I've heard good things about the 15s, but for a mill, the NW2 is the righht setting. Most likely, purchased secondhand by the mill. NW2s and the early SWs just seem to be mill engines.
-Morgan
I'm very satisfied with my later Atlas purchases, and I have a number of them.
If I were you, I would pick up a GP-7 or GP-9. either low hood or high hood depending on where your layout is located in America. This would be for the reason that in some areas there are a larger number of one kind or the other that they would more than likely pick up second hand.
Do not hesitate on Atlas now, these are very good units.
Johnboy out.............................
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Depending on your time frame you might consider an Atlas S2. I have 2 of these and they they both purr along beautifully. One has a TCS M1 decoder and the other a Digitrax DZ143. I prefer the TCS, If you're wanting something with sound these would be a challenging install so you might consider an Atlas with sound.
Joe
Joe,
Any particular era or road name you are modeling? Sounds like you are more interested in a modern switcher vs. an early or 1st general diesel.
For the smoothest diesels, Stewart Buehler and Canon drives are 2nd to none. The choices and eras are limited though.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
OK, I'll ask: What era is your layout set in? And where are you on the prototypical - to - freelanced line?
I have a Proto S1 and a Proto SW8. The SW8 came with QSI sound. The S1 came with no decoder. I installed a simple decoder myself, and then payed someone else to install sound later. I'm very happy with both of these engines. They have good low-speed performance. The S1 is naturally heavy. The SW8 has a set of traction tires, because they basically took out all the weight to make room for the sound system. Still, it runs well and pulls well, although it is more prone to stalling on turnouts than other engines.
I would imagine that most "mill engines" are bought second-hand. So, you're probably going to want one that came out 10-15 years before your layout's time frame.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
tstageJoe, Any particular era or road name you are modeling? Sounds like you are more interested in a modern switcher vs. an early or 1st general diesel. Tom
Tom:
The OP didn't specify his era and seemed to be interested in the quality of Atlas switchers so I gave him my opinion of Atlas based on my experience.
JoeinPA tstage Joe, Any particular era or road name you are modeling? Sounds like you are more interested in a modern switcher vs. an early or 1st general diesel. Tom Tom: The OP didn't specify his era and seemed to be interested in the quality of Atlas switchers so I gave him my opinion of Atlas based on my experience. Joe
tstage Joe, Any particular era or road name you are modeling? Sounds like you are more interested in a modern switcher vs. an early or 1st general diesel. Tom
Hey Joe,
I was actually addressing the OP, assuming from his profile name that it was "Joe". Sorry for the confusion.
tstageJoeinPA tstage Joe, Any particular era or road name you are modeling? Sounds like you are more interested in a modern switcher vs. an early or 1st general diesel. Tom Tom: The OP didn't specify his era and seemed to be interested in the quality of Atlas switchers so I gave him my opinion of Atlas based on my experience. Joe Hey Joe, I was actually addressing the OP, assuming from his profile name that it was "Joe". Sorry for the confusion. Tom
I was confused too and was blissfully unaware that the OP poster is also Joe. I guess it's Friday and we are all anxious to start running trains.
I have a pair of Atlas Gold MP15DC's and love them
Springfield PA
Yes. Those are Atlas Golds which are DCC and sound. The sound is QSI which is great stuff. Atlas loco's have very smooth and quiet drives as well.
I have an Atlas MP15DC and an Athearn MP15AC. Both are excellent runners at very slow speeds.
John Timm
Any small EMD switcher or even a GP9 would make sense.
The NW2 would make sense if its a very old operation. You might also consider a small GE like a 70tonner. The Athearn Blue box could very well be made to work. If you add the decoder, you can set it up to perform better and if you want, you could swap out for a different set of gears for lower top end speed or, if you get really crazy, go with a can motor. Obviously that's more work. i'm just saying. All is possible.
I highly recommend the Atlas Gold MP15DC. I have one on my layout that is assigned to a yard and industrial area. It is a smooth running locomotive with great sound. This locomotive does the most switching of all my locomotives during an operating session and the operators love it. Most of my locomotives are Atlas and I have had very few issues with them. Good luck on your decision.
When I was in highschool I worked summers at USS Fairless Works. We had Baldwin switchers. They were used because they had plenty of weight in comparison to the EMD's, also present on the property. This was in the late 60's.
Stewart's Baldwins are great runners, now even available with factory sound. Don't overlook these as they run slow and are good pullers. I have some with LokSound sound decoders.
Most of the mills also used ALCO switchers for the same reason.
Hope this helps and good luck! Chris
Some of the larger mills in eastern Ohio ran old Baldwins. The hoggers loved them for the kicking power they had. Barking loud and belching smoke as they pushed and pulled strings of cars.
The best running switchers I have are the Stewarts. Followed by the P2K Alcos.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
If this is a struggling startup in modern times, I'd second the suggestion of looking for a GP7 or GP9. These venerable workhorses are still in service on shortlines, and they have the power necessary to push around the heavy loads of steel mills. Again, I have a pair of them from Proto, and they are solid, reliable engines.
I'd go with an Atlas S unit...but then again, I'm an Alco-holic, and own nothing but Atlas units. Although, the majority of my units have TCS decoders, my I used NCE's special S unit decoder for ease of conversion.
Nick
Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/
Freelancer with an interest in N&W, SCL, and other 70s railroads
The early Atlas S-2 and S-4 were good runners and decent pullers, too, and would be suitable steel mill power.
Here are a couple of other possibilities (as far as I know, all acquired new):
Wayne
you will get a lot of input on this but since you mentioned the kato nw-2 i will tell you that i have had 4 of them running for many years and they are with out a doubt the best little yard engines i have seen. smooth, slow. never stall, and outpull athearn, p2k, bli, stewart, and all the rest.
second choice in my book and it is a very close second would be the early atlas alco s-2. i have a couple of the early ones made in austria with the blunt trucks and they are jewels. they perform as well as the kato's i mentioned above but for some reason have a little more whine to them when running.
imo stewart and bli are a bit weak in the knees. (i don't use traction tires or frog snot). the P2K sw's are well detailed and smooth running but they don't pull like the kato and atlas i mentioned first.
i never had an athearn that ran to suit me right out of the box and by the time i got done fiddling around with them, i would just as well have popped a little more money and gone with the kato's or atlas
grizlump.
joe1965I'm looking to purchase a good HO yard switcher
I absolutely *love* my little BLI / Paragon2 NW2 switcher w/ sound I picked-up recently. Out of the box, except for the momentum settings, it operates *exactly* the way I want and sounds fantastic doing it. The only negative I have is that its a little light and so will not haul as many cars as its similar Proto-2000 kin. I have a bunch of those also, alas none with sound, but they will haul a train. Too many cars in fact. And the one of those I use the most is even missing half its weight, which I removed when I installed the DCC decoder.
John
Proto 2k, say no more.
Alton Junction
I use the Spectrum 44 ton and Spectrum 70 ton. Not in my road colors yet. Have not messed with the sounds in these videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVr3dcb0gdk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDosTzkQiWg
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
"grizlump I assume you have the Kato EMD NW2 phase 1 or 2? Did you have to convert them to DCC from DC? joe"
they are all the phase 1 straight dc. i am one of those Godless heathens that is not a fan of dcc operation. closest i have come it is a couple of dual mode bli's that i just run now and then to impress visitors but they don't pull worth squat.
grizlump