pmrossetti
Member
as above
thanks
thanks
Who makes the nicest HO steam locomotives?
- Thread starter pmrossetti
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I recently had to deal with Bachmann trains and their lifetime warranty. My GS4 SP Daylight. I was converting to DCC/sound and I lost one of the motor brushes and spring. Since they redesigned that loco, the parts were no longer available. Bachmann told me to ship the loco back to them with $40 and they would send me a replacement with the newer style which has DCC onboard. This engine was not in the Spectrum line. The original model was part of the Bachmann "plus" lineup. Now that's some serious lifetime warranty!!! This makes me reconsider my thoughts on Bachmann trains.
-Art
This 2-8-0 is by far the best and the nicest running loco I have made by Boo Rim imported by Overland. Unfortunately when it came out, the Canadian dollar was low so I ended up paying over $1700 CDN for it, but it was worth every cent/dollar. I love it and have yet to see a plastic steam loco run or haul as well.
My oldest steam loco is a 0-8-0 Samhongsa from the 80's, which is noisy, but runs excellent and crawls smoothly.
http://www.railwayclassics.com/builders.htm
Though all my other brass steam locos run excellent, I am not impressed with the brass diesels made by Ajin.
The only negative thing I have encountered with brass steam locos (keep in mind I'm very fussy) is sometimes the placement of cab numbers can be a tad askew. I wish there was a way to order them factory painted without numbers and heralds.
I think it would be cool to watch the process of the making of a steam brass loco especially one that you ordered.
Nicest is a relative term.
Are you talking about the "nicest" running locos?
are you talking about "nicest" looking locos?
Are you talking steam or diesel?
WHat era are you talking?
Are you talking about the "nicest" priced locos?
Are you talking about the "nicest" hauling locos?
Are you talking about the "nicest" long lasting locos?
You will get as many answers as there are brands and modelers who use them. Each will have their favorites and will recommend that brand.
Title says it all.
Indeed. The is no point in having a superb looking and detailled locomotive that run like garbage. To me its look like steamers are much less often lemons like some diesel are, maybe because of the higher sale price which mean more money was put in r&d ? lemons are still possible tho, ex.: the 2003 bachmann 3-cyl shay ?
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Railphotog
Railroad Photographer
Perhaps you could define "nicest".
Selector
Well-Known Member
I have to agree...nicest may have different meanings to different users of a number of locomotives.
For me:
Brass = the nicest. I have one brass steamer due to me very shortly, my first order. I won't get another soon.
Taking brass as the standard, which engines are the nicest to look at in plastic? Proto 2000 by Walthers have always been my gold standard. However, when I got a Hornby/Rivarossi C&O Allegheny three years ago, the P2K standard was met by that one example. I can't vouch for other Rivarossi engines.
Broadway Limited Imports (BLI) are also nice, although they would get about a B+ from me for details and niceness across their production. There is some variation, though, and a few of their steamers are really something. Take the Hybrid steamers, mostly brass with metal and plastic details soldered or glued onto the frame and superstructure. Their Union Pacific 2-10-2 is one such engine, and the Q2 seems just as 'nice'.
Brass has had some problems with running qualities, but not so much in the past few years. That, to an operator who doesn't just collect display brass, is a huge part of 'nice'. Modern plastic and metal combos seem to have a good reputation, and if you have problems, the warranties work well.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Spectrum Line from Bachmann. They get good marks from many who use them. Bachmann's warranty is the best in the industry....lifetime for the orignal purchaser of any of their locomotives. The Spectrum engines run well and they are highly detailed.
For me:
Brass = the nicest. I have one brass steamer due to me very shortly, my first order. I won't get another soon.
Taking brass as the standard, which engines are the nicest to look at in plastic? Proto 2000 by Walthers have always been my gold standard. However, when I got a Hornby/Rivarossi C&O Allegheny three years ago, the P2K standard was met by that one example. I can't vouch for other Rivarossi engines.
Broadway Limited Imports (BLI) are also nice, although they would get about a B+ from me for details and niceness across their production. There is some variation, though, and a few of their steamers are really something. Take the Hybrid steamers, mostly brass with metal and plastic details soldered or glued onto the frame and superstructure. Their Union Pacific 2-10-2 is one such engine, and the Q2 seems just as 'nice'.
