Best brand of steam?

I am just getting started and really don't know much about which companys make the best stuff. My layout is based in the late fourties/eary fifties. My rail is Southern and I am concentrating on steam. What brands do you think make the best equipment? I need everything so please tell me for locos, freight cars and passenger cars.

Chip

 

Hi Chip,
Welcome to Trainboard!! There are so many great brands out there these days it is really hard to go wrong. There are some things you shouild think about first. Like, do want DCC or simple DC for your power? What sorts of trains will you be running? For instance will they be mainline freight and passenger, or will your layout be a small switching type layout with smaller steam units?

Everyone here has their own preferences and I am sure you will get lots of great advice. I would also suggest that you start looking at magazines such as Model Railroader as they always have very good reviews of products. I guess it also comes down to your pocket book. How much do you want to spend??

When I was doing HO my personal preference was for Rivarossi. They always ran smooth and the company actually made steam that fit my era (ca. 1890). I also ran some less expensive engines but you can file that under "you get what you pay for."

Rolling stock is the same way. I recommend rolling stock that has metal wheels, is properly weighted, and meets NMRA standards for other things like flange width and coupler height.
John

 

You will also want to decide if you want all steam, all diesel, or mix them. How many cars do you want to run on a train? Do you want to just watch trains run in a circle, or do some switching, have stop and go passenger service, etc.

Start out with nickle silver track, and make the largest radius ed curves you have room for. Use at least #6 or higher turnouts too.

The size of your longest cars and engines will determine the size of your layout.
(You "could" probably get away with 18" radius curves, but passenger cars and 6 axle diesels wont go around them very well. It will be toy-like.)

 

Greetings firemanchip,
here are a few of my favorite model makers;

Bachmann (Spectrum series)
they have some really impressive steam engines. The Shays, Climaxes etc.

Life Like, Proto 2000 series
I was viewing a video in another thread here and was blown away with the appearance, performance and sound of the P2K engines.

Broadway Limited
Has some pretty impressive engines too.

Rivarossi
Even though the level of detail is not as good as the aforementioned brands they run and perform great.

If you want to goes brass there's Overland Models, Hallmark, Westside Models, KEY Imports, Sunset Models (I have a number of these in steam and diesel and they're excellent), Pacific Fast Mail(PFM), Akane And the list goes on. My reason for bring brass into the picture is, despite the fact that they're expensive they might be the only option if you have to acquire an engine that was not so popular and gets overlooked by the main stream model makers. So in keeping with what Watash said earlier, it depends on your direction in the hobby.

This is just the tip of the iceburg, in selecting the suitable locomotive power for your railroad, other areas will be covered soon by our more experienced members. Remember, keep us posted on your progress in the hobby. Have a good one.

verse

 

Thanks for taking time to respond. My problems seem to be boring compared with the rest of the postings here.Your info is very much appreciated.

 

firemanchip:

We try to address all questions on TB. Your question is important and very relevant. Keep asking your questions.

Stay cool and run steam......

 

Chip,
As far as freight cars there are two ways to go: ready-to-run or kits. In the ready-to-run catagory I like Kadee, Red Caboose, Intermountain, and Genesis. In the kits I like Accurail, Branchline, Red Caboose, and Proto 2000. The Branchline Yardmaster series are easy to build and look great, thought they aren't quite as detailed as Kadee. But any or the ones I've mentioned are excellent quality.

 

I've only two steamer:

LifeLike P2K 0-8-0 and a PFM UNITED shay with rebuild gearing and can motor, light and smoke.



I'm very satisfied with these steamers.
Wolfgang

 

Cheap Steam

For my money, BLI and P2K make the most affordable, hiqh quality steam locomotives out there.

My requirements for a steam engine are:

1. Authentic looks and detail
2. DCC with Sound
3. Slow, slow speed
4. Smooth operation
5. Pulling power for 15 to 20 cars on 2 percent grade

SO, the question is what are YOUR requirements.

Remember this financial rule of thumb, getting a decent sound equipped steam locomotive for less than $200 that meets my requirements without breaking the law is very hard to do.

Joe-Daddy

Broadway Limited 4-8-4





P2K 2-8-8-2

 

My computer just messed up a long post I had typed.

The main points were...

I have some Bachmann Spectrums that I really like.

Walthers passenger cars are nice and a good value.

Accurail car kits are a good value and you can
add Kadee couplers and metal wheels to them.

Keith

 

The Bachmann Spectrum steam loco's are fine running and detailed loco's.

