first off all, I’d like to thank everyone that responded to my earlier post, thanks for all the helpful suggestions. After taking a break from trains for awhile and concentrating on music, I’m finally back with my mind made up. After consideration after consideration, I’ve decided that I’m to go with N scale. My questions deal with the availiblitly of modern day N scale products, and who manufactures them. First, lets start with locomotives. Since I’m modeling in the modern era, the locos I’m going for are the more recent high horsepower road locomotives. I’m looking for these in CR paint, thats the RR in basing this layout off of, but other power like CSX and NS will be in there alot too, along with foreign BNSF and Santa Fe units. This is what I’ve found so far that I want to run:
Kato:
SD-40 (CR) - I’ll run most of these in pairs as helper sets, in the middle or on the end of my trains, and possibly on the head end as just part of the consist. My goal is to have 8 of these so I can run 4 helper sets, being that I’m looking to run two-three trains simultaneously. If anyone knows of models that are painted in CSX and NS paint as well, let me knoe where I can find them, cuz I’d love to diversify the helper sets a little!
SD70/80MACs (CR) - i want to get a pair or two, just to run in pairs on trains, and be part of my standard power CR fleet I’ll eventually get together. The help I need with these is getting them in CR paint, since they havn’t been manufactured in that livery in a few years now.
Atlas:
Dash 8 40-B/C (CR) - These I envision to be the standard power for trains running on my layout, running either as pairs, trios, or however many lashed together I want. I want to get alot of these, maybe around 4-6.
Now these are what I need help with finding:
Atlas:
Dash 8 40-CW (CR) - after looking a
Mike,
Go online to www.caboosehobbies.com and use the advanced search function to find what’s available. It’ll only show what they have, but it’s a pretty comprehensive list.
If you try to find anything at Walther’s site, you’ll be online for days.
Check Atlas, Kato, and Intermountain. They might even have some of the Walther’s Proto line in their inventory.
They have good pricing too, it’s worth the time to check it out.
You have a good plan for your diesels. Atlas & Kato are top quality. Split frame LifeLikes are good locos, but may not fit your time frame. You may want some LL yard goats. Bachmann’s quality unfortunately tends to be uneven. Please try before you buy. Watch for newer productuion runs that may have new knuckle couplers instead of the dreded Crapidos. At least you have some experience with discounttrainsonline. I hope they have a policy to be sure any product runs before they ship it, or have a good return policy should you have any problems.
Mike, there’s an issue you need to be aware of.
The newer Atlas locomotives are equipped with what they call a “scale speed motor”.
They look and run wonderfully, but, because of the slower motor, they can’t be mixed with locomotives of other manufacture. They’ll either hold the other back or be dragged around the layout.
I have two of the newer items, one is a switcher and only operates on it’s own, so no big deal. The other, an SD-24, was purchased to consist with my brass tubine.
Because of the slow speed motor in the new Atlas, it can’t be speed matched to the other. I’ll have to use it as a single for a local or a turn.
Run Atlas with Atlas, and you can probably mix and match the Katos and Intermountains.
Have you considered Athearn SDs. Don’t much about them than they make them. I think you will be happy. I went from squeezing 15"R HO to spacious 12 3/8"R in N and I am glad I did it. After I move I am planning on a 18"R layout running full length passenger equipment.
Gary
Mike
Your best bet would to stay with Kato & Atlas. You might fine some undec units that you are looking for and see if someone can paint them for you. I have a number of loco that were custom painted and they look great. I found that the only way to model the road you want and that the manufacture has not done that road name is to find someone that can paint them. I have about 20 Milwaukee Road engine’s and better then half were custom painted.
Hope you fine what you need for your layout.
To add to this, I have some Athearn BNSF/Sante Fe SD75m’s and am very pleased with them. Planning on getting more.