Brass has had some problems with running qualities, but not so much in the past few years. That, to an operator who doesn't just collect display brass, is a huge part of 'nice'. Modern plastic and metal combos seem to have a good reputation, and if you have problems, the warranties work well.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Spectrum Line from Bachmann. They get good marks from many who use them. Bachmann's warranty is the best in the industry....lifetime for the orignal purchaser of any of their locomotives. The Spectrum engines run well and they are highly detailed.
Artieiii
Member
I recently had to deal with Bachmann trains and their lifetime warranty. My GS4 SP Daylight. I was converting to DCC/sound and I lost one of the motor brushes and spring. Since they redesigned that loco, the parts were no longer available. Bachmann told me to ship the loco back to them with $40 and they would send me a replacement with the newer style which has DCC onboard. This engine was not in the Spectrum line. The original model was part of the Bachmann "plus" lineup. Now that's some serious lifetime warranty!!! This makes me reconsider my thoughts on Bachmann trains.
-Art
This 2-8-0 is by far the best and the nicest running loco I have made by Boo Rim imported by Overland. Unfortunately when it came out, the Canadian dollar was low so I ended up paying over $1700 CDN for it, but it was worth every cent/dollar. I love it and have yet to see a plastic steam loco run or haul as well.
My oldest steam loco is a 0-8-0 Samhongsa from the 80's, which is noisy, but runs excellent and crawls smoothly.
http://www.railwayclassics.com/builders.htm
Though all my other brass steam locos run excellent, I am not impressed with the brass diesels made by Ajin.
The only negative thing I have encountered with brass steam locos (keep in mind I'm very fussy) is sometimes the placement of cab numbers can be a tad askew. I wish there was a way to order them factory painted without numbers and heralds.
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I think it would be cool to watch the process of the making of a steam brass loco especially one that you ordered.
Rivarossi last run of steamers before hornby purchase where gorgeous and smooth runner, even throught tight radius. Athearn Genesis are highly detailled (I have a challenger). Bachmann steamers are a huge bargain, since they almost always include dcc decoder at a low cost. I believe they are well suited for entering into the hobby or to let the younger ones operate them
Nicest is a relative term.
Are you talking about the "nicest" running locos?
are you talking about "nicest" looking locos?
Are you talking steam or diesel?
WHat era are you talking?
Are you talking about the "nicest" priced locos?
Are you talking about the "nicest" hauling locos?
Are you talking about the "nicest" long lasting locos?
You will get as many answers as there are brands and modelers who use them. Each will have their favorites and will recommend that brand.
Title says it all.
Indeed. The is no point in having a superb looking and detailled locomotive that run like garbage. To me its look like steamers are much less often lemons like some diesel are, maybe because of the higher sale price which mean more money was put in r&d ? lemons are still possible tho, ex.: the 2003 bachmann 3-cyl shay ?
kbkchooch
"retired" conductor
1st choice is brass.
I've never met a brass engine that, if it wasn't a good runner, couldnt be made to run well! Plus engines only dreamed in plastic are available!
Followed close by some offerings by BLI
As far as plastic goes,
Proto and Bachmans Spectrum line are a lot of bang for the buck, but for my needs, have to be redetailed alot.
IHC runs well,(later models) but also too plain Jane
decending from there,
Bowser,
Mantua
Bachmann Plus
Rivorossi
Bachman's "5" series
Tyco's infamous Chattanooga Choo Choo
and finally
MTH
Your mileage may vary!
I've never met a brass engine that, if it wasn't a good runner, couldnt be made to run well! Plus engines only dreamed in plastic are available!
Followed close by some offerings by BLI
As far as plastic goes,
Proto and Bachmans Spectrum line are a lot of bang for the buck, but for my needs, have to be redetailed alot.
IHC runs well,(later models) but also too plain Jane
decending from there,
Bowser,
Mantua
Bachmann Plus
Rivorossi
Bachman's "5" series
Tyco's infamous Chattanooga Choo Choo
and finally
MTH
Your mileage may vary!
aviserated
Member
Which factory HO brand has best authentic slow speed performance?
I would say that it depends on the decoder, since my challenger sucked with the mrc decoder, and now run like a dream with a soundtraxx decoder. Adequate lubing(over lubed is as worst as no lube) play also a good part in the smoothness of the mecanism.
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