a great "first" legacy locomotive?

IMO a steamer would be a great first Legacy engine.  I just think there is more "action" with the running gear, a greater range of sounds, and that quilling whistle is the bomb!  If you get one with whistle steam its only icing on the cake!

You are going to be amazed, truly happy with any Legacy engine you pick. Marty E is correct when suggesting a Steamer with steam / whistle effect. Suggestion the 765 NKP Berkshire 4-8-4 With Rich Melvin's Voice...WOW. CONGRATULATIONS.

Gotta go with the above......Steamer is a must have......you won't be sorry.  In the fist 20 minutes of running it.....you will shelve all your connventional trains!

Have fun!

 

-Pete

Steam Yes, as it would be great to whistle and or blow down steam also, you cannot go wrong with a Legacy Mikado! It is a great runner and my first Legacy added to my fleet!

Phil,

    I would go with steam myself however if you are a diesel guy try the RS11. I have a PRR unit and it is more impressive each time I run it......great sound, smoke, looks great.

 

JohnB 

Question is how big are your radii?

if you have 0-72 minimum your pretty much open to any of the steamers. But if you limited to smaller radii try the NYC ten wheeler... amazing whistle and sound!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you can go bigger, a bang for the buck is the new H-7. Sound features are amazing. And because it does not have whistle steam they are at a great price right now....

 

 

I second the "more action" steamer. Wait 'til you crawl it with chuff and smoke blowin'.

I like Berks, but X-6-X engines will tolerate smaller radius curves.

There is no better Berk than the Lionel 6-11203, PM 1225.  They are starting to pop up on the bay.  It has the best sound of any steamer I have heard and is rated for 054 or larger curves.

I must say I agree a steamer with more action is a lot of fun.  I also like diesels becasue of the electro coupler on front and rear (not as common on steamers but on some) that allows me to do more fun thigns switching cars.

 

Long story short, if you have no Legacy engine any engine will be great.  The newer ones tend to offer some cool new sounds.  Whistle steam/swinging bell/smoke blow down is always a fun bonus.

 

Whatever you decide to get, take your time exploring ALL the functions of the engine.  It is very easy to forget the different things legacy engines can do (ie: one of my favorite features early on that I forgot about it was that when in the speed menu, you can press and hold the speed desired which prompt dialog and then speed change vs just a quick tap of the speed will only change the speed).

Any Lionel Legacy Berkshire 2-8-4 is a great engine.  My first is a C&O 2696 which came with a set of Legacy 990 remote and 072 curves track 2 072 switches.  This has grown to a 12x24 layout.  The Berkshire is 4 years old and works like new, great sounds, crewtalk, detail and smoke.

I don't have any steamers and will yield to all the other more experienced folks here with steamer first recommendations. However, I really don't think you would be disappointed with any of the Legacy engines, it's all very nice equipment.

Also depends if you like the older or more modern engines.  I like the more modern stuff so I am all diesel

 

Ken M

You can't go wrong with a Legacy locomotive-steam or diesel 

As far as size goes, right now I have two 072 loops and two 031 loops on my basic 8x12 table, so I can run articulated if I like (clearances are ok). I really do love steamers the most (the more moving parts the merrier), but I also love the diesels. I'm not stuck on any one style or even road name at this point. I've got my eye on the Baldwin Centipede as far as an "ultimate" diesel, and I really like the GP-35 and SD6-70 style engines. I really love the Mikado, as I have one in Williams now, and it's a favorite. The Baldwin ten wheelers are great, but after hearing some of the above, I might go Mikado, or step up to an articulated beast! I've got a LionChief Berkshire in the form of Polar Express, but I'm not super thrilled with the chuff on it, so I actually run that one silent.

 

The most awesome part is that I have some great choices.

 

I'm comparing and shopping around, will take a deal on last year's good ones, and am following the various vendor sales and forums to see what everything is going for. The pocketbook isn't bottomless, but I do want and will get the "good stuff."

 

.

 

 

What was the smallest Legacy steamer made with whistle steam effect?

Probably the Legacy Lindbergh Atlantic, the smallest I know of.