I especially like the three truck Shay.

Stay cool and run steam.....

 

Chip,

IMHO, First, there is never a bad, dumb or unimportant question.

While I only just got back into HO, I can say that I am impressed with the Bachmann Spectrum Climax, 3 truck shay & 4-6-0.
They run very well, quiet, excellent detail.
I just picked these up recently.


http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/catalog/?function=detail&id=1141



http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/catalog/?function=detail&id=75


http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/catalog/?function=detail&id=157

 

The real issue is what kind of wheel arrangement do you want? Pick an engine type and then find who makes it and pick the best model for the price.

Bachmann's shay and climax are spectacular models. As are the many other newer steam engines thay make. Even the 060 tank switcher is a nice looking little loco for a starter. Price is reasonable on these.

Life Like is awesome, but they do not make a full line of steam engines. You may not be able to get what you want in this brand. Price is mid range.

Broadway limited is amazing as well, but they are pricey.

 

Bachmann reliablity problems.

With all due respect to the collective experience that Bachmann builds quality HO steam locomotives, my personal experiences with this brand has been a bad experience

After having read the glowing reports of excellence on Bachman locos on this thread, last week, I purchased a 2-8-0 Spectrum with intent of adding the soundtraxx rtr system and have an excellent model of the locomotive that pulled traffic through Oklahoma during the 40's an 50's (And before that too).

I liked the engineer and the fireman in the cab, nice touch. The engine looks good, except for the wad of highly colored wires that bachmann uses to connect the Loco and Tender. Black would have been far less obvious, but a paint brush would fix that. Surprisingly, there is no rear light on the tender.

So I popped it onto the DC autoreverse test track and its true colors quickly arose. The engine frequently, about every 10 - 20 minutes, stalls on the track, with the headlight still working. This is a serious problem! It is serous, because I have two new bachmann trolleys in route to Philadephia for repair for exactly the same thing. :angry:

Before someone says check out your test track, I'll remind them the engines stop with the lights ON. And I clean the track with alcohol before every test. My P2K, P1K, BLI engines run for hours with never a stop.

I have presented these facts in an attempt to inform those in search of reliable, quality engines would be wise to be caution, even skeptical of Bachmann.

My remarks are not intended to personally offend anyone, but to share my experiences.

 

I have 3 new Bachmann Spectrums (see post above)
They all run very well, quiet, they look great.
The Climax the rear LED burned out 3 seconds after switching it into reverse. it is a yellow LED, cheap enough to fix.
the 4-6-0 headlight was on crocked. a little gentle removal and reglue and all is well.
The 4-6-0 has no rear light either. maybe not proto too???
the 4-6-0 does have 6 wires/2 plugs running from the tender to loco. they are all black on the 4-6-0. so strange they are not on the 2-8-0. you think they wodul use the same harness to save $.
With Bachmann (and even others) some products are better than others. I would never pay MSRP or anywhere close to that for any Bachmann.
For the price I paid, I'm very happy with them.

 

JOe,
Bachmann has been known to have QC problems from time to time. I thought this was related more to the N scale connie than HO scale models.

Where did you purchase this recent model? Can you send it back.

I do have to say that the Bachmanns I've seen run, do not run at the level of a BLI or P2K. They run yes, but it cannot compare to the hot knife through butter smoothness of the better brands.

 

yes, not happy with a Bachmann?
Send it back (1 year waarranty) and they will send you a new one.
so try another.

 

Returns vs Quality

2/3 of the Bachmann's I own are deffective out of the box. The only ones that even work are the 2 F7 B units I bought at a swap meet. Two are in the shop and third is headed that way.


Sure they will warranty them but I still have to pay postage time an a whole lot of aggrivation.

I share my experiences with these product brands that others might benefit.

In the final analysis, the less expensive Bachmann turns out to be every bit as expensive as the much more reliable and higher quality BLI and P2K.

Here is a set of pictures showing the differences between the lash ups for Bachmann first, P2K second and BLI third




Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 $165 EBAy








P2K 0-6-0 Heritage Series $200 Ebay



BLI 4-8-4 $264 Mizell's Trains

 

Sorry you have had so much bad luck with Bachmann.
The Spectrums are "supposed" to be better.
All 3 of my Bachmann Spectrums were under $90 each from ebay seller favorite spot. He sells/bids them New in box - shrink wrapped and with authorized seller warranty. and none had ugly wires like that, they look like the photos I posted above, but even better in person.