Looking for suggestions on a "newer" steam loco!

A minimum curve size would help.

If you're NOT running scale, I'd suggest picking up a Lionel LionMaster Hudson on the used market. I see them go up for sale periodically for the price range you mentioned or less.

If you want as much smoke as possible, look at MTH.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Allen:
If you want as much smoke as possible, look at MTH.

EXCEPT, that he specifically stated:

I've never owned anything but Lionel, but not a problem as long as I can run the loco with the equipment I have.


So MTH would be a POOR choice, not compatable with TMCC, and MTH locomotives are hit and miss on how they react to a CW-80.

Doug

quote:

MTH locomotives are hit and miss on how they react to a CW-80.

Seems getting rid of the CW-80 is the easy solution here!
Kidding aside, Jeff take a look the MTH DCS remote Commander that comes in their newer starter sets. Also available for around $40 or less. It will work with your ZW and operate almost any PS2 engine you would acquire. The full DCS system could be added later.

quote:

Originally posted by c.sam:

quote:

MTH locomotives are hit and miss on how they react to a CW-80.

Seems getting rid of the CW-80 is the easy solution here!
Kidding aside, Jeff take a look the MTH DCS remote Commander that comes in their newer starter sets. Also available for around $40 or less. It will work with your ZW and operate almost any PS2 engine you would acquire. The full DCS system could be added later.

WOW, I guess this isn't as clear to everyone, as it was to me:

as long as I can run the loco with the equipment I have.


Besides, IN MY EXPERIENCE, I have found my CW-80's to be more reliable than my MTH locomotives. Others may have had different experiences.

Doug

Doug,

Spending $40 would be OK, I didn't know it would cost so little. Like I said, still getting my feet wet again I didn't want to spend a few hundred to run a new engine.

Thanks for looking out for me!

Jeff,

You're Welcome, I Hope that You do find something that You like in your price range. I would also reccomend anything in the Lionmaster series, mine have all been Great locomotives.

I don't know what roadnames interest You, but I have several LM Challengers, a Big Boy and a Cab-Forward(None for sale, Sorry ) all run great, and are very well proportioned, and nicely detailed for semi-scale locomotives. They will run on 031 curves and would look very nice on your 060 curves. I have hauled 55 car trains with each of them, with power in reserve.

These were priced around $699.99 MSRP, but I did not PAY that for any of them, got a couple of the Challengers for $550.00 NIB from authorized Lionel dealers, a couple of years ago. Used in EXCELLENT condition should be possible with a little looking and patience in your price range.

If you do find a NIB at a Lionel Dealer, get their Guarantee/return policy in WRITING, and test run in person if at all possible, Lionel no longer warranties anything more than 3 years after production, EVEN if NEW IN THE BOX at a DEALER.
Mine have all been solid reliable runners, but with the new warranty policy cover yourself as best you can, therre is always a lemon that slips through.

BTW, MTH has just announced a similar warranty policy, but 5 years from end of production, so carefully inspect MTH NOS (New Old Stock) as well.

Good Luck adding to your roster,

Doug

What years were the LionMaster units made? I can go look in the old catalogs!

I believe, but am not positive, that the Lionmaster series was introduced around 1999, or 2000, and I believe is still currently being produced. The Challengers and Big Boys have been re-released with more features in the last couple of years. The latest prices have been in the $800+ range, though I have seen some better prices mail order.

BTW, do You have any roadname preferences? Focusing on just a couple of roadnames, can help your layout's identity, as well as your BUDGET!

Doug

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff T:
What years were the LionMaster units made? I can go look in the old catalogs!

Lionel had several releases of these over the years from 2001
to the present. Sidetrack Hobbies has a full page ad in the Feb/Mar OGR magazine and they have a several of these "new old stock". Priced at $499, they are a steal, I would recommend the the 38000's from 04 as their smoke units are better and synchronized to the chuff. I owned the NP version 38091, sound was outstanding, nice deep "throaty" whistle and chuff soundset that rivals the new legacy versions.The up "greyhound version"38093 has the more raspy whistle found on the new LM bigboys,IMO the NP whistle is one of the best challenger whistle sounset out there. Video of both can be found on youtube.

I would highly recommend the Mikado Jr engines by Lionel. They made them with TMCC and they are pretty nicely detailed for the price. The sounds in them are great too. The only weak point is the smoke units. I managed to burn two out in mine but that could have been operator error (thought I had enough fluid in them though). I pulled a 25 car freight train with mine for about two hours at a show once and it was barely warm when I swapped it out. They're not scale but they look nice and mine doesn't seem to look out of place with my scale engines.

Here's a picture of mine. I've added a headlight visor and painted the headlight, marker lights, front smokebox supports and smokebox front handrail black. The supports were shiny metal and everything else was the same graphite color as the smokebox.

Hi Jeff,

$499.99 would be a Great price for a terrific locomotive, again just get their guarantee/warranty, if any in writing. I Really Like my Lionmaster Locomotives, The Greyhound is the one that I got my screen name from, actually had it in Lionel HO, before I got into 3 Rail O. Once I saw the Lionmaster Greyhound, it was a must have for me.

I will also second the Mikado jr's, I just wish that Lionel had done the Union Pacific version in TMCC, mine are conventional,but are the smoothest running and strongest pulling traditional size locomotives that I have, they would be another excellent choice. Nicholas Smith Trains website shows they have the NYC Mikado jr w/TMCC for $315, (2007, vol 2 catalog) and the Texas & Pacific Mikado jr (2009 vol 1) for $340 ASK ABOUT WARRANTIES.

I have bought from Nicholas Smith, Gryzboski's, Sidetrack, MB Klien and Western Depot, all with Excellent service, and would both reccomend and buy from again from any of them.






Doug

I highly recommend the LionMaster Pennsy T1. There were two versions made, one is TMCC and the other is Legacy. The Legacy version has whistle steam effect. You can see a video of mine by clicking on my YouTube link in my signature then scroll through my movies.

Jeff,

There has been a lot of great scale locomotives offered in the last ten years. Scale Pacifics, Mikados, Hudsons and the like will run on O-54 or smaller curves.

I would suggest tht before you take the plunge with a new locomotive, decide if you would like to have a scale locomotive or a semi-scale locomotive. Both are great options, but its a personal decision that we all need to individually make.

Jim

Why not some of the newer small legacy steam engines like the 4-6-0 etc. Plenty of smoke, fantastic sounds and operation, and compatibility with everything you have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...59RU&feature=related

quote:

Originally posted by challenger3980:

This is a great shot Doug!
You're correct - these are truly handsome locomotives...

quote:

Originally posted by jd-train:
Jeff,


I would suggest tht before you take the plunge with a new locomotive, decide if you would like to have a scale locomotive or a semi-scale locomotive. Both are great options, but its a personal decision that we all need to individually make.

Jim

This is excellent advice Jeff. Do give it serious thought because it will greatly determine what your layout will look like as well as all of your rolling stock - both freight and passenger.

When it comes to scale, I have a good assortment of cars that in both sizes. Today I'm not a purist when it comes to mixing sizes, but that can change!

I certainly appreciate all the input and comments!!

Glad I finally found you guys!

Jeff, I'd recommend you look over the comments on the OGR Forum - Lionel TMCC and MTH DCS. Interesting to note the number of posts for the respective control systems.

Wow, you've all got my head spinning now!!!

YouTube, what a resource. I've been watching train videos all afternoon!

Anyway, that Challenger is tough to beat until I watched a video on the new Pennsy T1. I will admit that whistle brought a child-like smile to my face! So that is pretty much what I've boiled it down to. I would surmise it's a win-win situation.

Agree??