I suggest you go with a smaller diesel as it will run on both loops.  I am partial to the GP9s.

The Legacy Lindbergh Atlantic runs on O31, I don't see that as a limitation.  Besides, there's a big difference between diesel and steam, if you want steam, diesel may not scratch the itch.

 

Legacy has set a neat standard of operation. As you have seen in earlier ideas, Diesels, And small Steamers are going to work fine on the track sizes you have, but, with Legacy, you can easily do Lash Ups, meaning running two diesels as 1 train, or even 3, 4, etc.

My thoughts would be on the newer GP35's in a Road name of Your Choice.  Have fun while looking for a neat deal. Enjoy Your Legacy System, and Happy Railroading.

I agree with the steamer suggestion, I an modeling in S, and my first Legacy locomotive was the U33C, I got a good deal and wanted to play with Legacy.

My second purchase was the 4-6-6-4 Challenger, that thing is awesome, I think you will be very happy with al they do.

Aflyer

Thank you all for your comments, they have been really helpful...

 

 

.

You want something affordable, won't break the bank? How about the one I have for sale...

 

https://ogrforum.com/t...11#37188758250130711

I have the Conrail that Jeff is selling, it's a good deal at $190!

 

I actually have a blue Conrail caboose sitting lonely NIB with no engine to pull it. Got it on clearance (of course). I'll send email from your Ad listing.

 

thanks!

 

.

The comments about steam being a little more satisfying than diesel are right on the money.

Regarding small steam - I have both the PRR Lindbergh Atlantic as well as the CP Ten Wheeler. Both are fantastic. The PRR has the added plus of the whistle steam effect.

 

All of the Legacy diesels seem like good choices. The first gen GP-7's (I have the UP) have some additional features that most current runs don't have such as random "wheel grind-along-the-rails" sounds, strobe, mars and true directional lighting that go from red to green on both ends of the loco.

 

As someone posted - be prepared for the urge to sell off any older TMCC 1 locos after running a legacy engine under Legacy control.

 

Oh boy the roster continues to grow. I went to the Lionel Sale in Concord NC on Friday with a couple friends from our local train club.  I was able to purchase a brand new S gauge Y3 in a dented box for $450.00.

This is just an awesome articulated 2-8-8-2 steamer, or Beast as Phil stated above, that will amaze you under Legacy control.

I still think the Challenger is an awesome locomotive, but this 2-8-8-2 has just an amazing presence on the layout, and I think the chuff sounds better than my Challenger, but mine is an early one.  I am sorry I didn't take some pictures to post.

 

Aflyer

I've got the Contrail SD-80 from Jeff now, and I'm super pleased with it. Sounds great, crawls right along, and I feel was a great deal to boot. Would show a video, but you guys I'm sure have seen more than plenty of these rolling around.

 

Was really pleased to see it crawl up my 4% 048 grade towing a bunch of cars with no speed changes or even amp draw increases on the ZW-L.

 

Now I'm looking for that "right" steamer deal.

 

P.S. - Tip to the married guys - don't use the horn blasts as a "wake-up call" to the spouse at 6:00 AM on Sunday morning. Seemed like a good idea at the time...

Additional tip.  When you get the steamer, don't try to "smoke" them out either!

 

I've heard good things about the Legacy Genset Switchers.  

The Vision Line Genset is pretty cool, it has three smoke units and operates them in a prototypical manner for a genset.  As you increase the speed and/or load, it brings more engines on line, complete with stack smoke and sound effects.  It also shuts down when it's idling after a time and periodically starts one "engine" to keep the air pressure up.  The detailing is also very good, complete with lighted instruments on the panel.

 

My first (and only) Legacy engine is the Seaboard C-420. It's a really nice engine that runs very smoothly, and it has great sounds, and the minimum curve is 0-31.

Gentlemen,

    Is there any Legacy Tin Plate available, would love to have a 263E Legacy in Plate train.  Is there anything available at all?

 

Keys6700 - Keith the Seaboard C-420 is a great little Legacy engine!  Might have to pick one up for my inner oval some time!

 

PCRR/Dave