Loco Troubles and loco opinion

[Anonymous]

1) I have a proto 2k gp9 and I have to press it down or push it a bit the odd time when it stops moving...then it'll start moving again. How can I fix this?

p.s. all the other proto 2k locos I have run nicely but are all newer.


2) I decided while this post was up I ask whats better...proto 2k, atlas, or athearn?

[CP5415]

When was the last time you did any maintenance to it?
ie.. clean the wheels, lube the chassis, clean the track

While Atlas & Proto are better in detailing, I personally find that Athearn are more robust. Athearn's are a basic but decent locomotive. They seem to be able to take more abuse.
A friend of mine was over during the holidays & brought a couple of Atlas locomotives. Gorgeous locomotives. Quiet, smooth runners but I was afraid to touch them for the detail pieces.
It's just my opinion I know, but 90% of my locomotives are Athearn. I trust them, I know how they work.
A former club collegue once told me just after I joined the club, "You can't go wrong with Athearn"
To this day I think he was right.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

its new track but I have never done any maintenance

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by platypus

its new track but I have never done any maintenance

New track does NOT equal clean track, ditto for wheels.

Some P2K locos have an issue with over lubrication from the factory.

QUOTE: Originally posted by platypus

2) I decided while this post was up I ask whats better...proto 2k, atlas, or athearn?

Which ever better suits you model railroading situation, I have some of each, though more Atlas and P2K than Athearn. And don't forget Stewart, Tiger Valley Models, Hobbytown of Boston, Walthers' Roco built locomotives that they no longer offer, and many others.
http://bearlocomo.zoovy.com/
http://www.broadway-limited.com/
http://www.resintrains.com/
http://www.stewarthobbies.com/
http://www.lynnet.com/~tigervalley/

[Anonymous]

Well you would be suprised how quickly some wheels will get crusted over with gunk. five minutes of sanding wood in a remote corner of the baement can bring your empire to a crawl or even stop because of microdust on the railhead. MR has written some good article on loco cleaning and maintanence

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nfmisso

Which ever better suits you model railroading situation, I have some of each, though more Atlas and P2K than Athearn. And don't forget Stewart, Tiger Valley Models, Hobbytown of Boston, Walthers' Roco built locomotives that they no longer offer, and many others.

http://bearlocomo.zoovy.com/
http://www.broadway-limited.com/
http://www.resintrains.com/
http://www.stewarthobbies.com/
http://www.lynnet.com/~tigervalley/

Thanks for the heads up links. A couple of these companies I had never heard of before.

Much appreciated!