A Northern by any other name is still a Northern, my favorite type of loco. I love big Northerns, and the bigger the better. The only thing better than a big Northern would be a big Northern with elephant ears . . . . and here we are.
Still, I had resolved to sit out this particular loco out, appealing as it was - I don't really "do" New York Central and I was trying to conserve my budget somewhat. But five days ago Bob Shaw posted a review of his Niagara passenger car set and that pushed me over the edge. Good looking loco. Nice tender. He liked it a lot. And a good price, I saw, checking Pat's Trains . . .
I'm very pleased. Pat's trains shipped it a few hours after I ordered it. It arrived last night, but I waited until this morning to open it up. Everything arrived in working order and "working" means working very well indeed. This Niagara runs very well. I run conventionally and it is smooth and steady at less than 10 mph and a bit below. It is a heavy loco and seems powerful and a good puller. Lights are good: steady and directional, and sound is very good -- maybe not quite Legacy good -- but close enough. I've read a discussion here that there about its whistle, but I really like the sound (see and hear video below). And smoke? This loco does not smoke. It SMOKES!!!!! Wow. The best I have, period.
Pictures with comments below. Video at the end.
