What locomotives are most reliable in ho

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Just so you know the Athearn Blue Box, old Proto 1K & 2K old Atlas & Kato are all DC engines that will require a DCC decoder to be added, and some it is not trivial. I don't recall if any are DCC ready meaning you can get a decoder and just plug it in, otherwise you are soldering in a harness.

I have found trainworld.com closeouts is the way to get things cheap I have Bachmann spectrum with DCC and sound that I got around $100 and they seem to work fine. And I have Walther Proto 1K that work good, but all I have there are RDCs so no telling how engines are at pulling big trains.
 
I have GE 44T from three different manufacturers these are ranked by how well the run. Bachmann, a 1982 Keystone (kit w/ NWSL drive) and the recently released Rapido. My first Rapido locomotive. Now I am questioning should I continue converting my detailed Blue Box diesels or just purchase some Rapido as funds permit and use the freed-up time elsewhere.
 
boatwrench said:
I have GE 44T from three different manufacturers these are ranked by how well the run. Bachmann, a 1982 Keystone (kit w/ NWSL drive) and the recently released Rapido. My first Rapido locomotive. Now I am questioning should I continue converting my detailed Blue Box diesels or just purchase some Rapido as funds permit and use the freed-up time elsewhere.
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If you have more money than time, buy the better stuff. If you have more time than money, buy and improve the less-good stuff.
 


Piko, TRIX, Jägerndorfer, and Sud-Express, have all been outstanding performers for me. Never a problem with those brands. All highly, exactingly detailed and great runners.

I have read that older HO Fleischmann are extremely reliable, but I don't own any. Fleischmann is now strictly N scale.

I have had motors fail in Roco and Bemo, and driveshaft failure in A.C.M.E.

You are probably not interested in European locomotives though.
 
boatwrench said:
I have GE 44T from three different manufacturers these are ranked by how well the run. Bachmann, a 1982 Keystone (kit w/ NWSL drive) and the recently released Rapido. My first Rapido locomotive. Now I am questioning should I continue converting my detailed Blue Box diesels or just purchase some Rapido as funds permit and use the freed-up time elsewhere.
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Buy once, cry once. Rapido verses those other two is an apples vs rotting oranges comparison. It's a no brainer.

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Actually, a couple of the primary differences in the range of models is, their detail and their operating quality.
If ya just need a loco that will run around the loop of track for the kids to play with, get the inexpensive locos with the brightly painted shells and extra thick rubber handrails. It's good for either stopped or go full speed. Not much in between.
If ya aspire to get good detail that looks more like the prototype and can operate in a yard or coupling up to trains as well as speed matching to other locos, the higher end locos wll fit that bill.
Yeah, I understand, some folks don't have the budget for the Scale Trains, Rapido or Athearn Genesis stuff. Its just something ya have to consider.
 
Currently, Bowser (RS3), Walthers Proto (GP9), and Walthers Main Line (2 F7s), Atlas and Kato. Honorable Mention: Scale Trains (GP30)
Older: Atlas-Kato; Stewart-Kato P2k.
Problematic: Athearn Genesis, Rapido,BLI. Athearn RTR.

Proto Geeps do have a gear problem that is shared with FA-1s and Older E8s/E7s. Replacement gears are easy to find both from Athearn and Walthers, and the change out is easy.

Track: Micro Engineering and New Walthers. I use code 70. Walthers switches have built in jumpers, while you need to wire ME switches. Walthers does not offer #5, just #4 and #6. ME offers #5 and #6. ME made in USA...
 
I have something like 12 BLI steamers from the years 2004-2024. These comprise several types of steamers, some with original QSI decoders, all but two still working. The others have P2 or P4 decoders with no letdowns to date. Some of those steamers were acquired through BLI's refurbished outlet, so second hand really. One of those original Niagaras with a QSI has had a P4 decoder with keep-alive cap installed. My BLI PCM Y6b Mallet lost its LokSound decoder 12 years ago and I had a friend install a QSI Titan, which still runs very well. None of my five or six Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders has failed yet.

I have returned two steamers to BLI for repairs, and both run well to this day. One was at their cost, the other was at mine (I dropped the PCM Y6b and broke off the mount for the front engine. Cost me USD$45 plus shipping, two ways. That was in 2012, so dated info now.

