There have been a number of these engines for sale at rock bottom prices lately for the DCC ready non sound version.
This engine is being priced well below their 0-8-0 and 0-6-0 switchers and of course the 4-8-2.
Who has bought this engine and what do you think of it. The various write ups by the model railroad magazines have been very good, glowing in fact.
Don, the consensus in the time I have been on this forum, with some dissenters, is that most of the Heritage steam is a little light on its feet. I seem to recall that this engine received some questionable reviews by users here and there because it was not a strong puller. There is no question but that they are very nicely detailed, among the very best, and they are good solid runners in terms of quality control. But, for whatever reason, they just don’t have the traction that their prototypes would have enjoyed when scaled down.
Now, an enterprising and determined modeller in search of a great bargain, as you surely are, would probably seriously consider his options. For example, he might conclude that whereas one is too light, the prototype often found the need to double them up. You see where I’m headin’ here…? You followin’ me…?
i bought one of the DC analog sound equipped usra 2-10-2’s and i am quite pleased with it. it is a smooth running engine and quite nicely put together with good detail. i have no experience with the non sound version, but from my experience with other HO locomotives i would imagine the non sound version would be a stronger puller. probably the sound equipment in the tender weighs enough to affect pulling capacity and since i don’t use traction tires the only way to improve it would be to add weight to the locomotive itself. i just can’t bring myself to tear into it yet for that purpose.
since mine has the sound, i can not use it with my Aristocraft Train Engineer remote control system. TE does not have instant reversing but goes to zero voltage briefly when you change polarity so the bell and whistle functions are out. i run it mostly for showing off for the grandkids or visitors using a conventional powerpac.
my layout is pretty much a low grade line with one 14’ section of 1 1/2 % grade on straight track. this 2-10-2 will handle about 25 to 30 cars with no trouble and that is a big train for some people. i usually run 35/50 car trains (all 40 and 50 foot cars) behind 2 or more atlas or p2k geeps.
passing siding and return loop length will dictate train size so i don’t know what you personally consider to be a large train. a lot will depend on how your cars are weighted and how well the roll. i shoot for about 4 oz and cars must roll freely down a 1 % grade without needing a nudge. i do have a bunch of mty hoppers that only weigh about 2 oz. each and my 2-10-2 has no trouble with a fifty car train of them. I don’t have enough of those light weight cars to stall it.
by the way, my bachman non sound 4-8-2 will out pull this engine by a quite a bit but i hate the stupid blue headlight.
perhaps someone has an engine that is identical to yours and can give you more accurate info.&
I’ve got a couple of these 2-10-2’s and I really like them. They pull 32 cars, thats all my steam era cars and a caboose with no effort at all. They can easily pull more. The detail is incredible and I don’t feel they are under weight at all. The 0-6-0 and 0-8-0’s were under weight. I can’t think of one bad thing to say about them.
I had purchases a couple of the Proto engines when they first came out and you are so right about being light. I had hoped that these later engines would have been better pullers. There are traction tires included in this model.
I think I will pass on these.
They are really smooth running engines with excellent detail. They don’t pull quite what you’d expect for an engine that size though. But I greatly improved mine by removing the weight in the smoke box and replacing it with a big slug of lead. The engine is now better balanced and pulls much better. It was a fairly easy piece of work.
Regards,
Mike
Where are you finding these for rock bottom prices? After adding an Elesco FWH and redetailing one for my dad, I would like to get one for myself.
Check Trainworld
This engine has been on sale for a few months now at a number of on-line stores.
There are only a few left now.
Wow, thats a steal at that price.