First, a little background information. Yesterday my wife Dianne and I had the pleasure of riding the South Simcoe Steam Railway. The engine was originally Canadian Pacific 4-4-0 #136 built in 1883. It is still numbered 136 but now carries the SSSR banner.
I would like to model this engine and today I came across an IHC 4-4-0 with a very similar setup. My question is about whether or not the IHC is worth spending any money on. I want to install DCC with sound if I go ahead with the purchase. The 'Buy It Now" price of $25.99 plus $11.99 shipping seems too good to be true. I am prepared to re-motor and detail it but if it is a real dog to start with, why bother?
Has anyone had experience specifically with the IHC 4-4-0?
Just FYI, I have also looked at the Bachmann Spectrum Richmond built 4-4-0 and it would also do quite nicely except for the price, which is prohibitive even in DC mode.
The IHC engine is known to be slim of details but a decent running locomotive. The later engines were DCC ready, the older ones were not. Would not be that hard to convert to DCC if it is not DCC ready.
The price of $25.99 is reasonable, shipping charges sound fine, but then I am in Canada so they actually sound cheap.
I’m in Canada too! Getting something off of eBay with a reasonable shipping fee is becoming a rather rare experience.
I didn’t expect that there would be much detail but the fact that they are decent runners gives me some encouragement. I am into kit bashing and scratch building so this could become an interesting project.
Yes, I’ve got one of these, as well as it’s 2-6-0 cousin and both are sweet runners. Very smooth, good at low speeds too. I don’t know if my version is early or late but at the asking price you’ve cited I don’t think you can go too far wrong.
I bought 4 of the moguls on eBay, and they all consistantly run very quiet and smoothly. It’s almost wrong that a rather budget locomotive is one of the best, quiet runners you can get! Dan
Enjoy your new loco! I’ve never met an IHC (Premiere) steamer I didn’t like. I have a Mogul, 2 Pacifics, and a Mike - smooth runners all. As has been pointed out, they’re a bit short on detail, but that’s cool - it is easy to add on goodies, like whistles, replacement bells, air & steam lines, etc., etc. [:D]