i am searching for a steam switcher 4-6-0 or 0-8-0. May not be considered a switcher but I need a front and back coupler. I am trying to mimick my local railroad Arcade&Attica and would love any suggestions!
Prefered to have a smoke unit also. Let me know any suggestions!
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What gauge or scale would help!
It would wouldn't it!!!
O scale, running on 042 curves
Your best bet is do an Internet search using either Google or Bing.com, and type in O gauge 0-8-0 or 4-6-0 switcher, and find a loco body that resembles the "A & A" loco you want. Do you want older loco, new (all new bells & whistles version, meaning remote controllable.).
Well all 2 rail locos have pockets for mounting front couplers. So a thought would be, convert to Kadee Couplers on everything which would improve appearance, and then modify what ever steamer you can find or want. Your choices would be much greater then.
Another option is to look for some specific switchers made for 3 rail. I think MTH has done some as has Atlas and Weaver. Atlas and Weaver have both done USRA 0-6-0s. Nice looking but not quite A&A. But they could fill in as well as an 0-8-0. I think MTH has done a couple versions (different levels of detail) or 0-8-0.
I've been googling for awhile now and I'm just looking for a basic smoker with whistle. No command control or any fancy gadgets
Lionel Legacy USRA 0-8-0
- Lionel USRA 0-8-0 - the nice one, not the cheapie train-set version; different loco altogether. Note the price; also, the nice 0-8-0 comes in "Conventional" or Command (TMCC or, now, Legacy). I have the older TMCC Southern version. Runs well and slowly - and has 4-chuffs/revolution, not common a few years ago.
- MTH, if you are turned that way - USRA 0-8-0 or USRA 0-6-0. The old 0-8-0 is PS1 only, no command or cruise. Their USRA 0-6-0 comes in both RK and Premier versions. Both are nice, but the Premier version looks better in all ways. I have the Premier in NYC (CR&I), even though I seldom run DCS.
All of the above are well-made and agile on switches/curves - just like the real ones. I prefer Lionel's operating system.
You won't find an operating front coupler on a 4-6-0. Lionel made a nice TMCC 0-8-0 with Odyssey and 4 chuffs that can usually be had for less than their later scale Conventional one. K-Line's B-6 0-6-0 is also around for small money. I assume you want TMCC/Legacy otherwise MTH has made a number of fine 0-6-0s and 0-8-0s.
Pete
This Rail King Imperial 0-8-0 with PS2 is an excellent performer, and it has operating couplers front and rear. Slow speed performance, and performance through multiple groups of 042 switches is very good (no stalling). This switcher is now available from MTH with PS3 in a few different road names.
Rattler21 not sure how to contact you..
Hi Mike, Nassau Hobby Center has a killer deal on a Lionel Conventional 0-8-0. This is the same type that D500 mentioned and you could reletter it for Arcade & Attica. Here's a link: http://www.nassauhobby.com/Lio...-0-Conventional.html
And if you're modeling Arcade & Attica, the MTH Railking 2-8-0 would make a nice model for Arcade & Attica 18.
Here's a link to one of those: http://www.nassauhobby.com/Lon...Proto-Sound-3.0.html
The Lionel has smoke and Railsounds, and the MTH has the full fledged Protosound 3 command control and sound system (but you can run it conventionally, of course). MTH engines are really good smokers so you might want to keep that in mind.
Since you posted this under the high rail/027 and 3 rail O Gauge (and not under Tinplate) I'll leave out my personal thoughts on prewar Lionel steam switchers. Williams put out a nice all brass PRR B6 with nice details years ago...a good runner.
Tom
Not an 0-8-0 but a really nice little 0-6-0, which was actually a more common switch engine in the steam days, is the Atlas switcher which you may be able to find on the internet or from a prominent Atlas dealer. Best running steam engine that i own, very slow speed, smooth little engine, nice sounds. The prototype is a USRA 0-6-0 and the engine was made with distinctive makings and identifications for the various roads that it served. Atlas, under the auspices of Jim Weaver who was the brains behind that engine, was very careful of prototypical arrangements for whatever engine they were representing. I really love my C&NW version.
Paul Fischer
The Lionel 6-28080 could stand in for #18 pretty well if you ask me and has two electro couplers, TMCC etc...
I have a Lionel Legacy Erie 0-8-0. It is one of my favorites. It never gets hung up on switches and creeps. The sound is great too! I highly recommend it.
