Got a Darstaed 2-6-2 Tank engine - interesting . . .

Thanks for the review - you provide some interesting information. I've been thinking about getting one of those locomotives to go with my ETS trains. The DC part is a turnoff. Since Darstaed has an official importer in the U.S., I would think they would provide a unit that would run on AC. I can fix it easily enough, just install an electronic e-unit or a bridge rectifier and a non-shorting DPDT toggle switch, but it seems to me that if Darstaed is at all serious about selling in the U.S., they should provide a product that will run off our transformers. ETS does, why not Darstaed? 

Lotta gear noise huh, guess chinese trains are better than we think

Thank you for the review!

 

I had my eye on these things a while. That there is one BIG engine, if the Rolling Stock is the same scale... whew...

Thanks for the review.

Thanks for the review Lee. They are nice looking but the noise factor and the DC running I have to say for me is a big turn off. After running a MTH tinplate engine with it's smooth running can motors going to a noisy post war type engine wouldn't work for me. On the other hand my little ETS engine runs beautiful and silent and is AC ready. I think I'll be getting more from the ETS booth at York in the fall.

It was interesting to read Lee's review.

These trains are a different animal to your average Lionel/MTH for sure.

This particular loco, a real tinplate toy train it is for sure, and the noise due is to the gearing for driving all wheels, it's very much in the style of old Hornby and Basset Loake.

The 24v DC is very much the standard for this classification and style of loco, and in fact AC , worldwide is very much an American thing.

Having said that, John Hoover, myself and the factory is very aware of this and we will be offering future locos with the option of an electronic U.S. made E board to meet US market expectations. It's no secret either, that I have acquired ERR TMCC dealership, and I expect John to join me any day now, so, TMCC, Railsounds and smoke will also be optionally available. The two locos that have been released since the 2-6-2, the Jinty and Pannier, take a completely different direction, and feature detailed diecast bodies, lots of add on detail, a very different, and much quieter drive train, and they weigh a ton and can pull very well. All locos feature a custom Japanese made Mabuchi motor. Our next mainline locos will feature 2 motors as well, so we are trying very hard to meet the expectations of both the traditional British/ European market and the US market, offering features and operating modes to satisfy both quite different markets.

Interestingly, when we canvased the Darstaed distributors in the UK, about their interest in DCC type control  and sounds etc for their market there was virtually no interest shown.

The 24v DC is very much the standard for this classification and style of loco, and in fact AC , worldwide is very much an American thing.

I guess if you define "classification and style" as British, maybe so. But when Marklin did 3-rail 0, it was AC. The reverse unit was operated by a 20v spike instead of an interruption. Paya was AC.  As far as I know, 3-rail DC is found in France, the former British Empire, and a few other parts of Europe. The vast majority of the global 3-rail 0 market is in the U.S. or uses 18 VAC. ETS makes 3-rail AC with a choice of Lionel or Marklin type reverse, as well as 2- and 3-rail DC. MTH has entered the European market with a choice of 3-rail AC or 2-rail DC and seems to be doing well without 3-rail AC. 

 

If Darstaed is serious about selling more than 3 units in the U.S. market, they are going to have to do better than that. Putting AC reverse boards in the engines, as you say Darstaed and Hoover plan to do, is a good start. British-style trains in the U.S. are always going to be a niche product, so why make the niche smaller by trying to peddle DC to an audience that isn't interested?

 

I was seriously thinking about ordering a 2-6-2 before I learned it was DC. Now, I've actually converted a DC locomotive to AC operation, and I could quite easily build a converter box with a reverse switch to plug in between the transformer and track whenever I wanted to run a DC unit. It just isn't worth the trouble to have another oddball toy. If DC is a deal breaker for me, what about the average buyer who doesn't like to fool around with electricity? 

 

I don't know how the Jinty and Pannier will go over on this side of the pond. Personally, I have zero interest. Americans see an engine without a pilot truck as a switcher, period. I've got too many switch engines already, and I haven't had much luck selling the excess. The 2-6-2T tweaked my interest, but buying one would put another project on my plate, and the last thing I need is another project. 

 

Thanks again to Lee for posting the review. 

Lee,

Thanks for the concise review.

Doesn't ACE also run on AC?  I'd like an International Tinplate RR, but I wouldn't put in a separate line for DC.

The Ace trains imported by Weaver ran on AC, but those were special runs for the US market. Hoover lists some Ace items on his website, but he doesn't specify AC or DC. I don't know about Ace for the domestic UK market, maybe Dave or somebody can answer that. 

 

You don't have to put in a special line for DC. You could build a box with a bridge rectifier and two DPDT switches, one to switch the rectifier in and out for DC operation and the other to reverse the polarity. It's not that hard, I just don't want a Darstaed loco badly enough to go to the trouble.  

I'm probably going to get the Jinty - cast body, more details, etc., if it runs on 0-36, and is as small as Dave Allen's pictures made it look, then modify it for AC operation.  I'd like a few more, smaller steam locos than just my Dockside switcher, and good quality ones are hard to find.  

Lee; you might want to take a closer look at what ETS has to offer. I have been running my little tank engine I bought at York and I am very pleased with it's operation. I currently have it running on a O-27 loop. Not sure what the larger engines run on but so far this ones a keeper without any modification.

Thanks, I will look at that.

http://www.ets-trains.com/imag...atabaze/pics/440.jpg Here is the web site.

The link may not work. I'm trying to send it from my IPod . Just punch in the address.

The link as posted is the cover photo, not the whole catalog. You can just go to www.ets-trains.com and poke around the site. 

Lee, even Superman would have trouble busting these, nice detail too. All wheels are flanged, you need 4 foot diameter curves.

Dave, your E-mail is not working on the forum. Is there a new one? I need your address. Don

Cool picture!  

 

Dave - how easy would it be to disassemble a Jinty so you could put one set of wheels in a lathe and machine them down to be blind drivers? (I have a gear/driver puller if it comes to it). I would really like to have this run on O-36.