Steam Engines...

Do you have preferences in manufacturer and/or control system? Scale? Non-scale? 

 

I'm a BIG fan of the Railking Imperial steamers...Premier level detail, reasonable price tag, PS2 or PS3 depending on the model, wireless drawbar (PS3), good size, good performance. I have 5 Imperial engines and all are strong performers and beautifully detailed. 

Pretty general question there. I'm partial to N&W. For that kind of money you can have your choice of a lot scale command control locomotives. There's a JLC Y6b on the For Sale forum right now (page 2) for $750. Want PS2? Send it to Jeff at JDS Ltd for a conversion. I know it's heresy converting TMCC to PS-2, but you'd have a real nice engine there on-budget. 

 

Gilly

 

 

I have DCS command system...

The Pennsy Q2 or the Allegheny are the best out there

Forgive me... What is the interchange track?

I would consider an Erie Tri-Plex. This is an unusual engine and is one of the nicest steamers in terms of appearance ever made.

Not sure if you want Scale or Traditional size.  The LionMaster Legacy Pennsylvania T1 is one of my favorite locomotives.  Great sounds, smoke, operation, and it has whistle steam effect.

Or, rather than convert an engine with TMCC to PS-2, take the $250 +/- for the conversion and invest it towards a TMCC (or Legacy) control system.  If you had PS-2 and TMCC (or Legacy) you could run any command engine under full command control.

 

Also, are you only looking at brand new engines, or would you consider old new stock or older lightly run engines.  There are often some great looking older Weaver brass engines that can be had in the $400 - $750 price range.

 

Like mentioned in the 2nd post, if you want recommendations on a particular engine, you really need to specify if scale or not, and how close to prototypical you want the engine to be.  It's kinda surprising how many$750+ engine don't have some of the big details (like light position) right.

 

Jim

Hi Steve,

 

As you have DCS, MTH steamers with PS 2 or PS3 will be best suited to your layout.

 

Your choice of steamer wheel arrangements will depend greatly on the diameter of the curves and switches on your layout.

 

The best running steamers are the articulated types because they will run smoothly through small diameter curves and switches. However, the Big Boy has way too much overhang on curves, so beware of it and your track-side scenery.

 

When selecting engines with 8 or more drivers, look for engines that do not have flanges on the center 4 drivers.

 

I find that the Hudson and Pacific types with large diameter drivers slip starting 7-car or more passenger trains, even with traction tires. Maybe MTH will put sanders in their steamers (Dream on!).

 

Steamers with scale wheel flanges require perfect track, so consider engines with large flanges for reliable running.

 

Cab chatter with radio communications is not authentic for the steam era.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polarexpress3, 

 

I just may have the perfect engine for you at a reasonable price. Please email me,

 

davidone@comcast.net

 

dave

There's an O gauge one?  Where?

If I recall correctly, MTH ran a Premire Triplex twice and a Railking Imperial version in multiple flavors.

 

MTH Search

 

Rusty

Thanks for the info.  I kinda figured if anyone had it would of been MTH.  But too bad they are PS-2 and require O-42.  Both are strikes against me getting one.

Why would PS-2 be a strike against it?   PS2 works just fine conventionally if that's the concern.  Or do you have a TMCC/Legacy-only layout?

What do you think the problem is with PS-2? They still will operate OK as conventional.