Stewart and Intermountain HO F units

[Anonymous]

Is there any reviews out there or how bout a personal review of these locos? I'll be looking at these locos at a upcoming train show and I am not sure what either one can deliver? I know that these are excelant HO models but does one have any advantage over the other?

[Anonymous]

I've never owned an Intermountain unit (yet [;)]), but I have a bunch of Stewarts, both older ones I bought in the early-mid 90's, and a couple of new FTs I just got off eBay. I LOVE Stewarts -- smooth running and quiet, which makes sense since all the older Fs (and I'm pretty sure the new ones too) have Kato drives. Easy to convert the old ones to DCC, and the new ones are DCC-ready.

The only complaint I've heard/read about them is that they don't have the fine detailing that Intermountain and others (Proto 2000?) have. And my only complaint is about the older ones -- they weren't 100% sticklers for accuracy, and sold F3s in color schemes that didn't match the real world. For example Santa Fe only had passenger F3s, and freight and passenger F7s, but in the early 90's Stewart sold SF freight F3s. So I pretend they're F7s, number them right and don't let it bother me.[:D]

[rrinker]

The new Stewarts have a Stewart drive that is a knock-off of the Kato, using a Buehler can motor, and they run GREAT.

--Randy

[chicirjs]

jsalemi,

One of the things that made Stewart Hobbies successful is that they only produced models for which there was a prototype. Unlike many other manufacturers, if Steve didn't have a photo of a prototype, he didn't release a model for that specific prototype. I'm not sure about all of the Santa Fe's prototype practices and roster, but if a factory decorated Stewart unit was released in a paint scheme, he has a photo for it. Authenticity with respect to the prototype was very important to Steve and, as a result, he was one of, if not the first, manufacturer to release engine models in different phases in order to account for the differences in the prototype. Also, Stewart has been using their own drive since the initial release of the FTs in the mid 90's and the drive was designed to be compatible with Kato and Atlas drives. Prior to that, Stewart used Kato mechanisms and back in the mid to late 80's, they originally used an Athearn chassis. I hope this is helpful.

Jason

[AntonioFP45]

I really like my Stewart HO New York Central F7. Attractive and a very smooth and quiet running locomotive!

I am looking forward to the InterMountain FP7. Especially since it will be offered "Without Skirts!" For those modeling F units after the late 1950s, most roads removed the skirts on F units.

[johncolley]

I have a Stewart ABBA set of GN FT's that are great! I originally used all 4 powered on analogDC but have recently switched to DCC having 3 units with Digitrax DH163D's and the 4th unit I went back to a dummy with Soundtraxx decoder and two woofers and a tweeter! Awesome! Ol' No. 424 hauls a lot of freight!

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by johncolley

I have a Stewart ABBA set of GN FT's that are great! I originally used all 4 powered on analogDC but have recently switched to DCC having 3 units with Digitrax DH163D's and the 4th unit I went back to a dummy with Soundtraxx decoder and two woofers and a tweeter! Awesome! Ol' No. 424 hauls a lot of freight!

John,

What type of horn did you get on your Soundtraxx decoder?

[tomwatkins]

I don't have any experience with the Intermountain units, but my Stewart F's are great. The shells aren't as highly detailed as the Genesis units, but that is easily remedied. There are very smooth, very quiet, have good low speed performance and pull extremely well. I recommend them highly.
Have Fun,
Tom Watkins

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chicirjs

jsalemi,

One of the things that made Stewart Hobbies successful is that they only produced models for which there was a prototype. Unlike many other manufacturers, if Steve didn't have a photo of a prototype, he didn't release a model for that specific prototype. I'm not sure about all of the Santa Fe's prototype practices and roster, but if a factory decorated Stewart unit was released in a paint scheme, he has a photo for it. Authenticity with respect to the prototype was very important to Steve and, as a result, he was one of, if not the first, manufacturer to release engine models in different phases in order to account for the differences in the prototype. Also, Stewart has been using their own drive since the initial release of the FTs in the mid 90's and the drive was designed to be compatible with Kato and Atlas drives. Prior to that, Stewart used Kato mechanisms and back in the mid to late 80's, they originally used an Athearn chassis. I hope this is helpful.

