In the last while there have been many posts on the cost of this hobby also the gigantic price of brass locomotives, It would be great to hear opinions on the question below, just why you would or would not buy the engine below. ( remember, the question is WHY)
I Saw a beautiful mint brass (Hallmark) SLSF 2-8-0 super detailed for $250. It was a superb locomotive and to me the price seems very reasonable for a brass engine, all the hype we hear about how costly brass is, and there are some $4,000 locos out there.
My quandry is: what would your reason be that you would or would not purchase this locomotive?
1. Cost?
2. Wrong railroad?
3. Hate brass.
etc. etc. etc.
Let's hear some reasons, will be interesting I'm sure.
To be honest if i had the bills paid off i will like to have one brass loco just one and it has to be a modern loco because i like up to date Railroading.Because i want one brass loco to say i do have a brass loco.
Russell
#1 It costs too much. My locomotive budget limit is $150 max.
#2 I don't run brass.
#3 I don't run steam as my general time frame is modern.
#4 My curves are 18" radius. Most brass locos I've seen are allergic to 18" radius.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
For me, it is the wrong railway. If it was a CPR D10 or T1 to 4 or Royal Hudson for $250 I would be all over it. Or if was a logging engine, like a Shay or mainline rod locomotive that would be good too.
I like brass but it needs to be reasonable for price and the right railway as well as being in decent shape.
tatans In the last while there have been many posts on the cost of this hobby also the gigantic price of brass locomotives, It would be great to hear opinions on the question below, just why you would or would not buy the engine below. ( remember, the question is WHY) I Saw a beautiful mint brass (Hallmark) SLSF 2-8-0 super detailed for $250. It was a superb locomotive and to me the price seems very reasonable for a brass engine, all the hype we hear about how costly brass is, and there are some $4,000 locos out there. My quandry is: what would your reason be that you would or would not purchase this locomotive? 1. Cost? 2. Wrong railroad? 3. Hate brass. etc. etc. etc. Let's hear some reasons, will be interesting I'm sure.
Sorry,I did not know you were talking about a certin loco.
Given that I model the NYC, I wouldn't get it for that particular reason. $250 for a well-detailed brass locomotive is very reasonable. I would also want it to run well as I have no desire nor intention to put any of my locomotives in a show case.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
By the standards of my chosen prototype, $250 is a bargain. Also, most of my present roster is brass. (Not because I love brass, but because my choices were brass and fuhgeddaboudit. I can't run a railroad with fugheddaboudit.)
HOWEVER, that particular 1:1 scale locomotive ran on the wrong side of a rather wide ocean, on rails spaced 14.5 inches too far apart. Also, the model is the wrong scale - HOj is 1:80 scale, not 1:87.1.
Now if you can come up with the equivalent JNR loco, in 1:80 scale, at that price...
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with brass locos)
If I were an SLSF modeler I'd be all about it, it sounds like a good price for a really nice piece.
Alvie
Does your heart beat increase when you see a picture of this particular loco?
If so, go get it!
Thanks guys(gals) great responses, no rants, no flames, just straight honest answers, now I see why many out there would not jump at the chance just to own a brass locomotive (regardless how nifty it is) I guess I am fortunate to be in logging as you can use almost any type of locomotive to haul logs, as many logging companies used major railway castoffs. great answers ! now I know.
I do not know a lot about brass, but I do hear a lot of people saying that a lot of the cheaper stuff runs like garbage unless you spend a ton of time reworking it. Just some food for thought. I am sure some of the more informed brass folks on here could chime in on that.
Odie I do not know a lot about brass, but I do hear a lot of people saying that a lot of the cheaper stuff runs like garbage unless you spend a ton of time reworking it. Just some food for thought. I am sure some of the more informed brass folks on here could chime in on that.
