Hello all, I am wanting to get a steam loco. I have a couple of the P2K Geeps and love the way they look and run, do the P2K steam locos compair with the diesel ones or do they even exist? Thanks. Mike
The steam loco’s are in the P2K lineup listed as “Heritage Steam”. I have a couple and they perform very nice. I’m not sure how accurate they are but they suit me fine.
Top notch…
David B
Mike,
Absolutely. The P2K steamers are beautifully detailed and run very smoothly. I have the 0-8-0 switcher. It not only looks great but it really crawls.
Click to enlarge picture
Tom
Mike, you never said if you want DC or DCC and with or with out sound? I love my PK2’s but all are oil burners so far and no steam yet. But there is a Y-3B at K-10 Trains I keep looking at.
Ones that K-10 have on display look pretty good, but the BLI’s seem just a little better detailed. Most of my steamers are either Backmann, BLI or PCM.
You all so did not state what sizes turns you have but with your posting cout I will guess you are past the 18" turn stuff.
I have 4 BLI steamers and one that I run the most is a M1A. Has QSI sound and pulls great! It will take a 18" turn and I have draged 35 cars up a apx 1.5 to 2% grade. It pulling power and my grade has been it’s draw back as well. I have stripped out 2 center (tower gears) in around 8 months. But I run it apx 30 hours a week. Bob at BLI has sent me the needed gears for free. I rather repair my self than watie. As I miss spell it is pulling 32 coal cars with no problems.
On e-bay you can find the BLI M1A betten $210.00 (that is what I got mine for) to $295.00 NIB.
BLI has it in its Blue Line verson as well. I have only one Blue Line and it is a Ge AC 6000 with a DCC decoder in it. If the Blue Line Steamers sound as great as the 6000 it is a must have.
It is $189.99, here is the link.
http://www.factorydirecttrains.com/BlueLine-PRR-M1a-b-c3508.html
Good looking engine, only engine I like the looks better is my PCM Big Boy.
Let us know the details and what you get. I need more steam power.
Bolier Head Ken posting again.
I too have the 0-8-0 (got it as a show special for $100 CDN, thanks Hal [8D]) in CP. Close enough for me and runs very nice
I’ve got two 0-6-0 and four 0-8-0. They are great machines and run as smooth as possible. I’m very pleased.
I would like to have a larger layout to run the larger engines too, end of dream:-(
Thanks for all the replies. Cuda, I guess I should have been more specific. I am modeling in HO and although most of my curves are more than 18’’ I do have a few partial curves (one, two at the most, 18’’ Atlas curves together) My diesels don’t have any problems at all with the curves and I can pull up to 32 cars up a 2.5 incline with no problem. I cannot pull any more then 32 cars because of a reverse loop that anything longer the lead loco would take out the caboose. Are my trains to long? Thanks for the help. I will be looking into finding one on line. Mike
I have P2K 2-8-4 and it runs very well. and the sound is terrific. It will negociate 18" radius curves. P2K puts out a very good product
The steamers are fantastic engines.
However, they are expensive, I would recommend you shop around as the prices will vary drastically between the hobby shops. You will most likely get the best deal with one of the larger on-line hobby stores.
I would also check out the Spectrum steamers as well before you buy.
Yes, they can be expensive…but they don’t have to. If sound is what you want, then they will - more than likely - be pricey. However, if you don’t mind buying a DC version, you can find them very inexpensively, if you hunt around for deals.
I picked up a DC Proto 2000 New York Central and Erie 0-8-0 switcher for $90 and $80, respectively, off eBay. Original MSRP: $250. (And these were from the 2nd run!) The DH163L0 (now DH165L0) decoders drop right into the NMRA 8-pin socket and run great.
Because of the lighting issues with certain Protos, it’s best to double-check and rewire (if necessary) the NMRA socket before installing a decoder into them. Rewiring means that you only need to shift a few wires around to correct the problem.
Hope that helps…
Tom
I’ve got a 0-8-0 and I had to work a little bit. I installed a tender pick-up and a sound decoder.
Wolfgang
I love my 0-6-0 with sound. It’s a great model, and runs very well. It doesn’t have a lot of pulling power, but it came with traction tires which I didn’t install. It’s a switcher, and it’s job is only to handle a few cars at a time, not to pull a long train on the mainline.
My “big steam” is a BLI Hudson, which I got from Trainworld for $130, with DCC sound. I thought that was a steal. (So did they. The price was $160 last I looked.) This is also a great engine. Both of them handle my 18-inch curves. The Hudson needs to use the longer of the two engine-tender coupling positions to clear the curves, and both engines are just little Martha Stuarts about marginal trackwork, but now that I’ve fixed all the kinks they are both fine.
Wolfgang, that’s the best steam loco weathering I’ve seen posted here yet. Very subtle and realistic - looks like you’ve taken the time to study the way real engines weather, rather than just copying other people’s models. Nice work mate!
Cheers,
Mark.
Mike, I have 3 P2k Heritage 2-8-8-2’s. 2 are from the first run and have no traction tires and can barely pull thier own weight up a 3 percent grade, let alone a train. My third Mallet is from the last run and has traction tires. It pulls OK but can’t come close to my BLI’s.
Dick
Texas Chief
MisterBeasley, my BLI Hudson was pickey as well. I took out the front copper spring and added lead to the front truck and tracks well now. I like the sound of the Hudson a little more than the M1A but love the looks of the M1A.
Mike, buy the Blue Line M1A or B, I want someone to try it before I buy it! [:D]
Post about what you bought as well! Ken from K-10 trains keeps telling me they are over priced.
Cuda Ken
I wouldn’t overlook the Bachmann Spectrum line of steam engines either. They run good, have nice detail, and the prices are very attractive. I’ve got a 2-8-0 with DCC that I got for $95 and a 4-8-4 that’s presently DC but has a DCC plug for $55 on e-bay. Both handle curves very well. The 2-8-0 routinely switches a yard with some 18" radius curves and the 4-8-4 runs perfect on 22" curves (it has one blind driver so that helps). P2K makes some nice engines but bachmann has done a great job with their Spectrum line.