Would like to hear from those with personal experience with any of the following N scale locos regarding performance, durability, etc…
Bachmann Heavy Mountain DCC.
Proto 2-8-8-2 Mallet DCC/sound version.
Kato 2-4-2 Mikado DC.
Kato GS-4 Wartime DC.
I’ve read a few reviews, just asking for personal experience, any issues pro or con?
Thanks! Rob
Nobody???
Proto 2-8-8-2 DCC sound:
Sounds good, runs reliably. Rear truck had a tendency to derail when running in reverse - needs additional weight or a spring on top of it. Can’t haul as much as the size would lead you to believe.
Kato 2-8-2 Mikado:
Smooth runner, very good smooth speed control on DCC or DC. If you’re modifying it, be careful of the drawbar wires - they have a tendency to displace themselves real easily. Needs traction tyres if you’ve got grades.
Kato GS-4
I had #4449 in the first run in the Daylight, but again it’s a nice and smooth, especially at slow speeds. Can easily pull the daylight express set.
Haven’t had the Bachmann heavy mountain, but from what I’ve read it’s better than the light. The closest I’ve had was their Consolidation, and that required a bit of tinkering to get it to run smoothly.
I had a Heavy Mountain visit my layout, and aside from the long wheelbase disagreeing with a couple of my tighter turns, it ran smoothly and managed the grades pretty effortlessly. The factory Bachmann decoder only does 28 speed steps, but it’s easily replaced with something better.
You could add a few more engines to your list:
The Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 is probably one of the most reliable steamers you can get for the price. They’re in the process of re-introducing it with DCC on board, but I’m not sure what that’s going to be like… As with most Bachmann stuff, try before you buy.
The Bachmann 4-8-4 Northern. The newest drive (introduced a couple years ago) is superior to any of the old “white box” Northerns of the past. It can be easily identified by it’s “blackened” wheels and drive rods. While the shell is the same warmed over turd they’ve produced for 40 years, the new drive makes it worth the effort to do your own detailing.
The Model Power Pacific is a diamond in the rough. While it’s been criticized for it’s antiquated tender pick up, the mechanism itself is very smooth, and the die cast metal boiler provides plenty of heft for good traction and pulling power. The downside of the cast boiler is the cast on detail, which is difficult to undo and replace with better look
Thanks, guys! I do have the Bachmann 2-8-0 and it is by far the best (and only) Bach steamer that has been both a good running and looking model. Tried several of their Northerns over the years and quit trying them a couple years back. Perhaps their latest ones are OK, but I swore never again. Had no luck with their Light Mountain, even though it looked very nice. Willing to try their Heavy Mountain, at least one time.
Never owned a MP Pacific, but really enjoy running their 4-4-0. Mine runs superb. Plan on eventually adding one of their 2-6-0’s as well.
Wonder if the sound on the Proto/Walthers 2-8-8-2 is better than the Athearn Bigboy? I have the latter and it’s sound is more of a novelty, IMO.
Cheers! Rob
The newest issue of MR has a Bachmann 2-6-6-2 mallet (is it mallet or mal-ey?) with dual mode decoder. I have it filed under by I-wish wish list. At $285 even if I could afford I wouldn’t buy it. Same goes for the aforementioned LifeLike 2-8-8-2. I would LOVE to have both of these but too expensive. I don’t need sound, or a dual-mode controler, or for that matter DCC. When these locomotives come out in DC or DCC for around $150 I will get them. Same for the Challenger and Big Boy. Also wouldn’t mind an N scale Allegheny 2-6-6-6 Articulated, or Altantic 4-4-2, heck even a 4-6-0. I’m also more into collecting steamers than operating them so that’s where part of my anti-expensiveness comes from. I mean what do I need a 300 dollar N Big Boy with DCC/sound when 99% of the time it will be sitting on a display shelf?