I'm looking for a good running, reliable 0-6-0 with DCC and sound. My last one was several years ago so I'm wondering what may be a good selection now. My era is 1949 and C&NW locale.
73
Bruce in the Peg
Assuming HO scale
Proto 2000 0-6-0 came with both DCC and sound or DC (possibly DCC ready), and it is still available if you look hard enough in Dealer new old stock or Ebay. I bought one and I am happy (found an undec).
Bruce,
I second the PK2 recommendation. I have one that is about 10 years old now and it is the smoothest running loco I have. I see Walthers no longer list it but I did see Trainworld list a PRR version.
CN Charlie
The P2K is probably your best bet for several reasons. It's recognized as being of good quality; its details are accurate; it's not hard to find; and C&NW had those USRA 0-6-0's. Aside from a few brass offerings, I don't think any other HO model can qualify on all these points. I have a book with a photo of C&NW 2611, which was said to have been built in 1919 and lasted until 1956. Bachmann has announced future release of an 0-6-0 that resembles the USRA, but I've seen no details on it.
I concur with the previous recommendations. The Proto 2000 PRR version that I own is one of my smoothest RTR locomotives. I was even surprised at the number of cars that it is able to pull.
I don't know what the drive train looks like now, but the Bachmann 0-6-0 I had was USRA, it was well abused before I got it, and it had been run continuously for almost 15 years before it died on me. This was with a train set quality drive! Odds are, it probably won't pull as many cars as the other, but is a fair bit less dollar wise than the other.
Proto, I have 4, in fact it and it's cousin 0-8-0 are all I run now even though I have others including a soon to be sold brass.
My Proto 0-6-0.
No problems with this engine. Sound and DCC, runs like a dream.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I can't imagine the stock Proto 0-6-0 being a good puller. I have one of their 0-8-0s and it couldn't handle more than three cars on the fairly gentle grade where I had planned to use it. I did manage to cram some lead into it and make it into a respectable puller, though, and decided to modify it to more closely ressemble a CNR prototype:
Modifications included lengthening the frame to accommodate the CNR-style front handrail treatment, lowering the running boards, and making new air tanks from lead-filled brass tubing and mounting them inboard from their original position. I replaced all of the piping on the loco, as it was all undersize, and reworked the side steps and rear footboards on the tender. The coal bunker was also opened, and an interior added to allow use of loose coal.
The Proto switchers are very smooth runners, as mentioned. Mine is an early version, without tender pick-up, but I've not had need to add pick-ups, even using Atlas turnouts.
I added all-wheel pick-up (all 6 drive wheels and all tender wheels) to this little 0-6-0, a brass model of a CNR prototype, for a friend.
Because it has an open frame motor, I also changed the magnets for rare earth type ones from Micro-Mark. This turned it into a smooth runner (DC), but the friend claimed that it couldn't pull sufficient cars for its intended operation. I offered to add weight to it, but he had decided to get rid of it. When I asked how much he wanted for it, he seemed surprised, but wouldn't name a price. "If you want it, it's yours." It was my turn to be surprised, but after a little back-and-forth, and listening to his logic on the subject, I graciously accepted. Naturally, I went ahead and added some weight, then re-detailed it slightly and gave it a new paint job.
I managed to get an additional 2.25oz. into the boiler, bringing its weight (loco only) to 12oz. It will out-pull the modified Proto 0-8-0, but the two locomotives doublehead together as if they were one.
Wayne
Proto 0-6-0 can pull many cars but it depends on the weight of the cars and the wheelsets for the most part.
My Proto 0-8-0 is a 2nd run with the additional pickups and traction tires. It's a sweet lil' switcher and can pull a whole string of cars behind it.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage My Proto 0-8-0 is a 2nd run with the additional pickups and traction tires. It's a sweet lil' switcher and can pull a whole string of cars behind it. Tom
Same with my Proto 0-6-0. With tender pickups, there is no problem with the traction tires and power. It pulls just fine.
After a few years of observing Doctorwayne's work on this forum, and seeing the number of times he mentions having painted, or modified, or made a gift of, a car, loco, or other item "for a friend," I've about decided that the single best thing a model railroader can do is to become one of Wayne's friends. Where do I sign up? Do you have a weakness for chocolate, say, or fine wine, or anything that might deepen a friendship? Let us know.