Identifying and buying a loco

[Anonymous]

I have currently built my first layout. All the track is laid and I am currently wiring it up. I have not yet purchased a loco. I don't know much about the different locos but when driving homwe yesterday I saw one that caught my eye. It was an all Black locomotive with white lettering. I think it said Norfolk Southern on it. It was the 3rd train behind two UP locos. Do they make one of these locos? Do they make them DCC equipped? Where do I find one if they do?

[Curmudgeon]

Just a question.

If you built a layout and wired it, what was your business plan?

Did you calculate grades for the type of locomotives and trains?
Did you put in 4% and expect to run long passenger trains with one engine?

Did you put in a turntable?
Water tank?

Considered steam?
Early dismals or late stuff?

Gotta figure an era, hafta think of what you want the railroad to actually DO, unless you just threw down two non-connected circles and your goal is to gte dizzy, best think about this before you buy anything, especially if all you want is "color".

TOC

[Anonymous]

Somebody probably does make the loco you were looking at. There are several web sites that will have pictures of what you saw so you can identify it. Between Atlas, P2K, Kato or Athearn one of them probably makes what you are looking for.

Try looking here http://nspics.railfan.net/index.htm .

Good Luck

Bob DeWoody

[HoosierDaddy]

Welcome busteed,

The quick answer is yes, there are a variety of Norfolk Southern locomotives available for purchase. I know Athearn, Atlas, P2K and Bachmann all make a NS diesel, at least in HO scale. In N scale, Atlas and Bachmann do, and possibly others. There will be some available DCC equipped, and others that can easily be fitted with a decoder. There are a variety of ways to find what your looking for, from searching the local hobby shop (LHS), to looking on Ebay. Probably the best way, from a cost standpoint, and being able to see the greatest variety in the shortest time period is to look at internet hobby suppliers. Here are a few to get you started:

http://www.internethobbies.com
http://www.tonystrains.com
http://www.discounttrainsonline.com
http://www.trainworld1.com

I would also like to suggest that you take advantage of the deep well of knowledge that is available on this forum. There are a lot of people here who are capable and willing to answer any question you ask.

HD

[Don Gibson]

I'd recommend buying a copy of MODEL RAILROADER to see who is currently offering what you want.

[trainfreek92]

Kato has plenty of norfolk southerns in N scale but not sure about ho scale But some manufacturer probably makes them good luck with you search ,also try ebay. [:D]