I own both Bachmann Shay and Climax. They are great looking and running. Pull like a Mule.
Only problem is moving them off and on track.
Robert - Do you own any Bachmann CLimax locos? I like the looks of that engine very much and just ordered one today from a west coast dealer who is advertising a few unsold units left in stock. I could not find many comments about this model across several LS forums and was wondering what experiences folks had with this engine.
-GB
George,
You will not go wrong with the Shay. A lot of bang for the buck. I have 3 of them including the latest 3 truck version. Follow the startup instructions and lube recomendations and you will get many hours of trouble free service from it. The Bachman heisler is another nice engine. Have 2 of them that all of the plateing is wore off of the wheels and they still run as good as they did when they were new. Plenty of them still available at good prices.
Karl
George, whichever way you go you will be lucky or the exact opposite. I run Aristo, USA, LGB, Bachmann and some of dubious ancestry that have been bashed around. To be fair the only one I've had in for repair has been the LGB sumpter mallet, I bought it off evil bay and now it has been put right it is superb. My LGB mogul and 2-4-0 were bought new and are superb. The Bachmann anniversary 10 wheelers are superb, just don't make them work hard. The USA are all diesels, what can I say, they are the best, never a bad day with those. The Aristo's are a mike which needs bigger than 8' curves - no matter what the blurb says - and the other is a Delton C16 which is just great. So, my friend, grasp the nettle and go buy the loco that you want, the one you have been watching for a month or two, we've all been there. Just another point, all of my LGB's have isolating switches in the cab, as does the Delton C16, very, very handy if you run on analogue, no isolating sections. The USA diesels do as well, but they're very small switches underneath the loco. A point worth remembering. Another point is early aristo mikes had wiring problems and are sold cheap, I sorted mine out and that can be switched off as well now.
Whatever you do, enjoy your new loco.
Cheers,
Kim
i must say that i appreciate all the contributions. this subject is also applicable to me. i have read all the past threads on locomotive preferences and with each new thread i find new (and valuable) experiences that get to shared. with some of the posts matter of fact and some coupled with stories all are very entertaining.
noble
The one person I know who has a Big John says it just runs and runs and runs with no problems.
B'mann has had lube and loose screw issues in the past with the Shay, be sure to check online for tune up and lubing suggestions PRIOR to running it the first time. Its also far more delicate than the Big John but is a good puller and looks far more realistic.
If it was My cash, I'd get the Shay.
Have fun with your trains
Hi guys
Well for my $350 I expect a locomotive that works properly and I would imagine so does every body else particularly if its brand new.
Afraid I cannot comment on this one as I don't have anything bigger than an 0-4-0
its not that I have a small engine policy well I do because I cannot afford anything bigger, other than the day I stumbled on a LGB mallet for a very good price from a reputable source
I had thought about saving and getting a Big John (wonder why)
Now I am not so sure thats good idea after reading this thread.
regards John
The LGB Forney is a very good engine and will pull many cars.
There was just enough room to install a Phoenix sound system in the fuel bunker at the rear and the rear axle was used to snyc the chuff.
I really like my Forney and run it quite often.
No it is not to late Spike. And thanks for the feedback. I am considering a few other locomotives as well. The "Big John" was one I liked and I also wanted to try Hartland. Your feedback gives me some concern. Any others have feedback on Hartland? Good or bad? Although I did have my LGB Toy Train locomotive in the shop waiting repair for 6 months. A problem with getting parts due to the bankrupcy. I have Aristo, LGB and Bachmann, all with pretty good success. Some problems with the 0-4-0 Aristo switcher as it never did run very well. The least bit of dirt caused it to jerk. I am going to order some new wheels for it and hope that will help. I have had an Aristo Little Critter for years and have run the heck out of it. The motor to gear coupling gave out and broke the other day. For now I have it direct connected with brass tubing. I am rambling. Anyway the LGB Forney and the Hartland Princess are two other locomotives that I am considering.
Thanks everyone for your feedback. Please keep it coming.
I hope it is not to late to warn you.
I picked up Hartland's Little Joe for $350.00+ from a hobby shop I delt alot with in Oak Lawn, IL. He moved out of his garage store to Worth Il.
