Opinions on IHC steam Loco's

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Anyone care to share personal experience with IHC loco’s? Good, bad or indifferent. They are inexpensive. How are they for adding a DCC decoder?

2

This was discussed in at least two threads over the past 12 weeks, stuinstra. Many positive remarks, although they are not specific to a given corporation’s type. In other words, they tend to be generic and light on details. However, they seem to run well, and pull reasonably well, if a bit light…not nearly as bad as some of the Heritage steamers. You can add details to your heart’s content.

I have a 2-8-2 Mike that has a Tsunami in it, and I am pleased to say that it runs very well, and sounds terrific. Adding the decoder should be a fairly straightforward operation. Shop around for bargains, and you should be quite happy.

-Crandell

3

I might get a few IHC steamers someday. HOWEVER, I’ve heard the 2-8-0 does not pull well at all. I suppose some weight could be added.

I’d be interested in a 4-6-4, 4-6-2, and maybe a 2-6-0.

4

I own a 2-8-2 and 2-6-0 from IHC. Both of them are smooth, quiet runners. The 2-6-0 is actually pretty well detailed for such an inexpensive steam engine.[:D]

I did a review of the 2-6-0 last year. Here’s a link to it:
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=43309

In the review I said it runs at around 100 scale MPH, but it’s actually closer to 70.[:D]

5

DSF, how about reviewing the 2-8-2? That’s another one I might be interested in.

6

I’ve thought about reviewing it, but I did a little detail work on it that makes it look a lot different than before, which has kept me from doing a review. But I guess I could still do one anyway. You’d just have to look somewhere else to know what it looked like before.[:D]

7

I’m in no hurry for a review. I’d be surprised if I get one this year.

8

IHC steam locomotives are the Athearn BB of HO steam.

Not very well detailed but rugged.

I have a 4-6-2 & it pulls the train I want it to pull on the grades I have on my layout.

Gordon

9

I like their 4-8-2’s and find them a good buy. They have good pickups and reasonable drawbar power. I put a Soundtraxx decoder in mine without much trouble.

10

I agree with Gordon, IHC steamers are largely undetailed but are relatively inexpensive, generally good runners and quite rugged. I’ve bought several in recent years to modify and, while they certainly aren’t in a class with BLI’s offerings, if your interest is in actually running trains and not impressing your friends with your “show pieces”, they’ll do just fine. The only thing I’d advise is to be sure to test run the loco at the hobby shop or right after getting it home, as I 've seen some examples with out-of-quarter drivers.

CNJ831

11

Thanks everyone. I’m interested in getting a 4-6-2 for light passenger service. I did a search for IHC before putting this post up but the response results were kind of old (04 to early 05) maybe I didn’t dig deep enough to find the more current threads selector had mentioned

12

I have 3 IHC steam locomotives-a 2-6-0, 2-8-0, and 4-6-2. I bought the 4-6-2 Pacific in Iowa in september of 2001. This year, I will have had it for 5. Bought it for 50 bucks, and the engine is just about worth it. It runs smooth and pulls my passenger cars at a fairly fast pace. Some guys I know say to stay away from them, but that engine has proved them wrong. Currently, I’m thinking about getting an IHC Alco C628 from their website. If the steam acts good, then I’m sure the diesels will too.