Spectrum Shay

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Is anyone modeling with a Spectrum Shay, and how do you like it? How good does it pull, etc?

2

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Just got two of them in HO and as far as appearance goes it super, very detailed to be exact. Performance wise I haven’t tested it with the logcars yet, this coming weekend I’ll give them a try and give you more info on my tests. I can tell you that this engine runs really well at any speed and the furnace (forgive my RR language not yet fluent) lights up. The sound decoders are in the mail can’t wait for those. Later.

3

I have heard they are pretty good runners and they look good to.

4

Which decoders did you go with? I ordered a Soundtraxx unit today. It’s the one that is both sound and motor. It was designed specifically for the Shay. It was like 115 bucks, but it’ll sound like a Shay.

5

BigRedneckRob, two soundtraxx units just like the one this link.
http://www.sodigi.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?key=Shay_Bach&preadd=action.

6

I have one. I did have a problem with it, that I managed to fix myself. When it run, it would bind up. I tore it apart and found that two of the bevel gears were not mating up right. I discovered that the gear on the drivetrain can be slid a little, so I separated the two gears just a little. Now it runs fine.

As for pulling, I have 6 of their metal log cars, and it pulls them fine on level track. I do have trouble with it pulling them up a moderate grade. I forget what the grade is offhand…2% give or take.

Beautiful to watch it run(?) though… it runs at a scale speed of 14MPH if I remember right.

Don

7

I have one witht the Soundtraxx unit in it. A good puller but my biggest complaint would be the volume of the sound. With the teeny weeny speaker that fits in the coal bunker the sound gets hard to hear over gear noise at about half throttle even though they (the gears) are very quiet. Otherwise no complaints. Mine is only taking loaded log dissconnects downhill so pulling power isn’t a big issue but the Spectrum will pull them up hill.

8

My wife bought me a 3truck for my B’day[:D][:D] It is incredibly smooth running & quiet. It will pull 16 loaded roundhouse log cars & cabboose up a 2% curved grade. I highly reccomend it.
Tom

9

I found out today that California Western got a 3-truck shay in 1914. I know what is going to be on my Christmas list? [:D]

10

BTW I forgot tomention that centralhobbies.com has the 3 truck on sale for $149.00 Cdn. Normal retail up here is $335.00. For you Americans with your stronger $ it works out even cheaper.
Tom

11

Also check out Trainworld.—$119 US.

I forgot to mention that I saw one in action at the Greensburg show. I was impressed by all movement. Looked cool–like a Mr machine I had when I was a kid.

Chip

12

Or you could scan ebay. I got both shays sealed in box for $186.00 total, including shipping and handling, that’s $93.00 a piece.

13

You stink. I don’t wanna hear it.

14

I have three. Great runners, will pull quite well, and great looking. I installed the Soundtraxx unit you describe in one of them. THe sound is a little on the quiet side. Putting a cover of black plstic over the baffle with a little gap between the piece and the speaker grill increases voulme. The install is not “drop in”. There are a couple of holes to be drilled (in metal) and a speaker baffle to build. These locos are a deal considering the detail and running characteristics.