Southern Pacific Cab Forword

Well, the Premier model is scale and requires O72 curves.  The RK version is smaller, but still fairly impressive in size, and will run on O31 curves.

One is Scale and one is traditional size so that might be a consideration,you might try ebay to see if there is a proto 2  Cab Forward for sale,I have the 2008 proto 2 cab forward and it runs very well,these have the Vanderbilt Tender.

Miket

Thanks John and miket I think I might go for the scale as it might have more detail.

Thanks,

Rudy  

I thought about the new MTH railking imperial Cab forward with PS3, which I think is an AC-12. I purchased an MTH Premier AC6 scale cab forward (flat front) that was converted to PS2 off the forum.  I am really impressed with it and the level of detail. I run it on fastrack 0-72 and it will run on 0-60, but it will have overhang around curves. It runs extremely well and the smoke output will cause your smoke alarm to go off.  I am glad I went with the scale size because it's so impressive.

The Imperial will have nice detail, I don't know if the old Premier will have better detail.  I'm sure a similar year Premier would probably be better detailed.

Hello Dande050,

Thanks for the helpful info....

Rudy---

Be prepared to move track-side scenery items. When I first ran my Rail King Cab Forward, I was blown away by the huge overhang of the cab. Anything within 2 inches of curve tracks is in trouble. There is a Lionel Girder Bridge tangent to a 042 curve on my railroad and the Cab Forward hits it, so I had to trim the structure inside of the trestle.

You want track scenery clearing, you need the VL-BB, it does a masterful job!

Good luck on your search... My colleague brought his Lionel TMCC version over for a run on the layout... and I have been looking for one ever since.. 

I have the first run Lionel S.P. AC12  TMCC version and it is an excellent reliable locomotive. Ran some nice "Coast Mail" trains at NJ Hirailers..........

You can get a nice brass Williams for a good price. Add the sound system and new smoke and your in business. Don

Yeah, the Williams brass with command/sound installed would be my choice. I would install ERR Cruise Commander and Railsounds in it, but you seem to want the MTH system. That can be done, also.

The gearing of brass locos tends to be better - not because they are brass, but because they usually have a lot of 2-rail O-scale DNA in them.

By the time you bought a PS1 and had it upgraded, you'd be spending close to the price of a used PS2 (if there was one).  Personally, I prefer PS2 (3-volt only) to PS3.

scale rail posted:

You can get a nice brass Williams for a good price. Add the sound system and new smoke and your in business. Don

Hey...that photo looks familiar! Matt

I purchased the 3rd Rail Cab Forward a few years back and it has seen a lot of running with no problems.  Well, almost.  My grandson reached up to the layout and pulled it down when I had my back turned.  Being all brass, more just bent than broke, and it did not effect the running functions.  I sent it in to 3rd Rail and they made it good as new.  I actually do not remember them charging me anything for repairs, if they did, it was so small it wasn't worth remembering.  I really enjoy it along with other 3rd Rail engines I have.

Jesse   TCA  12-68275

I love the SP cab forwards. My son has the Williams one. I bought the older MTH version, used. It was weathered already. I think the full sized O scale editions have quite a presence. Here is my son's Williams version a year or so ago on the layout before we started doing scenery. Then my MTH version several months ago. They are both very nice I prefer the older SP model Mallee with the Vandy tender.

Check out what Ron did to his Williams Cab Forward... just bad *ss!

https://ogrforum.com/t...williams-cab-forward

I have a MTH Proto 1. $350.  Plus 18 shipping. 

Thanks Bobby O gage,

I just have he track so I can plan for the set back.

Rudy

Hello J Daddy,

That is one fine layout you have!

Thanks Paul,

Lionel is an option.

Rudy  

Hello scale rail,

I will look at Williams..

Rudy

Hello D500,

It's just that I have all MTH

Yet I am open to look at the others

Rudy

Hello Boin106,

I just have one PS-3 and mostly PS-2 I have some studying to do.

Rudy 

Hello Texastrain,

That is one Fine Cab Forward!

Rudy

Thanks John WP,

for your input

Rudy

Thanks Laidoffsick,

on Ron's custom some true talent.

Rudy

Hello Thom,

That is just what started all this ! LOL

That would work,

 To up date it looks like $300.00 ?

Rudy

Rudy's Rails posted:

Thanks John WP,

for your input

Rudy

You are welcome Rudy. Let is know when you get one!

I got an MTH PS1 Premier AC6 and upgraded it to TMCC with the Lionel Cab Forward Railsounds 5.0 board.

RUDY.  

I will let it go for $300 plus the shipping. Even mail me.  

Allan,

I have to agree with you.  I purchased several different MTH Premier engines of various type 14-16 years ago.  I still have them due to the details and that they run well.  But, they are PS1, the main problem, now.  So, I, too, have upgraded some of my Premier PS1 engines, my BB 4012 and St Fe F3 ABA with ERR TMCC and RS.  I will have done more, but I have also been upgrading my scale K Line Hudson, Weaver FEF 844, etc.  IMO, for the detail, smoke ability, good running cans, and present prices, they are great candidates for TMCC and RS upgrades.  I have had very good results doing so with engines I already own, and when I begin adding some of the boards available from John.......   Yeah, some say the final expense negates it to some extent, but I do have great looking and running/functioning motive power at less costs than many new purchases would be.  Each to what they want out of life... and trains.

Jesse    TCA   12-68275

This is a great thread, simply because I have an MTH Cab Forward myself and was wondering how to upgrade the sound system on it. Mine is dead. So I have to ask, without opening up a can of worms, which is going to happen anyway LOL, which system would be the better of the two, two meaning Lionel Cab Forward Railsounds board 5.0 like Allan did or the PS2 board? And then can anyone point me in the right direction on how to hold of the parts and pieces to do this. Thanks in advance.

Upgrading was really easy (I upgraded about 15 engines before this one).  As for TMCC vs. PS2, to me, it is a preference of which Command Control System you like.  I personally like TMCC and the CAB2 controller over DCS.  I find it easier to use than the DCS Remote, but again, that is my preference and I know there are many others who prefer DCS.

As for the install itself, I went the TMCC route using the Electric RR Cruise Commander and Railsounds board.  I did this knowing that the sound board was actually for a UP articulated.  So I contacted Lionel and found out that the Railsounds 5.0 boards for most engines were available, you just have to call to get it ordered (can't order it directly from the web site).  I started this thread to inquire how to install the board with the Cruise Commander, which was easy using the board suggested in the thread with the addition of a jumper as I was not using a POT to control the volume.  I actually did this same RS 5.0 board upgrade in an MTH to TMCC Santa Fe Northern (using the 3751 soundboard) and the C&O Semi-scale Yellow Belly (using the C&O F-19 chip set with the same Engine number (490)).

Other things I did with the upgrade included not tying the headlight and marker lights to the TMCC Board, so they are on all the time (forward and reverse).  The reason is they are both on the same board which is tied directly to the Track Power, so I was fine with that.  I did order some Green LEDs from MTH to replace the red ones on the front of the engine to be more prototypical.  I also removed the smoke unit power cable from the light board and I split the power to the resistor and the fan so I could install the Super Chuffer from Henning's Trains.  That gave me the great smoke effects.

On another note, I have upgraded an MTH PS1 E8 ABA set to PS2, and that upgrade was very easy as well - everything you need is in the kit.  Again, it was my preference to upgrade to TMCC and not DCS just because I like the control and sound from Lionel better.

I hope this helps in your decision.