There are a new batch of newly arrived MTH Imperial 0-6-0s, VERY nice engines.
I recently purchased an MTH Railking 0-8-0 PS3 on the forum here and ended up turning right around and selling it again. I found the rigid 8 wheels took a bit from the performance of the engine. A little rough in curves and very noticeable flange bind (slow down) on my 0-31 and 0-42 curved layout, even with the cruise control working. I've got several 0-6-0s from MTH's Railking Imperial line and I find them to be the best in size and performance. 
How about a Williams PRR B6sb (WM5200)? You can find them for $200 in great condition or nearly MIB. They run on O42 (only because of the front coupler swing; O31 pulling normally). Another $300 gets them TMCC (ERR), sound, operating front / rear couplers professionally installed (I like All Aboard Trains in NJ). They are already great conventional runners and TMCC makes them that much better.
I have had 2. I love them. Here's a little movie I shot. Please excuse the shakiness of the video, it's hard to hold the camera and the remote.
George
The RailKing Imperial 0-6-0 is a great engine, runs well under DCS or conventional:
I installed Kadees on mine shortly after I got it. Great slow-speed using conventional, even better under DCS. Since May I have converted all 8 of my steam engines to battery-power remote-control and this thing has excellent slow-speed even under batteries.
The RK Imperial has diecast boiler and tender, with great smoke output and sounds. The Imperial engines have a bit more detail on them (like truck chains on the tender).
There re scores of 0-6- and 0-8-0 steam switchers check out e-bay, the Lionel and MTH sites as well as many of the LHS's start with Nassau hobby
Mike,
Take a look at the 2013 Lionel catalog, it has several offerings in scale switchers in conventional control, 0-4-0 Shifters, 0-8-0 USRA Switchers etc. Quite a few different road names. I have seen them available on several websites do a google search after you picked a item number.
JohnB
How about the Legacy 0-6-0 B6sb, it's a great looking and performing switcher. Great looking, great smoke, outstanding sound, and legendary Legacy slow speed control.
Looked up the Arcadia and Attica RR and it appears they show 2-8-0 and 4-6-0 locos, neither appear to have a Bellpaire firebox.
A shame, because Weaver made a nice 4-6-0, but it's a PRR w/Bellpaire, 2 on on ebay right now for $395.
Might want to look at the WbB 4-6-0, that's close to what you're looking for and I hear they're great, slow runners but don't know about front coupler, they're going for around $239 on ebay.
There's a Lionel 4-6-0 (6-11150, NYC) on ebay for $650 with Odyssey II control and Legacy Railsounds, and MTH 4-6-0 (30-4216-1, PRR) for $300 with PS3.
Seems to be plenty of 2-8-0s on ebay also.
I broke down and ordered the 0-8-0 Lionel conventional and feel like I spoiled myself! My first proto sound engine
Ok not proto, but conventional rail sounds! Super excited!
Lionel? Protosound? Hmm... 
gunrunnerjohn posted:How about the Legacy 0-6-0 B6sb, it's a great looking and performing switcher. Great looking, great smoke, outstanding sound, and legendary Legacy slow speed control.
I 2nd this one. Mine is the Long Island model, and I love it. I'm so surprised it was so far down on the list.
This weekend it was with my Legacy Heavy Mikado as pusher engines helping my VL BB with a fast freight. Not that eh BB needed help moving 20 freight cars, but it was still fun to have them all smoking away around the loop. And the sounds were fantastic!
Twenty cars is probably a very full load for a small switcher, but this one is a puller, and it's great looking as well. 
gunrunnerjohn posted:Twenty cars is probably a very full load for a small switcher, but this one is a puller, and it's great looking as well.
The switcher was helping the BB and Mikado move the twenty cars.
ATSF Doug posted:Hi Mike, Nassau Hobby Center has a killer deal on a Lionel Conventional 0-8-0. This is the same type that D500 mentioned and you could reletter it for Arcade & Attica. Here's a link: http://www.nassauhobby.com/Lio...-0-Conventional.html
And if you're modeling Arcade & Attica, the MTH Railking 2-8-0 would make a nice model for Arcade & Attica 18.
Here's a link to one of those: http://www.nassauhobby.com/Lon...Proto-Sound-3.0.html
The Lionel has smoke and Railsounds, and the MTH has the full fledged Protosound 3 command control and sound system (but you can run it conventionally, of course). MTH engines are really good smokers so you might want to keep that in mind.
that 1st deal STSF Doug posted at Nassau is very tempting if you don't mind re-lettering.
