which to buy: GN mikado or new EM-1

What is your minimum radii?

Really the EM-1 has tracking issues going through switches that are O72. You need switches that are O100 or Reg. in gargraves or Ross style/size. The front pilot does not play nice.

The minimum radii for curved track should be O80. With O72 the pilot wheels tend to lift up on the track as it goes around the curve. I had to finesse the spring on mine.

Many thanks for the feedback---going with the mikado...

 

Consider saving your money, and order one of these:

 

[url]http://www.3rdrail.com/reservation.html#GN08[/url]

 

Will run on O-72, will be the best detailing available in the business for a three rail loco, and you will get one of the best drivelines (and with ERR cruise, one of the best command decoders around) available. 

 

Regards,

GNNPNUT

Such different locomotives... I have the GN Mikado. It runs great and is nice on the eyes in my opinion. I have a very small space so have realized smaller is usually better for me. I like the detail level and the paint scheme on this engine. Sounds like you are going Mikado enjoy! Ben

Fellas,

thanks for the advice, yes I am going with the mikado.    Regarding 3rd Rail: I would love to order---I have heard a variety of opinions on the locomotives realiability [in fairness I have no experience in this].    I ordered some boxcars from them....    Lionel is a given and I am more comfortable with the price point too...

Even if it REALLY isn't a "GN Mikado"? You will note that the Sunset/3rd Rail model is of the GN O-8 class, which was the LARGEST MIKADO IN THE WORLD.

Get the 3rd rail engine.  That is the most powerfull mike ever built and with 3rd rails detail it will be a winner, if it ever comes out. 

The em1 I would only get if it  was road B &O as it is not prototypical for any of the other roads lettered in.

Our older (2000) Lionel EM1 was a champ. Great performer and handled all of our switches easily without incident. We have Scaletrax with O72 & No. 6 turnouts and a couple of curves with less than 072 diameter that she cruised through just fine.

With Lionel's newer sounds and features the current model should be terrific!

 

Hafta admit, that GN Mikado is beautiful...

Yup, you will hear a variety of opinions regarding reliability of all manufacturers.  I haven't had any more, or less, reliability issues on 3rd Rail stuff vs. other manufacturers, they ALL have their issues and quirks. 

 

It is hard to quantify exactly how many miles I put on my 3rd Rail models, since they don't have an odometer function like MTH, but based on the miles logged on my MTH stuff, and drawing parallels with my 10 year old 3rd Rail Northern Pacific Z-5 and eight year old Z-6, I'd estimate that I have about 8,000 scale miles on my Z-5, and about 6,000 miles on my Z-6.  On a typical day operating at shows on the IHMD modular railroad, they run about 8 hours per day, over three days, and an average speed of 25 smph.  So, at a three day show, they log about 600 scale miles per three day show. 

 

Averaging four shows per year, for the last 10 years, means I've put 24000 scale miles on my locomotives, and the 3rd rail stuff pulls the bulk of the assignments, especially the two stated above.  Everything else on the roster draws the other assignments, with my 3rd Rail Z-8 coming on strong to catch the Z-6.

 

In this time, none of my 3rd rail stuff had an electronic failure, but I did have to replace a side rod and front driver on the front engine on my Z-5.  Wore an oval into the side rod bore where it screws to the right side of the driver.  Suspect the driver was slightly out of quarter, but never noticed any sort of binding in the mechanism.  Replaced that after about five years of running, and it has ran great ever since.  Parts supplied by 3rd Rail free of charge, no RMA number required, no whining that I weathered my engine and installed Kadees and it voided my warranty, no complaints that the locomotive was long out of warranty, just solid, great customer service.   Sent them back my used driver, so they could check the quarter, and make it available if somebody else runs the wheels off their locomotives, and needs help well out of warranty.

 

Oh, I had a screw come off of the trailing truck on my Z-5 too, had to screw that back together about five years ago too.   

 

Regards,

GNNPNUT 

 

  

The 3rd Rail SP&S is also a pretty interesting engine to consider---just more than I have ever spent...

 

Given the reliability of Lionel electronics, I'd hold out for the 3rd Rail version too. That O-8 is gorgeous!

John, the Lionel B&O EM-1 as well as the GN and NP 2-8-8-4's have been delivered.  Ordered mine from Charlie Ro.  Problem is that Lionel did an extremely short run of these big engines and no plans to do a second run.  They will probably all be gone by the time the catalogue hits.

Less and less supply is what I fear: changes/issues in China will effect production.    They risk a lot moving and risk a fair amount staying.    If the EPA would lighten up, production could come back to the US---not to mention the postives for our economy...

Be advised that Lionel may have PAINTED a Northern Pacific model of the 2-8-8-4 wheel arrangement,,,,,,,,but is NOT an NP Z-5! Taking a B&O EM-1 and PAINTING them NP, WP, DM&IR, and/or any other railroads, does NOT make it one of THOSE Yellowstones.

Hot Water...absolutely correct.  I have the 3rd Rail versions and there is no comparison.  But, I have been waiting for years to get the EM-1 which may or may not be prototypically correct.  As for the NP and GN, they are definitely not the 3rd Rail versions.  But, then again, I am so big on NP and GN, that I am willing to go with them. Don't think we will see the accurate versions of the Z-5, Z-6 and Z-8 for years to come.

 

I assume then, that you did NOT purchase the Sunset/3rd Rail models of the NP Z-5, Z-6, and Z-8?  They are all spectacular, and still occasionally show up on eBay. My Z-8 is one of the very best runners I have, and my fellow modeler, GNNPNUT, has one of each too.

 

I think that's probably a very accurate statement.  My LHS owner waved the run sheet he received from Lionel by me over the weekend as he quickly read through the list.  For the quick second I saw the list, the quantity column contained lots of 1's and only a couple of 6's.  So I'm thinking stuff like the B&O EM-1 might have had the quantity=6, but some of the re-paints like the GN, NP and others will be in VERY short supply... as in ONE of each even for some of the larger dealers.

 

David

John,

Sorry to here you did not get yours yet...

WOW

This is a jaw dropper...

Hot Water...you know what happens when you "assume" don't you.  Try reading the post carefully and you will see that I DID purchase all of the 3rd Rail versions.