Anybody have any suggestions about buying a steam loco HO scale? which company is better. Rivarossi,Ihc, Bachmann,Athearn. Not so much intrested in details on loco.
I myself only have a steam loco from Bachmann, but from what I have read, the quality of those four companies you listed would probably be in this order:
- Rivarossi
- Bachmann Spectrum
- Athearn Genesis
- IHC
If you want good, quality locomotives, avoid IHC. Also, don’t forget Life Like’s Proto 2000 steam locos. They’re at least as good as Bachmann Spestrum, if not better.
It’s getting to be that they are all very good. I have two new Rivarossi Locos (Allegheny and FEF-3) very powerful and smooth running. Excellent detail
I have an Athearn 2-8-2, This runs very smooth and starts/stops very nicely and cleanly.
I have a Spectrum K4 Pacific Runs well but not quite as well as the two mentioned above. I find that there is a bit of slippage with the wheels when she is hauling up hill.
I have a dozen Mehano’s/IHC. Though they don’t run quite as well as those mentioned above they are good solid performers and can take a bit of abuse. They tend to be a bit noisier. But for value they are very good. They don’t have the detail of the other high end Locos.
I can’t comment on Broadway or Life Like, but the comments posted on other threads are positive.
If you are not worried about “looks”, go with IHC.
I have one, it’s an amazing runner. It’s quiet & pulls quite a bit. No problem hauling 5 Athearn passenger cars up a 3.5% grade.
Just my 2 cents
Gordon
Yeah. I have an IHC USRA 2-8-2A I chemically blacken the running gear on. This micro-etched the tire surface and she can pull 42 free rolling freight cars through 22" radius curves! Impressive. [:0]
What’s affordable? w/o breaking the bank
You need a good weighing engine. Enough weight on the drivers for good traction.
The Athearn 2-8-2 & 4-6-2 both have imbalance problems.
Look at a loco that weighs in at 16 oz plus such as the IHC Heavy Mountain.
The new Spectrum 20 oz Heavy mountain.
I also own the Allegheny but that’s too expensive for a starter.
I have a Bachmann USRA 0-6-0 and a Spectrum USRA 4-8-2 Light Mountain. The 0-6-0 is kinda cheap looking but the Spectrum is amazing. The best manufactuers would probably be:
(not in particular order)
Rivarossi
Bachmann Spectrum
Broadway Limited
IHC
Proto 2000 Heritage Steam
or if you want more expensive:
Trix
Lionel HO
It really just depends on what type of steam locomotive you want.
Thanks guys I was kind of leaning toward Rivarossi. I never owned one.Thanks for all the input.
If you are going to forcus on the $ Rivs, look for the ones with the new drive
and more electrical pick-ups. The older versions had insufficient electrical
pick-ups.
My Allegheny has 13 and also two rubber traction tires.
Rivarrossi has some great engines, and some total junk. Unfortunately the latter far out number the former.
For a first steam locomotive, I would specifically suggest one of the following:
Bachmann Spectrum 0-6-0T, 2-8-0 or 4-6-0
IHC 2-8-2 or 4-6-2
Life Like Proto 2000 0-8-0
Broadway Limited Importers (BLI) 2-8-2
and if you are interested in building a kit a bowser 2-8-0 “old lady” or 4-6-0 “casey jones”
The BLI is 2½ times the price of the others, but has sound that works on DC and DCC.
I see that you are on Long Island, visit Trainland in Lynbrook, LI, NY 516-599-7080, you can find a map and directions at http://www.trainworld1.com/map.htm
I have several dozen HO steam locomotives, including ones offered by Bachmann Spectrum, Life Like Proto 2000, Broadway Limited, Rivarossi, Bowser, Mantua, Model Power, Bachmann Plus, Hornby, Franklin MInt, NWSL, Oriental, Lambert…
Don’t forget Broadway Limited Imports – steam engines with sound and decoders already installed if you run DCC, and the sound systems will operate on straight DC block control as well. Athearn Genesis is supposed to be releasing comparable engines some time in 2004, but their price structure is unknown. And then there’s the Lionel HO scale Challenger if you want to go with a cast metal locomotive. Between the others mentioned, Rivarossi, Bachmann Spectrum, Athearn, and IHC, the Rivarossi models are the most expensive and IHC have the least detail. Spectrum and Athearn Genesis are both excellent running locomotives, but you don’t have as many models to choose from with Athearn. For the value, I prefer Bachmann Spectrum or Broadway Limited Imports.
I have three of the former and will vouch for the above statement. When I first saw the Allegheny I was extremely hesitant because of Rivarossi’s past performance.
As a local radio announcer says “Puts the C in rap”
Todays versions run superbly
Locomotive3 Makes a valid point regarding IHC’s Heavy Mountain. It is very powerful and an excellent runner. One of my pride and joys!
JBC:
Have a look at www.steamlocomotive.com for an extensive discussion of products by the various manufacturers.
One unavoidable problem: Although plastic bodies are cheap to manufacture and yield great detail definiton, the resulting locomotives are poor pullers for lack of weight on the drive wheels. Also in an attempt to broaden appeal to modelers with smaller radius layouts, manufacturers frequently omit flanges on interior driving wheels in wheelsets of eight or ten coupled engines.
Randy
When I received my Lionel HO-scale Challenger, I thought, “Oh, boy – 3 pounds! This baby is going to pull like mad.” WRONG! Despite the extra weight of a cast metal boiler, it won’t pull as much as a plastic boilered Bachmann Spectrum Consolidation because the wheels slip too easily. It seems that Lionel used a metal for their drivers that is extremely slippery. Maybe it will improve as the shiny coating wears off?? I sure hope so, because I was really disappointed when I discovered how easily it looses traction.
My thanks to Randy. Thats a great site
Choose Company line carefully. Bachman Spectrum vastly superior to “red lable”. I realy like IHC’s little woodburning American Standards. R’i has only a few Woodburners.
I have 7 IHC locomtives and although true that the details are lacking, the engines pull quite well. I have pulled 45 loaded coal hoppers with a 2-8-0. And you can’t beat the price. Watch for the specials
My Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 is far superior to my Athearn Genesis 2-8-2. The Athearn is underpowered and underdetailed compaired with the Bachmann. The 2-8-0 is one of the best things Bachmann makes (won an MRG award, even), so I would recommend that one. But try to try it out before you buy - quality can vary (we are talking Bachmann, after all!).
No one has mentioned Roundhouse or Bowser. Bowser locos will pull the spikes of the track, but they take some effort to assemble. No special skills, just careful assembly.
Roundhouse has a special on their web site http://www.mdcroundhouse.com/
They have assembled old time Consolidations and Moguls for $50.00. I bought a Mogul, and it runs smoothly. It’s not a great puller and I haven’t looked at it to see if weight can be added.
Personally, I prefer Roco or Brawa. However, if decent detail does not count for much, definitely go with Bachmann.