If you don't mind me asking, which 0-8-0 Lionel conventional did you go for and where did you pick it up? Another shop I've bought stuff from is NicholasSmithTrains.com, they seem to usually have good inventory on Lionel steamers, it's an interesting shop to visit if you are ever in the Philli area as well.
Best...Rich
I bought the 0-8-0 from Nassu site. Figured 200 bucks wasn't bad and I couldn't find much difference on eBay. I am probably going to re letter and my mistake the Arcade and Attica is 2-8-0 not 0-8-0. But close enough for me!
Anyone had any hands on with the Weaver 0-8-0? I just picked one up today at a train show... REAL nice looking and super smooth, thats about all I know about it now, anyone have any input?
Doc Pete posted:Anyone had any hands on with the Weaver 0-8-0? I just picked one up today at a train show... REAL nice looking and super smooth, thats about all I know about it now, anyone have any input?
Decent model. This one has a control system upgrade. Weathering was done when I purchase the model. Left in picture.
Click on the triangle for a video. Weaver Pennsylvania C1, 0-8-0, is the second engine to operate. (9 minutes). The C1 has EOB electronics upgrade. Rear electro-couple was fabricated, a difficult mount.
Edit/add: The other model is a K-Line Pennsy B6 0-6-0 which has an EOB drop-in board. It also has a motor replacement, original motor failed.
Pete: The Weaver 0-8-0 was specially made for the PA state Mason's, I believe. It was die cast but that was the only run the dies were used for. It's purported to be a great little engine, although it never had TMCC installed at the factory. Of course it's a model of a Pennsy switcher, actually a rather obscure engine, as the Pennsy primarily used the famous B-6 switchers im most places. Atlas now has the tooling for this engine, although I don't know if they intend to re-run the engine. Best to contact them for info. I would think that adding TMCC would not be too difficult a project.
Paul Fischer
Fisch330,
Yes the 414 Weaver 2-8-0 is a great old Pennsy Switcher, especially cool when run as a double header! I have given consideration to upgrading them with ERR.
PCRR/Dave
fisch330 posted:Pete: The Weaver 0-8-0 was specially made for the PA state Mason's, I believe. It was die cast but that was the only run the dies were used for. It's purported to be a great little engine, although it never had TMCC installed at the factory. Of course it's a model of a Pennsy switcher, actually a rather obscure engine, as the Pennsy primarily used the famous B-6 switchers im most places. Atlas now has the tooling for this engine, although I don't know if they intend to re-run the engine. Best to contact them for info. I would think that adding TMCC would not be too difficult a project.
Paul Fischer
Thank you, Paul, The one I pictured, is the 414 Mason's model, which, I believe, was part of a complete train kit, from Weaver, each car with the Mason logo. Foggy head seems to think Weaver offered this a second time, with the option of TMCC control. I could be wrong and often.
Mike CT
Late as usual, but I never miss the opportunity to promote the Lionel saddle tank 0-6-0. They are plentiful, conventional, economical, scale and smooth operators. Done.
Bruce
Hey Dave and Paul, thank you for the information on the Weaver 0-8-0. I bought mine at a train show in Ok. yesterday. Whats odd is that I was in a room full of trains and train stuff, but something kept calling me back to this switcher, well, after spending too much money,as always, I was passing the table it was on, so I struck a deal and took it home, during the obligatory clean up and oiling, I had to get off a bunch of Harley decals on the tender, under that someone had marked out the Pennsy logo with a black sharpie, after some cleaner and a soft rag the Masonic emblems were visable, being a Mason myself this pretty much pegged my "ODD-O-METER". Strange? YUP... But it's a great engine and after I cleaned it, there wasn't a scratch on it anywhere. Guess it just wanted a Masonic home...Doc Pete.
Mike CT,
Your weathered version of the Weaver 414 is fantastic, however I could never alter my originals, I am a 32nd Degree Mason and love my Masonic Train sets.
I do not think that Weaver or Lionel ever released the TMCC version of the 414 Switcher, I was looking for it to be released to add to my layout, and as far as I know it was never made. If Atlas now has plans to release a TMCC version, I would definitely be interested.
If somebody knows were I can get one please let me know. Love to have a Legacy version!
PCRR/Dave
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