I’m just wondering why no one has produced an Alco S2 in N scale in years. About the only one I’m aware of is the old Arnold model that dates back to what, the '70s? Why doesn’t Kato, Atlas or Athearn come out with a new, state of the art S2? Or is one in the works that I haven’t heard about?
Whoever decides to make one will sell thousands of them Most of the the major North American Railways had S-2s, and quite a few locos were in service well into the 1980s.
The only decent first generation diesel end cab switchers that are available in N scale are the Life-Like SW9/1200 and SW8/900, the Kato NW2. and the Atlas VO-1000. A good N scale model of an Alco switcher is long overdue.
The newer(last runs really) runs of Arnold’s S2 wasn’t a bad runner…However,these Alcos won’t run on C55 track due to the deep flanges or so I’ve read.
Bachman seems to be the best candidate for a Alco switcher in N since they seem to following up with lot of their HO locomotives in N such as they did with their GP7/9,RS3 and the GE 44 and 70 tonners. .They released a S4 in HO…I suspect we just may see a S4 in N.
It makes no sense that there has been no N scale S-1/3 or S-2/4 in about two decades while any number of short-lived oddities are released in HO.
A few months ago, MR included a prototype photo of an S-2 , noting that it was a good choice for an N scale layout they published. Of course, none are available in a quality mass-produced model.
It is indeed hard to explain why there is no quality mass-produced S-2 in N scale. 1500 or so built for real railroads, dozens of liveries, and a very long service life. They would sell briskly in model form.
If you’re desperate for and S series, the later Arnolds are not bad. Northwest Short Line offers replacement wheel sets to solve the flange issue, and Micro Trains couplers can be installed without too much hassle.
Since the body is die cast metal, it’s a pretty good puller for a switcher, but therein lies its chief liabilities… no flywheels, and no lights fore or aft.
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I’ve been able to install TCS Z-2 decoders in mine, and I’ve put an LED beacon on the cab roof that works off the decoder, so I at least have an indication that its got track power.
Lee
The only problem with telling people to look for an Arnold S-2 is that they have been out of production for many years. And when used ones are for sale they are snapped up real quickly.
And one should be prepared to loosen his purse strings because they don’t go cheap.
I went as high as $60.00 and was still outbid-the fool thing sold for $108.55-it was a Southern.
Well, this is somewhat discouraging, at least for now. I thought Atlas might produce an N scale S2 one, since they’ve made HO versions in the past, but I guess I was wrong. Hopefully someone will start making them, though.
Thanks, guys.
This has been a discussion on the N scale forums for just about as long as they have existed… Sooner or later one of the manufacturers will take notice.
The reality is it’s a very compact engine with a very narrow hood, and packing in all the electronics, flywheels, weight and lighting we all want is going to take some doing. (the Kato NW2 shows it can be done, but I believe the hood on an NW is wider.) This is why the Arnold has such a bizarre drive. It’s full of compromises.
I suspect the first one we’ll see will be from Bachmann, but likely as not, there will be some serious compromises either in running quality, scale dimensions, or some other area.
Lee
Atlas has released several in HO over the years. Surprised they wouldn’t have released it for N, too.
Tom
Tom,Atlas seems to duplicate few of their HO engines in N and visa versa.
Bachman is still the wild card that doesn’t seem to be afraid of switch engines since they did the GE 44 and 70 tonner.
The Alco switcher can be done as Arnold has shown.
As for DCC…If Bachmann does the S4 in N I suspect it will be in their DCC on board line.
This has been the case with the Walthers HO Alco SW1s, Larry. A sweet little switcher, they originally went for ~$80 when first released back in '91. They fetch that and then some on eBay today.
I’ve seen them go for as high as $110 for an undecorated version. I was grateful to pick up my NYC #580 last year for only $52.
Currently, someone is selling a “vintage collectable” of the Walthers SW1 for $176 Starting bid/$300 Buy it Now. [:O] (I think they’ll be sitting on that one for a while…unless a rabid Conrail fan can’t do without.) The 2nd pic with the original price sticker still on the box makes me chuckle.
Tom
Yes, Bachmann has had fun with the 44T and 70T. But realize they both sport hoods that are about 2’ too wide compared to scale drawings.
Would you buy a 1970’s vintage Athearn HO diesel with a “wide body?” at today’s prices? I thought not. The Arnold holds scale dimensions pretty well, and does a better than adequate job pulling cuts of cars. But it does it with a lot of noise, and no lighting.
It should be noted that the Arnold S2 was in fact the first N scale locomotive offered with DCC on board from the factory. It was a primitive decoder to be sure, but there it was.
Lee
Lee:Would you buy a 1970’s vintage Athearn HO diesel with a “wide body?” at today’s prices? I thought not.
Sorry Lee but,you thought wrong this time…While not at today’s locomotive prices I did order 2 undec BB GP7 shells and handrails from Athearn for the GP7 drives I picked last year for $10.00 each…
If you’re thinking Atlas is going to do a Alco please don’t hold your breath.
Bachmann is our only hope and even with a wide body it would sell-the HO S4 is selling quite well and its missing the grab irons.
The Atlas N scale VO-1000 has a narrow hood and isn’t much longer than an S-2. Making an S-2 with a similar drive train would not be difficult.
The SW1 is a GM switcher, not an Alco. The Walthers HO SW1 was made by Roco and has been out of production for many years.