Which Halloween steam engine?

That Crusader is pretty cool. 

My favorite is the Lionel 0-6-0T that has a green skinned zombie crew.

Neither!

Why? 

#1 - The MTH PS3 has that %(*@$)*@ wireless drawbar. Good idea, reallllllly bad execution. 

#2 - The MTH PS3 steamers have this "no coast" issue when running conventional. It will derail the train, obliterate traction tires, and wreak havoc on the gearbox. Been there, done that. All new PS3 steamers I owned with this issue were sold or immediately returned to my dealer. That is a immediate deal breaker for me. It is a non-issue in command. MTH is aware and, per an MTH executive, they are not willing to fix it as "no one runs conventional, everyone runs DCS".....if they are not willing to fix it, I'm not willing to be a customer. FYI, MTH PS3 diesels have the same issue with the smoke ON but not when the smoke is OFF. As I don't use diesel smoke units, I'm in the clear

#3 The Lionel Mikado is a nice engine. I had 2 of them. One was DOA, the next seemed to have an issue where the front driver rod screws regularly got tangled up in the valve gear moving back and forth. Lionel said there was "nothing wrong" when it couldn't even go around a curve without crapping out. 

I have the Lionel mikado on order.  For me the black with orange highlights is a much more appealing scheme. I wish there would have been a caboose to go with it.  Also being a Reading Company fan, seeing the crusader form with all that orange is an abomination, and I usually strongly prefer mth over Lionel motive power.

I have the Lionel Mike on order.

#2, because IMO, it just looks a LOT better than #1. 

Crusader is cool but its too Orange. I like the Mikado.

Agree with Sliver Lake on the 0-6-0 Docksider.

Now if MTH were to do a 4-6-0, ala the Lionel Halloween General, I would be awfully tempted to pull out my wallet.

 

jhz563 posted:

I have the Lionel mikado on order.  For me the black with orange highlights is a much more appealing scheme. I wish there would have been a caboose to go with it.  Also being a Reading Company fan, seeing the crusader form with all that orange is an abomination, and I usually strongly prefer mth over Lionel motive power.

I have the Mikado on order too.  Agree about the looks being more appealing than the Crusader, which seems blah and just too much bright orange.  Also would have loved a matching caboose and some passenger cars.  I'll buy the passenger cars from MTH if they make them as I too would normally prefer MTH.

I'm with RTR12 and SDIV TIM.  If I were to get one of those two engines it would be #2.  It just looks better. 

I wish somebody could do something like this. Now I would love one of these.

Dad's Train Room posted:

I wish somebody could do something like this. Now I would love one of these.

They did....sort of. Check out the Tweetsie Railroad's Halloween Train:

Both are cool in their own way. However, I would go with the The Lionel Mikado. The Crusader has too much orange.

Considering I have a Williams SP TM in BW and a NH EF-4 in Orange, I do not need a 10-31 steamer!

A model of that French steamer in the new MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS would make a great locomotive for the Great Pumpkin to ride on!

We enjoy the Transylvania Lines at our house, affordable fun. 

Will the Lionel Mikado have any Spooky sounds to activate with the remote?

I have the Lionel Mikado coming (distributor says Sept. 7), so obviously that's my preference. I also hope a matching End of the Line caboose is made at some point, and maybe some other cars using that "roadname," like Lionel did with the Transylvania RR scheme a decade or so ago.

Personal preference would be # 2 with more exposed wheels and rods in action and detail of engine number 1 is decent but plain reminds me of a marx CV  albiet longer body and extra wheelset plus much electronics.

Now not bashing the Marx CV as i have 4 of them.

Sure did feel like fall this morning in MA. Not far away now.

This Lionel Mikado looks like a must have for Halloween!

Need to be able to play the Traveling Willbury's tribute to Roy Orbison "End of the Line" 

 

It is a tuff decision for me. I started on the C & O RR in june of 1969 but my birthday is 10/31 so I guess I have more of an affinity for my start date of my railroad career than the start date of my birthday. So I ordered the C & O Mikado. Not sure when we're going to get them though.

I have the original NON Peanuts set (I don't care for the Green, in the Peanuts versions myself) with the 4-4-2, the 0-60T Docksider, , and the Lionel 4-4-0 General plus an RMT Beep in Halloween livery, the 4-4-0 General is my Favorite, and I think that it really looks good with the RMT "Peeps" the 6 wheel heavy weight passenger cars, also in Halloween livery.

 Of the two models you posted to choose from, for ME, it would the Mikado hands down. I have several of the Mikado Jr, locomotives in other road names, and I have had Great experiences with them being SMOOOTH, Reliable runners, that pull very well.

Doug

IMO, the predominate Halloween color is black. Orange is added in lesser portions to compliment the black. If the entirety of your layout is dark to black, a predominately orange loco would be nice.

Engine alone... the Mikado would be an easy choice.

TM Terry posted:

IMO, the predominate Halloween color is black. Orange is added in lesser portions to compliment the black. If the entirety of your layout is dark to black, a predominately orange loco would be nice.

Engine alone... the Mikado would be an easy choice.

 Bingo! My thought was how much lighting will have a huge impact on the Mikado being seen well. I.e. when and where are you running it.

 The Crusader is a little "angry orange" broadside. Paint the tender black?. I would like to have seen how a color reversal looked on it.

 

Dad's Train Room posted:

I wish somebody could do something like this. Now I would love one of these.

Who killed Thomas?

For the mfg.s of a "traditional toy" there is "the nightmare factor", that would keep a few "Grandmas" at bay, posibly turned off for other more festive purchases as well.    You just won't see it.

  There are quite a few engines with removable boiler faces. Finding a usable skull to paint could yeild a "fun""convertable" pretty easy. Often just one screw on top or push n klick spring tabs hold them on.

The real question is how to plumb smoke to the nose & teeth. 

Or out of the ears

Ooooo.....3d printing in clear red!. Good idea for the printing thread. Detail paint it, or leave it alone.

I still think a Mrs. N. Lovett meet pie refer would make a great addition!  (Cf.  SWEENEY TODD)

cswalter posted:

Sure did feel like fall this morning in MA. Not far away now.

This Lionel Mikado looks like a must have for Halloween!

The Mikado looks like a keeper. Right now I only have the Peanuts Halloween set and the Transylvania set. Both are good runners. 1980's

You need the apple bobbing car for the Peanuts set for 10-31.

To go along with the halloween engine you might consider something call "B00 Line" freight cars that include sleepy hollow box cars and flat cars with orange cargo that says "Boo Lines." RMT put them out-I had purchased them from Trainland in Lynbrook, Long Island, at a very reasonable price.

John