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.
