Worst model locomotive

[Anonymous]

I know they are not perfect but some are not as bad as they deserve to be called lemons.
Some of these brands can, with some fiddeling work better. (at least a bit)
That was however not my point. I just think some people just don't have the feeling for technical things.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I see, that may be a point. (I like to fiddle with my units a little, but only if I must!). I think most people feel if you're gonna spend the money, it BETTER be for a sound, solid running engine. My N scale Bachman Dash8 is absolutely terrible, but some people I've talked to were puzzled and say that it's a good (not great) engine. I'm getting a Kato motor swapped into it from an old Atlas I have though. This is a good thread to have though. It let's us all read about others personal experience with some of the technically challenged engines out there. Gives you a thought before you invest your money in a certain model or two.
Pete

[mnwestern]

Kristian:
There is nothing wrong with people who "don't have the feeling for technical things." Everyone gets different things out of the hobby. That is the beauty of the hobby.

In our club, there are two or three who are great with "technical things" and build electronic systems for layout animation that I will never even attempt (including video cameras mounted in boxcars, locomotives, a fabulous DCC control panel for our portable layout, and a gravel pit with moving equipment). It is their thing. My thing leans more toward scenery and structures. That is why I directed the scenery production on the layout and left the technical things to them.

When I buy a locomotive, I don't want to have to rebuild it from the wheels up. I can tweak my Athearns — dumping the pick-up strip and hardwiring it, cleaning the gears a bit, filing the inside bearing on the middle axle of a three-axle truck so it will negotiate tight radius. But anything more than that is just taking time away from things I'd rather do. Some models — basic LifeLike, Model Power, Bachmann, old AHM or IHC, etc. — are just too far gone for me to even consider. You might be able to get them running half-way decently, but you might need to put as much into them as a good, reliable Athearn costs.

If we were all great at everything, there would be more than the 300 or so NMRA Master Model Railroaders and we would all be scratchbuilding steam locomotives. Now there is a skill to really admire in a modeler! I enjoy seeing that type of work, I just don't have the training, interest or equipment to do it. So I do other things.

[Anonymous]

No, there is nothing wrong with people who don't have the feeling for technical things. I haven't said so. It's just so easy to be categorical.

[Anonymous]

The Mehano stuff pushed by Model Power and Life Like years ago was pure junk right out of the land of Yugos. They had a whole laughable line of "trains" in N scale, which were probably sponsored by video game manufacturers to discourage us from trains to the land of Sega.
But, I managed to land one RSD-15 which runs like a Kato RS3, smooth, quiet and powerful. One managed to escape.
Another classic old junker was the Rivarossi E7 with the vertical motor and buttons on the front truck - sounded bad, no power and no speed control. They should have changed their name to Rip-off-a rossi. I have a friend that can make them perform....I have a couple that run ok now...I watched him repair them and still can't do it myself.
Other junk is the Lima FP45, and their F7.
In today's stuff, the Bachmann Dash8's are very disappointing; all Bachmann Plus F7s have a click that sounds like a gear tooth or sand in the mechanisms.
The best/worst steamers are the K4 Pacific by Minitrix-when they're good they're very good, but when they're bad they're horrible wobbling, coughing, noisy, sputtering, junky good for nothings. Only %64.95 each retail, and they wonder why they went down with the Lusitania.
When Kato got into the flock, it was pretty obvious they laid the hammer down. First, the PA, then others and now we are where we are today, manufacturers trying to out-quality each other, who wins? We do.

Ken "Steamguy/Steamdude" Willaman

[Anonymous]

I really don`t like the Russian Decopod.Good thing most went to Russia! Gerald

[Anonymous]

Im just getting started in model railroading I
won't know what engine to buy. It sounds like
theres more bad ones then good ones...Larry

[Anonymous]

Larry,that's not really true, but you do just get what you pay for.If you are just starting out,you should get an engine that won't let you down, and discourage you.I have friends in the hobby who have some really 'low-end' engines, lots of them...and they don't like them much. I'd much rather have just a few good ones.If you're just starting out, and want a reasonably priced, good quality diesel engine, get an Athearn,,,they are reliable,dependable units, and have been for over 40 years.If you want steam, be prepared to spend quite a bit more money, possibly on an Athearn Genesis, or a Roundhouse....regards/Mike

[aloco]

If we're talking HO scale, any diesel loco equipped with a pancake motor. I had a few of them back in the early 1980s (Botchmann and Death-Like junk).

