This review is on Rivarossi’s most recent run of their amazing 2-6-6-6 Allegheny steam engine.[:D]
This model of the Allegheny is really an amazing piece of work, and did I say it’s really amazing?[:D] It comes delivered in some of the most protective packaging I’ve ever seen, with everything stuffed in thick foam in a 15"x15"x2.5" box, except for the engine which is wrapped in bubble wrap in a clear plastic display box. Unpack it slowly and carefully to avoid breaking the fine plastic details. The engine is extremely well detailed, with fine, all separate piping (no more molded-on piping with this Rivarossi![:D]), blackened wire railings, turned brass parts, and pretty much anything else you can imagine.[:D] The tender is also very well detailed with lots of separate grab irons and other parts, but it has a little more molded-on detail than the engine. Everything gets even more detailed once you add all the extra parts in the parts bag, which are mostly for the tender.[:D] The extra detail parts are: real brass builders plates, which are glued over the painted ones on the engine, cab and tender handrails, tender truck chains held on by little pins, tender coupler cut levers, a small light that goes in front of the coal load, four tall and two short drive wheel brake shoes (mounted tall-tall-short tall-tall-short), and some large engine to tender pipes, which will only work on a curve radius of maybe 40" and over. The more realistic long cab works fine on curves down to an 18" radius, and the short cab is only needed on curves down to 16" (which I’m pretty sure most of you don’t use). All of the detail on the engine is very well done, and what little is molded on also looks ve
The eccentric gear is plastic on the original run–of which I have one–also, but so far has stood up to time and wear very well. I agree with Darth, the locomotive is beautifully detailed and very well put together. Very smooth runner, and quite powerful (even if the traction tires come off, which mine did about 6 months after I bought it). It sounds like the differences between the Hornby and the original Rivarossi are very minor at best. IMO it’s hard to improve on something that was pretty darn well near perfect to begin with. I think this latest run–and the sound version becoming available soon–will garner a lot of fans.
And frankly, it’s nice to see a really BIG loco released that isn’t another Challenger or Big Boy. The Allegheny is one handsome loco, and it sure sees a lot of action on my MR.
When I said on my A list, I should have said it IS my A list. So, I will await the sound version. My next question, not wanting to get this thread (thanks, Darth!) onto a different path, is does anyone know which decoder will be used? If it will be MRC, I’ll order sooner and get a Tsunami installed.
I purchased an Allegheny in the spring earlier this year. I must have a first run version. I didn’t get P2K couplers in my package but replaced the Italian couplers with Kadee’s.
I ran it on DC for a few minutes to make sure it worked ok before dropping in a Digitrax DH123PS decoder.
Using a MRC 260 DC cab it ran really smooth and very quiet. It worked just as well with the Digitrax decoder in it. Later I intend to put a Tsunami Sound decoder in it.
Since I am still working on bench work for my layout I only had a temporary loop to test run the loco. The true test will be when I get the trackwork done.
This is really a nicely detailed, BIG Steam Locomotive as Darth’s review describes.
Thanks for that, Terry. It could be, and I would not be averse to the newest Loksound…except that if I ever wanted to improve the sounds’ fidelity I’d have to get their downloading interface material…more cost. So far I can live with the 3.0 version in the Trix Mikado, but I am giving serious thought to taking it out and placing a Tsunami into it.
I just got my NEW Allegheny (HR2051) with the Lok Sound in it and it looks, runs, and sounds great. [:D] Now if I can only get my other Allegheny (HR2006) to work. [sigh] Seems to be a wee small wiring problem in the tender…but since there are no wiring diagrams for the HR2006 the fix will have to be trial and error.
They’ll look and sound great double-heading 100 plus loaded cars. Yesssssssss [tup]
Anyway… for those of you who want an Allegheny…make plans to get one [:D] You won’t regret it!
It also looks incredibly cool teamed up with the Spectrum USRA 2-6-6-2, especially if you’ve got the C&O model. I have no idea if C&O ever teamed these locos up,but I’ve run them double-headed (USRA as helper, natch!), and that’s a lot of gorgeous, hunky C&O power, especially hauling a coal train.
Tom – nope the C&O never, ever ran these two together. There were 10 of these H-5’s (the Bachmann 2-6-6-2), used nearly exclusively in mine runs - last one was scrapped in 1952. These locos were smaller drivered, slow ponderous beasts that were ideal for the mine branches. The crews never did like them too much, especially as compared to the C&O’s own versions of this wheel arrangement (H4 and H6) which were felt to use steam better and smoother rides.
The H-8 (2-6-6-6) was an absolute monster with great looks and a whistle that made your chest feel tlike it would explode (from what I’ve been told). Not only could they move huge trains at manifest speeds, but they also pitched in with mainline passenger runs as well keeping them on schedule.
If my memory serves me right 2 that have been kept - one at the B&O Museum in Baltimore City.
I got my model last year and used a Tsunami decoder - pretty much a straigtforward install with all that space in the tender. This loco can walk off with more cars than I’ll ever be using on the railroad, but is a must have for the the C&O modeler like myself.
It was on my list also because I live in Toledo Oh area and this engine pulled coal drags to the Walbridge yard. Just got it and disappointed for the price that the detail is not as crisp as a Broadway limited. Poor documentation of CV 's. Lack of whistle selection. It will probably just be a display model.
Not sure what your talking about the details not being crisp I find them to be excellent ,as to the sound will agree the factory sound decoder leaves a great deal to be desired that’s why I bought mine without sound and had a Soundtrax Tsunami installed ,have all the cv documentation i need plus the correct ( I think) Hooter whistle.lol
It’s been 15 years since this model was developed, and when it was released, it was the best detailed plastic steam engine ever made. Technology has developed since then, so the latest top of the line model will of course have cleaner lines and sharper detail.
