Great performer! Works very well on my Atlas C55 No. 5 and 7 switches. I don't remember exactly what I did for coupler conversions, but they were not difficult. Probably a 2004 for the rear, as I've got a lot of them lying around. I have an N-scale knuckle coupler on the front--probably a Unimate that I custom-fit. Great puller for its size--mine will handle about 12 cars up a 2.7% grade. One of mine came with a horrible wobble. I was about to send it back when I noticed one traction tire was off. Slipped it back on, and it was perfect. The TT has stayed there since. Mine were a fairly easy decoder install in the boiler.
The gearing on that old Reading Company 2-8-0 is pretty good, it was the motor that rotted. It had a half-life that was only slightly longer than that of that horror of horrors, the RR three pole can motor. I, too, like my USRA heavy 4-8-2. I run mine on DC, as I do not use DCC. It runs well through the speed ranges. It will pull eight RR HWs, on MT trucks, up a one per-cent grade at thirty-five SMPH. That is the most passenger cars that I tried. It will pull eighteen loaded MT gondolas and a MT wood caboose, up a one per-cent grade at twenty SMPH. It will get nineteen up the hill with much slipping, and sometimes a little extra throttle, sometimes not. At twenty loaded MT gondolas it goes into full slip at twenty SMPH. Considering what many of the other recent releases in N scale steam would not do, I consider this pretty good. I would recommend the USRA heavy 4-8-2 to anyone
I have the C&O version, love the detail and prototypical appearance for that railroad!!!! Question, is the MTL 2004 coupler the best conversion for the Vanderbilt tender? Also, how much work is necessary to install this or another MTL coupler? My Mountain's Bachmann coupler sets way too low to stay coupled to any of my rolling stock and this coupler's design makes it look like i won't be able to raise it at all.That, and the too noticable blue-colored long power wires are the only hassles about this otherwise fine N-Scale model. Congrats, Bachmann!!!!! Berkmeister
