So who makes good steam engines

[Anonymous]

[#welcome]
Broadway Limited. (BLI) Very good quality, sound included, and will work equally well on DC or DCC, it's DCC decoder equipped, but automatically changes to run on DC. High priced, but very well worth it. Unlike others, the sound on DC is available with a control module, called a sidekick, to control the bell and whistle when running DC.

Good Luck
Greg

[Virginian]

I think orsonroy did an excellent summary. If you want more specifics, you'll need to ask.

[orsonroy]

Broadway Limited: good mechanisms, DCC-ready, sound equipped (DC and DCC), decent to excellent detailing. First runs are usually prone to some teething pains, but their customer-service is first rate. Lots of engine-specific prototypes.

Life Like Proto 2000 Heritage steam: good mechanisms, DCC-ready (some DCC-equipped, and some DCC-only sound equipped), good to excellent detailing. These engines rarely have quality-control issues, but they're not the best pullers in the world (except for their 2-8-8-2). Mostly generic USRA prototypes with some road-specific offerings. Life Like makes a few toy train set steamers; stay away from them.

Bachmann Spectrum: good mechanisms, DCC-ready (some DCC-equipped, and some DCC-only sound equipped), good detailing, strong all-around performers. Bachmann invented modern plastic steam, and provided the largest general use steam roster (mostly USRA and Baldwin catalog enignes). Stay away from the Bachmann Silver and "normal" lines of steam engines (they're toy train junk)

Athearn Genesis: OK looks, great drive train, improperly balanced so they don't pull well on grades, prone to drive gear splitting. With some work, become great engines. USRA light Mikado and Pacific only. (Athearn also has a Challenger with DC/DCC sound and a handheld controller. It's said to be great, and completely different from the USRA engines)

Trix: great detailing, OK DCC-only sound, great overall performance, priced WAY too high.

Lionel: Out of the market after one engine, the Big Boy. Apparently, it's a great all-around engine.

IHC: OK looks, decent runners, DCC-friendly, large selection of engines. Great budget steam.

MDC/Roundhouse (now Athearn/Roundhouse): old technology kits (some DCC-ready RTR engine), but they're decent pullers and can be made into really nice engines (with work!)

Bowser: metal steam kits which require a lot of work. DCC-UNfriendly, but fantastic pullers. Can be made into completely accurate models of the prototype with LOTS of work.

Mantua (owned/distributed by Model Power): poor detailing (no real prototypes for most engines), strong pullers, virtually indestructable. Once MP releases them all, there's a large variety of engines.

I'm sure there a couple of others, but they're not important engough for me to remember. In general, the new plastic steam runs and looks great, but suffers from weak pulling power (with certain exceptions). Bachmann Spectrum, BLI and Life Like Proto 2000 are all basically safe bets, and IHC is great for modelers on tight budgets.

[tstage]

~D,

Welcome to the forum!

The real quick answer:

Plastic
- Broadway Limited
- Like-Like Proto 2000 series
- Bachmann Spectrum series
- Athearn Genesis series

Brass
-Bowser

Rivarossi makes some very nice looking steamers but the quality of their motors have been somewhat disappointing, as of late. I returned one of their 0-8-0 Yard goats three Christmases ago for a 2-8-2 Mikado.

Tom

[DigitalGriffin]

I've just dived back in the model rail roading, and I'm not sure who makes a good engine.

So in your opinion, which companies make the best HO-scale steam engines? I'm looking for a solid motor, and quiet mechanics. DCC isn't a must, but would be nice if I decide to go that route in the future.

Thanks,
~D