American Diesel Locomotives - Which Manufacturer

Thanks to all for the interesting and informative responses. It's kind of you to share your wealth of knowledge. I hadn't really thought about scale too much as at the moment nothing seems out of place when I mix and match my European LGB rolling stock and locos.

My initial tendency is to stick with LGB as this is what I know having dismantled, rebuilt and chipped several different types of LGB loco and I quite like the look of the LGB White Pass locos 103 and 110 - LGB 2155s and 2055. I've found a few places which have one or both for sale and the prices asked seem quite reasonable. However, as both of these are analogue, for compatibility with the rest of my layout I'll need to add a decoder (can anyone confirm if these locos have a 3-wire or 4-wire motor block setup?) which does push up the overall cost.

I'll keep you posted on how this turns out, but once again many thanks for all the information.

Best wishes
Phil
 
Ralphmp said:
However, as both of these are analogue, for compatibility with the rest of my layout I'll need to add a decoder (can anyone confirm if these locos have a 3-wire or 4-wire motor block setup?) which does push up the overall cost.
Click to expand...

I don't know for sure but I suspect that some examples are three and some four wire.

I also suspect that a three wire example is a little more time consuming but no more expensive to chip than a four wire if you are doing it yourself.
 
Neil Robinson said:
I don't know for sure but I suspect that some examples are three and some four wire.

I also suspect that a three wire example is a little more time consuming but no more expensive to chip than a four wire if you are doing it yourself.
Click to expand...

Yes, the only difference between a three and four wire chipping job is a little extra work and a few inches of yellow wire (plus a blob or two of solder and half an inch of heatshrink....)!

You just need to open the motor block, solder a new (yellow) wire direct to one motor terminal isolate the single (white) pin from the motor terminal with some heatshrink on both the pin and the terminal/new wire. Lead the new wire through a small hole drilled in the cover plate near the pins, then connect the decoder using the normal colour code.

As the annoying Meerkat* says, Simples! :)

Jon

* Not Steve on here - I mean the one on the telly.... ;)
 
Phil, you might take a look at Train World in New York. They currently have the LGB 25554, White Pass #106 on special for $499.99 (£320). It already has a MTS decoder. I don't know what your price range is or what the shipping charges would be, but you might consider it. Take a look at:

http://www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/model-train-specials/white-pass-yukon-railways-alco-diesel-loco-25554/
 
US prices always look wonderful but back in the day the shipping cost was low for a sea voyage and the vat was lower, now all shipping goes by air and costs a fair bit.
Import duty (VAT) at 20% is levied on the item value plus the shipping cost.

Shipping will be about $80 - $125 (approx £ 50 - £80) depending on USPS service, volumetric weight and insurance used.
VAT (import duty) is 20% levied on the item value PLUS the shipping....approx £80
The add £8.50 or £13 (if it is sent by any 'express' USPS service) for the pleasure of having Parcelfarce deliver it to you door.

So final price will be about £475 - £490 landed.

Not sure what UK or European price is but you do have to bear in mind that if there is something wrong with it...it will cost you about £70 to send it back to USA with shipping, insurance and the vat.
 
A large percentage of my Aristo stock did come from the USA. However, I have bought nothing from there for over two years due to high shipping costs and the other items mentioned in a previous post.
There is much that I might like, but trthfully I have more than enough already. ;)
 
I have a rule of thumb that states US advertised cost in dollars converts roughly to the same number in Stirling when shipping vat and fees are added.
In this case $499 = £499, not far off Beavercreek's estimate.
 
If anyone is interested in the WP locomotive from Train World, just send them an email at Orders@Trainworld.com asking for a quote.

Their international shipping information says that they ship by:
International Air DHL (Fast & reasonable)
International Air U.S.P.S. (Most Economical)
International Air UPS (Most expensive)
International Air Fed Ex (Most expensive)

Further information is found at http://www.trainworld.com/shipping/
 
Goerge

Thanks for the heads-up.

Compared with UK retail prices for this loco, even allowing for shipping, customs, etc., the Trainworld price looks very tempting. (Also, I'm planning a trip to see relatives in the US soon so maybe I could ship this to them and then take it home with me as cabin baggage...)

Best wishes
Phil
 
Phil, one more incentive! :) I received an email from TW this morning. They are having a 4th of July supersale to celebrate our independence from England. ;) You might be able to save an additional $50 (£32) off your order by using code: 4J2015 The sale has already started and continues until Monday, July 6. No guarantee that the discount will apply, but it might. The discount is a sliding scale, $50 (£32) off $400+, $75 (£48) off 600+, $100 (£64) off $800+, etc.

Here is some of the fine print.

*** You Must Mention ***
Code Word: 4J2015
In the User Comment Box to Save,
If the discount is applicable, it will be applied by TrainWorld when the
order is processed.

NO NEW RELEASES!
NO STORE CREDIT ON
PREVIOUSLY SOLD ITEMS

TOTAL DOES NOT INCLUDE NYS SALES TAX OR SHIPPING

OFFER GOOD FOR MAIL ORDER, ONLINE, AND IN STORE PURCHASES,
IN-STOCK ITEMS ONLY, NO BACK ORDERS, NO NEW RELEASES, NO REBATES, NO REFUNDS, NO STORE CREDIT ON PREVIOUSLY SOLD ITEMS,
PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. NOT REDEEMABLE FOR CASH OR GIFT CARDS.
ALL PRICES IN U.S. DOLLARS.

DISCOUNT DOES NOT APPLY TO TAXES, SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES OR SIMILAR PROCESSING CHARGES.
DISCOUNT IS BASED ON SHIPPABLE IN STOCK ITEMS ONLY. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
LIMITED QUANTITIES ON CERTAIN ITEMS
CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS

CODE WORD MUST BE APPLIED AT TIME OF ORDER. PREVIOUS ORDERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.
ONCE AN ORDER IS SUBMITTED YOU CANNOT APPLY THE CODE WORD AFTER YOU PLACED YOUR ORDER.

Note: I do not have any connection with Train World other than as a satisfied customer over many years.
 
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