Few questions on large scale...

[Anonymous]

(from another forum)
I have been searching the forums all day and still at a loss...

I was thinking of going with a new LGB steam/sound engine with MTS, but now I am not sure what is a good choice.

TBH, I do not really plan on having more then one engine running at this moment. However, later down the road I may want to... So I am not sure what is a good choice for now. I do have a older engine that stopped running (But am trying to get it fixed) so I guess I could always slap him on aswell if he gets running again.

The things I forsure want right now is, sound and steam... Thats pretty much it.

Should I go with another brand besides LGB? Or just get a cheap LGB engine and add in sound, or just buy one of the $500 engines that have it all? Wait on a the multi train system, or get it or try out a different system? Tthat way I am ready if I go with more engines...

Sorry if my question format is a bit messy, I am just a bit lost and confused..
Thanks,

[gvdobler]

I have a 20 year old LGB that was sick. I emailed LGB America and asked for a blow up parts diagram and they emailed it back to me. I put a new motor in it for about $70, cleaned it real well and put new electrical pick ups (those spriny things that ride the rails.) Now it runs like new and I am happy.

I also ran a new one with sound that sells for about $800 at a run and it was very nice.

I think I would look at one with sound if I was going to buy a new one. The also have the tender with sound in a powered unit and a non-powered unit that might work with your older engine. It sells for around $200.

I happen to like the LGB brand but there are other brands that are good. Look and run before buying if you can.

Good luck.

[Curmudgeon]

I run a small railroad in my backyard.
I only do radio battery.
I always tell folks to buy an LGB engine less sound, add a good aftermarket unit and pocket the extra.
Then, when you do radio it, you can real-time all functions.

I still run my first engine, an LGB 2018D from over 20 years ago, my second, a Bachmann RGS 4-6-0 now a BBT 2-8-0, and my third, another LGB 2018D.
Now, these 2018D's won't be recognized as such, with later smokeboxes, painted black, lettered for my railroad with operating backup ling and oil bunker, and switching pilots, but they are, and on what I believe to be original blocks, altho 3rd motors.

For the money (and detail, and fidelity to scale), buy Bachmann.

The vast majority of mine and my operators are Bachmann.

Get near Seattle, call me.

TOC

[kstrong]

Start simple, i.e., a regular power supply running any locomotive on the market that suits your fancy. You can worry about bells and whistles (literally) later. There's very little on the market today that I wouldn't recommend as a starter locomotive. Find something that visually appeals to you, buy a circle (or more) of track, a decent power supply, and a few cars to go behind the locomotive.

MTS is LGB's proprietary DCC system. I wouldn't go that route, instead I'd opt for something a bit more universal that can be installed in any locomotive, regardless of manufacturer. And if you're only looking to run one locomotive, DCC's a waste of money.

Later,

K

[kimbrit]

Hi Kellis,
If you are only looking to run one loco at the moment check out the aristo train engineer, not the basic one, the multi channel one. I have had one for a couple of years and it is superb, I run one train at a time. The beautiful thing about it is if you want to expand it has around 100 channels and by using the aristo receivers you can control switches, locos on other circuits etc. Digital it isn't, but the prices are very reasonable and they are well made. Train wise I always reccomend people start out with LGB, it does what it says on the box.
Cheers,
Kim

[Anonymous]

Here is another question to start with, Will any "Large scale" train run on my old lionel brass track? I know LGB does, but I wasn't sure if everybody keeps the same wheel base or not.

I checked into a couple of companies, I narrowed it down to two...

Bachmann:
Baldwin Industrial 2-6-0 Mogul and Tender $200
Only problem with this is that I am not sure if it has steam or sound.

LGB:
20232
UP 2-4-0 Steam Loco, Sound $218.99
I was also thinking of:
24194 LGB B&O Mogul Steam Loco, Sound $694.99 but not sure if it is worth the extra money other then it is just more pretty


Is it hard to add in sound or steam if an engine does not have it?

[Petero46532]

I would stay away from the Bachmann Indy (2-6-0). While it's a fairly nice detailed locomotive, it has very limited pulling power and a very basic sound system that gives a simulated chuff (better than nothing).

Generally the best place for a beginner in LS scale is with the Bachmann Annie (Anniversay) 4-6-0. This is a decent puller, nicely detailed (smoke, brass bell, working lights), has the same basic sound system as the Indy, but is very easy to upgrade (lots of space in the tender) to something more sophisticated (Soundtrax Siera) and cheap ($140) if you shop around. You can spend a lot more (and I have) to buy LGB Moguls, but for a first engine the Bachmann is a great place to start and leaves money over for rolling stock, track, power supply etc

The LGB 2-4-0 has it's fans (I frankly think it too caricature like), but be careful, the one in the sets does not include sound, and the one that does has a kind of dumbed down version of the high end LGB sound system. Hear it before you decide.

Many choices and we've not touched 1:22.5 vs. 1:20.3.

