Best Running Locomotives

Mine are all 3rd rail diesels with the single motor horizontal drive and ERR Cruise boards with 100 speed steps

Dan Padova posted:

The following is my opinion.  Others may have their own thoughts.

In my previous life as an "O" gauger and also in my newly restarted world of "O" gauge, I have made the discovery that my best running locomotives are semi-scale Lionel GG1s, with two motors and my 624 type NW-2 switchers.  They run smoother than any other locomotives I own with my 2343s coming in a close second.  

I run strictly conventional on tubular track with O31 curves and O22 turnouts, using a post-war ZW transformer.  My 624 switcher has a Dallee E-Unit that actually enhances slow running.  

The above locos have Pullmor type motors.  I also have two K-Line semi-scale GG1s that run very smooth, but these have can motors.  They also have traction tires which I am not particularly fond of.  However, the K-Line traction tires seem to be a better quality than the ones on MTH locos.  

My diesels are smoother running than my steam locos.  I attribute this to the fact that the diesels have articulated trucks.  The rigid frames of the steamers fight a bit through my tight curves.  These are slow running observations.   

My little 41 and 51 type switchers also run well, even at slow speeds.  Although it's kind of like listening to a blender.....LOL

 

You can't go wrong with the post war classics you mention, Dan.

Although my Legacy K4s perform flawlessly wether by themselves or double headed if I had to narrow it down to just one engine it would be my Legacy B6 Switcher. It can run at speed step one all day never stalls, great smoke and sound. In my opinion the best switcher ever made.

JohnB

Dan Padova posted:

My little 41 and 51 type switchers also run well, even at slow speeds.  Although it's kind of like listening to a blender.....LOL

Make sure the lower motor bearing is lubricated in those motorized units, as well as the drive gear.  It makes a very large difference.

My Lionel F3s, both postwar horizontal motor and modern vertical motor, are probably my best runners. 

I've had really good luck with the 2046 and 646 steam locomotives.  And all parts are readily available.

Don't count out the 736 either - it is a smooth runner. I like the 2343 horizontal motor F3's, really growl, but the vertical motor ones tend to run a bit nicer and without all the noise. Agree on the 623/624 switcher. I've had one that someone put about 4 pounds of lead in - runs great, pulls the walls down. All the newer stuff with can motors runs quiet and smooth, can't complain.

My 623 is one of my favorites too Dan. I think it was one of the best Lionel ever made. I've gotta get rid of the old e-units in all of my post war and MPC stuff. The buzzing may have been cool when we were kids but now I just find it annoying. My 2026 steamer runs a close second.

I'm on all 027 curves with 5121/22 turnouts.

Bob

On my layout, the title has to go to my 1948-49 model 726 along with my 2032 Erie Alcos, which have the same motor as the 622-class switchers.  An honorable mention goes to my 675 2-6-2.  

All mine are BPRC'd.  I'm leaning towards my last engine, a Lionel 4-8-2 Mountain that originally came painted for Southern Rwy and I repainted it into a SAL engine, extremely smooth runner.

My Weaver 4-6-0 chassis (with a scratch built boiler) I got from Ed Rappe is a very smooth running engine too.

My Williams E7 (2 motors) runs a little better/faster than my 3rd Rail E7 (1 motor).  I have some gear/belt noise in the 3rd Rail unit that was there when it had TMCC, something must not be aligned correctly or rubbing so I need to open it back up.  Actually it sounds kinda like a diesel, even without a sound card!!!  Maybe it's the whirring of the belt drive and there really is no problem.

The Williams E7 uses a BlueRail board and the 3rd Rail uses a Deltang board, both use a 9.6v 2000Mah battery.

One benefit of not having built in sound is I can hear what my engines are doing and work on them if I hear something that isn't right.

JohnB posted:

Although my Legacy K4s perform flawlessly wether by themselves or double headed if I had to narrow it down to just one engine it would be my Legacy B6 Switcher. It can run at speed step one all day never stalls, great smoke and sound. In my opinion the best switcher ever made.

JohnB

I agree I love my Legacy PRSL B6. It's amazing how slow it will move. 

I also like my Southern LC+ NW2 it's a great running switcher. Has cruise and great smoke with the cool post war body.

Probably the best running engine I have, both reliability and smoothness--is an early MPC ALCO #8021.  None of my TMCC/Legacy engines runs as well or as reliably. 

So much for the magic of modern electronics. 

I'll second the legacy K4, specifically the first run with the standard tender(6-11328).

