Rating Steam Locomotives

kotubyr Jan 20, 2001

  1. 6206_S1a

    6206_S1a TrainBoard Member

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    TC
    Welcome aboard! As John stated, the Genesis 2-8-2 can run on 18" radius and I'm the one he talked about. It' a fine Loco made for Athearn by Samhongsa. It runs quiet, has good power and is the cat's meow for detail in a model steam locomotive in it's price range. Mine is the B&O Q-3 U.S.R.A. #4531. A picture of the real thing is in The Book by Alvin Stauffer, "B&O Power" coming out of Carothers Tunnel on the Magnolia Cutoff near Little Cacapon, W.Va.

    But, be carefull, it has no traction tires on the drivers and can be a little slippery, otherwise, I like it alot, especially when you notice the action on the driver rods, and connecting rods to the detailed Walshaert valve gear eccentric. It is just as if someone took a real one and shrunk it to HO size. The detail there is just great. Tell me and John how you make out on getting one
     
  2. TC

    TC E-Mail Bounces

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    It's going to be awhile before we buy one. My nine year old assistant saw one and said hey dad we need one of those. I told him we would have to save our money to get it. The bean counter starts to shiver when we spend extra money on engines. Mean while the assistant has scoured the entire house and cars for change. The count so far is ten dollars.
     
  3. 6206_S1a

    6206_S1a TrainBoard Member

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    I understand what you mean, right now I too am watching my cashflow too. So good luck to you and your assistant on your Railroad.

    Also, to BNSF4354,

    Can you tell me if Rivarossi has a date to the release of the 2-6-6-6 allegheny steamer? Please keep me & all of us informed on this Locomotive!
    Mike
     
  4. 7600EM_1

    7600EM_1 Permanently dispatched

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    Hey Mike did you hear that???? $500.00!!!!! for the "Allegheny" 2-6-6-6!!And we might be able to grab it for $325.00!! I'm poor now and gettin poorer threw Rivarossi!!!!!!! :D Man that better be great quallity for that kinda money!! Hey Mike it looks both of us will be saving
    m-o-n-e-y for a while before the Allegheny becomes part of our rosters !!!!! That will end up being next years income tax return investment not this years forsure!!! I have plans for this years already and don't even have it yet!!!!!! :D
     
  5. bnsf4354

    bnsf4354 TrainBoard Member

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    Guys,

    At this point I don't have any kind of info when the 2-6-6-6 will be released over here. I don't believe it will happen until they contract with a new importer and distributor. I, too, was surprised at the retail price on the thing! I was thinking it might be more like the Heritage 2-8-8-2 from P2K in price. I doubt Rivarossi is going to beat them in detail by any significant amount so $500.00 is way high. My source will let me know when they will be released and I will pass the info along to you all when I get it.

    Considering you can get a Riv 4-8-8-4 DCC version new right now for $169.00 I don't see how they are going to get anything close to $500.00 for the thing. Might as well buy brass and have it gain value over time instead of losing it!

    If you want some good buys on riv stuff just say the word and I will post the link. :cool:
     
  6. 7600EM_1

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    Where is a good place to buy the 8 car Rivarossi B&O heavy weight passenger cars???? The celestory roof cars in the B&O scheme? At a decent rate in $$$$$$$ ?
     
  7. bnsf4354

    bnsf4354 TrainBoard Member

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    Hey, EM1

    Riv HO scale B&O set B (RPO,Roomette,Duplex sleeper,& Tail car)is available at last check for $55.00 new. It is the 1920's Heavyweight cars. Is this what you are looking for. You can check to see if they are still available at modelexpo-online.com and use the code MMHB. See what happens. That's the only place I can find any Riv cars. They are $12.88 individually if in stock.

    Hope this helps! :D
     
  8. 6206_S1a

    6206_S1a TrainBoard Member

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    Yea, John, I got that, but I'm still savin' cash for my truck. But I'll try to get one once they hit on shore from Italy.

    If you're still rating engines, here's my thoughts;

    I like the Athearn Genesis 2-8-2 for the best detailing on a plastic locomotive and smooth operation from it's Samhongsa Drive. But, it needs either more weight or traction tires, it's gets a little slippery now and then. The action on the detailed connecting rods is dynamite, especially when running!

    Bachmann's 2-8-0 is a good runner, smooth, and detailing is not bad, but can they do better than rubber band drive in thier "Top End " offerings?

    I love my Rivarossi's, but my favorite is a 2-10-2 B&O class S1a "Big Six". John saw it lots of times. It has the old square motor in it (so I keep an eye on the cab heat!) but I had a Kadee Coupler put on the front of it so it can run in the "Big Sixes" tradition, rear helper service where they especially shined when they ruled Sand Patch Grade On the B&O. (Long live the Kings of Sand Patch!)
     