If you need lots of help and have one available, use a hobby shop. If you want to save lots (and I mean lots) of money, use the internet to get answers, buy from the major online retailers (ex. Trainworld.com, St Aubin (www.lgbpola.com))

Keep this is mind anything you buy you can sell if you change you mind. I've made several "mistakes" and eBay has allowed me to recoup most of my money.

Welcome to the hobby. Peter

[Anonymous]

LGB seem determined that we'll all have MTS pre-installed, thankfully the decoders don't prevent the locos from running on DC power and do have a useful side effect - the headlights are now constant-intensity while the loco is moving. My personal objection is on cost grounds - they add £100 to the price of a large twin-motor loco, for something that I don't use. Thankfully they do seem to be offering some locos with either DC, MTS, or MTS/Sound fitted so the consumer has a choice - I'd be intrigued to hear the respective sales figures. I should perhaps point out that I don't have any argument/complaint with DCC or MTS - I use DCC in my HO models and will probably expand it to my G scale at some point. However, for the time being I'd rather have a loco I can afford minus "bells and whistles", and given I'd have to replace the MTS decoder anyway I might as well buy the "basic" ones and fit DCC decoders later on.

I can strongly recommend "Stainz" if you like the European models - that's the little 0-4-0 in the starter sets, usually with a couple of 4-wheel passenger cars or a crane and flatbed with a Unimog loaded. Testing by a member of another forum I frequent showed that these locos could handle 40-odd axles, well in excess of the prototype. They're also nearly indestructible so long as you maintain them properly (a drop of oil here and there) and I've heard reports of them lasting 20 years or longer. The sound unit may not be to your taste but it's easily switched off if unwanted, and doesn't impact the running qualities of the loco.

[Curmudgeon]

Ah, but be carefull of built-in MTS on track power.
ANY PWC on the track and they can open the smoke door and it's all over with.
Some are $150 for the board, NOT covered under warranty.

Get something else.

And think hard about dcc outdoors.
Like, don't.

Had a discussion last night, the best packet transfer they've tested has been 40%.
Track cleaning issues just for signal is far more critical than track power.
Also, be aware (and wary) of outfits that claim "based on nmra dcc".
That is just as true as a Yugo being based on a Mercedes.
4 wheels, motor, transmission, and w/s wipers.
Some are NOT nmra dcc, even though they way act like it.

Also, for operation in all weather, be careful of knob control.
A) Water ingress at the shaft, and B) VERY dificult to turn the knob if it's in a plastic zip-lock baggie.

TOC

[Anonymous]

I guess I should have posted from the get go that nothing will be outside.

Sorry to be changing my mind all the time everybody... But I am starting to think about really having more then one train in the end.

Right now, I plan on putting money down to buy a new one. I hope that my old one can still be fixed, but if it cannot then I will just buy another engine once I get that far.

I tried to find a site that sells large scale DCC stuff but all I found was pretty much every other scale...
I guess DCC works like MTS on what type of stuff you need to buy (controller, powerbase etc). Here is what I am thinking of doing now after reading what other people said...

Buy a cheap loco (in this case it will be one that has MTS installed), run that until I get my other stuff ready, then add in DCC decoders on my new loco and my 2nd loco once it runs. Then order up the powerbase and what not then set it running... Does that sound like it would work well?

On another note... This isn't my first time ever plaing with a train. I do have a starter set that came from lionel like... 15+ years ago. (that is the loco I am trying to fix and I still have the rolling stock from that set). So even though I am pretty green, I am kinda ready for something more... It has just been awhile since this set has ran lol...

Okay, that is pretty much it for now, again, sorry for me to keep running you all around in circles...

Thanks,
Rich

[Anonymous]

Oh and the engine I am now looking at is LGB SBB Brünig HG 3/3 Rack Steam Loco 21470.

It has a DCC decoder interface so I am thinking that makes install easier?...
If anybody familier with this unit? Does it run well on "analog" track until a person is set-up for DCC?

Thanks once again folks.

[Anonymous]

The Brunig loco is widely reported as being a fine performer - as you predict it'll have a socket to make a decoder installation simple, though it'll behave well on DC until then. One thing to beware of is curve radius - LGB claim that all their stock will handle R1 curves, which isn't strictly accurate. It'll go round, but not happily in the case of longer locos like this one - expect a lot of flange squeal and possibly wear to the track in the long term. The Brunig is one of two locos so far (the other one being the yellow Bernina railcar) that they're offering with a choice of electronics packages - a welcome change!

[Anonymous]

As far as DCC in the Garden, I've found it to work more reliably than straight DC. I run it and am very happy with it. Alot of people in northern climes don't seem to like it, but here in Florida it works very well.
Also, if you are interested in diseaseals, check out Ridge Road Station. www.rrstation.com , they have the Bachmann 44 ton center cab switcher for $65. You can't beat that price anywhere!