Can you folks recommend some HO steam or diesel locomotives that are inexpensive but reliable? They don’t have to necessarily be prototypical or highly detailed. I have a Kato HO Unitrack set and powerpack but have never used it. I’m just looking for something to run for fun for the grandkids.
Are the HO couplers compatible between the various brands? I’m really into O gauge and don’t know much about HO. Thanks!
ATSF Rock,
Ahhhh, inexpensive and reliable. (MUCH different than CHEAP and reliable.) The Proto 2000 Alco S1 diesel switcher falls in that catagory. I have three and they are both terrific running and looking. You can pick them up at either Trainworld.com or M.B. Klein (Model Train Stuff.com) for as cheap as $29.99. (Regularly, $110 MSRP.)
For steam, M.B. Klein also had Bachmann 0-6-0 Camelback switchers for $29.99. Cute as a bug’s ear and supposed to be good runners.
Hope that’s a help…
Tom
For steam,you may want to look into IHC engines.They are pretty generic but are decent runners.
Walthers Train Line only 27.99 for almost any roadname its really cool and they run great.
I’ll second Tom’s recommendation for the Alco S1. I’ve also got a couple of Proto 2000 GP-9’s (out of production, but still new-in-the-box) that are very nice. Even better, you will find that these are very nicely detailed models.
As for couplers, all the various knuckle couplers are compatable as far as connecting and pulling trains around. They don’t all uncouple using the magnetic ramps as well as the Kadee brand. All horn-hook couplers (the old ones that don’t look the least bit prototypical) are compatable with each other, but you can’t mix and match horn-hooks with knuckles. What some folks with large fleets of horn-hooks do is make up a couple of cars that are knuckles on one end and horn-hooks on the other.
As I recall, my Proto engines came with knuckles, but they also had a set of horn-hooks in a little plastic bag in case I wanted to downgrade my engine. I laughed when I saw them.
As a final note, many people are unhappy with the quality of knuckle couplers which generally come with engines and rolling stock these days. The solution, fortunately an easy one, is to replace them with Kadee’s as they fail.
I’ll agree with this. I like my 2-8-0 from them. It’s missing some details, but runs really well. Lack of details might be a plus here because the small details sometimes break off with the slightest accident on P2K’s. And we know how kids are prone to accidents with toys. IHC also has a nice selection to choose from. And with steam the kids love to watch the gears and rods move.
Check ebay for some great deals. I picked mine up for $20
BTW: Couplers generally work with one another. Although you’ll have a much harder time getting a horn hook to work with a knuckle coupler reliably. So either go all horn hook, or all coupler (Kadee, McHenry etc…)
~D
Well, if not prototypical but for solid tough reliability it’s hard to beat the old Athearn Blue Boxes. I just gave away a 25 year old Milwaukee Road SD9 to a teen who just got into the hobby and had a smattering of cruddy Bachmann locomotives with single truck motors.
The paint still looked new on it and it still runs like a champ! Though quite noisy. Funny thing is that Not Once ( I should hang my head in shame) did I service it or give it a tune up.
For nicely detailed units at a decent price, I very much like P2Ks. I’ve won several of them on Ebay for under $60, including a GP9. The E-units are my absolute favorite P2Ks…
My vote for economical and reliable are Walthers Trainline and Athearn BB with Kadee couplers added. Forgot steam, IHC and Bachmann Spectrum would be my choice there
For steam, I’d definitely take a look at IHC. They offer a pretty wide variety of wheel-types, everything from an 0-4-0 to a 2-10-2, and they’re reliable, quiet runners and very decent pullers.
I’m not much into diesels, but I have had some Athearn BB diesels some years back, and though they were a little noisy, they were very good runners.
The Bachmann Spectrum line is relatively inexpensive for the quality. I’ve got several and am very pleased with them, though I’ve heard some complaints on the forum about their quality control.
Tom
bachmann has been good for me.
