There was a post on another model railroad forum that said that Intermountain Trains was “thinking about” producing an SP 2-8-8-4. I didn’t realize that Intermountain manufactured locomotives, especially steam locomotives. Is this perhaps N scale? I don’t know that I’ve ever seen an HO scale Intermountain loco.
dlm
Dan,
Intermountain has produced various F units in HO, a SP cab forward AC-12 4-8-8-2 last year, and they are planing on doing U18B engines as well. Here is a link to thier engines:
http://www.imrcmodels.com/ho/loco/holocpow.htm
Jim
I don’t have personal experience with it, but I have heard that their cab forward was not that hot of a locomotive. I saw one person post on here that theirs is more or less for display only because of various problems. I have always heard good things about their diesels, but again, I have never owned any, so can’t make any productive comments.
I’m waiting for the new FT units.
They actually make Amtrak F Units, unlike Proto, PCM, BLI
They announced thier first “F” units, in HO shell kits only, 11 years ago, while I was still working for them, and brought them out 10 years ago, to fit Athearn and Stewart chassis. Shortly after, they starting making thier own excellent power chassis, and then a ready to run version. (Frank, the CEO, hates that terminology). Since then, they’ve made various other F units in both HO and N scale. Last year, they started making thier first steam engine in HO. An SP AC12, 4-8-8-2. This has to be the most perfectly detailed steam engine I have ever seen or owned. It comes in DC/DCC with sound and the sound is great. It runs smooth as glass. The only flaw I have found with it, unfortunately is a bad one. It does not have enough weight to overcome the lack of traction tires and therefore, can’t pull anywhere near as many cars as an engine of its type should. Maybe they will correct that problem with later runs.
Dick
Texas Chief
I’ve seen there F units at train shows etc. and there very nice. Intermountain suffers from a bad case of “batch modelling” that is they make a batch and God forbid you dont get one you want at that time, because you may be 100 before they make another batch. They also make batches of B units and no A’s to go with them. I dont understand this. Are you going to run B’s by themselves for a year or 3 while you wait for them to make some A’s?? I really, really like the red and yellow EMD demo set they made, but I dont think I’ll live long enough to see another batch made. There still on their website, so I guess theres still a chance???
Now that you mention the weight problem, that is definately one of the bigger complaints I recall hearing (“can’t pull it’s own weight”). I recall seeing some complaints about the paint flaking off in a couple of spots.
On the positive side, I have also heard elsewhere that the detail is second to none, which is why I guess the one individual said it makes a great display model.
I would second the other posters comments on the cab-forward. I borrowed one from a friend and ran it on my layout for several weeks. The detail is outstanding on this loco but operationally it had a couple of (in my view) serious drawbacks.
The first (previously mentioned) is the lack of weight and inability to pull very many cars up my 2% grade. The prototype often would double head and pull mile long reefer blocks. My BLI AC’s (4&5) will each pull 25 reefers up the grade without a hitch. The IM balked at much more than 10.
In my view the bigger issue is the decision by IM to build the model with a fixed forward driver set. The prototype was built this way but most (plastic) models allow both sets of drivers to pivot to allow for better tracking on our less than prototype curves. Maybe it is the combination of underwieght and fixed driver set, I’m not sure, but for some reason, the IM loco had all kinds of tracking problems. The IM Cab forward on my layout was picking points (ME no.6), climbing the rails on curves (under load) and generally derailing on 30” minimum radius track work. My track work is excellent and has NO derailment problems with a wide variety of equipment (including lots of brass, BLI AC’s and P2k 2-8-8-2).
When I met the Intermountain CEO in Bakersfield a couple of months ago, he says the company is coming out with an improved version of the HO scale SP 4-8-8-2 cab-forward (that’s a backward 2-8-8-4) in early 2009. The improved version is to address the problems of out-of-gauge wheels, poorly-tracking lead truck, too-low maximum speed, and loose drivers.
My question is whether Intermountain will give me credit for returning the initial production I have that has spent its life in its box. The CEO didn’t have the answer yet.
Mark
I have a few F unit sets of A and B units and am very satisfied with the units.
I rate the Intermountain units above both the Genesis and Stewart units of which I also have a number of units.
If Intermountain was to market smaller steam engines I would be most interested in acquiring a few units as well. I keep waiting for someone to market a 2-6-0 or 2-6-2 or perhaps the Harriman series of smaller 4-6-2 and 2-8-0’s
I would also let readers know that the Intermountain support is excellent, any problems brought to their attention are dealt with quickly. They stand behind the product they market, service is excellent.
A lot, (perhaps most), railroads would run 1 lead “A” unit followed by 3 or 4 “B” units thereby only having to pay one crew. Does that help clear it up?
Dick
Texas Chief