HO Diesel Locomotive Rating

[CBQ_Guy]

I have a couple of Stewart F-7's which run really well BUT at the time I bought the first ones they were pricey, at least compared to the newly emerging P2K stuff, they were only sold in AB sets (which at the time I only needed/had room for 2 A-units, so I had to fork out twice as much to buy two AB sets just to get the 2 A's I needed), and there was no detail on them. So I've kinda had a sore spot attitude towards Stewart stuff ever since because of this.

[Anonymous]

Hello All,
I have returned to the hobby after a 35 year hiatus. I have been in a buying spree of locos and rolling stock off of eBay for the last year. Like previous posts I enjoy buying used and rebuilding into a detailed trouble free runner. I happened across a ROCO collection in 1985 and bought it and recently went through them. ( Yeah - first time run in 19 years!) I predict that the alliances developed between manufacturers will eventually be the most well received by us in the hobby. I can't help but compare to the automotive industry. Why does European engineering appear to be superior? I enjoy rebuilding old Atlas and Athearn into reliable runners but from an engineering point of view there is no comparison. Better engineering equals long term satisfaction.
Altoona Ed from South Carolina

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Greyhound Challenger: 7. Athearn. Nice running locomotive ....... Not DCC ready and conversion can be tricky if your not careful.....

My LHS told me that the newer non-Genesis Athearns, like their AC4400, are DCC compatible. Did he give me bad info? I always thought I could solder-on a decoder if I had to...

[jsoderq]

To anyone reading these posts, remember this is one man's opinion and not much more. There are several points I would disagree on and several points of incorrect information. How can an "expert" have no experience with Stewart. Also he has mistakenly grouped all production from one manufacturer into the same pigeonhole of characteristics which is not the case as there have been many changes from every manufacturer over the years. Just as the case with automobiles everybody has made some good ones and also some lemons over the years.