Hi,
I’m looking for a recommendation on a brand and model of HO steam locomotive . The requirements would be that it is already has DCC and sound installed. I’m just getting into this and I’d rather not have to install everything myself on my first locomotive.
Road name is un-important. It would be required to do some yard switching and pull a small mixed freight on the mainline. The era the railroad will represent is anywhere from 1920 to 1950.
Many thanks to everyone on this site. Your experience has certainly made it a lot easier to get involved in the hobby without making some serious mistakes right off the bat.
Brian you mite look at the line of Broadway Limited steam locos with DCC
and sound and RTR. I have several and although I have had a problem (just
stopp4ed running) wit 2 of them NYC Hudson and just released SW 7, they
have been very good about sending replacments
Brian, you’re really, really limiting your choices by insisting on pre-installed sound and decoder, though. I encourage both (DCC and sound) and don’t want to steer you wrong, but simply be aware you’ve created a requirement that will almost certainly keep your choices at the higher end of the price spectrum. I own several BLI locos and am very pleased with them, but they’re not inexpensive.
Here’s the issue - BLI doesn’t really offer any ‘smaller’ locos as might be used in yard work or for small freight trains… The M1 4-8-2 was certainly used in mixed service. Most of the X-6-X engines they offer were primarily passenger service, and would be very out of place doing switching, though they probably pulled shorter freight trains at the end of their careers (I know some Pennsy K-4’s certainly did).
IF you’re willing to consider installing the decoder yourself, check out tthis page for a VERY easy install: http://www.gatewaynmra.org/dcc/engines/bach-280.htm. Installing a decoder in a loco with the NMRA plug (and one that’s not a tight fit or a “tricky” install is really very easy. A couple screws, plug in, screws back, done. PS - That loco - the Spectrum 2-8-0 consolidation - would be much closer to what you describe, and much less expensive than the BLI.
Spectrum locos are good runners with good details at quite reasonable prices. I own about as much Spectrum as BLI myself, and feel both have their place.
The Broadway Limited Inc. (BLI) steam locomotives are terrific. Their 2-8-2 Mikados (either Light or Heavy) are VERY nice! I just picked one up a couple of months ago and have been VERY happy with it. [tup][tup] They do require a bit of breakin time and additional lubrication but work just fine. If you poke around, you can find one for about 1/2 MSRP.
The new Proto 2000 0-8-0 switcher is supposed to be terrific, too.
You might want to consider Life Likes 0-8-0 wiith QSI sound. They come in a variety of road names, so you’re bound to find one you like. 0-8-0’s are also built for switching ops and small radiuses. QSI is the same sound system used as Broadway Limited, so operation would be the same. You can use it on DCC or DC systmes. Lifelike also recently added traction wheels to increase the hauling capacity. However I’ve pulled 20 reefers with the old one that didn’t have traction wheels arond an R18 track.
BLI’s contrain a bit more heft in terms of weight and include optional traction on a number of units. Their detail isn’t the same as Lifelike however. (The upside of this is that if your ham handed, you don’t have to worry about breaking it as easy) BLI’s are a little more pricey as well. A number of BLI’s require 22" or larger track. So be sure to check this when you order one.
BLI are top drawer in most respects, but their locos are not really of the smaller switcher type, if I understand your stated interest. So, I would support the suggestion of getting the newest 0-8-0 P2K Heritage (now Walther’s), with QSI sound. It is a very good runner, ideal for switching, has good sound, and is a very nicely detailed loco. You’ll be very pleased with it.
Check around for prices. You’d be surprised how much the price varies from internet address to address.
I also enjoy the BLI steamers and run my WP 2-8-2 #310 all the time, but I think selector provides a good suggestion with the P2K Heritage unit. I also have been happy with the Athearn Genesis 2-8-2 as well.
The BLIs I have are outstanding but as previously mentioned, are larger sized which makes them inappropriate for yard switchers. The other problem is the front coupler is a dummy. Since a yard switcher typically has to work from either end, this could be an operational problem. I haven’t looked into what it would take to replace the dummy coupler with a working one. Mine are road engines so the lack of a working front coupler has not been an issue. I also have the Spectrum 2-8-0 that was mentioned above. It does have a working front coupler and would be an excellent choice as a dual purpose loco. The downside is that it does not run smoothly at slow speeds like all my BLIs.