Hi everyone, I have a modern era layout and would like to buy a BIG steam engine. Just to have one old style train with a long steamer...:thumbs_up: Which engine would you suggest. DCC - great puller and off course good quality:tb-cool: thanks guys
If you are using DC I'd suggest the Bachman NW 4-8-4 J Class or the Kato Daylight. Both would make superb "excursion" locos. The other option would be one of the 2-6-0s out there but I could not suggest which one. If you are using DCC there might be better choices.
thanks grey, i'm using DCC but would easily fit a DZ123 on one of those steamer. like the Bachman NW 4-8-4 J Class but it look a bit "toy like".:tb-wacky:
The Athearn Challenger would be a logical fit. UP still runs them on excursion trains and they come with DCC from the factory. And run sweet as can be.
The N&W J by Bachmann is a good loco, just look for the newer runs of the loco. It is also a reasonably good model of the actual unit which I had the pleasure of being up close and personal with a lot of years ago. Wheelbase does need 18 inch radius though. Next would be Bachmann's heavy or light Mountain. Again the 18 inch radius is a factor. Last of the big locos would be the Concor S-2 Northern or the Kato Daylight. The Concor S-2 could be used to model the Milwaukee unit. For auxillary tenders the unit for the Bachmann J is available. For a smaller steamer the Bachmann 2-8-0 (newer USRA version) or the Kato 2-8-2, and both of them would be suitable for tighter radius curvature than any of the aforementioned units.
Since you want a "BIG" steam engine, I'd go with the Athearn "Challenger" or Athearn "BigBoy". They both have sound and decoders installed. Another choice would be the new Walthers Articulated 2-8-8-2 Mallet. Have fun.....
I second and third the recommendation for the Athearn Challenger or Big Boy. They are big (4-6-6-4 and 4-8-8-4, respectively), they come with DCC and a decent sound system already installed from the factory; they run great; they pull like a team of oxen (I've had 50 cars behind my Challenger on our N-Trak layout) and they are reasonably priced for what you get (about $250 street). The new Walthers Y3 might also be in the mix if you don't necessarily want a "speed" loco - the Y's were more "drag" engines (though the N&W modified them until they could also do decent speeds), while the Challenger and Big Boy were designed for fast freight and high speeds. Challengers could easily hit 70mph on the flat with a hundred reefers behind. Also, I think that the pulling power of the Walthers Y3 is not quite up to the Athearns. John C.
The Challenger or Daylight would fit the bill the best for a plausable excursion loco on a modern layout. I would avoid the S-2 since the concor version is a so-so runner and the older kato version is not very easy to mod to DCC. I've heard great things about the bachmann heavy mountains. Also, next spring the cab forward is comming from Intermountain, this would make an interesting loco for you layout. Most of the offerings available are great engines.
If money is no object I'd recommend the Athearn Challenger so you could use it for passenger or freight uses. If money IS a restriction, I'd recommend the Bachmann Heavy Mountain (4-8-2). It doesn't have sound but comes with DCC from the factory, is a great puller, beautifully detailed and is 1/2 the price.
I will also recommend the Athearn Challenger. It is a great puller, and given that it has a 4-6-6-4 configuration, it can take very tight curves - I have run it on curves as tight as 9 3/4 inch radius at moderate speeds. Of course, it looks totally unrealistic on tight curves, but it's nice that it take them when needed.
I'll go along with this. At the risk of incurring the wrath of Big Boy fans I think the Challenger was a much nicer looking engine with better proportions than its bigger sister. The same for the Heavy Mountain, apart from its technical details it's a nice looking engine, and like the Challenger, at home on passenger or freight, a good engine if you want to show what a typical, everyday steam locomotive was like.
Thanks guys, I might go for an athearn Challenger as it seems to be a nice engine. Is it nicer and better finished than the athearn SD70's? Athearn engines can even run on tight curves!:thumbs_up::thumbs_up: I'm not a UP fan but might do a small change...
I'll add one most people don't think of- the ConCor Northern. The boiler on the S-2 Northern is almost as long as the boiler on the 2-8-8-2. The engine sits taller because of the driver size and boiler diameter. Northerns WERE big steam, just not a s big as a Challenger or Big Boy It comes with a std NMRA socket for a decoder in the tender. Just pull the "jumper board" that's in the socket, plug in the decoder, and away you go. These locomotives are excellent pullers and nice runners too. Northerns were the workhorse of most western and many eastern railroads in the 40's to mid 50's. See this link for a reference: Northerns They were used on passenger trains, express trains, mail trains, fast freights, and in WWII hauled many other types of freight. In fact, the 2 most widely used large locomotives were the Mountains and the Northerns. Whatever you choose, have fun with it!
:tb-ooh::tb-ooh: sounds nice too. great link! what do you think about this engine quality and detailing?
