freeLancing BNSF, basically around Chicago area.
have a main line with 6 axle Kato BNSF DCC locos
prefer Kato
issue, so few with DCC
no hobby shop near me installs
am afraid to install DCC and break
need some 4 axle locos and switchers for yard
cant seem to find, Kato focuses on the bigger stuff and passenger.
hard to find road names .....I could also use Santa Fe I guess.
do I mix other road names? I don't need to be totally prototypical.
other mfg of engines......atlas....?
also can't believe everyone doesn't use MT couplers.
just getting started and didn't realize it was so difficult to find products. Selection is so limited.
thoughts, suggestions?
Welcome to the forum. Your first several posts are moderated and may not show up for a while.
There are a number of companies who will do DCC installations -- an internet search will offer many options. KATO offers limited models in HO scale, they do more in N scale. There are a number of other quality manufacturers who offer BNSF locos, many with DCC already installed.
Here's a quick search from a well-known on-line retailer. This is what is available new right now.
Because of the very wide variety of locomotives and roadnames available today, most manufacturing runs are limited. This means that resale sites (such as eBay) will offer a wider selection of models to choose from than simply what has been recently produced.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
EFchicagoalso can't believe everyone doesn't use MT couplers.
OP is into N scale. MT = micro trains
I'm not sure of the time period. There isn't much on Ebay with DCC installed. I think widening your standards for manufacturers would be better than getting a hodge podge of different roadnames.
There is a youtube guy TSG Multimedia that has filmed a couple N scale DCC installations. He started as a non MR, filming a former friend who was a MR guy. He then got into MR and had a falling out with his friend.
I will say your first DCC installation is daunting.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Please tell us what scale you are modeling in,
With this statement, I'm guessing N scale?
Mike.
EDIT: OK, Henry's post wasn't there when I replied. N scale it is.
My You Tube
BigDaddyOP is into N scale.
Oops, you're right.
Revised on-line seller search
Not much brand new, but there are hundreds, maybe thousands, on resale sites. Example eBay search
UP would be another major roadname in that geographic area and a broad range of models is offered.
BigDaddyI will say your first DCC installation is daunting.
For hard-wired, this is certainly true. But there are drop-in replacement boards for many locos in N scale that are not as onerous.
"Thoughts, suggestions?"
*cough* *cough* AHEM
Scaletrains!!!
Biases aside...
As a fellow BNSF modeler, I will attempt to enlighten you with my preferred options. Since I model HO scale, some of the below options may notmanufacture the equivalent in N scale. I apologize in advance.
Athearn Genesis makes some nice N scale six axle BNSF stuff. May be way out of your budget, but your purchase will certainly not be lacking in detail...
Athearn Ready To Roll makes some nice budget friendly switchers.
Bowser, Bachmann, Atlas, Kato, Broadway Limited, Intermountain, Fox valley, Rapido, etc are the major MRR manufacturers I can think of. You will have to check out thier websites to see what kind of stuff they have to swindle you with IMEAN offer...
Worst case scenario, there is always 3d printing and scratchbuilding if you really can't stand any of the above options...
Hope this helps
I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.
BNSF UP and others modelerYou will have to check out thier websites to see what kind of stuff they have to swindle you with IMEAN offer...
Spoken like a true "cheap'O" At least your consistant!.
For non Kato N scale locos Scale Trains does some high end, modern, nicely detailed stuff, Atlas also does a good amount of n scale. Just look around. You’ll find something!
FYI Athearn doesn’t have much in N scale, and nothing like their Genesis line.
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
If you have some 6 axle engines, and depending on what time period you model, you can use it in a freight yard. Right now, live in the BNSF Belen, New Mexico freight freight yard is a BNSF SD40-2 in SF paint livery! I watch it at least once a day on YT on a site called 'Virtual Railfan' (I am NOT affiliated with them). Pretty neat to watch and of course to model!
If you read the MR magazine there are a number of reputable dealers that are advertising DCC installations.
Last, if you travel, see if there are any train shows in the area or maybe near you. A one hour ride theses days to go to a good train show can pay off.
Good luck!
Neal
nealknows If you have some 6 axle engines, and depending on what time period you model, you can use it in a freight yard. Right now, live in the BNSF Belen, New Mexico freight freight yard is a BNSF SD40-2 in SF paint livery!
If you have some 6 axle engines, and depending on what time period you model, you can use it in a freight yard. Right now, live in the BNSF Belen, New Mexico freight freight yard is a BNSF SD40-2 in SF paint livery!
Yes, a lot of SD40 and SD38s are used in yard service nowadays. I believe Kato makes a SD40-2 in N scale. You could patch it for BNSF. Do some reasearch to see what road numbers are still in SF paint. BN paint would also work very well! Make sure to give those locos a heavy weathering, especially the SF paint fades heavily!
In N-scale, don't overlook Fox Valley Models. IMO, they are every bit as good as Katos (maybe even better) and the DCC install is easier. The details are finer and they usually offer more road numbers as well.
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
I am on the waiting list to get a BNSF es44ac with Loksound installed. They are supposed to be delivered by Kato in late July.
