Just starting out in model railroading and what brand do you recommend for steam era loco’s?
Was thinking of a bachmann spectrum K4 but have heard some not so good things about bachmann, any help would be appreiciated.
[#welcome]
BLI, Bachman Spectrum, Proto heritage and even MTH make good quality and affordable steamers in HO scale. I have 2 of the K4 locos from Bachman. One is the old split frame early design and runs real sweet. The other is of the newer design and was light in the feet. I added just a small amount of weight and now it pulls much better.
http://www.broadway-limited.com/
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewCat&catId=10
If you want to go the loco kit route than Bowser and Roundhouse kits come to mind.
Pete
I am quite happy with my Broadway Limited Blueline Light USRA Mikado, but the choice finally depends on what type of road, operation and era you intend to model.
The Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0 seems to be also a good starter loco.
I have 8 steam locos and have been happy with all of them, Among them is a Bachmann K4. It can pull 8 HW weighted 80-85 ft passenger cars with no problems. I’ve also had it pull 24 freight cars just for kicks and it doesn’t complain at all. Others in my roster are from IHC, P2K, PCM and one custom-build. I guess I’ve been fortunate to have had no problems with any of these.
BTW, welcome to the forum.
Bachmann enjoys a good reputation in their Spectrum line, and I would have to say it is deserved. Unfortunately, my one experience with a Spectrum loco was not very satisfactory. It was the J Class 4-8-4 which didn’t want to run correctly.
I have a PCM articulated engine that is all metal, and it is a wonderful item. I also have several BLI steamers, including two from their refurbished deals outlet (see their site). Their BlueLine has been quite popular in terms of pleasing most users, although many report that fiddling with two decoders is a tough learning curve if you want to operate them in DCC. I stayed away because I have enough demands on my stress in the hobby without adding twin decoders to a single engine. That’s just me…clearly many others are cappy hampers with the BlueLines, which are exactly like the Paragons except for the DCC sound and motive capability.
I have a Trix Mikado which is a nice engine, but I find it a bit light on its feet…odd in view of its all-metal construction. Smooth as silk, and looks great! I also have a Proto 2000 Heritage 0-6-0 with a Tsunami “light” steam decoder installed. It is a gem.
Rounding out my roster are a Lionel HO Challenger and Rivarossi C&O Allegheny, both strong and reliable engines. The Allegheny is rivalled only by the PCM Y6b and the Heritage 0-6-0 in terms of details added, but I would have to give it the nod…maybe because there’s so much more of the beast to look at. [:P]
-Crandell
The Bachmann Spectrum steamers are all very good quality, good detail, good mechanisms. Bachmann also makes a lower quality line that is marketed as plain “Bachmann” without the Spectrum name. I have a Consolidation (2-8-0) Bachmann Spectrum that is one of my best runners. The K4 is a fine model but you should be aware that the K4 is a distinctive Pennsylvania RR locomotive, used by no other railroad. If you are modeling the Pennsy that’s fine, but it looks odd to many model railroaders to see a K4 on anything but Pennsy rails.
Equally good value is had in the IHC steamers. They all run well and last. The detail is not quite as rich as the Bachmanns, but the price is correspondingly lower.
Another good deal is Mantua. Although Mantua is recovering from going out of business, they made an enormous number of locomotives over the years which are still available used at train shows. An old one may require some tinkering to get it running again, but this is not hard. The new ones are OK but pricey, the older ones can be real deals.
Bowser made marvelous steamer kits for many years before announcing end-of-production just this year. Should one (either built up or as a kit) turn up it is worth buying.
Broadway Limited makes excellent steamers if you can afford them.
[#welcome] from me as well!
I have had 11 steam engines, 2 PCM, 2 Athearn Big Boy’s, 5 BLI’s and 2 Bachmann. I never had to tear a part,return or send back a Bachmann! They where GS-4 and where good runners, little lite in the loafers. After adding some weight I got them to drag 19 cars. Reason I sold them is I went DCC and the GS-4’s would have taken to much work. They where not Spectrum, nor there cheap ones. I have forgotten what line they where, sold them 2 years ago.
Far as BLI and PCM, I love them but! I have had to fix or send back all but one for repairs.
Cuda Ken
What type of operations are you planning, and what size of layout?
For a small layout, a starter steam loco, or just a great switcher, I don’t think you can beat the Walthers/LifeLike Heritage 0-6-0 and 0-8-0. I have several of each, both with and without factory DCC/sound. No problems ever with any of them. They run great, even real slow through complex swithces, and the detail is superb.
For a mainline engine, I recomend the BLI USRA 2-8-2, as a top quality starting point. I have several of these as well (both light and heavy), and again, no problems ever, and top notch detail.
Both of these can be had for around $100-$150 each if you look in the right places.
Here are some of my other experiences.
I had one Athern genesis 2-8-2. It had wheel gauge problems and just wasn’t as nice as I expected.
I have one Spectrum 2-8-0. It had a loose belt gear, which had to be reglued, and sloppy solder joints that fried a decoder, and had to be resoldered. It’s much better now.
I have one Spectrum K4 which runs OK, but wobbles and shakes. Not in the same class as the others for running and detail. Detail is better than IHC IMO, but running is “six of one”, but different issues.
I’ve had two IHCs. One 2-6-0 camelback, which ran much better than I expected, but had crude detail. I currently have a 2-8-0, which is OK, but starts fast and has the detail issue. Again, not in the same league as BLI or Heritage, even for the price difference. It’s kind of hard to find these that aren’t marked way up in price, as well.
