Honestly, I am of the opinion that pretty much all of the current manufacturers have pretty good quality and run pretty well. The only "modern" locomotives (built since 2010 - which I guess is younger than this thread!) I've had trouble with were from MTH, but last I checked they were still going out of business.
That said, BLI has been really good lately for implementing in-built capacitors for their DCC locomotives. That really saves a lot of time in getting stuff "layout ready" - especially for steam!
However, I feel that all of the manufacturers have gotten much more expensive - even 10 years ago you could get a DCC sound value Bachmann steam loco for under $150. While they definitely run better and have better sounds now, pushing that same price for DC / DCC ready stuff is steep, especially as someone who chooses to redo a lot of the superdetailing anyway to better match my prototype. As much as I'd love to use BLI on my layout, that stuff is consigned to my family's Pennsy layouts, as I just can't bring myself to spend $500+ on a locomotive that'll be torn up and rebuilt right away.
Atlas, Genesis, Walthers, Rapido, Bowser and BLI all run great. I have not had any Kato stuff in awhile, but it was always a good runner. I would not go near Bachmann.
My experience is with diesels, I cannot speak for steam.
An "expensive model collector"
This is a subject that has been on my mind since when a few months ago I unpacked those boxes of N-scale stuff I put away 23 years ago. Part of the delay was the eyes (my excuse and I'm sticking to it), and it's amazing how after having cateract surgery I can see again. Still I haven't purchased anything new other than some Kato Unitrak for testing since I'm still pondering how I want to operate a new layout.
But as to this subject the first thing I did upon unpacking was to see what locomotives would still run. Most of the Atlas units did ok with some fresh cleaing and tiny amounts of lubrication. Riverossi and Trix steam, dead dead and dead, only one of six would even move so they're all back in boxes for now. Bachman which we always referred to as Barfman, I didn't keep any. Then we come to my Katos which were always good, one after another they started smoothly and ran just a nice as they did when boxed up all those years ago.
Everything is DC only which is fine for me, but I was interested in a new small switcher so I did try a Broadway SW-7 (amazing detail). There was a learning curve and after discovering DC means 50% throttle to start I thought I could work with that. However BL has what they refer to as Kadee (now Microtrains" compatible couplers which connect just fine but the uncoupling was unreliable.
Since my main objective is switching I considered swapping for Kadee but then decided the sound was annoying at best, the operation on DC was not really smooth (especially compared to Kato), so I returned the unit.
So in my experience Kato is my best, Atlas is really good, and the others, only time will tell if they ever get used again. I'll probably have to include a decrepid RR museum in my new layout design.
-Mike in NC,
I have a thought. What does it matter how well a loco runs if it is not what you want to model? Are you going to change your modeling?
I have tons of PROTO2000 diesels and steam, lots of Bachmann (mostly steam), a little BLI, no ATLAS (because everything they make that I would want was also made by PROTO), ATHEARN and GENESIS (mostly F units), Intermountain (F units) and no KATO because they are an N scale company that dabbles in HO from time to time and also does not make things I want.
And, a few older Mantua, one IHC, and few old pieces of brass.
When I get done with them they all run great.
Sheldon
I know a lot of you will not agree but the best running longest running right out of the box for me is my BLI Blueline M1a 4-8-2. With a TCS motor decoder. Never a problem. Used it on many a club open house, train shows, club layouts, and friends layouts. The wheels have lost their plating and showing signs of losing the tapers.
Then again. Not a single locomotive I own will touch a rail without a good going over. I have rebuilt brass, Athearn, P2K, and more.
Pete.
Pretty much all new locos bought new these days run smoothly. I suspect there is better QC at the factories. In steam, Spectrum engines are amazing considering their costs. Kudos to Bachmann!
Simon
I have a fair number of Stewart F units along with some from Bowser and Intermountain and a few Athearn Genisis. ranging in age from the late 80s up to now. All have held up well and run great. The Stewart, Bowser and Intermountain will outpull the Genesis engines with ease.
OldEnginemanI'm wondering how he got that high?
Anonymous is the name for all accounts that have become inactive or discontinued. They all roll into a single account. The post count is cumulative for all of these accounts.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Off-topic...
An earlier poster on this thread, "Anonymous", has a post count of 305,206.
I'm wondering how he got that high? Must be some kind of record for posting to an internet forum/message board...!
On diesels, I would add in the Bowser Executive line loco's I have, Intermountain units, along with one that normally gets beat up on from years past, Bachmann. Their newer units are smooth runners just like the others.
As others have mentioned, Kato, Atlas, Genesis and Athearn BB/RTR all also are good runners.
P2K units, with the gear issue fixed if it was a bad unit, also were smooth. Newer Walther's don't have that gear issue and are also smooth runners.
Steam, I have very few, but the new Bachmann 2-8-4 is a steady smooth runner, my BLI pair are also smooth, though the original line the sound had major issues with the chuff sensor problems, and my rehabbed Mantua is also smooth. (The Mantua was gifted to me, although it was a bit out of my modeling era, I had to get her on the layout. a replacement motor, new wiring and DCC Decoder have her smoothly operating. The other gifted Mantua I am in the process of remotoring to convert to DCC, but she needed a bit more work as there is something binding even without a motor, so she is sitting on my workbench currently.)
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Mister Mikado Athearn Genesis Mikado after about 1000 hours of tweaks and repairs.
My Athearn Genesis USRA 2-8-2 ran about 300 feet and died.
It was replace by an Oriental Powerhouse 2-8-2 that ran very well, and then I took it apart to paint it.
I'd put Stewart up there with Atlas
Modeling the B&M Railroad during the transition era in Lowell, MA
How's it goin train nuts
For the most part, the only loco's I've bought, with exception of a few childhood relics, is KATO and Atlas.
My best runners are Atlas-Classic. Don't know what it is about those locomotives, but they can be put to such a slow creep, it's almost hard to see them moving. Can go in the kitchen to wash the dishes and they only moved a couple feet on returning
Bachmann-Spectrum is the elite of their product line. High quality performers. Have a bit more than a handful of those, with a couple hybrids in that bunch.
TF
My Atlas Classic RS-3s do what none of my other locos do--they coast an astounding two inches when throttle power is abruptly cut. Now that's smooth.
I love my Proto 1000 and 2000 diesels, Rivarossi Berkshire, the newest Bachmann 4-8-4 and GG-1, IHC Premier Gold 2-10-2 Santa Fe, and the infamous super-smooth Athearn Genesis Mikado after about 1000 hours of tweaks and repairs. Even my ugly duckling Proto 2000 BL-2 is a smoothie, the one that made the Guinness Book of World Records in 1989 by running forever. -Rob
Thanks TF, how could I forget about my Spectrums! Super-smooth Shay, Ten-Wheeler and Decapod.
I don't really know how to say which one runs best, but my best runners are:
Atlas S series switcher
Walthers FM switcher
Bachmann EM-1 2-8-8-4
Kato NW-2
And of course... all my Kato/Stewart F3s and F7s
My Fleischmann from the 1950's still runs.
Paul
It's a fun topic to discuss every 18 years or so!
I think - particularly since the time of the original post - things have overall gotten a lot better. For those of us who have been in the hobby a long time, it's impressive how much better today's Atlas, Kato, BLI, Athearn Genesis, Bowser, Walthers Proto, etc. run compared to engines of a generation or two back.
I'd still have to say Kato. For steam models I would have to think of it on a model by model basis, but no real duds - Rivarossi the last ones, Challenger, Key, BLI, they all run well if looked after.
Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!
K1a - all the way
"Being misunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses"
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Larry
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