HO Intermountain locomotives

[Sunset Limited]

Just need your opinion or experience with HO Intermountain Locomotives. I was looking at purchasing a couple of F-7s, but never owned this brand before. They looked very detailed, but it's the perfomance and quailty that I'm looking for. Also do they come with the Mars light (Strobe Light) that you see sometimes in on the P2K?

Thanks for help!

[Anonymous]

There's lots of varouss manufacturer F7s out there, IM, MRC, Athearn, Stewart etc but to answer the IM?
MR reviewed the IM July 2001.
"The new Regal drive mechanism is outstanding, quiet drive & powerful. and could pull up to 77 cars.
Good engine weight, 18 oz.The air horns are huge".
As near as I can tell, no mars lights. They probably were not in use in the 50s

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomotive3

There's lots of varouss manufacturer F7s out there, IM, MRC, Athearn, Stewart etc but to answer the IM?
MR reviewed the IM July 2001.
"The new Regal drive mechanism is outstanding, quiet drive & powerful. and could pull up to 77 cars.
Good engine weight, 18 oz.The air horns are huge".
As near as I can tell, no mars lights. They probably were not in use in the 50s

Mars lights were used as far back as the 40's. SP's GS-4 4-8-4's were equipped with them, as were virtually all of SP's road diesels.

Andre

[Anonymous]

Don't know about mars light but mine are amoung my favorite f's they are very detailed in their apperance but delicate if you plan on handeling them alot be carefull. I have two pair of C&O f's with the b's being their smart dummy and they are both sound equipped with soundtraxx dsx decoders Like I said they are amoung my favorite engines. They pull very nice and run exellent . I think they are well worth the price in means of quality,Intermountain's service dept is also top notch. Good Luck Terry.

[cspmo]

If you are using DCC, and some of decoder you can program a mars light.

CNW start using Mars lights in 1936.

[Sunset Limited]

I'm leaning toward purchasing them. I usually stick with the brand I know. It just seems odd that Intermountains quality has'nt really been 'a word of mouth'. You usually hear about Kato,P2k,Athearn,stewart etc. but not much on Intermountain. The reason these locomotives caught my eye is that their painted in the SP bloody nose scheme and has the same details if not better as a P2k. Thanks for all your help! [^]

[Don Gibson]

I.M. proucts are first class - like getting the Genesis body with a Stewart Drive.

IM & Genesis' both have their 'F's with dual headlight's but no Mars light. A 'working' Mars or Gyralight isn't cheap - somewhere around $35. Still interested?

ROTO 2000's E-8 had a dual fiament single bulb but, not in their 'F'. The best one out therei is the RICHMOND CONTROLS. I now have 6 of my 'F's now with Mars light's, BEST thing, is I don't have to modify my 'B's /No added expense.

Few things I have spent $35 on that have given me more pleasure.