If we're talking N scale, my worst running loco was a Model Power Alco C-420.  I kept it just long enough to get my N scale layout (c. 1989-1996) up and running and I got rid of it.  Most of the locos I ran on that layout were Atlas (Kato).

Now if we're talking worst-looking model locomotive, then it would have to be Model Power's HO scale EMD F2A.  The detail is crude and toy-like and the nose looks like a cross between an F-unit and a C-liner.  

[Packer]

If we're talking HO scale, any diesel loco equipped with a pancake motor. I had a few of them back in the early 1980s (Botchmann and Death-Like junk).

If we're talking N scale, my worst running loco was a Model Power Alco C-420.  I kept it just long enough to get my N scale layout (c. 1989-1996) up and running and I got rid of it.  Most of the locos I ran on that layout were Atlas (Kato).

Now if we're talking worst-looking model locomotive, then it would have to be Model Power's HO scale EMD F2A.  The detail is crude and toy-like and the nose looks like a cross between an F-unit and a C-liner.  

You are aware this topic was last posted in on March 27, 2002 right? Something has been going on with the forum and it has been causing that.

But I agree with your post. But how did you forget Tyco, probably the worst of them all? The newer bachmanns are okay.

But for Life-Like (not the Proto division) I've heard that their basic N scale line is actually pretty good.

[da_kraut]

Hello,

mine has to be a Model Power HO scale locomotive.  It is a model of a MLW C424 in CP colours.  It has horrific detailing, bad electrical pickup and flywheels.  The motor is of the can style but no slow speed control.  Changing the couplers to McHenry's is very difficult and not worth the effort.  This engine taught me a great lesson, go to the manufacturers that are endorsed by the membership on this forum and it one can not go wrong.

Frank

[tin can]

When I was in high school, I received a HO scale Bachmann Santa Fe 4-8-4 for Christmas.  It was probably the best train related gift I ever received from my parents, discounting the Lionel O-27 set I got for my 6th birthday that led me down the track to where I am today.

It looked great, but it wouldn't even budge my six car streamlined Athearn passenger train.  It would only pull 3 cars; and even for a newbie teenager, it was a big disappointment from a pure model railroading standpoint. 

I still have the locomotive, though.  If I can ever find one, I intend to drop the Bowser replacement mechanism under it and make it a real model locomotive.  Even though I have Santa Fe northerns of the brass and BLI origins, this locomotive will always be special to me.

 

[Medina1128]

I have a couple of Walthers GP15s and they're every bit as smooth as Athearn BBs, and quieter. I'm surprised no one mentioned ANYTHING from TYCO. Maybe it's because they're like Yugos (the cars).. no one still has one.

[vsmith]

Tyco GP-9 had brass and plastic wheels on alternate sides of each truck, ran like complete carp. Set came with a Xmas tree set when I was 9 or so. Later as a young adult

ConCor or Minitrix N scale 0-6-0 Old Timer I converted to HOn30, ran OK at first then shortly ran beyond carp, no amount of repair worked, ended up burned out and useless.

Also add a N scale Lifelike 0-6-0T Donkey, also converted to HOn30, also complete carp.

What can I say? I was young and simply didnt know any better at the time, by the time I did know better I had hung up HOn30 completely

[J. Daddy]

I have a couple of Walthers GP15s and they're every bit as smooth as Athearn BBs, and quieter. I'm surprised no one mentioned ANYTHING from TYCO. Maybe it's because they're like Yugos (the cars).. no one still has one.

