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Best running HO locomotive

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  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Friday, August 15, 2008 6:27 PM

 csxns wrote:
Brakie, talking about Atlas locos the only problems i have is with two models the 8-40C and 8-40CW some of them have a humning noise but any other Atlas they run ok.Now the Athearn i think they are the most rugged trains out their.

The problems I had was the Micky Mouse type that can happen after months of excessive running.Still not sure what cause the DCC/ lightboard  failure but,suspect it was a short since these engines had made dozens of trips across the layout over 2 year period without incident and according to the guy that was running them he was leaving the Millbrooke passing siding when the headlight brighten,dim brighten dim and then the engines stop..These are the dual mode GP38s.I finally decided to replace the DCC/Lightboards since I couldn't find any other cause.

At the Bucyrus club I use Athearn for the week of the county fair due to the hours I operate-averge 56 hours for the 8 days-and will rotate between Atlas and Athearn during our 1 or 2 day open houses.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • 2,314 posts
Posted by don7 on Friday, August 15, 2008 7:04 PM
 Don Gibson wrote:

BEST? Best at what?

PRICE: (cheapest)  Bachmann & all Toy 'starter' sets.

RUNNING: (consistant)  Kato

PULLING: InterMountain

DETAIL:  Proto 2000 & Newer releases (Varies)

Above differences are minor - mostly on emphasis.

QVERALL: (personal preference - individual models).   InterMountain, Proto 2000, current Athearn (Genesis/RTR/B.B.kits.)

EVERYONE HAS FAVORITES: depend on individals drawing different lines in the sand between acceptable vs. unacceptable.  I like Engines that 'crawl' and cars that roll'.           

SOME have 1-2 engines, SOME 52, and compare. Some products are Generic while others try to be prototypical. Does that matter? Do you model a Prototype?

No mention on your list for the Stewart engines? I assume that is because you have none.

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Shalimar. Florida
  • 2,622 posts
Posted by Packer on Friday, August 15, 2008 8:46 PM

I've run mostly protos, but I have ran an Atlas/Kato RS1, a BB SD40-2, and some of the newer bachmann FT units.

Out of what I ran: 

1. Protos, usually (I have an SD9 that makes some grinding noise at higher speeds, might just need some lube)

2. Atlas/Kato RS-1, it's second best but considering it's age, it's exremly good.

3. Bachmann FTs, Actually is fairly quiet after being broken in. Makes a little grinding noise, but it's going away after every run. (makes less noise than the P2K SD9 I have)

4. BB SD40-2, made a lot of grinding noise

Vincent

Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
  • 4,648 posts
Posted by jacon12 on Friday, August 15, 2008 9:44 PM

 Hmmmmm.... deseasels (as a steam lovin' friend of mine is fond of saying) only, huh.

I have a couple of Atlas non sound dcc units, ones a Fairbanks Morse model and a GP 7 and they're extremely smooth, quiet runners with only a very quiet motor noise.  I've got a Kato SD40-2 thats smooth and silent also. A couple of P2Ks that are good and maybe one BLI unit could be put in there.  Overall though the Atlas and the Kato are the smoothest and quietest.

Jarrell 

 

 

 mechanic wrote:

I'm looking for everyones opinion on what the best running HO diesel locomotive might be.

I'm not looking for a highly detailed locomotive (but i'm not anti-detail)

I just want to know what loco out there that people have that runs the best.

diesel only please and I'm running DC on my layout (ATM) if that makes a difference.

Thanks

Eric

 HO Scale DCC Modeler of 1950, give or take 30 years.

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