In fact, mine had a serious problem when new with the gearbox, but after receiving it back repaired from from Lionel in 2011 it has run like a swiss watch ever since.

My other mentions are my second run Legacy PM Berk (6-11203) with the German made Buhler can motor, and my early legacy M1B (6-11147).

My newest legacy stuff seems just a touch off from those three , maybe more break in time is needed.

smoothest, slowest, quiet, no stalling locomotive is my 2 rail MTH PS3 0-6-0 in 3 rail mode. But only after I had an extra roller installed  and all the grounds tied together.  

Clem 

RSJB18 posted:

My 623 is one of my favorites too Dan. I think it was one of the best Lionel ever made. I've gotta get rid of the old e-units in all of my post war and MPC stuff. The buzzing may have been cool when we were kids but now I just find it annoying. My 2026 steamer runs a close second.

I'm on all 027 curves with 5121/22 turnouts.

Bob

I agree on the E-unit music.  I think my next move will be to spend some money and buy some Dallee E-units.  

The old Red caboose GP7/9 runs really smooth. It was based on the old Atlas F9.  It was upgraded to flywheels and came in both 2 and 3 rail.  It started and stopped smoothly and ran well at low speed.  It was a little light so it wouldn't pull 25 postwar cars up a grade.  They are prone to cracked axles, but that is an easy fix with NWSL parts. 

Dan,

Got to admit most all my Engines run very well, however one of the very best is the Scale TMCC JLC Brunswick Green GG1 I purchased from Dave (Rocky Mountaineer), from the time I put her on the over head layout, she has preformed flawlessly well.  

The Scale Legacy Northern Pacific GP/9 is a monster runner also, however I have an original Williams GG1 that for over 40 years has preformed at a stump pulling level.

These 3 Engines have had absolutely no work ever done on them, and run perfectly all the time.

PCRR/Dave

Hands down, the best smoothest running engine I have or have seen run is the Lionel Vision line Genset diesel.  It is the only engine I have found that will allow you to spot coal cars precisely on the rotary coal tipple to allow it to rotate.  It will go so slow that you can hardly tell it is moving and it runs just as well at any speed.  Probably one of Lionel's all time best engines both as a runner and detail level!

Happy railroading,

Don

Talking PostWar only,I agree on the 622 series switches and the Alcoa of the same era and then the 726 Berkshires without magnetraction,very smooth runners.

Mikey

Post-war: My 736 Berkshire

Modern: Lionel PRR J-1

Have a lot of postwar lionel steam engines the smoothest and quietest are the 675 and 2025 with the baldwin wheels from the 1940s.

My favorite though a good pulling great running steamer is the 1946 double worm geared 726 Berk .The bulb smoke unit is a site to behold when running at night with layout dimmed as the smoke comes out of stack the smoke bulb gives it the effect of a real flickering fire coming out albeit white in color it is amazing unlike any other smoking loco's i ever seen and have a lot of smokers. Need to figure out how to do a video of this.Have pair of them one down to bare metal.

Diesels on layout 6220 switcher, 2330 GG1,2322 FM smooth quiet and very good pullers. Our 2343 also good just not as quiet as the other diesels with its classic whine sound.

My black Vision Line Legacy 700E was the best running Lionel O gauge engine I ever owned. Excellent sounds and smoke plus swinging bell and whistle smoke.

I have to support those who have voted for the early Lionel Alco Switchers and early FA Alcos  Diesels along with the 675 and 2025 Steam Locomotives.  All of these were unbelievably smooth running postwar engines.  The postwar dual motored FM Trainmasters and GG1s were in my opinion the greatest pullers.  My roster of these engines outpull my postwar F3s.  

Everyone I have is the best there is. I enjoy them and run them all frequently enough to remember what they all do well.

My best operating O locomotive is my Legacy NS 9-1-1, and my best HO locomotive is my Broadway Limited Paragon 2 PRR J1a. Both are roughly 2-3 years old and still run great with no work done.

Hard to beat Williams for smooth running.  I have both diesel and steam engines and they run cool and smooth all day long.  They are great pullers to boot.  And I can let my grandkids run them with no worries about damaging expensive control equipment.

Rolland

My best running are also a GG1 and an NW2 switcher but they are Williams and WBB respectively. 

My 2015 Conrail SD40 by Lionel is quickly becoming a favorite in the operating department. I’ve had some sticking issues with Legacy locomotives in the past, but not this one. Silky smooth, quiet creeping and great strength coupled with superb, basey sounds.

Mention should also go to the 18005 scale Hudson which performs exceptionally quietly and smoothly for a locomotive with the mechanical E-unit and AC Pullmor motor. 