LOL... "Tyco night glo" we used to call them in the seventies. Absolutely horrible. This and brass track would kill the whole notion of doing an HO layout in the 70's... A guy at work asked me to repair 5 of his locomotives that were all tyco, the wires to the brushes came loose. so I proceeded to look at them and fixed them as best as I could, he was making a layout for his grandson. So I should him an ole Athern with dual flywheels and said these are more industructable for a 5 year old. He watched them run and said " where can I get these" so I sold him a few of mine and his grandson the next night did not want to leave grampa's basement....

[howmus]

I still have 2 Tyco/Mantua and one 1970's vintage Rivarossi that will someday have positions of prestiege on the SLOW.  None of them run and never did run well, but they were gifts from my Father in Law many years ago.  I consider them priceless.  They will grace permanent positions outside the Roundhouse waiting to be repaired......  The rest of my fleet are five Spectrum Steam (which run very well), two Proto 2000 0-6-0, one Athearn 2-8-2 which can pull itself and a few cars around the layout (I bought 2 ..... 50% isn't bad I guess.  One did 4 inches then quit, bad gear syndrome- it's remains are in the parts box), and a lowly Roundhouse 2-6-0 which runs off and on if you wiggle it now and then..... Of the group the Spectrum Steam are the ones that run well and pull well.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

My worst locomotive? There would have to be two entries on this one. The first is a Life-Like (standard line) C424. It ran for a whole 15 minutes, which as I understand it is a long time endurance record for this particular type locomotive. I picked it up new, still in the box, at a yard sale for $5. It had four wheel pickup and four wheel drive, with traction tires. The first thing it learned to do was belch smoke as the motor burned up. It's next trick was to make a fast overhand flight across the room in an around the rim shot into the trash can.

The second worst locomotive I've had is a Bachmann 4-6-0 (still runs) Hall Class. It runs very well on it's own but can hardly pull two cars. I still have this locomotive. It looks very nice in the display rack collecting dust.

[twhite]

My worst?

A New Jersey Custom Brass model of a Rio Grande M-78 4-8-2 I recieved as a Christmas present about 25 years ago, or so.  Poor runner, even worse puller with a little, tiny Sagami can that gave the loco a top speed of about 25 smph.  And the drivers were sprung with GUITAR wire.  I kid you not.  I started calling it my "Ernie Ball" special.  Replaced the motor, it would run a little faster, but still hardly pull its tender.  Went inside and re-weighted and re-balanced it.  Worked a little better.  Then about a year later, things started falling off while it was running.  I'd chase after it and pick up little details that were coming loose. 

Ended up practically rebuilding the entire thing--it's the only brass 'lemon' I've ever gotten.  Too bad, too, because the prototype was a mainstay of the Rio Grande.  Not THIS model, LOL!

Tom

[dansapo]

My worst?

A New Jersey Custom Brass model of a Rio Grande M-78 4-8-2 I recieved as a Christmas present about 25 years ago, or so.  Poor runner, even worse puller with a little, tiny Sagami can that gave the loco a top speed of about 25 smph.  And the drivers were sprung with GUITAR wire.  I kid you not.  I started calling it my "Ernie Ball" special.  Replaced the motor, it would run a little faster, but still hardly pull its tender.  Went inside and re-weighted and re-balanced it.  Worked a little better.  Then about a year later, things started falling off while it was running.  I'd chase after it and pick up little details that were coming loose. 

Ended up practically rebuilding the entire thing--it's the only brass 'lemon' I've ever gotten.  Too bad, too, because the prototype was a mainstay of the Rio Grande.  Not THIS model, LOL!

Tom

Nothing worse than paying a ton of money and get a peice of poo.

Yes, how could anyone foget about TYCO.You really cant get any lower than that.

[rio grande forever]

Hands down, my worst was a Revell F7. Only the rear truck was powered with a poor open frame motor. The motor had a plastic gear that meshed with another plastic gear on the truck. Electrical pickup was horrible as was speed control (lack of). Brass wheels. Fair detail for its day.