What Odie said. But, I would do a lot of research on the manufacture and what drive parts that can be had for said engine before I bought one.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
$250 for a 2-8-0 detailed is not bad. I have a couple brass steamers and they both were had for a bargain. One was half the price of a comparable plastic one and already had a can motor. The other was bought by accident. I was totally shocked I won the bid and it was $170 cheaper then the exact same type in plastic! That one too had a can motor and decoder already installed. They both are factory painted and I had to do very little to both. When I see plastic steamers going for $400 and up in HO scale the brass becomes a bargain. Don't say brass is expensive when you can purchase a Sunset 2-10-0 PRR I1sa painted and detailed cheaper then the Bowser kit without the super details.
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!
Hallmark? The greeting card people? I would shy away from the name, unless I knew more about it. If it wasn't built by a reputable locomotive company, I suspect it might be designed as a showcase model "for the man who has everything else" rather than as a working engine. If so, you might want to factor in the cost of a new motor and drive train, and by that time it's getting pretty pricey.
EDIT: Thanks for the clarification. See below. This is apparantly a quality model, not a gimmick.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley Hallmark? The greeting card people? I would shy away from the name, unless I knew more about it. If it wasn't built by a reputable locomotive company, I suspect it might be designed as a showcase model "for the man who has everything else" rather than as a working engine. If so, you might want to factor in the cost of a new motor and drive train, and by that time it's getting pretty pricey.
Different Hallmark - In the train world it is Bobby Hall - The models are prety good from what I understand
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
Hallmark was an importer, not a manufacturer, Hallmark locos were made by Samhongsa in Korea and another manufacturer, they made very detailed locos, they rate very high on quality and made some beautiful engines.
Sure, I'd buy brass but I'm not really a big steam guy. Yes I know there is plenty of brass diesel out there too but I don't mind detailing a model myself. If the steamer the OP listed in his post was neat enough then maybe I'd pop. Like buying anything else for the first time I would just do my homework first and try to know what I was doing as best I can. I've got no problem with brass, I just do not own any. (yet?)
Cahrn
Steam locomotives? What'll they think of next? Interesting concept but I doubt seriously if they will ever take the place of diesels. Might make an interesting excursion engine I suppose but pull freight? Never in a thousand years!
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
tatans Hallmark was an importer, not a manufacturer, Hallmark locos were made by Samhongsa in Korea and another manufacturer, they made very detailed locos, they rate very high on quality and made some beautiful engines.
Not necessarily true my friend. A lot of Hallmark imported engines were made by Dong-Jin, and if you saw my post in worst running locomotives they qualify.
Most have bad gear boxes that will need to be replaced and with suspect motors of Tyco parentage along with cold solder joints.
On the other hand the Frisco and other Hallmark 2-8-0 were given good reviews, but then reviews are suspect in that a magazine gave the Tyco Chattanoga Choo-Choo a glowing review.
Rick
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
tatansI Saw a beautiful mint brass (Hallmark) SLSF 2-8-0 super detailed for $250. It was a superb locomotive and to me the price seems very reasonable for a brass engine, all the hype we hear about how costly brass is, and there are some $4,000 locos out there. My quandry is: what would your reason be that you would or would not purchase this locomotive?
So that said.I would not buy that model because of price. It sounds like a very normal price for that model. Since I am a bargan hunter I would leave it alone untill I could get it between $75-$95.
This is a hobby for leisure dollars. If you can afford $250 for your hobby, then the real question is: is this the best buy for you at this moment?
For me the answer is yes if this fits a need for my roster of S scale Ma&Pa locomotives, but no otherwise. In this case no.
Enjoy
Paul
tatans I Saw a beautiful mint brass (Hallmark) SLSF 2-8-0 super detailed for $250. It was a superb locomotive and to me the price seems very reasonable for a brass engine, all the hype we hear about how costly brass is, and there are some $4,000 locos out there. My quandry is: what would your reason be that you would or would not purchase this locomotive? 1. Cost? 2. Wrong railroad? 3. Hate brass. etc. etc. etc. Let's hear some reasons, will be interesting I'm sure.
That's a great price and I wouldn't be too concerned about the motor or gearbox - they're easily replaced. However, I already have 7 very nice-running Bachmann Consolidations and don't require any more locos, even at a good price.
Wayne