Bachman has a new line of DCC HO diesel engines that run $29-35 depending on where you get them. There are a number of them at the club and everyone is pretty well impressed for the price. Every one works well.
i have had good luck wiht the proto2000 line. the most i ever paid was $45 at a show. usually trainworld has the older (but still NIB) models at a significant discount. and if you look long enough, some really good deals on them can be found at a certain auction site.
of course, i have had the dreaded ‘cracked gears’ on them, but Walthers promises to make good on the warranty. LifeLike made good when i called them a couple years ago.
As for steam, i have an IHC 2-6-0 that’s been awesome! paid $50 for it at a show.
Dean
For steam, Bachmann Spectrum engines are at least relatively cheap and reliable. You might have to pay $75-100 for one on ebay or a flea market, as opposed to half that for one of their ‘standard’ Bachmann engines, but it will last a long time and run very smoothly .
For diesel, the new Atlas “Trainman” line looks good, it’s just coming out now. It uses the very very good Atlas motor/drivetrain etc. but slightly less detailed bodies. Still look very good, and I’m sure like all Atlas engines will run for decades.
Athrean blue box. I’m on a tight budget so I know. Avoid all lifelike products not under the proto categories. Bachmann & IHC diesels suck but their steam is pretty moderate.
An athrean BB loco Is about $30, will pull like a charm, handle well on grades & looks decent enough to bring to your friend’s layouts. Their drawback is that they sound like an unserviced alco.
I ought to get one sometime for that price, although I have pre-ordered the new Atlas S1 in CGW, the P2K might be worth checking out.
Athearn Blue box engines are in my oppinion your best bet. I have a number of them and love them. They do not have the best detail, but they just keep running and running and running … they tend to be a little noisyer but it dosnt really bug me, and kids would not care i would think. They are sturdyer than the Proto 2000 locos also. less details to be broken off, and thicker shells.
Walthers trainline locos are also great. much quieter than the athearns, but less models avalable.
I would highly recomend either.
~matt
Athearn Blue Box kits – These can be had for $25 to $45 depending on where you shop. Try Trainworld, Standard Hobby or MBKlein websites. If you are uncomfortable purchasing from a website you can call these people. Just make sure you know the item number and roadname before you call.
IHC – These are probably the most reliable steamers in the $50 to $75 range. They don’t give you much in the way of detail but, if it is detail you want you will end up spending $250 or more for a Broadway Limited.
The new Bachmann DCC equipped diesels – Wow, I keep expecting the one my parents got for my son to fall apart. It hasn’t yet. Maybe they finally listened to us and stopped producing junk. They are priced well and reliable. Previously everyone knew to stay away from Bachmann diesels.
IHC steam engines are the best inexpensive steam engines you can get. Some of them have a pretty good amount of detail, like the 2-6-0 and 4-8-2.(former Pemco steamers with IHC drive) The IHCs are smooth and quiet, and pull enough cars to look realistic.[:D]
You’ll hear a lot about IHC diesels being terrible, but with a little work, they’re not bad at all. I have a C-628 (their cheapest one) and it runs extremely smooth and it’s quiet.[:D] It also has a good amount of pulling power. Their best diesel is the SD35, (also former Pemco) which has a metal frame, smooth and quiet drive, dual flywheels, body mounted couplers, directional lighting and decent detail. If you gear it down, it could be a very nice inexpensive diesel.[:D]
Here are a some reviews that may help:
IHC 2-6-0, http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=43309
IHC C-628, http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=43128
Walthers GP9M, http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=42992
Bachmann 4-8-4 Niagara, http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=44102
Atlas/Roco SD24, http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=60496
Tyco Super 630, http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=47685
Some speed corrections, http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=58482
Some better quality:
Spectrum 8-40CW, http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=53298
Spectrum F40PH, http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=45364
Atlas 8-40B, http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=60962
Genesis F3A, http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=62037
Bachmann’s standard diesels look like they’re getting very good. they now have metal frames, knuckle couplers, Spectrum motors, all whee