Has anyone heard anything about Keystone trains? Good or bad. They have cast metal engine.
Keystones are the same as the recent Buddy L trains, the engine is all plastic with a this metal casing over the boiler, they dont have the best drives, like a Bachmann of 10 years ago. I have had 2 now, one Buddy L that I ended up selling off, it ran well enough on my flat outdoor layout, and a newer Keystone circus train, which on my now gone indoor layout couldnt make it around the layout, I had 4% grades and it with any cars behind it it would stall and the wheels would just spin, this was due to it being too light weight wise. I could only get the engine, tender and the bobber caboose around the layout and that was begrudgingly. I've read adding lead birdshot to the airtanks on the engine or adding self adhesive tire weights under the boiler have been offered as solutions to this issue. The drive frame has been reported to crack over time, mine havent so far. The engine will not run unless the tender is plugged in, sound is not too bad but I never used sound anyways. When painted realisticly it looks pretty good, its big and impressive when on the tracks but it is what it is, a low cost engine that has limits on what you can expect of it. Given that, it is a good low cost entry to large scale - I wouldnt pay MSRP though, look around, these engines were being sold online at $75 which is about what they are worth. A newer Bachmann 4-6-0 can be found for around $130, this is a much better choice as the newest 4-6-0s are great performers for the money.
Have fun with your trains
Vic, Is there anything about G that you don't Know
Dave
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
dwbeckett Vic, Is there anything about G that you don't Know Dave
About the only thing he don't know is how to keep the rails in the dirt. (If you don't understand that one, read back for posting of the "ever shrinking railroad"
Tom Trigg
ouch!
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