The katousa.com site does not offer much factory installed DCC.
However, here is a shortcut to the Kato "new release" site:
https://www.nscaledivision.com/kato_new_announcements.htm
Even though the katousa.com site has a button for new releases, it does not go to this page.
I would think that by the end of the summer, we will have a wider selection of DCC Kato with sound.
York1 John
I sympathize with the OP on several points (in approximate order): I model N scale, I model the modern era, BNSF is on my A-list of roads, Kato is on my A-list of manufacturers, and I prefer RTR factory- or pre-installed decoders. But I'm not sure I understand his consternation regarding availability of locomotives meeting some or all of the aforementioned points.
There appear to be plenty available, and I have purchased several recently. From well-known, high-volume, national, internet-heavy dealers and shops. I don't shop the secondary markets or eBay. No commentary intended; I just don't shop there.
Kato offers quite a few, with or without decoders. They have an agreement with Kobo Shops to install high-quality reliable sound- or non-sound TCS decoders, but their DCC-ready locos are fairly close to the plug-and-play variety. I understand the OP's reluctance in this area because I prefer pre-installed, but I have gone the do-it-yourself route with good success, and modern DCC is a lot easier nowadays than it used to be (notice cuyama's comments).
Atlas has upped their game lately and they offer well-detailed locos with pre-installed decoders. Same with Scale Trains. InterMountain offers quite a few very high-quality locos with factory installed sound decoders. I do not have any Fox Valley models, but I have plenty of their replacement wheelsets, and those are top notch; I can easily assume their locos are as well. I plan to buy a Fox Valley GEVO or two (painted in BNSF Heritage 3 Wedge, or maybe UP) in the very near future.
So, I dunno. Shop around. Just my observations. Your mileage may vary.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
Re DCC installation, I always like to point out that if you were able to connect up a PC or Mac and get online and figure out how to sign up for these forums and post a question, you certainly can install and operate a DCC decoder. I know N-scale has fewer engines set up for a "plug and play" installation, but a "drop in" lightboard replacement installation isn't much harder.
As far as what's available for modelling BNSF in Chicagoland, I drive to and from work each day along BNSF's Chicago - Twin Cities mainline. There are still some "patched" ATSF and BN engines around, including two BN SD-60's that always seem to work together. Besides BNSF engines, there's also a lot of run-through power on coal and oil trains. Norfolk Southern engines run on the line very often, including the various "heritage" engines (New York Central, Central of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, etc.). FNM engines from Mexico even show up. Sometimes I'll see a train with BNSF and NS engines up front, and a CP or UP engine on the rear.
p.s. BNSF's Northtown yard in the northern part of Minneapolis I believe still has the same SD-9 diesels working as switchers there that were there (in BN green) when I first visited Northtown in the early 1980's!
BNSF is very active in Wyoming. I am well aware that Wyoming is not Chicago, but I suppose the situations are similar.
I see a lot of GP35s, GP38s, and SD40s with pre-merger paint schemes, particularly ATSF blue and yellow and BN cascade green. Plenty of SD60s and SD70MACs, too. Even the occasional Shouldn't-Paint-So-Fast kodachrome scheme.
My own layout features several SD40-2s, that once proud mainline workhorse now reduced to drayage duty. Patching out and re-stencilling is one thing, but what I'd like to see is a 90% BN green SD40 with a distinctive red-and-silver Warbonnet hood, or a coupla blue doors or radiator grills or something. Such a thing would indicate that there are SD-40s that have been consigned to an even lower fate than drayage: getting cannibalized for parts.
Switchers aren't all that common any more. I'd suggest a GP of some sort. Here in South Dakota even the shortlines use GP40s for yard switchers.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
Bayfield Transfer RailwaySwitchers aren't all that common any more.
I just searched Railpictures.net for SW1500 photos taken between 2010 and 2019 and got 1,009 hits. MP15AC and DC found another 700+ for the same time period.
Less than 100 though if limited to BNSF.
I model Late Transition Milwaukee Road. I have fun picking up odd and ends at train shows. I've found a steamer I re-badged, a diesel road engine, a switcher and an old dummy B F-7.
I put in DCC myself. No problem.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Not trying to hijack this thread, but does relate to OP's comment about DCC. I have some DC engines I would like to install DCC decoders in. It seems most replies here say it is easy. I have watched a few YouTube videos, but sometimes people assume too much foreknowledge. I'm working on an HO scale model of BNSF Chillicothe division to. So anyways specifically what would I need to upgrade a DC engine and how?
OrangemanSo anyways specifically what would I need to upgrade a DC engine and how?
The ease of instalation comments in this thread refer to specific N-scale locomotives. One advantage N-scale has over HO, at least in my experience, is when a manufacturer claims a loco is "DCC ready" it will usually be an easy install. The term in the past has been used much more loosly in HO.
Bottom line is some are simple installs - putting a 6-pin plug in a 6-hole socket. Some are more difficult like locos that have one pole of the motor wired to the chassis.
What you need depends on the specific locomotive you're dealing with. Start a thread over in the DCC section of the forum and ask about your loco. Someone who's done one will respond.