Wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I already have a lot of steam engines. I would like to fill in some early (pre-1952 diesel units) for long hauls. Can someone please suggest which models and which manufacturers they have been happy with in performance, reliability and pulling power??????? I do not want any 6 wheel truck units since my experience with the Kato PA and PB's on the track is less than satisfactory.
How about Kato F3s?. I have four ATSF passengers (the prototype was manufactured in 1946 - 1948). They are really nice. I'd bet Intermountain's FTs would be appropriate, but I do not have any experience with them.
I dunno when they showed up, but the RS3/11's from Atlas are good runners. The Kato PA's are very persnickety. I would imagine that not all early 6-axle units are this picky about their track. For example, Atlas SD7/9 would be a good choice. Atlas' Geep 7/9 series would also be a winner, if it fits under the cutoff date. Can anyone help here? When did the RS-3's and Geep/SD 7&9's show up?
Had some of the early Atlas RS-3s back when they first came out and was impressed with thier running abilities. You can go back to at least 1950 with RS-3s. With the RS-1 and 2s you can date back further. With all three you can add steam generator details to the short hood and use them as dual purpose. Both the RS-11 and the GP7 and 9s date back into the 50s. SW-8 and 9s, along with the S-1and S-2, and NW-2 all put you in the 50s. Baldwins products put you in the 40s and 50s with the VO-1000. All give you a small four axle, reasonably short wheel base, fairly tight turning radius, that saw wide use on most class ones, and were the mainstay of a lot of shortline operations.
Mark: I think you'd enjoy the IM FT's. They will be able to pull 25+ cars up the grades on the LLL. I run them in ABBA combinations on the JJJ&E. Chad on the Atlas forum, runs an AB consist up his 4% grade and pull 25 cars. woo woo woo Kleins has some good prices on the certain IM FT AB units. You can also consider a Kato RS-2 if you can find them. The new Kato F-3's run very well if you can find them in AB consists. I know the A units are available. Stay cool and run steam......
The best buy is the Life Like FA1/FB1 sets. They are available on the internet for as little as $39.95 a pair. They have split frames, wireless pickup, dual flywheels, and MT 1015 couplers are a drop-in conversion. I pull 75 cars with an AB set on our NTrak layout, and have pulled 133 with an ABBA set. MSRP is $120 a pair, but: MBKlein has them in several roads at $39.95/pr BLW has them in a couple of roads at $54.95/pr BLW has the rest of them at $74.95/pr For smooth and dependable operation, these units are the equal of the best there is. There is no contest on pulling power per dollar, off-the-shelf. It takes 3 of the current Kato F3s at $180-$200 street to pull what you can pull with a pair of these at $39.95. It takes four Kato SD40s to pull what one FA1/FB1 pair will pull. You can have an ABBA set for $80, and it would take 8 Atlas SD60s or C628/C630s to match their pull. The only knock I see is they are not DCC ready. I'm analog, so I couldn't care less about that. I own 24 units and have never had a problem with any of them. I intend to buy more. [ 10. February 2005, 17:28: Message edited by: LongTrain ]
Id agree with the lifelike FA1/FB1 sets, however if you go for the FA2/FB2 set beware and go for the later 2002 release (the 1993 release is non flywheel driven and has no plastic fuel tank moulding just a lump of cast metal so its easy to spot). whoppit
If you only want a few diesels I'd get something really flashy. E8/9 Life like re released their e8/9 pairs not too long ago. They run wonderfully. They don't freak out on curves like the kato's did. I have both Kato and the early run of E's. I could run my Lifelikes on 11 inch curves without problems The nice thing about these life likes is that there are a gagillion roadnames. They even did my fave line, IC, in chocolate and orange. As a recent release they are easily obtained through internet order. Put them in front of a crack passenger train and they'll look really sharp. this link is very usefull when trying to decide to buy a diesel: http://www.urbaneagle.com/data/RRdieselchrono.html [ 10. February 2005, 19:12: Message edited by: traingeekboy ]
I'll agree that the recent Life-Like FA/FB units are terrific runners and pullers. I've been getting them off e-Bay for less than $40 a pair. Their recent FM C-Liners are pretty much the same under the hood. And their GP-20s (all UP #474, though) have been on sale for $20--terrific runner, but a little light compared to the others. There's also the E-R Baldwin Sharks (now Bachmann?). They are a little noisy, and not great pullers. Folks seem to either like 'em or hate 'em. I like them--mine have quieted down with a lot of running, and run very well as an ABBA consist. Not all six-axle diesels are as finicky as the Kato PA. The Life-Like PAs (no split frame) tolerate curves better. The Life-Like Erie-Builts, however, are nearly as finicky as the Katos--but they are my candidate for best puller ever. E-8s, as someone (Vern Niner?) pointed out, have a shorter wheelbase per truck than PAs, and therefore handle curves better.
Pre 1952 road power: Atlas RS-1, RS-3, GP-7; Life Like FA-1, FA-2 (later run), C-liners;, Kato F-3, RS-2, Intermountain FT; MicroTrains FT; ER models Baldwin shark (RF-16). All are very good quality. The LL FA's, as stated, are a very good value. Frank
It has about 6 last I checked , but he stated his concern was with the Kato units. I have had kato's roll off the tracks on curves where life likes just keep chugging through em. So I would advise trying the lifelikes.
On the kato PA's what I did was to check the truck swing especially the front by the pilot, There is very little room for the swing in front which is what I thought was hanging up on curves. I just trimmed a wee bit off whatever was causing interferance, and now it runs as well as Lifelike's PA's. Rob
Rob: Do you have a picture to show what area you trimmed on the front of the lead truck? Stay cool and run steam.....
Rob, This post puzzles me a bit, as there is a good 1/16" clearance between the trucks forward edge and the rear edge of the pilot on the Kato PAs. The clearance increases on sharp turns. Also, on other matters, the Life-Like truck wheelbase is longer than the Kato's.
Foth, I took the liberty of linking to your pictures. Nice layout so far. The yard shot with all the ground cover looks great. since you are doing Pennsy you can have lots of fun with a diesel because of the wild looking radio antenna's they put on their diesels. [ 11. February 2005, 18:34: Message edited by: traingeekboy ]
Yeah those cabins were pretty crazy too. Hey is that your caboose model? I also saw lots of diesels in various paint schemes on your rail images site. the CN striped F's have always been one of those diesels I plan to get eventually just because it looks cool. I also regret not getting one of those CGW RS's.
Guys- You warm the cockles of my heart. Geeky- I really like the second shot. Longtrain- I am a rust guy- nicely done. By the way, are the cockles right next to the ventricles?
