are a beauty to watch especially in a multi unit lash up. I think I'll get a couple of them in UP and BNSF paint scheme for the layout. Have you ever run an Atlas 8-40B? If so, is it any good? I know for a fact that they are good pullers in N scale. Just bought one, still waiting for it to arrive though. I've just finished testing a pair of Kato SD-70macs and each can manage 15 of my 40' box cars up a 2.5% grade. I going to start buying some rolling stock for my layout soon, then they'll get the real test. Thanks again for the reply. verse
G'day Verse, Now just to throw a spanner inthe works I have just recieved another Proto SD60 for my birthday and you woulld want to know its out pulling everthing else in six axle config. My layout is real good for testing 'em out and controllers LOL.That asside If you really need more pulling power Bo Bo or 4 axle config will out pull the six axles because more weight is on two than three axle bogies. My older Atlas geeps and SD's and to some extent the Athearn blue box geeps do this regular with my coal trains. Hope this helps ya Regards Les WEUSANDCORR
That's similiar to the prototype, weight per axle. :angel: So 4 axle locos are strong. I've a few Kato GP 35 and I'm very satisfied. But I must concede my Kato SD 40's are also good. Wolfgang
Thanks for the feedback gentlemen. Les, What is a fair price on the Proto SD60s? I'm going to get me a pair. Matthew/Wolfgang, Have you tried putting a sound decoder in your Kato engines? If so, what kind? Tomorrow I will be picking up a 8-40B by Atlas. Is it a good puller? I'm going to keep it regardless, I'm just curious. I'm going to be posting a vid. tomorrow featuring my newly aquired SD70macs. Kind regards verse
I have not yet gone down the sound route as its still out of my price range, but it is something I plan on doing at some point, when I go DCC I shall go sound as well. I imagine it must be quite easy with the sound modules arround these days, gone are the days of hacking the loco about to fit it in..... Having said that I was looking at my Kato NW2 today and there really is NO room in there for a decoder let alone a sound chip....
I've quite a few Kato engines with sound. I use ESU, it's from Germany and so easy for me to get. And you can change the sound to your own suits. I've ESU decoders in Keystone GE 44 ton switcher "Henry", you can see it in a few webvideos :angel: Kato GP 35 with working beacon light and sound, I used the same way for my Atlas GP 40. I've also installed an ESU in my Atlas RS-1. And my LifeLike 0-8-0 has sound, too. And just now I'm busy with two Kato CN SD 40-2. One engine is finished, for the other I've to get a speaker. The problem is always the speaker. And I've installed sound into a German old time steamer ELNA Matthew, I've two KAto NW 2's with decoder, you see a pic at this site. Now I think about sound in it. Happy tooot Wolfgang
Matthew have you check out Wolfgangs site? Its Awesome! Wolfgang, I've book marked your website it fantastic. Where do I go to see the videos?
The webvideos are linked from my homepage, home site and if you go to FREMO meetings you will find meetings, where my friend made webvideos. Wolfgang
I have picked up a few Proto 2000 locos from ebay over the years they are just as good as any of the more expensive makes, and a LOT cheaper than a DCC equiped Atlas loco.
I have a number of Kato engines and highly recommend the SD90mac for the best pulling and running of their products. The AC4400 comes in a close second, but for a UP get the SD90mac!
Matthew, they seem (from the photos) to have a little more details than the Atlas and Kato diesels. In the photo of the one that I bought, I 'm quite sure I saw lift rings. Is this the norm with Proto 2000 products? bnsf4354, I most definately will. I'm a huge fan the GE diesels and not to mention the SD70-90s. So far I have two SD70macs (BN). I've noticed that OMI have almost all the variations of the Dash 8, 9 and the newer ones. I'm a collector as well as a model railroader so I can assure you that I'll have a number of them in the future. Double diesels done in brass are also a favourite of mine. verse
Matthew, do you have any precision models products? If so, how're the details? They look pretty decent in the photos. The prices rivals that of the brass engines.
Verse I picked them up for under $60 US on the US Ebay. Out here new up to $250 Au so even with postage and insure comes out well in front for me at under $150 Au.Les
