Wdlgln005 wrote:
Bachmann's Spectrum 2-8-0 would be a better choice, try before you buy.
***Have one & I Like It!
The Kato GS4 looks nice, has some issies with DCC that need to be resolved.
***I run DC so would not have a problem with that aspect of it.
I look to Kato to get it right soon. In the meantime, consider Bachmann's N&W Spectrum J class Northern or their Heavy Mountain.
***Have the Bachmann Mountain & mine runs OK.
The Kato Mikado has been the standard for steamers for the last few years.
***Have it & I Love it. Mine was the early version that didn't come with all those "details" applied though. As soon as I bought mine, Kato started offering them already installed. )
Athearn's Challenger seems to have set the bar for big steam. I hope the Big Boy is as good. Check to be sure they will fit your layout! They could make an excellent UP fleet of fantrip steamers pulling a string of freight cars. Kato makes some UP cars if you want a fantrip engine.
***It would be large for my small layout, but for me it would still be an enjoyable Loco to run now and then, just for the hll of it! Is the SOUND of the Challenger pretty good? Thanks for the heads-up on the Kato UP cars, as I didn't know they made them. I have the old Atlas UP cars and a concor S-2 to pull them with.
If you don't mind a 19th century loco, check out the Athearn/MDC 2-8-0 & 2-6-0's. Athearn did a good job updating the old MDC models with some freight & passenger cars to run with them.
***Have both Locos and Love Them. Mine are excellent runners. Have not found the cars "affordable" yet, but one day hope to find a deal on some. Thanks for the excellent advice.
Rob
Hey all,
Forgive the self promotion, but once a year or so I ask folks to check out my layout web site and comment on the progress as shown in the gallery section. Click on my web link below, where you can see information about the basis for the layout, pics of my work so far, and a blog about how I'm getting along. Let me know what you think, and thanks for checking it out.
Ron
Owner and superintendant of the N scale Texas Colorado & Western Railway, a protolanced representaion of the BNSF from Fort Worth, TX through Wichita Falls TX and into Colorado.
Check out the TC&WRy on at https://www.facebook.com/TCWRy
Check out my MRR How-To YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RonsTrainsNThings
n2mopac wrote:. . . . . . . . . . Click on my web link below . . . . . . . . . .
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
First post on here. I am an N-scaler and I'm working on my first "real" layout based on a design in MR's "N Scale Railroading: Getting Started in the Hobby." The layout is built on an interior door and has been a real challenge.
Here's an overview shot. Sorry for the picture quality, I was in a hurry. As you can see, it's not finished by a long shot.
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
R. T. POTEET wrote: n2mopac wrote:. . . . . . . . . . Click on my web link below . . . . . . . . . . Huh?????
www.saginawandwestern.50megs.com
Flyboy41 wrote:Hey all,First post on here. I am an N-scaler and I'm working on my first "real" layout based on a design in MR's "N Scale Railroading: Getting Started in the Hobby." The layout is built on an interior door and has been a real challenge. Here's an overview shot. Sorry for the picture quality, I was in a hurry. As you can see, it's not finished by a long shot.
Flyboy41.
to the forum.
That's a pretty good lookin' layout that you have there. The greenery on the mountain to the left looks pretty good although these old eyes can't make out to much detail. Keep up the good work.
Blue Flamer.
19th Century, Oldtimer, 0-4-0, Moguls, Decapods, etc?
Anyone have any experience with these in N-Scale?
Can they pull? Can they make grades? All I can find are discussions about if they can be made to run DCC. That is not a big issue for me as I am patient and decoders will get smaller.
I want to know if there are viable 19th Century N-Scale locos for use on an operations oriented layout. If so, I'll block the layout until DCC decoders can be injected into the tender with a nanobot or "beamed" in Trek style.
Has MR done any reviews? I'm not a subscriber (it forces me to visit my LTS monthly) so I am not sure that I could even search that section. Moreover, I would rather hear experience from this part of the forum.
Thanks,
Crews
pcarrell wrote:Hey, I just happened to think (quit laughing!), not everyone may know about this.There is a website that you should probably know about if you're going to play with the vintage stuff in N scale. It's got a great review of many of the earlier loco's, and some more recent, that have been done in N scale. The website is run by a guy who calls himself "Spookshow" and it includes a great N scale encyclopedia, among other things. You can get there by clicking this link here. Enjoy!
Hey, I just happened to think (quit laughing!), not everyone may know about this.
There is a website that you should probably know about if you're going to play with the vintage stuff in N scale. It's got a great review of many of the earlier loco's, and some more recent, that have been done in N scale. The website is run by a guy who calls himself "Spookshow" and it includes a great N scale encyclopedia, among other things. You can get there by clicking this link here.
Enjoy!
Train Stuff (N-Scale)
They man even rates each loco in the N-Scale Encyclopedia on a grade scale where anything less than a "B" means it is not fit for use on an operations oriented layout. This is a big help to me, as would be any experience from the forum regarding my previous post.
cregil wrote: 19th Century, Oldtimer, 0-4-0, Moguls, Decapods, etc?Anyone have any experience with these in N-Scale?
