I am contemplating buying the EMD Model 40 “Critter” by Roundhouse, however I do not know anyone that owns one and I don’t own any Roundhouse locos. So if anyone can give me some info, please do.
Thanks
From a previous thread:
"JPM335 Posted: 03 Feb 2005, 20:50:09 Quote
Posts: 472
Joined: 02 Jun 2004
Location: south texas
I got one of those roundhouse “critters” for christmas. It only pulls about 8 cars but MAN, it crawls like nothing ive ever seen! you can turn it on real slow in it will go about an inch every 30 seconds. Just amazing! Also a guy who runs at a local layout has 5 of them, he lashes them all together and can pull a pretty good size train. Not very prototypical but it sure does look neat. Only problem is since theyre so small sometimes they die on turnouts at low speed. But the flywheels usually keep it going. Nice detail on it too.
-Joe
Why do i feel like the only CSX fan in south texas? 
Some Pictures of my trains http://www.railimages.com/gallery/joemackin "
The MDC “Critter” doesn’t really compare to other locomotives that MDC has produced in the past- it’s an entirely different animal in terms of its mechanism.
Mine runs very well. It’s geared very nicely for a very small industrial switcher, and is well-suited to move four to six cars at low speed. I’ve managed to pull a dozen cars with it on straight, level track, but typically don’t use it for more than four or five cars at a time.
The sole problem I’ve had with this model is that they messed up when they wired the DCC plug. If you plug in a decoder using the 8-pin plug MDC wired in, the motor will run fine, but the moment you try to turn on the headlights, it’ll blow out the lighting output on the decoder. To safely install a decoder, you need to pull out their circuit board and hardwire it in.
If you’re going to run it on DC only, it has no apparent problems, and the headlights work properly.
O.K. Just what is “critter” ??? I’ve heard this word from Yosemite Sam and wonder what language he is speaking.
A ‘critter’ is an EMD Model 40 diesel switcher. Basically al ightweight model intended for industrial switching, like inside a large plant complex. It has a regular EMD switcher cab with two small short hoods on either side housing a pair of Detroit Diesel 6-cylinder ( I think) truck motors, and sits on 4 wheels. With the oversize-looking cab, it’s, dare I use that word here, cute. Sort of EMD’s answer to the GE 44-tonner, only smaller.
–Randy
I have two of them and couldn’t be happier. Good low speed operation,.good pulling power, and they really llok cool double heading. Here’s a photo of mine getting an assist from a P2K GP18 while moving a boxcar. [8D] All three ran very well together.
Tom
My critter is still going strong.[:D] It runs even better now that it has been broken in a little. I was playing around at the club the other day and consisted the critter with a spectrum 0-6-0 to pull a little coal train. Possibly the funniest looking consist i’ve ever seen. If you buy the critter, you wont be dissapointed.
I’ve been looking for one of those lately to use at a coachyard on my layout.
Two questions:
First, could they pull a single Athearn bi-level commuter coach (about the heaviest they’d have to, it translates out to maybe two 50’ boxcars at proper weight)
and second, how much does one of those go for these days? also anywhere I could get a good deal on one on the net?
Thanks
~METRO
I just bought mine from http://shop.store.yahoo.com/docscaboose-online/index.html
Good price, fast delivery. They were the only place I could find one on line. They even include a caution about the decoder frying" backwards" diodes, and where to go to find the solution for the problem.
A “critter” is a general term for a small locomotive. The term is slang for “creature”, and is intended to describe a small animal (Yosemite Sam refers to Bugs Bunny, a rabbit, as a “critter” when he isn’t calling him a “varmint” (vermin.))
Generally, any single-trucked diesel-electric, diesel or gasoline powered small engine might be described as a “critter”, whether standard or narrow gauge. The GE 44-tonner might be a bit large to be considered a critter, but that would be about the upper limit for such a beastie.
I’ve got one and it really runs great! In fact, I’m considering getting another
What kind of prices are you getting the critter? The list price of around $82.00 made me lose interest.
Bob Boudreau
I bought two last month from an online retailer (don’t have the info here, could dig it up tonight if needed).
$62 each. (plus shipping ~$8)
They are small, and very cool. I need to figure out how to decal such a small unit.
-OT
Edit - I purchased them from http://www.discounttrainsonline.com/ but they are not listing them today. Email them to find the current status.
-OT
Fundy they run well i’ve seen them in ontario 79-89 dollars it seems alot but they are good runners.The only downside is getting them in ontario and likely other places the on30 guy’s keep grabbing them up as power plants for home built on30 logging locos. Mind you that’s what makes this loco so desirable it’s a good starting point for many other things.I’m seriously considering using them for powering some homebiult HO trolley equipment which only needs to pull itself along. Rob
I have one of these that i pinted up in SP colors[:D][:D]
it runs very well and i really like it. I cant remember what i paid for it. I got it from my LHS a while back.
NightCrawler,
What you did with that inspired me to take the plunge on my pair. I will be beautifing (is that really a word?) mine once I get more track down. Thanks for the inspiration!
Tom
They’re Back! $62.38 plus shipping…
http://www.discounttrainsonline.com/HO-Scale-Locomotives-MDC-Roundhouse/HO_LOC_480_1.html
Scroll down to the fourth from the bottom. They update the page often, so they may move around.
Enjoy,
-OT
I ordered a couple about 10 days ago from Trainworld during one of their sales, $49.95. Can’t wait until they arrive!
Bob Boudreau
Those are just the cutest thing…
Nightcrawler…any chance we can see a couple of more pictures of your critter? Coincidentally, I’ll be doing almost the exact same thing to mine, but in the earlier (and prettier IMO) Black Widow scheme. Any hints would be greatly appreciated. [:D]
-dave