Hello,
I need some help with buying Steam Locomotive for DCC layout. I want DCC ready or installed and my budget is around $150. If you know any Steam Locomotives which are best and worth buying it, please let me know the details.
Thanks again for all the help & guidance.
Ken.
You didnt bother to mention an gauge, but I’d go with Bachmann’s Spectrum line.
What kind of steam engine do you want? Big, small, old time- 1950’s?
Ken,
The Proto2000 Heritage units are good runners. The Bachmann Spectrum engines (2-80, 4-6-0) are also good. Add up to about $30 each for (non-sound) decoders.
Trainworld has good prices, especially if you are not fussy about road name.
Andrew
Agree. For the criteria that you stated, Spectrums would be best choice. They have a larger variety than Heritage, and overall they pull better as well. A good general engine choice would be the 2-8-0. A good mid sized engine, that wouldn’t look out of place on anything from a small switching layout to a large multideck affair.
Do you understand that you will have to add a decoder, and perhaps other mods to the lighting, if you use DCC? Most locos sold come “DCC-ready”, meaning that they are wired properly, but minus the actual decoder. You will have to purchase these for DCC-ready locos, and either install them yourself or have them installed.
The Life Like Heritage steam are the best detailed, but they do tend to be light on their feet, so to speak. If you don’t intend to pull 20-car trains, then Life Like Proto 2000 Heritage is the way to go, available at Hobby Shops or via Walthers, online.
The Bachmann Spectrum line is also very good, especially noteworthy is the Consolidation 2-8-0 mentioned.
If you can take a one-time deep breath, and pay about $250-$300 discounted, try the Broadway Limited Imports steamers. They are sold, in that price range, with the decoders installed, and with speakers and sound capability…very realistic, and excellent quality. The details won’t be as good as for the Heritage.
Good luck, and we hope you’ll drop in often. This is a very gregarious and friendly bunch of guys…and maybe one or two girls. Send more girls!!
Ken,
As Andrew already mentioned, check out Trainworld.com (http://www.trainworld1.com/index.html) for some good discounts on locomotives. I saw the Broadway Limited (BLI) 2-8-2 Heavy & Light Mikados (Mikes) advertised for $165 and $170, respectively. (The Light Mike would probably already have sound.) The Proto 2000 0-8-0 will run you $160. As Crandell said, they are VERY nicely detailed. (You’d have to add a decoder to this one.) The Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 would also be a good choice.
Tom
Thanks for all the suggestions !!
I am very new to this hobby and I am trying to go slow (thats not happening).
I have 4X8 layout, couple of Atlas HO 83 tracks and turnouts. I have ordered for Digitrax Zephry and now researching for Locomotive.
Chip - At this time I am not sure about Big, small, old time- 1950’s. I am looking for some good looking steam engine with some power.
Crandell - To start I may not be able to spend $250-$300 for Broadway locomotive. I will keep your suggestion for my future purchases.
Thankyou everyone for all the suggestions !!
I will do some research on Bachmann Spectrum engines (2-80, 4-6-0) , Life Like Proto 2000 Heritage .
Ken
Plan ahead. A 4 X 8 will accomodate 22" radius.
I am planning to place order for the following two locomotives , they are DCC ready…
Bachmann - Baldwin 4-6-0 - New York Central
Broadway - USRA Light Mikado 2-8-2
Please let me know if you have any have experience with the above locomotives.
Thanks for all the help
Ken
I think the BLI Mikado might be the best compromise. It pulls good and the light mike actually has a working front coupler and does not look too bad on 22"
They sell for 150 or less now on Ebay.
I prefer large steam but must reinforce that the Heritage Steamers are light with little pulling ability.
If you are already into the Digitrax DCC system and related stuff for your railroad 200-350 wount be too bad over a short period of time.
I am using 24" radius and it’s taking more space. Will I be able to use 22" radius tracks also. Will Bachmann, BLI work fine on 22" radius.
Thanks
Ken
I’m interested in the 4-6-0 reports. I need about 3-4 on my layout. I have the Bachman 2-8-0 and am happy with it. (But they weren’t used by my RR until 6 years after my era.)
I own a spectrum Ma and Pa 4-6-0 and have pulled 6 cars with it on the level track. I use it on the bench. I think it is a nice little engine but would be rather wanting on the mainline. I will run it on a friends layout soon and see how it does.
btw, 24" radius is nice!
I have the low drivered 4-6-0 and have had absolutely no complaints. I have run it on Rexhea’s layout with 9 cars behind it and it did well. I would not recommend trying to pull more than 5-6 if you have any grades at all. For its size it pretty much pulls what the prototype could.
Ken,
Are you also getting the 2-8-2 Mike in NYC? Don’t know if you were planning on ordering from Trainworld. The last time I checked with them, they didn’t have nor were going to get the 2-8-2 Light Mike in the NYC scheme. Too bad. I would have bought one from them right then and there.
Tom
Tom,
I called Train World and they don’t have in stock. I may order 4-6-0 (Spectrum ) from them. I am still trying to find some good locomotives. I am also looking at Proto Heritage . There are lot’s of choices just want to make sure I am getting the best.
I am learning lot from this forum.
Ken.
Ken and Chip,
The low-boilered 4-6-0 (small drivers) is a nice engine. I got an undecorated one. Installing the decoder is a matter of “plug and play” although if you get a Digitrax decoder, get the long wiring harness, not the recommended short one. This will give you more flexibility in placement. This is important, as the tender is very light. I added 1 1/2 ounces, and it could use more. As delivered, it is so light that the flex in the wires can lift the front end off the track.
Other than that - excellent engine with nice detail.
One note - I have seen trainworld advertise the Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 for as low as US$75.
Andrew
Andrew
I’m unsure whether you ever got an answer to your radius queston. Unless you are talking brass locos, most 4-8-4 configurations and on down will handle 22" radii, at least in any of the stuff that I have been able to afford. So, a 2-8-2 should have no problem (my IHC Mike, a recent gift) worked just fine.
Ken,
On Crandell’s prompting, I’ll throw in my two bits. I have an Athearn 2-8-2 Mike and my 4 x 8’ layout has mostly 22" and a few 18" radius curves. The 2-8-2 handles both sets of curves fine. However, It looks better on the 22". [:)]
Tom