My experience with actual runniing lies with the Stewart. I think those have the most consistantly smooth nice running drives (KATO, what else?). Genesis, like other Athearn products have some consistancy issues with quality control. Most run very nice, but there are a few slipped thru quality control and don't run up to par.
I have to agree with twhite about the single stripe D&RGW F3's. Mine are gorgeous models, they look like museum quality and nice detail. I can't wait to get the newer F units with the prototypical late model details. The really cool thing about the D&RGW F3's is they are all correct to the prototype for phase details. In 1951, all of the 6 of the F3A's received F7 style side panels with louvers and portholes etc in place of the 3 porthole panels, yet retained the chicken wire upper air grills. And F3A 5531 was wreck rebuilt into an F9A regarding the side panels, but the roof is still all F3. Genesis matched these phase details correctly. VERY COOL!
don7 wrote: I do not know why the Intermountain seems to lag behind in popularity, they are superb running engines.
Intermountain came to the table a little late and has been beat to the table by Genesis across the board. Genesis came out first with RTR F units, and has offered more paint jobs and more quickly, and for less money (initially than IMR). At the time Geneis F units were first offered (complete RTR) IMR only offered painted shells and didn't have a powered chassis yet. The modeler was expected to buy a Stewart chassis and put the shell on it. IMR has never offered paint scheme's I've been interested in either. They have a great product but with so much competition out there, IMO, they should have never tried to compete in the F unit market. I rarely have seen their F's on the shelve or at train shows like I do the Genesis either.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983