Knowing LT, he'll try and push this loco to the limit even on his kitchen layout. Stay cool and run steam.... [ July 21, 2005, 10:03 PM: Message edited by: Powersteamguy1790 ]
Yes, I suspect I will know the limits of my 4-4-0 not long after I receive it. I usually test new locos throroughly, including giving them a TE rating for my use. If this one will pull 2 or 3 cars, that is going to be enough for the purposes I had in mind when I purchased it. I did not buy it to experiment with. In fact, I bought the "factory" B&M job. The UNDEC might have allowed me to make a better model, and if so, I may do that someday. But I need this loco available as a runner right now, to test the track I put down, and make sure the operational concepts I have in mind are feasible and practical.
Just purchased one--for testing. That Arizona heat has truly fried my brain. I'll be happy with two cars. Jeanne will love it--it's cute.
Chuck will test and send me two of these , one in ATSF and the other in Southern which was supposed to be green but now isn't. The same thing happened with the MP 4-6-2 Southern. I hope the decoder installation is the same tender installation of the other MP loco's. It's so easy Mark can do one. Just pull off the tender shell and solder four color coded wires to same color coded wires. See Mark, DCC is easy if you can see color. Stay cool and run steam.....
Mark, No, he's out of PRR, if he ever received any. Guess I'll have to go back to Wig-Wag. Who hasn't posted that he's received any, I think.
Pete: Nobody else has theirs yet. The distributors we deal with don't even have them yet. We'll have plenty.
One of the guys at the club layout brought one in tonight. He said he just got it today but didn't say where. I didn't get any hands on with it, but the detailing looks very nice. He was pulling two ore cars, two 40' box cars, a gondola and a cupola caboose and it hauled them up a 2% grade with a very slight amount of slippage which would likely improve with additional running. It seemed to run quite smoothly and quietly from what I saw. the owner only made one lap with it and put it away satisfied that it ran well. Sorry I don't have more to share than that. Sure would have liked to see more of it myself. Jim
GOT THE CALL FROM woo woo woo!! Mine is in and I will take delivery tomorrow. A preliminary review I read on another site was basically positive appearance wise but the model had not yet been run by the reviewer. Jim, I appreciate your comments. Sounds like it pulled just a little bit more than we expected (5 freight cars!). I'm interested to see how slow she'll go and am hoping that it can get through the turn-outs without stalling. I also am looking forward to comparing it in size to the rest of the stable. I'll definitely post my opinions as they are formed.
"It's so easy Mark can do one. Just pull off the tender shell and solder four color coded wires to same color coded wires. See Mark, DCC is easy if you can see color. " I bask in the ridicule yet hunger for the knowledge, nerve and digital acuity to perform.
Wish I had said that. May I quote you? </font>[/QUOTE]Steve: You can convert the MP 4-4-0 to DCC easily. When are you getting the Lenz 100 system? Stay cool and run steam.....
Alas, I had a real estate deal at my office in Brooklyn that precluded my leaving before 3:45 PM. However, I can now purchase a whole fleet of locomotives that can pull one freight car, from what I hear.
OK, nut case that I am, I went to woo woo woo's on my lunch hour and picked up my B & O 4-4-0. I'll tell you what I can about it. Dimensions (as best as I can measure)Locomotive o/a length rear of cab to front of pilot 37' height top of rail to top of stack 16' Tender 23'6" front to end sill height 11'6" Drivers 72" rim to rim (not including flange) - You'll like the drivers - hollow cast so you can see between the spokes. Drivers are 9' apart on center Pilot wheels appear to be about 30" and are 8' apart on center. Center of front pilot to center of rear driver 26' Tender wheels appear to be 28" O/A length 60'6" There appear to be wipers between the drivers and the frame. The tender trucks are as expected one pair of axels live to one rail and the other the opposite. A wiper curls part way around the axel to transmit the electricity. These will also pick up hair and fuzz- I had cleaned the track befor running it and had to clean off the axel / wipers after 40 min running. Be careful ! The drawbar is an inverted channel that a wire harness runs through. I did not take the tender shell off but saw one so disassembled and there are a red and a black wire for DCC installation. So how does it run. I was concerned because it was quite jerky to start with. It has run for about 40minutes and has smoothed out somewhat. It has also gotten more quiet. It may continue to improve. It is pulling 4 x 50' Overland passenger cars with no problem, and could probably pull another, quite possibly two. I think that I can get it to about 30-35smph but thats a very rough estimate. It draws alot of electricity compared to other locomotives I have. All the wheels seemed to be in gauge. My layout uses Atlas Code 55 flex and turnouts and it has stalled going through turnouts but the incidence of this has also improved. Appearance wise I like it. The Drivers are a nice touch. The bell and, safety valve, whistle and steam generator are very fine but seem to be sturdy. The classification lights are cast on as is the piping but the railings are free standing. It is a large locomotive for a small locomotive. The locomotive itself is only marginally smaller than a Spectrum 2-8-0. It is probably 2' or 3' longer than the MDC 2-8-0 or 2-6-0 . My hope is that it will continue to smooth out and that I can get it to creep reliably but the jury is still out. I am disappointed that it comes with a 1 year warranty (not lifetime) But I like the look of it and I think that we might find that it is a decent puller. Hope that this is of use to you all.
Boxies: Thanks for your comprehensive initial review of the 4-4-0. It's very much appreciated. Stay cool and run steam....
You're very welcome - and thank you for "spreading the word" The 4-4-0 now has about 2 hours running time, including 20 minutes in reverse. It is alot smoother running than when I first started so that is encouraging. It only very rarely stalls going through turnouts and I guess I've got it to 30 smph or maybe a little less. I should measure this more accurately.. Someone else mentioned it has a rapido on the tender but a MT compatible coupler on the pilot and this is so. The pilot coupler is reliable. I forgot to mention there is a backhead in the cab, a nice little detail. In the drawing, there is a flywheel on the shaft before it gets to the worm gear, but I didn't check inside to see if it is really there! Anyway, so far, so good. I think it may have a place on the roster. .
Boxies: I hope you didn't mind me posting your excellent review of the 4-4-0 in the "Sultans of Steam thread on the A-board. Many thanks again.... Stay cool and run steam.....
