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Best Engine

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  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Elgin, IL
  • 3,677 posts
Posted by orsonroy on Friday, April 16, 2004 12:42 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergmiester

I just saw a Proto 2000 Heritage Kanawha 2-8-4. I have never heard anything so quiet before, It ran very well at dead slow, anyone else buy one of these?


Well, I've got six, does that count? [:D]

The new P2K Berkshires (to us NKP fans) are overall great engines. Some of the detailing is off slightly, and the drivers are ugly as sin, but it's overall a fantastic engine, and the best 2-8-4 model ever produced, brass included. (although the upcoming Division Point brass Berks should win that slot when they come out).

Unfortunately, many modelers are experiencing problems with DCC and these engines. I haven't put a decoder in any of mine yet (too busy building the layout!), but the fix would be pretty straightforward, IF you could get the engine apart! If you run DCC, be prepared for a problem child engine, and no simple solution. There have been a few brave sould on various Yahoogroups who have taken the engine apart and fixed the problem, so I'd suggest hunting those threads down.

Ray Breyer

Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 16, 2004 10:50 PM
Hi!
I fix lots of old engines.
Kato is the best. You get what you pay for in engines. I got a huge pile of engines that had been stored for 20 years. The 2 katos ran like new, as soon as I put them on the track. Smooth and steady. They have great detail also.
The Atlas engines were not so good. They didn't store well.
The athearns were ok, but they are easy to get into, clean and maintain. They aren't a bunch of wires and circuit boards. The prices on them are good for what you get.
Motorpurrr
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 17, 2004 2:23 AM
Hi
there has been a lot of comment on brand.
Which I won't comment on having been away from small scale for quite a while
But what I will say is a small to medium sized general purpose locomotive
that can switch run freight or passangers all in the one package
you will get good use out of that type of loco as apposed to the giants of the railway world.
But more important look for reliabilaty followed by reliabilaty you can allways add, remove or change type of details as apropriate at a later date
regards John
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 17, 2004 2:53 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by ben13

Rivarossi is the best there has ever been and ever will be. Period.

I owned the earlier Northern, Challenger & Mallet. All problematic

I now own the New Almighty-Most Powerful Beast of the East, and the recent released
FEF-4-C Northern(Two).

I suspect the P2Ks are top notch but I don't own any as yet. Had my eye on the Berkshire but
it sold off the shelf at my LHS.
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Boston
  • 2,226 posts
Posted by Budliner on Thursday, April 22, 2004 6:26 PM
buchmann + proto 2000 = happy (easy warranty)
kato + rivarossi = sad (crap or no warranty)


POW

B -

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