Lionel TMCC Steam

Budget is $600-$700

The K-Line B6 0-6-0 and A5 0-4-0 are excellent engines. RS4 but decent volume, in fact as loud or louder than most Legacy engines. They have dyna chuff but only garbled crew talk. You could get both in your price range and have enough left over to add ERR Cruise Ms and they will run as smooth as Legacy.

Pete

Picked up the Lionel PRR Atlantic a few years ago at York. Nice engine with great sound.

http://www.lionel.com/products...atlantic-68-6-28704/

For $600-700, you can pick up a really nice used Legacy steamer and get the great sounds and operation.  I have purchased numerous Legacy steamers in that price range, just keep your eye out in the for-sale forum here.

Here's a legacy Berkshire on the forum at a great price: https://ogrforum.com/t...-builder-set-breakup

That meets all to goals and will sound way better than the TMCC choices.

what is min radius on that Berkshire?

Minimum radius would probably be 054 or possibly even 042  ...but perhaps not.

It's a very nice steamer and is a great value.  I had one for several years.

My MTH Premier Nickle Plate Berkshire runs just fine on O-54. Never tried it on something sharper.

Getting back to PRR, K-Line also made a scale K4s and USRA Mikado. While the Mikado does not have the typical PRR styling it is prototypical as the PRR had 33 of them. Also Lionel made an Odyssey K4 that should be well below your max price.

Pete

I picked up the Legacy K4 with whistle smoke for $500 here on OGR several years ago, deals do come along.

Norton posted:

Getting back to PRR, K-Line also made a scale K4s and USRA Mikado. While the Mikado does not have the typical PRR styling it is prototypical as the PRR had 33 of them. Also Lionel made an Odyssey K4 that should be well below your max price.

Pete

Actually, PRR had some USRA Light Mikes, Class L2. The K-Line model is a close-enough start.

The other thing you might consider is purchasing a Williams PRR brass locomotive from the 90's.  They are not as detailed as more modern vendor offerings, but they are inexpensive and easily upgraded to TMCC.  And being Williams, they run very, very well.

I recently purchased a Williams PRR B6sb in C-8 (like new) condition for $200.  I spent about $300 having TMCC, Railsounds, and cruise (ERR components) installed.  It also got front / rear electrocouplers.  I had All Aboard Trains in NJ do the work and I am very pleased.

Nearly my entire Pennsy fleet (2 K4s, 1 L1s, 1 B6sb) is Williams brass locomotives with TMCC upgrades.  They run great.  Below is one of my K4s pacifics.

This is a very economical way to get a brass TMCC locomotive.

George

rex desilets posted:

Norton posted:

Getting back to PRR, K-Line also made a scale K4s and USRA Mikado. While the Mikado does not have the typical PRR styling it is prototypical as the PRR had 33 of them. Also Lionel made an Odyssey K4 that should be well below your max price.

Pete

Actually, PRR had some USRA Light Mikes, Class L2. The K-Line model is a close-enough start.

Rex is right.  K-Line built the L2s Mikado.  There were only 5 on the roster.

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mikado/?page=prr

George

With the emphasis on sound, I'd be looking for a Legacy locomotive, they are available in the price range.