I need a big puller to take 18" curves. How does this engine messure up? Is it smooth, dependible, easy to put sound in etc. I have a chance to get one but its pretty expensive if it isn’t what I want. I have a BLI and a Spectrum. Is it of those standards?
Week in pullling ability. Mine could not pull a 20 car reefer train up a 1.8% grade. Sharp radius curves would further reduce its pulling power.
Very smooth.
I haven’t had mine long enough to rate dependability.
They come with sound built in now adays - very easy.
You can pick up a unit without sound for $240 and with for $300.
Definitely better detailed than a BLI or Spectrum. I can’t compare performance because mine are such different classes of locos.
If you like the Spectrums and BLI why not go with one of their 2-6-6-2 or 2-6-6-4s? They would be the same or lower in price.
Well I have two of them, but I would not categorize them as big pullers. Don’t get me wrong I love both of mine. They are extremely good runners, very smooth, and very dependable. I put MRC 1627 Sound decoders in both of mine, and they work fine with the MRC decoder (although the sound is not prototypical). If you are going to get one, you might as well get the one with the QSI Sound Decoder in it already as they are only $60 more than the ones without sound at Trainworld.
The only issue that I have is that they are not good pullers. Due to the constraints of the room that I have, I have a 4.5% grade. I can only get the 2-8-8-2 to pull 8 N&W 2-bay hoppers up that grade with out slipping. I can get it to pull 11 cars up the grade but it will slip in several spots. I also have a BLI Class A and that one will put 16 Reefers and Box Cars + 20 2 bay hoppers up that grade with no problem. It may even be able to pull more, but that is the most that I could fit on that grade.
Life Like Proto Steam is weak in the pulling dept.
I own the QSI Equipped 2-8-8-2 Y3 and it will handle 24 walthers Orecars (Life Like 33" metal wheels and custom ore loads from "Hay Bros. Garage of Gilbert Arizona (Will post pics and videos towards end of week after the workdays are over and have time to process the imagery for the net.
The ore cars are gone, sold off to help wife last year. But the engine remains as a helper for summit and does good service. Nothing great in pulling or pushing but does well with running especially on DCC.
It is one of the best mannered engines and if only it had 1-3 pounds more in heft and able to do 20+ cars up a 3% grade It would be perfect. But alas… it’s Proto 2000 we are talking about there.
There is a pending release of the 2-6-6-6 Allegheny and the PCM’s Y6b 2-8-8-2 which might actually be right up there with non brass articuleds (Spelling?) in pulling performance.
In the mean time I have a ABBA F unit lashup planned for the really heavy trains.
BTW, I have gone down to 22" on a friend’s railroad but I personally prefer 30" or more as I like big steam.
Well… I own one, and several BLI Steamers and several Spectrum steamers, so can definitely offer my direct comparison.
I’d say it’s in the same class as the BLI, step above Spectrum. It is slightly more detailed than a BLI (not that the BLI’s aren’t nicely done), but I find the BLI’s run better, certainly pull better, and have better build quality in general. Spectrums are great value for the price - maybe half the cost, maybe 80% of the features…
As already mentioned, it’s not the best puller in the world, and really shouldn’t run on 18" radius at all - will definitely look silly, and certainly won’t pull worth a darn.
I have one as well. It is the best running of the big steam I own (BLI, Spectrum). Great deatail and will run smooth as glass. I agree with other posters about the pulling power…not great.
I’m going to have to give the same answer with respect to pulling power… I was a little suprised (and disappointed) when the wheels were slipping half way up a 2% dragging 18 box cars… Runs smooth as silk though but I can’t vouch for an 18" radius with it…
Jeff
I’ve got two and I agree with the rest that they are a bit light on their wheels, plenty of power there but needs a bit more ballast. I started taking one apart to fit the alternative cylinders and took fright before I got too far as the detail is so fine, so no idea how much room inside to add ballast. Very smooth and the detail is fantastic. My BLI N&W, A class will pull at least twice as much but is a bit more basic in the detail.
Whether the proto one is actually more realistic in scale pulling power would be interesting to know, I’ll be fitting mine with Tsunami’s rather than retiring them.
I have a Santa Fe bought a few years ago, now sporting a Tsunami,
and a Clinchfield with factory sound. These and my 0-6-0 and 0-8-0
Heritages are my favorite engines for looks and slow speed, quiet
running.
Having done drawbar tests on most of my engines with a Machinist’s
spring scale, I found that generally articulated’s don’t pull much
better than single engines, but traction tires make a big difference.
My LL 2-8-8-2’s could only exert 2.5 oz. The BLI N&W “A” did 4.4.
The PRR T1 did 4.0. The 2-8-2 Light USRA did 3.9, and the Niagara
3.8. Rivarossi Allegheny was best with 5.0.
A random set of my freight cars, mostly free-rolling and weighted,
required .08 oz per car on straight and level track, so the LL
2-8-8-2 could pull about 31 such cars. 18 inch radius? Duno.
But for sure an articulated ain’t gona look pretty and might well
rebel.
Hal
Art, you have a great layout. But those curves are gonna be a crutch for the rest of its existance, are you past the point where replacing them would damage scenery?