For 19th century old timers, you really have four main choices that I know of. There are a few others, but they're not very plentiful or they have no U.S. prototype, so I'll skip those.
There are the Athearn (MDC used to sell these) loco's (2-6-0 & 2-8-0) that are an 1890's design. They're awesome runners and good pullers, and you can get a small decoder in under the coal load if you thin it out from the bottom side. They are a tender drive, so there is a drive shaft from the tender to the cab, but it's not too obvious. For as good of a puller as these are, it's forgivable. These loco's come out of the box pretty nice, but they really shine with some detailing and weathering.
There is also the current Atlas Mogul that is an 1870's design. It's a decent runner and since the tender is empty it's an easy DCC conversion.
You also have the Bachmann 4-4-0 that is a decades old design. It heralds back to the 1870's too, but it's a very small loco. Believe it or not, you can get a decoder in this diminuative loco! http://www.trainbuddy.com/Reference/decoding%20Engines/N440.htm If you can get a decoder in this, you can get a decoder in virtually anything! It is very light, so it has some electrical contact issues, and due to it's light weight, it's not the best puller.
And the last old timer you will see a decent amount of still available on Ebay is the old Minitrix 0-6-0 Old Timer. It has a very Pennsy Belpier firebox, so be aware of that. It's a decent runner, though it's a bit oversized and it has those large pizza cutter flanges on it. She's a puller though! Don't know about DCC with this one.
Now, you asked about an 0-4-0.......I have an old Atlas one and it's not a bad runner, but it won't pull much.....but then niether did the prototype. Haven't tried a DCC conversion.
And the last loco you mention is a bit of a sore spot for some (like me). The only decapod in N scale is the decades old Minitrix loco. It also has a very Pennsy Belpier firebox, and those pizza cutter flanges to be on the lookout for if you're using finer track. Now the reason this is a sore spot is that a few years ago Bachmann announced they were going to do a Russian Decapod for the Spectrum line, got everyone all excited (like me), then dropped the project because they said they couldn't find a motor for it. That was upsetting news. So still, to this day, only one decapod has ever been made (and it's not without it's flaws) in N scale. We soldier on........
Those are the ones you'll probably see most on retailers shelves and Ebay. Like I say, there's others, but those are the meat and potatoes.
Can they pull?
I'd say that all of these loco's can at least pull the same as their prototype on the flat.....some do quite admirably, like the Minitrix Decapod.
Can they make grades?
Here's where you seperate the men from the boys! They all do OK, except maybe the Bachmann 4-4-0 which struggles, but the Athearn loco's and the decapod are in a class all their own. They are some stump pullers once they're broken in and set up properly.
All I can find are discussions about if they can be made to run DCC. That is not a big issue for me as I am patient and decoders will get smaller.I want to know if there are viable 19th Century N-Scale locos for use on an operations oriented layout. If so, I'll block the layout until DCC decoders can be injected into the tender with a nanobot or "beamed" in Trek style.
You can get a decoder in just about anything now if you want to bad enough. No need to wait.
These pages may help.....
http://www.trainweb.org/nrmrc/dcc/conversions.html
http://www.tcsdcc.com/installation_pictures_and_inform_N_Scale.htm
Has MR done any reviews?
Not that I'm aware of.
Moreover, I would rather hear experience from this part of the forum.
Well, you've got my now!
And BTW, cars (passenger & freight) of that era can be had from Athearn or Bachmann.
The Bachmann cars are pretty scarry looking right out of the package.......
But they can be worked with to make a nice model.......
pcarrell wrote:For 19th century old timers, you really have four main choices that I know of. There are a few others, but they're not very plentiful or they have no U.S. prototype, so I'll skip those.
Thanks for the post and all of the data. Despite the limited options, it is all good news to me, because it opens the possibility of modeling that era for me as I would like to do.
I’m busy with a tiny switching layout, but building a conception of my next.
As for the decapods, I meant to write ten wheeler. I also typed 0-4-0, when I intended 4-4-0, and your reply includes those. As for the lack of options, what little is available matches what little was available when and where my interests lie.
That these can be fitted for DCC is good news, but best is that they can pull as their prototypes. I’ll start shopping and experimenting on a test track to see what can and cannot run through a turn out without stalling, now that it seems viable.
Thanks again,
As for the 4-4-0's, there is the Model Power loco, but it's early 20th century design precludes it from your purposes. If you wanted to get one and backdate it, be aware, it's a little on the large size and it uses wipers to pick up power from the wheels, which is not really state of the art. Also, it has no traction tire, so it's not much of a puller. The traction tire upgrade for the Model Power Pacific (also a 20th century design) is a drop in for the 4-4-0, but they sold out of those quick and they can be hard to find now.
For 10 wheeler you're out of luck. The 4-6-0 remains one of the biggest holes in the N scale steam inventory. There are a lot of folks lobbying for one from any of the model manufacturers, but for now, there's nothing.