  9. 7600EM_1

    7600EM_1 Permanently dispatched

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    Mike,
    ALL my steamers now have K-D couplers front and back! We can couple the 2 2-10-2's together as the B&O did for the Sand Patch Grade and make both of thoses SHINE like the B&O did the real ones! :D I'm in the process of buying another 2-10-2 and a 4-6-6-4 at the moment and maybe even a Shay with my income tax check I'm not sure I might all of those or I may just get what i'm after the most the Challenger.
    But once I get these deals all settled, (2-10-2) it'll be nice! I'll be able to couple then up to the back of a 30 car coal drag with a EM-1 (2-8-8-4) and EL-5 (2-8-8-0) on the point and let 'em go..... :D :D

    WOW look at the size of that at the station once I get this done!!!!!! :D It sure should get the guys their lookin (Pete and Gary) :D Then let the cameras roll 'em and get some pictures. But thats not going to happen for the festival though :mad: Boy that would be a nice run for the festival....

    [ 21 March 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
     
  10. 6206_S1a

    6206_S1a TrainBoard Member

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    that's great, John,I might sneak my Big Six up there sometime and let'm run! Ask Pete & Gary if I can bring some tapes up and Play during the Festival.

    Say, Watash, John said you use a hook & loop coupler on your equipment, can you e-mail me a picture of what you use on your trains?

    thanks, mike(mikek_15558@yahoo.com)
     
  11. 7600EM_1

    7600EM_1 Permanently dispatched

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    Mike,
    I believe that you can bring up the 2-10-2 to lash 'em up!!! As for the Video at the station for the festival I doubt it. They have some plans for the festival but as of right now i'm not to sure of what they are going to consist of! So let me find out and i'll call you and let ya know what they are going to do and i'll ask about the video display veiwing and i'll let you know what they say. I can't say they will or won't for which I have no idea so.... :D
     
  12. DJ

    DJ New Member

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    Greetings All, Nice to see honest infro on steam loco's. Being a novice to this hobby My rating of Bachmann's 4-8-4 is a 0. Both locos literally self destruct upon use! Mantua has worked considerably better with some minor electrical problems,and they seem well detailed, Rating 7.My hats off to the gentlmen constructing these marvels from scratch or kits ,I hope to someday have some of that patients
     
  13. 7600EM_1

    7600EM_1 Permanently dispatched

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    DJ,
    I get into buying loco's like Rivarossi and taking a 4-8-8-4 Big Boy, and turning it into a 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone. I'm in the process of building a 3 truck shay from MDC. Once Watash gets my pictures i'm sending him everyone will see what I mean by turning a Rivarossi Big Boy 4-8-8-4 into a 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone. What fun it is!!!! :D :D
     
  14. Will Clark

    Will Clark Profile Locked

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    Cool John, we hope to see those pictures soon of your conversion.

    As a fellow modeler I give a rating of 10 to Rivarossi, I know the company's being sold but these guys deserve a last rate. Maybe later on down the line I'll buy more Rivarossi engines & cars, whatever the cost I'll pay just so I can have em.

    And as for the other companies, their I'll give em a rating of 7, cause I haven't yet explored all of them in detail.
     
  15. 6206_S1a

    6206_S1a TrainBoard Member

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    I agree with John and Will, I also give Rivarossi a 10. But, Athearn's Genesis U.S.R.A. Mikado 2-8-2 is closing fast on Rivarossi to tie with a 10 in my book, and they have a Pacific due out! Bachmann Spectrum is a weak 8. The closest loco my 2-8-0 looks like is one from the B.R.& P., But is numbered for the B&O's E-27 class. They can do better than rubber band drive any day. IHC is a 5,due to what i call " cookie cutter" details. That is , one look , fits all railroads they're supposed to be modeled after. They do have very good drives inside.
     
  16. 7600EM_1

    7600EM_1 Permanently dispatched

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    Hey Mike,
    I'm about to change that story of IHC!!!! Remember the 2-8-2????? I'm retooling one from IHC to the B&O Q's #4610!!!!! :D i'm going to rearange the whole thing but it will be a decent looking loco when its done!!!!!! :D
     
  17. 7600EM_1

    7600EM_1 Permanently dispatched

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    Thinking about the IHC 2-8-2 Mikado's the boiler casting on them are exact to the U.S.R.A. design!! A very good representation of one indeed. But that loco in B&O skins and to have the Elephant ears (smoke deflectors) and the Kylchap multi orifice stack should be something different in B&O thats not made by any manufacturer!!! Its not even made in brass to my knowledge!! So.... HEE HEE guess what guys.... It will be...... I'm making my own tooling for it and all the trim that goes along...... :D
     
  18. blackz28

    blackz28 TrainBoard Member

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    bli 9+
    mth 8+
    athearn 9+
    bachmann 9+
    there really isnt any bad running HO STEAM OUT THERE REALLY
     

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