Decisions! Decisions!

Eaglecliff

Eaglecliff

Registered
Country flag
I'm thinking of treating myself to another loco, be it new or a second-hand.
Criteria: US woodburner 1:20.5 or smaller.
Short list: Aristo C-16 - already got a coalburner, but it's solid, nice and steady, I like it - except it's black. Would prefer a bit of colour - railroad identity no object.
Bachmann 4-4-0 or 2-6-0 (not the little one) - both look pretty, classic early US types - but my "Annie" sheds bits (e.g. brakeshoes) and I worry about the gears.
Any thoughts?
 
lgb mogul,,,, bit less detailed but very very reliable and you can get bits
pulls well too and quite a few styles to choose from
 
I've got just the loco for you (or perhaps not) :laugh:

I'm putting my 2-8-2 up for sale at the weekend. No, it's not LGB, but there have been some pics on the forum. Carn't load 'em up now because they're on the home compooter, but I'll list it on Thursday :thumbup:
 
oooh 2-8-2,,,, not lgb,,,, could it be something from the drgw stable,,,, or rgs,,

lgb moguls are great,, i sold all my lgb but kept my 2019 c&s no 6
it will be kitbashed to match my bman 260 and 440 painted plain black
one day,,,,,,
 
daveyb said:
oooh 2-8-2,,,, not lgb,,,, could it be something from the drgw stable,,,, or rgs,,
Click to expand...

No, 'fraid it's a cheapie, running on an Aristo C16 block. I'll find a piccy to post later.

There's one in My Garden Railway, a poor shot of it crossing the bridge - it's a bit of a garish colour, allegedly Nappa Valley livery
 
That's weird - the post I marked as helpful has disappeared! And I didn't mark the current "helpful" as such...
However.
No, I didn't really want to step outside my shortlist; I didn't know there were any 2-8-2 woodburners, but then I know tiddleysquat about US railroads anyway. Now, Midland Railway wagons...
 
I appreciate that this may not be to everybody's liking, but it is a woodbruner, it is a 2-8-2 and it soon will be going cheep :bigsmile:

f351bdba2be54626a0f7f874492f5d77.jpg
 
ah is that a buddy l loco,,, good conversion and far more usable than its original form,,,

like it,,,
 
Eaglecliff said:
Anybody want to put in a good word for either or both of the Bachmann (big) Mogul and American woodburners?
Click to expand...

i think many people have them but most are shelf queens,,,,

there a nice model/s,,, and can be bought from 150.00 upwards s/h

i have 4,,, 2 of each and i like em,,
 
daveyb said:
ah is that a buddy l loco,,, good conversion and far more usable than its original form,,,

like it,,,
Click to expand...

You got it, Buddy - and it's one of the few with stonking sound :thumbup::thumbup:
 
Honestly? the C-16

Reason? Aristo recently retired all the "classic" line of old Delton molds, of which this was part of, no telling how much longer it mayl be around. Plus they are very scarce fronm traditional stores anymore, even the AC site doesnt have much to offer last look. So if your interested I would consider it while you can.

Its fairly safe to say the Bachmann stuff will be around for a while longer.
 
Rhinochugger said:
daveyb said:
ah is that a buddy l loco,,, good conversion and far more usable than its original form,,,

like it,,,
Click to expand...

You got it, Buddy - and it's one of the few with stonking sound :thumbup::thumbup:
Click to expand...
IS THE SOUND BETTER THAN THE BIG HAULER SOUND,,,
 
daveyb said:
Rhinochugger said:
daveyb said:
ah is that a buddy l loco,,, good conversion and far more usable than its original form,,,

like it,,,
Click to expand...

You got it, Buddy - and it's one of the few with stonking sound :thumbup::thumbup:
Click to expand...
IS THE SOUND BETTER THAN THE BIG HAULER SOUND,,,
Click to expand...

Absolutely - it's phenomenal, monster chuffs as if it's barking up through a deep gorge, occasional whistle blows (howling) and in reverse, an occasional bell as well.

Some of these Buddy L locos didn't have very good sound - the only problem with this one is that I can't turn it down :rolf::rolf::rolf:
 
lgb forney could be a possibility too,,,

a few s/h for sale at the mo aswell

you have to watch the driving wheel attaching screws on the bman 440 / 260

they can undo themselves,,, known fault
 
are there any radius limitations for you? ie R1 or R5
and preusme you run outside in the elements

i have a strong bias toward LGB, for relliability and absence of headaches and tinkering.
agreed the LGB forney or mogul will give you a long term joy-get ones in top condition if you are able to do so.

I love the moguls; the outline, proportions and tender, but the forneys have slightly better pull and will fit into smaller sidings better, and can run bunker forward, plus the have a roof reversing lantern, and can be transported and railed one handed!

They are very sturdy and very smooth. The last wild west version, chinese, is pretty darn good, and might be found cheaply -due to the onky livery. You should be aware the balloon Nesmith type stack is a sleeve over the straight stack underneath, so if you don tlike it you can simply pull it off. Another thing , it is easy to add a front pilot wheel assembly more or less, as well as a plow, all provided you can find the needed bits. A more modern mogul pilot arm will work-the modern ones allow too for fitting a plow assembly.

Another option although 'podunk' is to get a german made LGB porter and build a shorty wood tender.

Or, something ive yet to undertake, but always wnated, is to properly 're cab' a nd 're-dome' etc., and otherwise americanize a faithful 2017. That would be a real workhorse with real pull provided you engineered a clever tender bogie configuration, or not.

Fancy a mason bogie?. Perhaps an acquired taste. But between the decision between electric or live steam, and more so the metal construction and need of wide radius, and rather pricey . it may or may not be on the forefrom of things to acquire.
 
r3 for the bachmanns,,, i would go for lgb mogul or forney, if no req for 120.3

they run great and spares are out there

depends on your buget,,, i think glendale has forneys for 250
mike on here has one for 275
moguls,,, prob 300 for one,,, esp if has sound
 
Haven't they been re-tooled with the boiler at its correct height and re-issued recently? Aristo C-16s, that is.
 
Eaglecliff said:
Haven't they been re-tooled with the boiler at its correct height and re-issued recently? Aristo C-16s, that is.
Click to expand...
Yes.
One way of checking that a model is the latest version is to look at the piston rods. On the prototype and latest model they are the same height above the rail as the driving wheel centres. On earlier models the cylinders were too high.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom