I bought ours as an inexpensive locomotive the kids can run. I'm not much of a fan, although the details that RMT added are nice. The kids would go nuts if I ever got rid of it.
I greased the worm gears. Would that cause the bucking and stumbling when the train is "cold"?
Jim
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
Don
Bob Nelson
My PRR version runs very smoothly and quietly at all speeds. I'm totally satisfied with my example although there are a few cons that others might complain about.
1) Low high speed. Upside of this is you will never flip one off the rails no matter how tight a curve.
2) Very little pulling power. Totally expected though. It's not a heavy engine and really starts laboring when connected to 3-4 PW cars
3) Doesn't like large switches. The close spacing of roller pickups makes them stall on 072 & #5 Altas switches. Hardwiring a lighted caboose together with the BEEP solved this.
I'll be a RMT repeat customer when I see some BEEF's in PRR livery at the LHS.
Bruce Webster
RT FAN,
They say that they have fixed the problems and GIZ love em but I'm a little turn off.
laz57
laz 57 wrote: I am probably the only guy here who doesn't like em. Got one when they first came out down at YORK. The couplers wouldn't turn on the curves and always derailed. Ended up selling it to a guy who didn't run trains but collected em. E-mail RMT twice, and never heard anything from them. Won't give you two cents for one.laz57
I am probably the only guy here who doesn't like em. Got one when they first came out down at YORK. The couplers wouldn't turn on the curves and always derailed. Ended up selling it to a guy who didn't run trains but collected em. E-mail RMT twice, and never heard anything from them. Won't give you two cents for one.
laz, that IS disappointing. Thanks for the information.
They are less expensive if ordered from a dealer. I bought mine from Jim's Trains in Homer, PA.
I've been trying to gently persuade Walter to do an Army BEEP in the solid red livery with white lettering and zebra stripes that is used on so many contemporary Army units, but haven't had much success with that effort yet. I'll keep trying!
I remember seeing those at Potomac Yards in Alexandria during the runup and aftermath of the Gulf War in 1991.
Thanks to both of you for the information. I have always wanted an Army or Navy switcher combination - I very much like the PW gray Navy scheme - and this seems like just the ticket for about $100 total.
Alan, if you have that many you must indeed be well satisfied.
Is it best to order direct from RMT, or do you do something else?
Mine stutters and balks until it warms up. Then it runs smooth as silk.
If they weren't great little locomotives, and very affordable, I probably wouldn't have more than a dozen of them in my collection already. As a matter of fact, I received an e-mail from RMT's Walter Matuch just this morning advising me that my latest order--another Army BEEP and matching caboose--was heading my way today.
Great little engines that are nicely done and that perform well--at least that has been my experience. Three of my favorite locomotives are the RMT BEEP, the K-Line Plymouth, and the Lionel Dockside. I obviously like the smaller stuff!
I had originally dismissed these as sort of Dinky Toys type of engines, but I do believe I am coming around on this subject. I can well see a neat combination of the Army Transportation BEEP and the Army caboose having a place on my layout.
What experience has anyone had with the BEEPs, pro or con? I would appreciate all comments on the issue - quality, power, graphics, derailing issues, etc.. Thank you very much.
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