Mikado 4501 posted:

My 2015 Conrail SD40 by Lionel is quickly becoming a favorite in the operating department. I’ve had some sticking issues with Legacy locomotives in the past, but not this one. Silky smooth, quiet creeping and great strength coupled with superb, basey sounds.

I 2nd that. The 2015+ SD40's are all around great lookers and performers.

Hello Guys.........

The 3 smoothest engines running I have are the Sunset 3rd S.F. 5011, Williams F-3 ABA w/6 motors, Railking NW-2 switcher.  I use red & tacky grease and it DOES make an big differences in smooth running.  

Tiffany 

Seems like we're tipped towards Lionel here. That's ok but I'll balance the scales. I do have most brands. I prefer my MTH engines for the great value, and their performance.

 The problems that I have had I'd base mainly on software bugs more than anything. The engines themselves have held up very well. Because I always run with the smoke on, I'd say that's also been where most of my other problems have centered. I have burned more than a few wicks when I have lost track of adding fluid. After servicing them, I've learned to be more generous now with the fluid. Our grandson doesn't like to turn the smoke off even when the basement is full of smoke.

 I have heard of people posting about poor slow speed performance. I don't run my engines at 1-2 MPH very often or for very long. I usually couple up to trains at around 5 MPH or less. Once each engine has broken in, I'm quite happy with the performance in all speeds. I run mainly 2 rail O and they are the best game in town.

Couple 3 or 4 diesels together and they'll pull most anything. So I use 5 or 6!! 

Pride Lines Hiawatha

Lou N

K Line Chessie System diesel locomotive. I believe it's a GP 7. Smooth as silk and good detail including rotating fans on top.

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

K Line Chessie System diesel locomotive. I believe it's a GP 7. Smooth as silk and good detail including rotating fans on top.

Maybe it's a GP 9?

My best 3-rail slow speed operation was with the Lionel VL Genset.

I just pulled my K-Line Lackawanna Train Master out of it's box and ran it on my layout for the first time.  I may have to rank this one along side my Lionel GG1s !    The only drawback to this locomotive is clearance on O31 curves.  I have some tunnel portals on a curve and the loco fouls on the side of the portal.  Another place it doesn't clear is where I have a 497 Coal Loader.  The loader is close to a curve and the K-Line Train Master hits the post while my Lionel Train Master clears it.  While the blind wheel location looks better on the K-Line diesel ( center wheel ) it also creates a different geometry on curves than the Lionel model.  I guess those original Lionel engineers knew what they were doing.

not sure what is meant by the OP question.  there is not one locomotive that i cannot put on tracks, crack the throttle and not have it move.  there are some modern locomotives that i wish would have a better coasting drive, and i tend to shy away from overly complex electronics and sound systems, but at least in O gauge, i don't believe i have any locomotives that run as poorly as some of my old (pre-70's) open frame motor HO locomotives.

overlandflyer posted:

not sure what is meant by the OP question.  there is not one locomotive that i cannot put on tracks, crack the throttle and not have it move.  there are some modern locomotives that i wish would have a better coasting drive, and i tend to shy away from overly complex electronics and sound systems, but at least in O gauge, i don't believe i have any locomotives that run as poorly as some of my old (pre-70's) open frame motor HO locomotives.

I am asking which of all of your "O" gauge locos runs the best.  I have some that run like they're floating on air, while others, although they will run nicely at speed, tend to be a bit less than ideal at slower speeds, switching duties and tracking.

As I mentioned, my layout is all tubular track with O31 curves and O22 turnouts.  Also mentioned was the fact that my Lionel GG1s seem to run through all of this track without any issues, slow and fast.  My Train Masters, while are also good running locomotives, look a bit odd on the tighter radii.  

What I didn't clarify, is that I only own the typical post-war type equipment, i.e. no modern locos with all the bells and whistles like the scale pieces that Eric Segal does his outstanding reviews on.

Postwar/conventional best runner diesel, hands down for me:  2383 Santa Fe.  Runs more smoothly with less racket than the 2343.

Postwar/conventional best runner steam:  700E from 1990.  Quiet, good slow speed operation. 

Modern conventional best runners:  pretty much anything Williams with can motors, but the NW-2 is very smooth, also the Williams Alco FA-2 (their postwar remake).  Both are almost silent running.

Command control best runner diesel:  MTH Premier NS 911

Command control best runner steam:  Williams 4-6-0 converted to PS-2 (or PS-3, I forget which) by GGG.