N scale loco

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have an 0-6-0 loco with tender. Made by Arnold in West Germany. Is it worth anything or should I just keep it in the closet or let it out of the closet? Road name is Norfolk and Western. Gerald

2

If you don’t want it, sell it on eBay. These are on there often and usually sell for $20-30+. They are old enough to be collectible.

3

I assume (always a bad move) that you are setting a trap here Gerald as Arnold has never made a loco (steam or desiel) of a American prototype that I know of. ??? Mike

4

You are indeed making a bad move in your assumption. Arnold has made an “American” 0-6-0, 4-6-2, and 4-6-4 in steam power. In Diesels, they used to make FP7’s, GP9’s, and GP30’s. The Arnold Alco S2 switcher is still available, as is the GG1 electric. The detail on these two is excellent and the operation is fair to good.

5

Gregg you are correct. I looked in my junk box and found an Arnold S2 Chicago and Northwestern. Its operation was poor though and the detail is excellent. Oh well I said it was a bad move. I checked the Walthers Cat. and it doesn’t show any, wonder if Arnold dropped it’s American prototype line??? If they all ran like my S2 its just as well. Mike

6

Arnold was bought out by Rivarossi, who in turn has been purchased by Lima, SPL. The S2 and GG1 are being manufactured now, but what name they are being imported under I have no idea. The Rivarossi SW1500 and IHB 0-8-0 came out under the Arnold name a couple of years ago?!

7

Here’s a web site that has a lot of information about N scale locos. It doesn’t look like it has been maintained lately, but for older stuff it is pretty useful.
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/locos.html

8

I agree with you Mike. I also had an Arnold S2 that ran like crap. I eventualy sold it with a little layout I made. The Life Like SW9/1200 is a much better loco that sells for half the price I paid for the Arnold. On the other hand, the two GG1s that I had from Arnold ran very well. The only problem was the oversized wheel flanges.

9

Charles I agree with you on the Lifelike SW’s. The flanges are not oversized, the detail is good and the two I have are excellent in the yard or on the main. The price is right also.