Is this reasonably possible?

[JoeJ]

Is there a realistic way to get small old time (say, 1860-90) locomotives in HO or HOn3 that run well, and are equipped with both DCC and sound? Brass or plastic are both acceptable, and I'm not afraid of kits or kitbashing (I've been a military modeler since I was a child), but scratchbuilding a complete loco is probably beyond me.

Basically, I'm ready to start planning my first layout, so I'm trying to figure out which of my ideas are practical and which aren't.

Thanks
Joe

 

[tooter]

I had a similar old time concept to yours although not to any specific time period, and got this very small old fashioned Mantua Classics DCC loco as my first engine...

The combined length of engine and tender are under 7 inches.

It doesn't have sound but runs really nice. And with the extremely short wheelbase it easily negotiates small radius curves.


Greg

 

[Rico]

Tooter, cool little loco! How many wheels pick up power?
Joe, you can put sound into just about anything these days.
They make some pretty small sound decoders and speakers too.

 

[ianacole]

I've been looking at one of these Bachmann Spectrum locos for my mine area (not sure how easy it would be to add sound, but it is DCC):

(Click image for product info)

 

[tooter]

Tooter, cool little loco! How many wheels pick up power?
Joe, you can put sound into just about anything these days.
They make some pretty small sound decoders and speakers too.

Because the engine is so small, the provision for DCC is cleverly put inside the tender and one set of wheels on each truck has a power pickup. A nine pin connector links the tender to the engine. The engine's wheels also appear to pickup current, but I'll have to turn it upside down and touch some wires to it to find out just how many of them are electrically active. It has one traction tire on a rear wheel. I'll only be running it on low tech DC as the layout will definitely be a very small one. With only three engines and a trolley so far, I'm planning on simple electrically isolated tracks off of a manual turntable and running into engine houses so I can bring out the one I want to run...

The Mantua has exactly the "narrow gauge" look I like...

...small, short, and old fashioned...

...just like me


Greg

 

[tooter]

I've been looking at one of these Bachmann Spectrum locos for my mine area (not sure how easy it would be to add sound, but it is DCC):

(Click image for product info)

I considered that Bachmann too... but it looked too long with a lot of overhang for the wheelbase, and I also liked the Mantua's little slope back tender... and the $65 price.

 

[hamltnblue]

Is there a realistic way to get small old time (say, 1860-90) locomotives in HO or HOn3 that run well, and are equipped with both DCC and sound? Brass or plastic are both acceptable, and I'm not afraid of kits or kitbashing (I've been a military modeler since I was a child), but scratchbuilding a complete loco is probably beyond me.

Basically, I'm ready to start planning my first layout, so I'm trying to figure out which of my ideas are practical and which aren't.

Thanks
Joe

Bachmann makes loco's from your general time frame. Also DCC and Sound equipped with Tsunami decoders.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?page=2&act=viewCat&catId=189

 

[dave1905]

The recent Roundhouse "Old Time" engines are good runners. I don't think too much of their sound decoder, but the engines run well. I have bought several and plugged in my own decoders.

 

[Mike_Arnold]

Anything is possible if you have the money

 

[JoeJ]

Thanks everyone for the helpful info. Since my first post I also stumbled over this Baldwin 4-4-0 in HOn3:


http://psc1.virtualfocus.com/MMI DRG class 42 4-4-0 HOn3.html

I don't know how they run, but the 8-18C is definitely at the top of my "most wanted NG loco" list.

Joe

 

[tooter]

That NG Baldwin has classic proportions.