Seeing as the prototypes of these loco's didn't haul real long trains, that plays in favor of these smaller loco's.
I think you'd probably be real happy with the MDC / Athearn twins (2-6-0 & 2-8-0) and the Atlas 2-6-0. I have several of the MDC / Athearn twins and I like them real well. Some don't care for the tender, saying it's too short, but I've seen prototype pics that match it. Since it's a tender drive it's not easy to change out the tender for another. There is a fix though that can be done easily if you don't like the looks. Check this out.....(click to enlarge)
As for the Atlas 2-6-0, I don't have one right now, but I've run one and they are quite nice.
cregil wrote:19th Century, Oldtimer, 0-4-0, Moguls, Decapods, etc?Anyone have any experience with these in N-Scale?
The Spookshow site may link you to the MR reviews. Many of them were introduced years ago. MR's archive only goes back so far. Generally, you have to hunt past the Horribly Oversize stuff to get to Normal Scale. The site is up to date wth frequent updates. Mr Spook regularly posts in the Atlas Forum.
Your best bet is to find the Athearn/MDC & Atlas locos mentioned. The Bachmann 4-4-0 needs to be upgraded to current Bachmann standards. Another candidate (if you can find it) would be the Trix 0-6-0 "old timer". They were imported by Model Power till 1999 when Marklin bought them out. It's too bad Marklin did not continue the Nscale Trix lines.
To make grades & pull, you may end up making a cheater boxcar. Having all the extra wheels make contact solves most of the stalling problems.
With care, the locos can be made into decent running locos. Take care to break them in, clean them & lube them.
I can't thank y'all enough!
I'm digging through old maps of my home town, and just found a timetable for my prototype from that era (1878). I want an interchange (or two) to have the option of heating things up, so am now having fun digging around for two other railroads.
Even if I never drive the fist spike, much less that last, the research fun and the optimism is high.
I think my IRS incentive check is all going to my LTS! I'll start experimenting with grades on turns and various train lengths to see what can be done.
Flyboy41 wrote: Hey all,First post on here. I am an N-scaler and I'm working on my first "real" layout based on a design in MR's "N Scale Railroading: Getting Started in the Hobby." The layout is built on an interior door and has been a real challenge.
Yep, that layout was my inspiration too. By the time I had track laid though, I had altered it into something else entirely! Great starter layout. Enough switching to maintain interest, continuous loop for running and a decent size that you may actually reach completion before you die.
I'd build some legs or something to get it as close to eye-level as possible for best viewing.
I was reading various topics here and on other forums and the reports from the NTS in Anaheim indicates that, with the exception of Kato's SD70ACe, it looks like a pretty spare year for N-Scale! Last year it was announced that there was a GG1 in the offing but I haven't seen hide-nor hair of it; conspicuously absent from this years reports are at-least preproduction models of F45/FP45 models from Athearn and Intermountain's touted AC.
n2mopac wrote: Hey all,Forgive the self promotion, but once a year or so I ask folks to check out my layout web site and comment on the progress as shown in the gallery section. Click on my web link below, where you can see information about the basis for the layout, pics of my work so far, and a blog about how I'm getting along. Let me know what you think, and thanks for checking it out.Ron
Ron, I tried checking out your website and it looks promising, but after a few pages I had about half a dozen popup windows all over my Windows desktop...and I have popup blockers installed! You should consider creating a blog on Blogger or somewhere similar where you wont be required to have ads or popups on your page in exchange for space. Jamie
CLICK HERE FOR THE CSX DIXIE LINE BLOG
This topic died almost 13 months ago which is too bad. The original "The 'N' Crowd" started by Doctor Dave Vollmer went to 95 pages before Good ol' Bergie locked it out feeling that that length rendered it unmanageable. I have a couple of uniquely N-Scale inquiries so I have opted to resurrect this topic.
INQUIRY #1: in the '60s when the railroads began trading in their first generation EMD and ALCO diesels many of EMD's Blomberg B-B trucks found their way under new ALCO locomotives and many of ALCO's AAR Type B trucks found their way under new EMD power. With this fact in mind I am trying to determine if Atlas' Blombergs are interchangeable with their AAR Type Bs and vice versa?
I am aware that Flexicoil switcher trucks are not commercially available but I would be interested in the possiblity of somehow or another fitting them under Walthers/Life-like's SW8 however the powers-that-be at my local inform me that the sideframes on these switcher trucks are not removeable and this prompts INQUIRY #2: are the sideframes removeable on the switcher trucks of Kato's NW2 switcher? and, if so, is it feasible to fit these Kato trucks under the Walthers/Life-Like units? If the answer to this last question is a negative then this becomes a moot point but does anyone know of an aftermarket source for Flexicoil sideframes. Sometime in the future -- meaning in the next century or so -- someone is going to bring out a new SW1500, many of which were equipped with these Flexicoil trucks; it would be nice if this manufacturer -- whoever it might be -- Fox Valley, are you listening? -- designed their trucks with removeable sideframes so that they could be configured with Flexicoil switcher trucks.