Yes, the info on the drive is helpful -- thanks! In the case of the ATSF F3s, Steve got it mostly right, but only for about a year. I did some more digging, and found that SF bought only 2 F3s in freight colors (1948) and within a year or so rebuilt them into F7s. So while the F3s did exist in freight colors for a short period of time, the rosters usually refer to them as F7s. Hence my confusion, and my error about the Stewart F3s.

OTOH, now I have to go back and renumber my two F3s...[B)]

[Anonymous]

I can't really comment on the stewert f's but I have a set from intermountain C&O f7aba with soundtraxx first generation diesel installed in the smart dummy B and tci in the a's.There drive system is comprable to any on the market,very strong pullers. They are perhaps my favorite diesels,performance is exellent,detail is outstanding .In my opion intermoutain is top shelf.One other thing my b was dropped by one of the kids that I let run trains on my layout,all the grabiorns on one side and two of the steps destroyed,e-mailed intermountain they sent me a complete detailing kit free no charge for the parts or shipping.I heard that they are supposed to be releasing qsi sound equipped f's by early January.I hope that this info.will be of some help.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the help guys, sounds like whatever I choose I'll be picking a winner.

[Anonymous]

Yea, you can't go wrong with either brand -- both are excellent quality for the money.

[Springfieldguy]

Yes Stewarts are great. My FT's are smoooth.

I have an extra Stewart FT chassis. Will the Intermountain F series Shells FT AorB fit onto the Stewart FT Chassis? Thanks.  

[wjstix]

Only downside to the Stewart F-units is you have to drill tiny holes and add all the handrails and grabirons yourself. I have a fair number of their engines and it worked out OK, but going forward would prefer to buy an engine with all that already in place.

Toy Train Heaven has had a "fire sale" going on for Stewart/Bowser F-unit shells, but looks like only FT body left is for Santa Fe FT-A bodies. They do show up sometimes on Ebay or at RR train meets.

https://toytrainheaven.com/product/fire-sale-ho-stewart-fta-body-kit-atsf-list-price-18-sku-22-2364/

 

 

[Springfieldguy]

Thanks very much.

Will purchase one of these FT-A AT&SF Freight Shells.

Will keep an eye for the Passenger paint too.

Still unsure about Bachmann/Interstate/Highliner etc fitting Stewart FT Chassis.

[ATSFGuy]

I known someone in our modular club who has two Stewart FT's in A-B-B-A sets. He says they run great and pull great.

I've also heard they can be quite heavy for a model.

[wjstix]

The Bachmann FT shell isn't as detailed as the Stewart/Bowser one, so I doubt anyone has ever replaced a Stewart FT shell with a Bowser one? Similarly, I beleive the Intermountain FT is a good-running engine with a well detailed body, so it may be people who want one just buy the Intermountain engine whole.

Highliner shells were developed originally to fit the Athearn F7 chassis, and the kits allowed you to build any F-unit except the FT, since FTs had a different chassis / truck spacing than the F2-F9 units. 

[wjstix]

Springfieldguy

Will purchase one of these FT-A AT&SF Freight Shells. Will keep an eye for the Passenger paint too.

The Stewart - Bowser FTs aren't really rare, they turn up online and at RR flea markets pretty regularly. There's an A(powered)-B(dummy) set of Santa Fe warbonnet FTs on Ebay right now, currently selling for $110. A few months ago I bought a Stewart undec powered F3A at a train show for $55.

[Springfieldguy]

As noted, I purchased a Stewart FTA shell from TTH. 

Shell had glob of yellow on roof, glob of blue on nose yellow and half a AT&SF nose logo. Can not trust sellers anymore. No one ever looked at these before shipment. Or do not care. Go figure.