HO Locos That we all Like and Use.

[CP5415]

Having bought nothing but Athearn BB for the first 5 years after getting back into the hobby, I know have begun to look at Proto's offerings as well as Athearn's RTR series as well.
Still waiting to see if I really want anthing from Kato or Atlas

Gordon.

[railman]

Athearn is good, Con cor engines were debatable, but they made the Milwaukee pass. cars to pull behind a nice Athearn FP 45.

[Anonymous]

I voted P2K, only because I have several of their diesels, and I have been quite happy with them.

A C&O SW9 was my first, and its been great. I picked it up 5-years ago, and it still runs good.

Alvie.

[Anonymous]

Davidyoung, to the best of my knowledge, only Kato, Atlas and Intermountain have not yet produced a steam locomotive in HO scale. If they do, the models should be pretty nice if they did there homework.

Since 1998, steam modeling has really taken off in popularity. And that can only be a good thing.

Alvie.

[Anonymous]

It appears as if this poll has predetermined that people like and use diesels rather than steam locomotives. All of those manufacturers produce diesels but only a few of them make steam engines...

[jfugate]

My layout is going on 14 years old and the Katos have stood the test of time. The P2K's looked nice and ran pretty well at first, but have gone down hill fast as they have aged. The P2Ks have developed serious power pickup issues with age.

This is on my HO Siskiyou Line where we've held regular operating sessions for 7 years now, approximately once a month. We started with CTC-80 command control and then went to DCC in 1993 and been happily using DCC ever since.

[Anonymous]

Bachmann rocks !

[Anonymous]

Another 'other' here, only because Stewart would be my first choice and it's not on the list. My current active collection is just about equally split between Stewart and Atlas. The Atlas locos are mostly 10 year old Kato units, with two new FM Master series engines added to the mix.

I've also got a few Atlas and Athearn BB locos that I used to use but are in storage for now because I've backdated my new layout to the 50's and their paint scheme isn't right for the period. May get around to repainting them some day when I get more comfortable using an airbrush.

[AntonioFP45]

Have had Athearn and Atlas units since the 70s. Also have Model Power and Stewart Hobbies.

The units that have really won me over due to the COMBINATION of:

[1] Body Detailing ( I'm still excited about "doors that open" as that was another 1970s
fantasy)
[2] Heavy Chassis Weight /Pulling Power/ Momentum
[3] Quiet performance
[4] Affordability

Proto 2000 for me, hands down!!

I know that the Stewarts and Katos are high in quality but I also like a good balance of the above. I've paid more for some Athearn BB units than my P2Ks.

I'm especially impressed with the E-units! I enjoy seeing them run, now if only I had Tsunami decoders to install in them!

The only headache I've run with P2K is on my GP9. Apparently axle housings that crack are a common problem on some of the earlier units (correct me if I'm wrong). It's been suggested that LifeLike get away from "press fit" housings and go with a "D shape" plastic housing.

[orsonroy]

I voted other. I like all sorts of engines, so long as they're steam, operate well, and are close to the prototype (less work for me to superdetail them!). So far, engines like that, which I own, are made by Life Like P2K, Bachmann Spectrum, BLI, United, Oriental, Division Point, Alco, Bowser, Roundhouse and Athearn. While my "favorite" engine is an United NYC H-5a Mike, I use my BLI USRA heavy Mikes and P2K Berkshires more.

[BRAKIE]

While I have Atlas,Athearn(BB & RTR),Atlas/Kato,Kato,P2K,Stewart and three Walthers I found the locomotive I use the most is Athearn SW1500.[:D]

[cacole]

It used to be P2K for diesels, or Bachmann Spectrum for steam, but now is Broadway Limited steam. I don't do diesels anymore.

[jwmurrayjr]

Bachmann, MDC, IHC, Rivarossi. Not in that order.

[Anonymous]

I voted other. Right now I'm still running in an E R Models/Roco FP7 and Sharknose, both are excellent locos, though I'd probably not be so impressed if I'd had to pay full retail price (found them heavily discounted - £30 as opposed to £80). Also working on a Bachmann F7 which I bought used last week - it's also a great runner, I've only had to do some cleaning of pickups/wheels, add some oil to the bearings, and give the bodyshell a quick wash - it now runs smoothly and silently and can pull pretty much anything.

[twhite]

Voted Other, simply because the two locos I love and use the most are a pair of 1960 vintage brass imported Yellowstones from a manufacture long gone called AKANE. I model steam exclusively, so I've got some new ones from Rivarossi, P2K, Bachmann, BLI which I like very much, but still, when it gets to rolling out the long reefer blocks on my railroad, I always end up backing my Yellowstones up to the train. I'm stil searching for more, hope to have a whole fleet of them before God says "Hey, come on up, I reserved the biggest garage you ever saw for those trains."

[Anonymous]

Kato, Altas, P2K, Stewart, and more recent Athearn are all great locomotives, I'm thinking of getting a Kato SD70MAC sometime, as well as a Athearn SD45T-2.

I run my Genesis F-units quite a bit as well, I'd like to do some improving to the drive though.

[Anonymous]

I really enjoy my Rivarossi FEF-3. I also use my Spectrum 4-8-2 a lot, as well.

[Anonymous]

My fleet of Atlas GP38's are flawless, and I love my Kato's too, but don't forget about the unmentioned Stewart engines also! An ABBA set of Stewart f-units run smooth, quiet and strong. Plus DASR decoders from NCE are simple to install![:D]

[darth9x9]

You can't beat the Atlas Master Series with the detail, decoder equipped and performance for the price. I wi***hey would come out with a GP-40-2 soon!!!

[Anonymous]

What do you like.