We’re working on “The Kid’s” N scale layout, and have got some questions about locos. I don’t have a lot of experience with N scale. He started with some used N scale stuff from a friend of mine who was getting out. Mostly Bachmann set stuff.
The Bachmann set stuff ran ok. For Christmas one year I bought him an expensive ( like $90 retail ) Lifelike SD7. I figured the more expensive train would run better than the train sest engines. It’s a piece of junk!
Just brought him home an Atlas GP9, and it’s awesome!
So to my question…How are the new Lifelike and Bachmann locos? Like LL Proto? I know the HO stuff is good, but what about N scale?
Bachmann Spectrum- Can be good, but try before you buy. Their QC leaves a little to be desired. The standard line is… Well, you get what you pay for. I own one. it’s one of the good ones, and I’m still not really knocked out with it.
I like Model Power steam, but you’ll hear both sides on it here. The detailing is not as good as the Spectrum, but mine is a good runner and I’m happy with it.
LifeLike- I don’ t have any, but I her the Proto line is pretty good… I won’t form an opinion based on other’s comments.
I so far have been very impressed with Atlas diesels. They are finely detailed, and great runners. The motors in mine are nice and quiet. The lights in my SD60M leave something to be desired, but they can always be replaced with LEDs. My Bachmann Spectrum diesels are also good locomotives.
My best steamer is my Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0. Runs great, and pulls great. Smooth mechanism. I have a Trix RB41 as well, and that runs pretty good, but it’s of a European prototype, so I’m not sure if you want that. I’m thinking about getting a Bachmann (standard) 4-8-4, which I’ve heard good things about.
Kato has great products as well. And so does Con-Cor.
Kato’s are first in my mind,with Atlas’s very close seconds.These two brands pretty much set the standards for N scale locos.I own a couple LL (GP38-2,F40PH) locos which are fair runners but I’ve read many times that their Proto line is much better,just as Bachmann’s Spectrum series which surpass the regular Bachmann products.Lately,I purchased an Athearn F59PHI which is a good puller and is nicely detailed however not a great slow speed performer.
For smooth running, good detailing, pulling power, stick to Kato, Atlas and InterMountain. I have recently purchased a Athearn SD70 and I was surprised with the good detailing, smooth running and the MT couplers. The only complain is that it is quite noisy. I think the noise level will be reduced after a few hours of running-in.
The purchase of LL by Walthers makes them a 3rd place co. Like the others, I’d put Atlas or Kato at 1 or 2. A lot depends on what era you are trying to model. Both Atlas & Kato have a proven split-frame design, easy to convert to MTL, or you can stick with Accumate couplers.
New 2000 or later LL (GP20) have had the split frame design. Older plastic frame locos are 1980 design. THey do have a clip to convert couplers to MTL. However, you have to mill the frame to convert to DCC. Their ABBA sets of Alco FA1 or FA2’s may be the best covered wagon pullers. You may find them on sale for $30 or less.
New locos have similar decoration & Accumate couplers like Atlas. THey want to charge a Atlas price, at $60-70per. You may get some good deals on them.
The LL SD7 may have been from the older plastic frame era. You may need to check the pickup for this loco to run better. Perhaps Walthers customer service can help you find a solution.
Bachmann’s Spectrum line is good for their 2-8-0 consolidation only, and even there you need to try before you buy. The doodlebug was the only good diesel. THe new Standard line maybe better than the old, but it’s still not on a par with Atlas or Kato.
Another maker to watch is the Athearn/MDC steamers & cars. Athearn upgraded the details & added Accumates.
I’ll second Wdlgln’s rating of the FA1/2s. The things are heavy and would pull a refrigerator. They are a bit crude in that the flanges are too large (an easy NWSL conversion), they come with Rapido couplers and are not DCC ready, but the frames are heavy enough to stand the necessary modification.
I also have a couple of their SW9s that seem fairly decent, but I have not converted them to DCC yet.
Those aside, my first choice is Kato, second is Atlas, third is InterMountain. I might rank Intermountain higher, but they have a very limited line of locomotives. I have 2 pairs of their FTA/Bs and love the way they run.
upon your recommedations, I brought The Kid a Lifelike Proto GP 18 today, as well as an Atlas SD 50 w/DCC. Both are acceptable! The Atlas, as expected, is awesome. The Lifelike, IMHO, is almost as good. The LL Proto is way better than the older LL SD he has. We were blaming the track for problems that have disappeared running the new locos. I’m glad we didn’t scrap the track for the issues with the old LL loco.
The Kid is so happy right now! He has 3 excellent locos, as well as his old Bachmann F units that run great on his track. He is really enthused about his N scale layout now, whereas he was really dejected a couple weeks ago with the poor performance of his favorite LL loco.
Atlas has an advantage that no one has mentioned yet. That advantage is the availability of parts. Other manufacturers are hard to get parts for. This, in my book, boosts Atlas above Kato. Kato is second in my book because: 1.) they do not produce nearly as many locomotives I want. Their offerings for eastern roads from the 1950s to the 1970s are few and far between and 2.) parts for Kato products are far harder to come by than they are in Atlas locomotives. If Kato went belly up, it wouldn’t be a big loss for me. If Atlas went out of business, it would be absolutely devastating!
As for Bachmann and their Spectrum line, they are expensive but not nearly as reliable as Atlas or Kato ( I’m talking about uniformity of build quality). Look at the retail price of the new Spectrum deisels compared to an Atlas or Kato: THEY ARE MORE EXPENSIVE! Even with the higher price, the Spectrum does not even come with knuckle couplers!
As for Lifelike, it depends upon the engine. The SD-7 is an expensive piece of crap. They do make some nice diesels like their E units and some others. Still, I’d prefer an Atlas. With the Atlas I will probably be able to get parts for a long time.
For all of the reasons above, Atlas is top dog in my book! Some people may consider Kato a better product, but when they don’t produce many models I am interested in and replacement parts for Kato products are hard to come by…well that puts them well behind Atlas.
Kato, Atlas, Life-Like, then Bachmann for n-scale. The newer Life-Like split frame design runs much better then the old.
The problem with the SD7 and SD9 was the design of the pick-up on the trucks. I own just about every road name they produced. Purchased most of them for around $15-20 each new. Once you remove the trucks and bend the copper strip up, they will run good without problems.
Bachmann is also hit or miss but with alot of tweaking will run well.
Atlas and Kato are very good. Personally i have 7 bachman engines right now and they are really good. One of those bachman engines I have came in a bachman “Chessie System” N scale set and it pulls REAL well. Right now i have 5 box cars, 1 cattle car, 4 tankers, 3 Gondolas, 2 flatbeds a caboose and it pulls it all like there’s nothing attached. I have had 23 cars max on it in the past and it had no problem pulling it. hope this helps.
You and I must be doing something wrong. I’ve a little Bachman GP-40, and it runs pretty smooth. Only problem is creeping it over one of my old turnouts. I’m sure it would be less of a problem, if it didn’t have rubber tires on two wheels.