[slotracer]

I've seen some bad stuff in HO, worst I ever experienced though were the old AHM Lima N Gauge POS engines with the pancake motors mounted to the truck.  They had rear truck eletric pickup, 4 wheel drive and all the typical characteristics of Grade A junk.....sounded like a coffee grinder, wouldn't pull worth a darn, slow speed start up of mach 2 etc.  The motors were rivited together making any hope of repair impossible.  Thanks to the "generosity" of family members at birthdays and Christmas, I aquired a number of these, teh MDT, F7a and a GP30 for sure and they ALL quit running after about a month and could not be coaxed to run ever again. 

[Darth Santa Fe]

Probably my worst so far is my Tyco Chattanooga 0-8-0 (I knew it would be terrible when I bought it). The tender drive wobbles more than anything I've ever seen, the paint is poor, it should have a front truck, the detail is minimal, the electrical pickup is poor, it starts off running really slow and then suddenly takes off after about a minute, and no matter how broken in it gets, it always smells like burning ozone. I love it!! I'm going to try doing a full repower on it eventually, and probably repaint it and detail it more too.

[Autobus Prime]

Probably my worst so far is my Tyco Chattanooga 0-8-0 (I knew it would be terrible when I bought it). The tender drive wobbles more than anything I've ever seen, the paint is poor, it should have a front truck, the detail is minimal, the electrical pickup is poor, it starts off running really slow and then suddenly takes off after about a minute, and no matter how broken in it gets, it always smells like burning ozone. I love it!! I'm going to try doing a full repower on it eventually, and probably repaint it and detail it more too.

DSF:

Easiest repower might be to buy an IHC and swap superstructures. I think they use the Tyco boiler and cab. Of course, that would be utterly pointless. Maybe you could build a big long-haul tender on a diseasel chassis.

[Darth Santa Fe]

DSF:

Easiest repower might be to buy an IHC and swap superstructures. I think they use the Tyco boiler and cab. Of course, that would be utterly pointless. Maybe you could build a big long-haul tender on a diseasel chassis.

I'm thinking of maybe making new freight truck frames with Athearn gears and using a small can motor in the old Tyco shell, but that's just one idea. I'm not exactly sure what I'll do yet.

[Autobus Prime]

My worst locomotive? There would have to be two entries on this one. The first is a Life-Like (standard line) C424. It ran for a whole 15 minutes, which as I understand it is a long time endurance record for this particular type locomotive. I picked it up new, still in the box, at a yard sale for $5. It had four wheel pickup and four wheel drive, with traction tires.

jw:

Depending on the drive, there may be some exaggeration here. :D There have been a few LL cheapie drives. One was like that Revell drive mention above...may have been the very same drive, probably inherited from Varney. Another had a motor on top the chassis, driving one truck through a universal shaft. This one seems pretty bad...by comparison, the sidewinder truck is a wonder of technology, which should give some idea how bad the other one is.

Actually, the LL sidewinders can run a long time. I use one to pull my track-cleaning car and for general abusive service. After running a lot, it works oddly well, although it won't crawl less than 7 mph or so, and of course top speed is turbo-riffic.

Much as I hate to agree with general consensus, the Tyco Powertorque drive is probably the worst thing ever. It actually runs quietly and smoothly when new, with reasonable power, but it just doesn't seem to hold up. Of course, at this point, they're getting old.

[Autobus Prime]

DSF:

Easiest repower might be to buy an IHC and swap superstructures. I think they use the Tyco boiler and cab. Of course, that would be utterly pointless. Maybe you could build a big long-haul tender on a diseasel chassis.

I'm thinking of maybe making new freight truck frames with Athearn gears and using a small can motor in the old Tyco shell, but that's just one idea. I'm not exactly sure what I'll do yet.

DSF:
You need to get a Jacob's Ladder for that workshop of yours, if you don't already have one, you mad scientist you.

[NS AS-416]

Anything P2K - although Blueline is trying to steal the crown.

To a lesser extent the old Tyco stuff that an uncle still runs - although it seems to be more reliable (works as expected) than some of the current offerings. 

My

Matt