New Rivarossi

[jondrd]

[?] Anyone have experience with Rivarossi as marketed by Walthers? I'm tempted by one of their products. I only know Rivarossi from the "bad old days" so I'm a little gun shy. Is this iteration of Rivarossi a [tup] or a [tdn] ?

Rivarossi has risen from the dead once again; Hornby bought the remains and apparently their use of "shock paddles" got the heart pumping again.[:)]

Thanks for any input,
Jon

[orsonroy]

Rivarossi's American prototype engines and rolling stock has been surpassed by other manufacturers in the past few years, with only a couple of exceptions. Most of their steam offerings are available from BLI, P2K, or Bachmann, in much better versions. Their diesels have always been jokes, as are their freight cars. Their old line of passenger cars has been surpassed by Branchline and Walthers. Only their C&O 2-6-6-4 and 60' passenger cars can successfully compete with today's models. Unless Hornby REALLY slashes prices on Rivarossi products (like by 50% or more) there's no way that the brand will successfully compete.

[Anonymous]

I have several AHM/made by Rivarossi cars from the 70's. They do not have interiors. They always ran well. I just purchased four sets ( 4 cars each ) of I guess what is now called new Rivarossi. These have interiors but they don't look all that well but they are passenger cars and at $ 30 a set they serve their purpose. But I have not checked their weight. I have not run them yet due to tight radius on my 4x6 layout. Phil

[jondrd]

Ray, Phil,
Thanks for input. [:)]

Phil, I also have Riv's passenger cars from the old days and they're still online. Did fit them with Kadee coupler conversion kits.

Ray, the mechanics/electrics of their Allegheny, isn't that upgrade across the line? Like Hudsons, UP 4-8-4's etc.

Thanks again,
Jon

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jondrd
Ray, the mechanics/electrics of their Allegheny, isn't that upgrade across the line? Like Hudsons, UP 4-8-4's etc.

Not really. The Allegehney is a completely new engine, made by the same company that made the bulk of the P2K steam line. As such, it's got a decently-engineered drive train, better tooling, and seperate detailing. What Riv did to their old line of engines was remill the boiler reight to accept a fairly small can motor and flywheel, to replace the old three pole pancake motor. That's it. The engines I have experience with (2-8-4, 4-6-4, 2-10-2) can't hold a candle to the new offerings of the same prototypes by P2K, BLI and Bachmann, in any category.

[jondrd]

Ray,
Think you just saved me some money [:)] or at least redirected it to another manufacturer.

Much appreciated,
Jon

[Fergmiester]

I'd have to respectfully disagree on the 4-8-4 as I have one of their recent ones and it is as a good a runner as the Allegheny.

Fergie

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergmiester

I'd have to respectfully disagree on the 4-8-4 as I have one of their recent ones and it is as a good a runner as the Allegheny.

Fergie

Ah, but nobody yet makes a 4-8-4 in plastic to compete with the Rivarossi engine. BLI's coming online with their Reading T-1, which will probably prove to be a better engine; if they come out with a FEF-3 or 4, they'll smoke the Riv engines.

Foe every engine made by Rivarossi and some other company, the other guy's is better. For those engines that are not made by any one else, you're stuck with either Riv or brass. Frankly, as someone who used to own a large stable of Rivarossi Berks (and a few other Riv engines), I'd lean on the used brass market, IF you're thinking about becoming a proto-based or operations-based modeler.

[claycts]

as the owner of 11 Rivarossi spaning from 1966 to 2001 I find what they lacked in detail (which is no biggy just add it) wahen they are cleaned and lubed with all the pickup points working they run just fine. The big problem was the RP-25 deal on the wheels on Code 83. They run fine on all Code 83 EXCEPT the Walthers turnouts (#6 Double slip and the #6 Crossover) A little time with a file and that was cured.
Looking at consumer logic the P2K is made by LIFE LIKE who would not know a quality built piece if it bit them on the butt. Yet people sware by them. In the 60 plus that we have there are a few that are just prefect (PFM United, Stewart, and a Cary with a hobbytown drive) and then we have real 1st class, loan it out if it hits the floor no big deal Tyco and an old Varney that on a good day is a dream others it is trash.
So before thumbs down on any (other than Like like) go to the LHS and have them run one for you. Got a train club, go and talk to them. This forum is a wealth of knowledge and opinions which i why I like it.
Good Luck
P.S. "EBAY"?

