A good DC version of something from a 2-6-0 to 4-6-4 (did they even make them like that?) or a 2-8-0. I know Model Power makes a good looking 2-6-0 Mogul and a light 2-8-0 Mikado for only 150 which isn’t bad and I would be more than glad to bump up my price range for that, but they’re both DCC. I know Bachmann makes a few steamers in what I’m looking for but from what i’ve heard and been told I’m shying away from them. Not to mention I bought a Bachmann 4-4-0 and I honestly think it was shipped with out the power shaft because I haven’t exactly messed around with it much, definetly nothing where the shaft could have popped out. Plus I always handled it with care, which ment careful and holding it in my hand so if it did pop off it would have landed in my hand And I would have known. But of course I never got around to filling out the warranty card and it’s too late to do it now. But back to my post my layout is going to have buildings and such where with a simple change of a loco, vehicles, and use some older dated rolling stock it could be anywhere from 1930’s to mid/late 60’s before it would get a bit out date, which is nice because I plan to get a GP30 (one of my all time favorite locos). I’m basically looking for steam era version of a road switcher, like a steamer version of an RS1 or GP7.
Don’t judge all Bachmann steamers by their older 4-4-0.
How can I tell if it’s older though? Bought it this summer at Hobby Town USA so only they know how long it was on the shelf. Also noticed that I haven’t heard too much good about Bachmann and Kato and the LTS I go to (there’s a few of them around actually) doesn’t sell either of those brands. Well almost, now that I think of it they do have a single Kato track kit for HO there but that’s it. I don’t even think they sell Kato loco’s which I hear are pretty good.
Unfortunately, most LHS’s will push the brand they carry and put down the ones they don’t. The older Bachmann 4-4-0’s were mostly made as the Jupiter & the UP #119n - I have both in both paint schemes they made - they run like doo doo!! (just once they should us use a not too bad curse word!!) I don’t own any, but most of the members that have Kato like them.[:)]
Listen! when you talk about a 2-8-0 Mikado you are really talking about something from out of the Vapor Locomotive Company and were built exclusively for export! I read somewhere where one of these has been preserved at the Lower Slobovian Railroad Museum but it doesn’t look like I will ever be able to afford to visit there!
Here’s your steam-era geep:
Smooth-running, pulls well, fits on a small turntable, and nicely detailed, too. And (gasp!) it’s from Bachmann. [swg]
I’ve got 7 of them, and, if I needed more locos, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy more. The first four were bought new, while the other three were used, and were under $100.00 apiece. I doublehead mine regularly, in any combination, and all run smoothly on DC.
Wayne
Since you want only DC steam engines, don’t forget to check IHC’s offerings. Made in Slovenia with can motors that run very smoothly. Not as much detail as some other choices, but when you specify DC only and the wheel arrangements you’re looking for that really limits what’s available.
And a Mikado is a 2-8-2, not a 2-8-0. A Consolidation is a 2-8-0.
Woops [:I]. I mean a Consolidated 2-8-0. Heh. As for Bachmann I’ve been told to shy away from them, then I heard they’re ok, then I heard to avoid basic Bach but Spectrum’s are good, then I was told Spectrums are okay and nothing better, and then I was told again to avoid Bachmann for anything, then I was told their loco’s are basically crap but the EZ track is ok, and then the post spiraled off into how much Bachmann products sucked. I was hoping to to hear more people saying Bachmann is pretty decent because in the Walthers N catalogue Model Rail Power and Bachmann are really the only ones listed that make 2-8-0 and the 6 drivers that I’m interested in. Which doesn’t matter as much now since I learned Atlas is making an N scale H15/H16 with the earlier style round windows. I’ll be getting one of those [:)] but I’ll still probably get a steamer eventually. Just after I get that FM.
Spectrum steam engines are very good. If you shop around online you should be able to find them for quite a bit under list prices. Bachmann has some older stuff that is more “toy train” quality that you’d probably want to avoid.
If you’re in N, I’d look at Kato Unitrack. Very extensive line, very dependable.
Most (if not all?) “DCC” engines use decoders that accept DC also, so you could buy a DCC engine and still use it on a DC layout. Then down the road when you convert to DCC, you don’t have to change anything in it. Even in N there are some engines that come with both DCC and sound.
p.s. in future posts it would help if you state up front what scale you’re asking about. If no scale is indicated, most folks assume you’re asking about HO, since that’s the most common scale used. [:)]