Are these of decent quality? I’ve seen a few of the older 2-8-0, 4-6-4, and 0-8-0 models on eBay; I know Atlas is good stuff, but I have no experience with Rivarossi.
Older Atlas/Rivarossi engines are of unpredictable quality.
The 2-8-2 and 4-6-2 are generally fine engines, but if they’re used, they could be full of crud and generally worn out. Replacing motors in these engines can be done successfully, but it’s picky work.
The 0-8-0 is a problem engine due to bad engineering. Most don’t run very well at all. They CAN be fixed to run extremely well, but you have to know your way around building steam engines (from what I remember, the axle bearing slots need to be machined, and the frame straightened)
The Rivarossi/Con Cor 2-8-4 can be a good runner, depending if it’s a newer engine or an older one. The older engines are a POS, and the new ones run like a dream. They go for premium money on Ebay.
I’ve never owned or worked on the Rivarossi N scale articulateds, but they seem to run well but have no pulling power.
Personally, I’d stick with newer N scale steam. The Model Power 2-8-2 and 4-6-2 are of the same prototypes as the Atlas engines, and now that they’ve had their first run teething problems ironed out, run extremely well. The Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 is probably the best N scale steamer on the market, and can be made into an 0-8-0 with only a littel work. The Kato 2-8-2 is an extremely nice engine, and pulls well IF you add the drivers with traction tires (available as a seperate part). The Life Like 2-8-8-2 runs very well, but has disappointing pulling power.
Check this web site for a review
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/locos.html
They were considered good when they were new, but that was many years ago.
About 10 years after they were taken off the market Atlas found some that had been lost in their warehouse. They were sold with a label attached to the box saying that were not guarenteed to run.
Cool, thanks very much for the help, guys. I didn’t even know Model Power made steam engines.
NIGEL! Step up to the plate.
Burnt by steam.
I have five Rivarossi Steam Engines, two that are circa 1975 (Big Boy and Berkshire), one post 1990 (Berkshire) and 2 recent (Allegheny and FEF-3). The latest additions are well engineered and worth adding to any steam roster. the 1990 vintage is fair and the old units are pathetic. Their motors are crap for lack of more profane language. As I have been told put a scale fence around them, sprinkle them with white paint courtesy of HO scale seagulls and call them memorials. Old rivarossi is not worth the pain.
Many of the locos I see on eBay have been rebuilt with a 5-pole motor. How does that affect the loco?
Good running Nsteamers have been so scarce, these old loco’s have been projects for repowering for years. I would run one before buying one. The old frames are very brittle. You may get lucky to find a new frame/motor with an old shell. Also, check on the pickup from all wheels of the tender.
I’d skip these rebuilt units and wait for Model Power to come out with the new ones. They seem to be trying to produce a quality product, but have a sharp learning curve. Their new Pacifics seem to be OK. Their Mikes have a problem with the drawbar that needs to be fixed before selling any more.
As for buying these units on Ebay, I would be sure that the seller would fix any problem or send your money back. I’d be sure that the seller has a brick store and isn’t selling old stuff just to make a buck.