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I am looking for a HO Challenger and a H8. I was hoping to pick the brains of more seasoned model railroaders for the "best" kind to get. I have a few expectations and if I can't find what I want I would rather not have them. Please feel free to chime in if I'm asking to much or if you have an opinion on a specific model. Thank you.
#1 No kits
#2 I run dcc (I am not afraid to put a decoder in, but my poor genisis big boy is still on the bench at the hobby shop after I tried to put a soundtraxx in it 8 months ago)
#3 I prefer sound (And good sound. My Y6B pulled 165 cars at the club, but I hate to run it because I think it is poor sounding.
#4 It has to pull like it should (at least 60+ cars)
#5 It doesn't have to be brass detailed but on par with today's offerings
#6 I don't mind fixing things but not on a daily basis
#7 You get what you pay for. If it's worth it I'll pay it.
I have the Lionel HO Challenger and like it very much. Nice and heavy, but it could use some tweaking. See tonys'trainexchange site for reviews and comments someone posted about his Challenger maybe five-six years ago now.
I also have the latest version of the Rivarossi Allegheny. It is a superbly detailed locomotive that comes with two cabs. The one not mounted has a longer roof extension towards the tender. If you get the Rivarossi, be very patient and careful about handling the chore of opening up the boiler back, removing the installed cab, and substituting the included one.
The Allegheny runs quite well, no worse than any of my BLI steamers. If you get the LokSound decodered one, you will be disappointed in the sound files if you know anything about this engine's history. You would be better off getting a DC engine and adding a Heavy Tsunami. It's the only way you'll get something like the correct hooter sound for the whistle. The chuffs loaded on the LokSound I got were for a Docksider burning corn husks for fuel.
Challenger in UP. The genesis is not an option. I believe it is the same as the bigboy and I was so disappointed in the sound and poor decoder that I tried to put the soundtraxx heavy steam in it and now it is worse. I am not very adept at resolving electrical problems and it has 1. I will look into the Lionel offering. Based on my issue with the mth bigboy I am going to steer clear of their Challenger.
Selector: Does anyone offer the Rivarossi new or is it a past model?
Thank you to both.
Challenger in UP. The genesis is not an option. I believe it is the same as the bigboy and I was so disappointed in the sound and poor decoder that I tried to put the soundtraxx heavy steam in it and now it is worse. I am not very adept at resolving electrical problems and it has 1. I will look into the Lionel offering. Based on my issue with the mth bigboy I am going to steer clear of their Challenger.
Selector: Does anyone offer the Rivarossi new or is it a past model?
Thank you to both.
You do not have to worry about the Genesis if it is a recent release. They come with a Tsunami installed, instead of the MRC decoder of earlier runs.
As to the H8. For real pulling ability, seriously look at a brass H8 from Akane. This is a mechanically friendly locomotive, that mucho weight can be added to, the Akanes have a superior mechanism in them and installing a decoder, even one with sound, is not hard. The only problem is you will have to get one from an auction site like E-bay, or at an estate sale. The haven't been made since the 1960's. The detail is a little sparse on them, but I think thats due to the size of the loco more than anything else. I had to rebuild one last year and I put more than 45 detail parts on it. Its hard to tell that I did that much! Here's a pic.
I am pretty sure there are H-8's still available, and I would look to eBay or to places like internethobbies or modeltrainstuff, maybe even trainworld in NYC. They were first released in 2006 as DC, and the next year as DCC with sound, and with the LokSound decoder.
BTW, there is nothing wrong with LokSound per se. I have a number of their decoders and have liked them a lot. It's just that "someone" keeps flubbing the assignment of sound files to particular types. It was the worst, by a landslide, with the H-8.
Here are two photos to keep your ardour at a peak. The Lionel UP Greyhound shown first, followed by the Rivarossi Allegheny. Both on my layout.
Here's a pic.