[Budliner]

trainworls has a shay on sale LIST $299.99
SALE $79.99EA.
2 truck

[wgnrr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Budliner

trainworls has a shay on sale LIST $299.99
SALE $79.99EA.
2 truck

I like the Heislers. They run OK for me, but I have heard some bad things about them. About two years ago, I was looking into the Heislers, and I asked a modeler about them, and he said It would be the biggest waste of money if I bought one. He told me to buy a Bachmann Shay of Climax (the climax was just released). I bought a Heisler from Trainworld, and they run just fine. He also complained about the noise. All I can say about that is WHO REALLY CARES!! THE REAL THING MAKES A LOUD NOISE TOO!! I also just bought another Heisler (3tk this time) and it runs just as good as the last one. I also bought a Shay from Bachmann (Also from Trainworld), and was not happy with it. The detail it great, but it runs jerky, and makes a smell that can make you choke. I let the thing run medium speed against a nail, for a hour, and now it runs better than before. All I can say is, for the work, get a Rivarossi Heisler.
Phil

[Darth Santa Fe]

What's wrong with the old Rivarossis? All the ones I have run fine.(except for an E8 which has no gears)

QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy

Their diesels have always been jokes

Maybe now they are, but when they brought their Krauss Maffie and E8 out in the 60s they were some of the best detailed plastic diesels available, and they also run well. I have an E8 and a U25C, and they both run very well.[:D] My 0-6-0 also runs very well.[:D][:D]

[Budliner]

some had huge flanges
bumped all over




:O)

[hdtvnut]

I wasn't interested in Rivarossi until the Allegheny appeared, but
fell in love with it. I have two, and just put a Tsunami in one;
very nice.

Then I got a Heisler and lastly an FEF-3. Both look nice and run
well, except that I find the FEF-3 derails easily. Our club layout
has 24" radius in a few places, and the FEF-3 can't handle them.

Hal

[Berk-fan284]

I agree with claycts, everyone swoons for Proto 2000 (LifeLike) Berkshires and USRA 2-8-8-2s because of the detail, smoothness and quiet running (I like them also) but I wouldn't call them the be all and end all for these particular locomotives. They are a little too light weight and are relatively gutless pullers. The later production Rivarossi Berkshire and Y6b Mallet (2-8-8-2 N&W) can easily lug around double the amount of cars without wheelspin or bogging down. The Rivarossi Challenger will also give the Athearn and Lionel Challengers a good bit of competition for pulling power too.The Big Boy(4-8-8-4) can pull just about as much as the Trix Big Boy for about half the price. I have the Trix, Lionel, Athearn, Life Like and Rivarossi locos and have run them all under comparable circumstances to see how they compare performance wise.

[Anonymous]

Just got myself a 2 truck Rivarossi Heisler. Shipped over to the UK from the US and I reckon I saved about $150 over buying it from my local shop! Absolutely delighted with the model. Looks great and runs well right down to a slow speed crawl. I'm hard pressed to choose a favourite between the Heisler and my Bachmann Shay and Climax.

[Anonymous]

I have the Heisler and am mostly very happy with it. Good detail, runs very smooth and very slow. Converted it to DCC easily enough. It compares favorably to my spectrum shay (I'd pick the shay over the heisler if forced to, but not by much). A more realistic comparison will come when my spectrum climax arrives some time later this year (counting pennies...)

Only one problem with the Heisler: For some reason, it's pulling power is awful on grades though - quite unilke the prototype. The thing will barely pull itself up a 2% grade, much less any cars. Probably the least pulling power (well, to be specific least traction - it's wheel-spin, not stall out) of any loco I own.

I also own rather a fleet of Riv passenger cars - the full-length ones that come in the A/B sets... They don't compare with Walthers or Spectrum in detail and they have talgo trucks that at a minimum need a knuckle coupler, or ideally need body-mount conversion (I've done the former, not the latter). Having said all that, they run quite nicely and at street price of $7.50 versus the price of walthers or spectrum... I can see the appeal. If I had it to do all over again, I'd probably not change - use the Riv cars to build a basic roster, then add higher-priced cars over time as I could...

[Anonymous]

Can't say I have noticed a problem with the pulling power of my Heisler. Although I have to admit my trains are limited to 3 cars + caboose! I run on switchback gradients about 2.5 - 3%. I noticed that the box came with a spare axle set fitted with traction tyres. Does this make any difference?

[Anonymous]

Haven't got around to putting those on yet. Everything got boxed and moved to the new house shortly after I got it... Don't generally like TT's, but worth a shot, i suppose.