John, I was surprised to hear that your PFM Crown DRGW M75 was a poor running engine. I have a number of PFM Crown engines and they are all good running engines.I have other engines that run better but would not consider any of the PFM's that I have as poor runners.
Have replaced the magnets in the old open frame brass engines with new rare earth magnets, where the models produced later with the can motors are fine. All good runners, too bad about yours.
Do the BLI 2-10-2's run ok?
this is what I'm taking about;
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I'm looking for #3851.
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ATSFGuy--
As I believe I stated in one post above, though one post may have disappeared somehow or I mis-edited it, I did own the BLI ATSF 2-10-2 and it ran very well. If I recall correctly, they slotted one rod at the pin to allow lots of "play" for tight radius curves. The one driver, as a result, has a "flopping" motion as it rotates. It "slapped" the rail on slight downgrades and danced side to side on the example I owned. I didn't personally care for that and surmised in the long run it might possibly be a maintenance or durability concern--but what do I know??? I briefly owned two, but never ran the one, and sold them.
Watch the videos of the ATSF 2-10-2 on Youtube and you can see the flopping motion I'm talking about--when they show closeups of the drivers--one dances from side to side as it rotates...enough to see the rod move in and out.
Don7--
The PFM M-75 I owned was pristine, new, and had never been run. Perhaps with break-in it would have quieted down somewhat, but the brand new motor was quite noisy the one time I tested it, and I couldn't stand it, and considered replacing with a can, which would have been sacrilege. I sold it through my friend to a buyer sight unseen. Buying mint western steam in the east and selling in the west was profitable before the internet.
RioGrande5761--
I understand about the college costs...and I've only ever sold maybe 4 or 5 locos for profit, all of which happened to be brass. There were multiple others I broke even on, or very nearly so, and yes, most of the time, I took a loss, as I just did selling a hybrid that I didn't "need".
John
It would be difficult for me to pick my best running locomotive as I have a couple dozen that are my favorite locomotives as to detail and running characteristics.
However, my last purchase for my layout was one of the BLI Hydrid steam locomotives, a Great Northern S2 with the enclosed cab. I have a few BLI engines and they do run quite well, but this last one is a terrific running locomotive, super detail and runs like a Swiss watch movement. I am really taken with this locomotive. I can only hope that BLI brings out a few more locomotives that I would purchase for my layout. My layout being primarily Candian Steam, with the exception of Great Northern I do not expect that will be the case.
My younger son has GN 2579 with the open cab and loves it. They do run well indeed and better than most BLI engines I have ever had, but we are just not wild about the sound.
All Johnny's other engines are electric and wooden Thomas.
I can like the recent Athearn steam sound better.
Rapido has Canadian small steam in the pipeline...not sure how soon.
PRR8259 Ok I understand why you lost the trailing truck and all, but to me they just look a little odd without it. Seems like a long distance without any support at all... I do agree the regular trailing truck also seems to not fit right, though, and it is your railroad.
Ok I understand why you lost the trailing truck and all, but to me they just look a little odd without it. Seems like a long distance without any support at all...
I do agree the regular trailing truck also seems to not fit right, though, and it is your railroad.
Speaking of missing pilot or trailing trucks on steam engines. Does anyone remember an story published in MR Magazine, around 25 years ago when a retired editor in chief was doing a monthly "looking back" series of story's?
In one story he related a visit to a model railroaders house to watch the layout in action. This particular hobbyist was all about operations - and operating trains on a tight schedule. So the author, whos name I can't remember, noticed some of the steam engines missing pilot or trailing trucks and asked the layout owner about them. He commented that they were derailing and interfering with train operations and keeping the trains from meeting their time table, so he removed them and operated the steam engines with out them.
Shocking to some, but to this hobbyists, appearance was secondary to operating his trains on a time table. So yes, as you said: "its your railroad" and indeed, it was his railroad!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
PRR8259My younger son has GN 2579 with the open cab and loves it. They do run well indeed and better than most BLI engines I have ever had, but we are just not wild about the sound.
I'm not terribly wild about sound either but I did purchase my IMRC Cab Forward with the "better" sound version released in the 3rd run (Loksound). All my diesels purchased with sound have the not so great QSI (Atlas) or Tsunami 1 (Athearn) sound - not so hot either. The newer LokSound seem much better but so far no diesels I have needed have been offered with it yet.
Rapido has Canadian small steam in the pipeline...not sure how soon. John
Rapido's website had all the info. Right now it's looking like next year for the first steam engine - The Royal Hudson. I'm sure they will be fantastic per Rapido's usual attention to detail and quality, but very pricy as well. Fans of Canadian steam will be opening their wallets for these and very happy I'm sure.
http://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale-royal-hudson/
http://rapidotrains.com/new-product-delivery-schedule/