When I ran it on track. it looked good until I slowed it down and took note. One set of drivers ran twice(aprox) as fast as the other.
Living less than 3 miles from Heartland. I called them and explained my problem. I was told to bring it over to them. I did.
I explained and showed the problem to the Clerk there. She did not see the problem and got rude.
A man in the back heard the commotion she put on.
I show him the problem. He took the engine and said they would correct the problem.
I received a call about 6 weeks later to pick up my engine.
When I did. I again tested the engine. Same problem.
The same clerk said, "What do you expect for only $350.00+."
I demanded to speak to the Manager again. He was out of the office.
He wrote me a letter and said if I still was not satisfied to return it to the dealer.
I took the letter with me to the dealer. He said I was past his return window even with the letter. He charged me a very large restocking fee.
I had a LGB alligator at all power settings the two truck turn at the same speed.
So if you are thinking about the Little Joe Test it and observe at low power settings.
Hey guys,
I have had as good success with my Shay as well as my Lil' Critter. I paid less than 150 bucks Canadian for my 45 tonner and it pulls really well. All my Bachmann stuff is awesome. I once borrowed an Aristo Pacific from a friend that did not impress me one bit. To each his own I guess. Nowadays you are pretty safe with most of what is out there. If you buy something and hate the way it runs then set it on the "kitbash" bench. Sooner or later you'll get the urge to cut one up! Relax...it's fun. Cheapest is not always best, and high prices will not guarantee worry free running either. In my experience all the big names make some awesome stuff as well as junk. Buy what you like, and like what you buy. Later eh...Brian.
altterrain wrote: The Bachmann shay is a true to prototype 1:20.3 three foot narrow gauge model with great low speed pulling power. Hartland's Big John is a freelance cross of a class B Dunkirk and Heisler (basically a Dunkirk with the cylinders in the cab but the wheels have siderods like a Heisler) in 1:24 scale narrow gauge and also a reliable puller. You can read up more more on these at http://www.gearedsteam.com/ . A lot of your choice will depend on what scale(s) you are modelling and if you are a "rivet counter" type modeller. I kitbashed my own freelanced 1:22.5 scale Dunkirk using Bachmann parts. -Brian
The Bachmann shay is a true to prototype 1:20.3 three foot narrow gauge model with great low speed pulling power. Hartland's Big John is a freelance cross of a class B Dunkirk and Heisler (basically a Dunkirk with the cylinders in the cab but the wheels have siderods like a Heisler) in 1:24 scale narrow gauge and also a reliable puller. You can read up more more on these at http://www.gearedsteam.com/ . A lot of your choice will depend on what scale(s) you are modelling and if you are a "rivet counter" type modeller. I kitbashed my own freelanced 1:22.5 scale Dunkirk using Bachmann parts.
-Brian
Brian, that is a very nice model you've made there.
Hmm. There are lots of nice ones. What's your taste in steam locos?
I have a Bachmann "Anniversary Edition" 10 wheeler. Nice detail. Reliable. Fairly strong. Handles tight curves. I love all those working pieces on the walchert valve gear.
My Ariso Pacific is a shelf queen decorating a bookstore in Macomb IL. Not because it doesn't run, but because I don't have a place to run it any more. When I did, I put LOTS of hours on it. Very smooth. Strong. Reliable. Forget tight curves with this one.
I got to play with an Aristo Mallet all summer in '05. It was one of the first generation locos. What a machine! Very strong. Very smooth. Very detailed. Very big. Sold it to a guy in Australia, "Thouroughly Brat Tested." Tight curves? Forget it. A small scale friend stopped by the shop one day. As the Mallet rumbled past, he wanted a closer view, so he grabbed the caboose coupler and tried to drag the train backwards. He might get away with that in HO, but nearly hurt hismelf.
The Home of Articulated Ugliness
After going through some less expensive locomotives I am ready to spend a little more and see if I get a little more longevity from a more expensive locomotive. I have been looking at the Bachmann Shay and the Hartland Big John. Any suggestions or do you have a favorite?
Thanks
Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month