I have a slew of other BLI products that are PRR specific. The only ones that aren’t quite up to snuff are the early M1 4-8-2s, I am hoping a chip update will remedy that. The K4 and I1 models are OUTSTANDING. However they are double or tripp
Thanks for all the replies,
from all the opinions I think I will be going with the bachmann spectrum K4, and a BLI blueline M1 4-8-2 or Light mikado 2-8-2
Ps. I am modeling the PRR so the K4 will fit in.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I would like to hear back from you in a while to get your impressions. Each new voice here tells a story and imparts useful knowledge and opinions.
-Crandell
Hi!
I can’t add anything new to what’s already been posted, but will give my view…
For steam locos, the biggest influence as to what manufacturer you go with is the railroad you are modeling. Athearn, Bachmann Spectrum, BLI, Proto 2k are all pretty good, but each has their own unique loco types and roads.
I’ve got a few BLI Santa Fe locos, and am very happy with them. Given they are DCC with sound, they were a bit expensive at roughly $300 each. I’ve also got some Bachmann Spectrum (make sure its Spectrum as it is their premium line) locos and for the money, they can’t be beat. Athearn Genesis and the Lifelike Proto 2000s are excellent as well.
If money is a problem, I would skip the steamers for now and get some first generation locos like Alco RS units, EMD F and E units, and some of the many early diesel switchers.
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
Another slobbering pennsy fan? Me too!!!
If you want PRR steam than BLI and Bowser are the big ones. Wait a few months and you can get an I1sa from BLI in their Paragon 2 line. I have 3 of the original ones and all are great. BLI has put some great ready to run PRR steamers. M1a and b, T1, K4s J1, I1s and I1sa and the L2s mikado. Bowser had kits for almost every Beplair boiler from A to T. Some kits are still available. Look for the Q2 from BLI to be out. Proto put out a USRA 0-6-0 in pennsy paint and they also released the 2-8-8-2 that was bought from N&W. Their 2-10-2 came out in PRR paint but there was no matching prototype on PRR rails. Some say it resembles the N2s but needs work to detail it out. All N2s were converted to Belpair boilers after shortly put into service. IHC 2-10-2 is totally bogus and should be avoided.
Contact me off list and I can send you some real useful links.
Pete
Just FYI the proto Heritage 2-10-2 is a USRA 2-10-2, PRR class N2, correct for the short time prior to the conversion from radial stay fire box.
Unfortunately this is a small window from about 1920 to the conversion process (which started in 1924 and finished in 1928), precluding any radial boilers from running in conjunction with diesels. IIRC PRR had 130 of them, making it a somewhat significant class.
Interestingly, PRR never converted the USRA 0-6-0 B28s, the USRA 2-8-2 L2s, or the 2-8-8-2 HH1s they got from N&W (which was the basis for the USRA design of that wheel arrangement).
Neither the USRA design, nor the homegrown N1 2-10-2 were generally used East of Pitssburgh.
Looks like mods would be high headlight and PRR pilot.
Dmacleod66, I have a BLI Paragon M1-A and it is a great puller. It strong point is it weak point, it will pull like a small bear. But, the center gear is weak and will crack. When I first got mine the center gear went bad in the first week. When I opened up the engine, not a drop of oil on the center gear! Any BLI steamer I will ever buy will be opened up and lubed before it hits the tracks. 4 of my failures with with BLI have been do to lack of lube. But they are good about sending the parts for free if you can do it your self.
Cuda Ken
If the K4 is what your after (a very nice choice by the way) there is nothing wrong with a Spectrum. They are affordable and run fairly well and the detailing isn’t all that bad.Yes Spectrum’s do have their problems but I will say one thing for Bachmann they don’t give you a single bit of problem replacing or repairing one of their loco’s at least that has been my experience. A little slow but you’ll get it eventually.
If you have more money to spend then the MTH version is a very nice locomotive. I am not sure if any of the other manufactures such as BLI or Proto make a K4 but the loco’s they do make are nicely done at a some what affordable price.
If I may make one suggestion, if you can afford it by better quality equipment right form the start and don’t fall in to he trap that many of us have by buying cheaper low end/poor quality stuff just because it’s cheap. You know the old saying you get what you pay for it holds true here too,
A word of advice about buying HO steam engines. Especially if from e-bay or close out discounters.
There is a lot of “old” stock engines from the various manufactures, especially in the Proto line in their Heritage series steamers.
Many of the manufacturer’s first run of engines had problems that were later fixed in other releases.
Check which release the engine you are interested in was manufactured. Note that the Proto Heritage models from the first releases were very light and had little pulling power. Later releases had traction tires on drivers as an optional item.
Also prices vary greatly, search around before you buy.
Excellent choices.
I have the Bachmann Spectrum K4, it is an excellent engine all around, superb detail for a plastic model, runs great, amazing sound. If you buy one of these, I don’t think you will regret it. And as someone else pointed out, Bachmann has great warranty policies.
The M1 4-8-2 by Broadway is I think one of the best engines to buy as an introduction to running steam in HO. Its the perfect size and fits very well on most layouts. The sound quality of most BLI steamers is unrivaled.
I wish you the best of luck, it sounds like you know what you’re looking for, and with those selections starting out, you won’t go wrong. This is the best hobby in the world, have fun!
I would also put a vote for Bachmann Spectrum and Walthers Proto 2000 engines. My Bachmann is N&W J Class - and runs fairly smooth. Just to balance out someone here who had unfortunate experience with it 