I have a 2004 Challenger in HO from Lionel when they were last in that market. QSI, and it's almost my favourite locomotive. Not heavily detailed, but heavy, all metal, twin speakers, and it's a real workhorse. I also have a Rivarossi Allegheny 2-6-6-6 with Tsunami, and a Rivarossi Heisler with an earlier LokSound. The Heisler is now 9 years old, and the Lionel Challenger is 20, but run very well and reliably.

I had to send back my Rapido H1b 4-6-4 because of a broken gear. There was nothing wrong with the gear, but one of the siderod screws backed out, unbeknownst to me, and when it finally caught on something immovable, it broke the gear. Rapido fixed it and it's back to me, unopened now two weeks.

I have several types of diesels from Rapido, Atlas, and Athearn Genesis. The ones that run most reliably (starting up, moving off, staying on the rails, sounding good, even after two or three years in their boxes) are my Atlas Master Gold FM H24-66 from around 2005/6 with QSI (yes, still working) and in 2017 I picked up what was probably a three/four year old stock Master Silver Classic RS3, also with QSI, and that also still runs very well. I had read, many years before acquiring my first Atlas, that some of them have/had Kato drives in them.....? I seem to recall that all these years later, perhaps erroneously.
 


While I own a selection of Broadway Limited locos, I find after reading all the posts on this topic, that BLI comes pretty much in last place among all the favorites. I have to say they are not my top choice but if you like steam, they have a nice offering of models..
For me the Athearn Genesis, Kato and the older P2K (even with their cracked gears) are my best runners. Bowser/Stewart with Kato drives and Atlas have performed well also.
Some of you may be saying, isn't this guy still building a layout? And the answer is yes, however I have been a member of a couple of model railroad clubs and was able to "run trains" there.
John
 
trailrider said:
The only thing about Athearn Blue Box diesels that could cause some problems is the current draw by their motors can run as high as 1.0a. Not a problem in DC, but if you add decoders, it might be too much. Replacement with a can motor can cut this down, but may not be cost effective. Great runners with DC, though. I've got a bunch!
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The good thing about the BlueBox locos is that you can exchange the motor for the nice Ready to Roll ones, even Athearn Genesis motors will work, all because of this 4 pins
 
I see no one has mentioned Intermountain.

I have only owned one Intermountain locomotive (UP ES44) but have since sold it off. Not because it was problematic. It just didn't fit the new direction I was taking.

I remember it running well, but the drive was a little noisier compared to my Walthers, Scaletrains, and Genesis models.
 
Just because some engines are mentioned alot does not mean I should buy them. BLI makes some good looking steam but it seems they have issues with quality. I have read many reviews of bli locomotives so I'm very familiar with the good and bad.
My focus right now is on moderate priced modern diesels. I would like more reviews of dcc ready locomotives.

Dave
 
Mike: There was a rumor a few years back that Bowser, Atlas and Intermountain were all made at the same factory. Whether that's true or not is anyone's guess.
Dave: Virtually every DC model is easily upgradable to DCC, including pre installed speakers on more recent versions. I run DCC and I still have quite a few silent decoders to install...I'm not big on sound.
Crandell: If I was modeling the steam era, there is no doubt I would have more BLI MTH and Lionel engines. I have 4 steamers, 1 Bachmann, and 3 BLI. None have run in 10 years, so I guess they are still usable.
Rico: I agree this is a nice survey of what we use and our results.
 
James Wright on YouTube does a lot of reviews. Don't know how many are DC vs DCC equipped.

youtube.com

jlwii2000

When I started my channel I did not choose a catchy name because I did not think that I would be a major model railroading video source one day, so I apologize for the strange name. My channel has a variety of info about Model Railroading in many scales, primarily HO scale. I try to respond to...
youtube.com youtube.com
 
Bachmann Spectrums are alright, on the cheaper side but most are pretty reliable.
Rapido is up on the expensive side but most engines are super detailed, and run fairly decent
Athearn Genesis is a great brand and would recommend lots of locomotives too
Atlas Masterline offers reasonable engines at decent prices, aimed more for early 80s and 70s locomotives
Walthers Proto offers excellent locomotives at excellent prices nothing more to say.
These are mainly on the higher end price
 
Not alot of solid evidence either way concerning Bachmann locomotives, some say a few are great others tell me to stay away from them. Well I like smooth running locomotives. I have bought one Atlas gp38 no dcc. Some of the details are applied while others were applied by me. I got them done but instructions are sketchy about where they go. I got about 92% of the details on. Not bad for a guy who is 78.
But in the future I will look for a more detailed locomotive. Btw the engine runs smooth and quiet
 


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