loco review - what are they like in service?

Try asking him Paul. Sometimes these stores put things on their site because they can order them in. Cant expect small outlets to stock everything.
 
yeah, but no price too? i wouldn't even call without a approx price on the site. after-all, there are pics and descriptions, why no price?
 
Price is possibly not known until ordered. Also 0.00 seems to indicate no stock.
 
hmmmm, as has been said before, if a web site is one of the biggest keys to someones lively hood, business and success, then a website should be absolutely spot on all of the time. this goes for all g scale stockists.
 
funandtrains said:
The best Aristo-Craft loco is by far the Dash-9 the rest are fine.
The USAT locos run well apart from the 6 axel diesels which seem to be fussy with points and derail often.
All the Bachmann locos from the Heisler and after to seem to run well, those designed before can have gearbox problems.
Piko seem to run well after running in.
LGB run fine unless you try to run the 2-8-2 or 2-10-2 on small radius track.
Accucraft run well on large radius track unless you get one with a less than perfect chassis!
Hartland seem to be about the best running if you get one of the larger steam locos.
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The Dash-9 is a very nice loco but watchout on uneven track.
Because it's got fairly ridged, length ways, trucks uneven bends always lifts the leading wheels.
Apart from that love em.

Never had any problems with USAT co co trucks on switches or uneven track, very reliable.
The PA/PB and SD40 have surprised me on how well they take undulations.
 
Experience of my SD40 and SD70 is in line with Spike - they do stay on the track very very well. Absolutly no problem with Aristo 5 foot points but have had a few problems with LGB R3 points. This has been largely cured by careful checking that the track leading into the point is level.
 
Chris M said:
Experience of my SD40 and SD70 is in line with Spike - they do stay on the track very very well. Absolutly no problem with Aristo 5 foot points but have had a few problems with LGB R3 points. This has been largely cured by careful checking that the track leading into the point is level.
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I have found most of my USAT skates make quite a loud clunk as they go over the frog of LGB R5s.
For most I had to angle the skate a bit to stop this happening, one GP9 though just won't stop doing it.
I did some tweaking of the layout so I could refit some USAT #6 switches no more clunking.

I tried real hard on getting the R5s level but to no avail.
Even tried removing bits of the plastic on the frog that looks to high, cor! is that plastic tough or what.
I was very happy with the R5s, all stock tracked very nicely through them apart from this.
 
Good topic. I have the Aristo Rogers and the older REA rogers. I feel the older version is a much better runner where the newer one tends to slip more.
Bachmann im not crazy about because of the issues. But their detailing is awsome. Bachmann is good for those who dont mind taking apart the engines to adjust or fix.
I love my Hartland Big John, Woody, and Mack engines. All run great and no doubt comparable to LGB. Detail not great but can easily be fixed using parts from ozarks.
I also like LGB my Porter and Forney both run great. Just not crazy about the price of LGB.
 
My Findings...

USA TRAINS:

I have several GP38, NW2, SW4 and GP30 - they all run superbly in all weathers and i have never had any running problems. The additional detailing that comes for you to fit (handrails, pipework etc) can be a pig to get in situ as many of the holes are too small for the detailing to fit into. I've also had one GP38 that shredded its tyres. For value for money and detail USA Trains is certainly tops for me.

ROUNDHOUSE:

Hate the steering wheel style controllers (i have two of these which i am converting to stick TX) also i find the Fowlers are a little light at the front which means when coupled to a heavy train the front wheels lift a little thus causing wheelslip. In terms of out the box ready to roll live steam they are all fantastic if somewhat hit and miss with the rubber ruler. I love my Roundhouse engines even though those comments may seem a little negative.

ACCUCRAFT:

Recently had a Lawley arrive, looks like a chunky version of a Lady Anne, but personally i like it. Very crisp detailing and paintwork, possibly crisper than the all over sprayjob that Roundhouse loco's get. Even with a custom paint job i saved over £300 on the cost of a Lady Anne buying a Lawley. yet to steam her.

LGB:

I have had a few steam loco's which were very reliable (2-6-2 and 0-8-0) also i have had numerous GE4/4 III which could pull the side off a house, only slowly!! only had one problem which seemed to be to do with the electronics whereby the loco failed to respond to the controller and acted strangely, this only happened twice and could only be put down to running in very cold conditions. I moved away from LGB when prices began to rise quickly.

PIKO:

A Little lacking on the detail side but confident and quiet runners, like USA Trains very good value for money.

MERLIN:

Had a few, one recently left me, just didn't have enough power to get round my line, but for an early 1980's built radio control live steam engine with whistle it was a lovely piece of engineering. The second is currently in the workshop having partially self destructed which many of them seem to do over the years! buyer beware if you ever think about picking up a second hand Merlin engine.

BACHMANN:

I've had (but now sold) a few Anniversary "Annie's" which are fantastic value for money, will run over any trackwork however poor it may be, and keep on going. The smoke generators seem to have a mind of their own! Cracking mid weight engines with nice detailing in many many liveries to choose from. Be warned though, the sound units are absolute rubbish unless your putting it on for young children to enjoy.
 
Most of my stock is LGB and with the exception of the digital starter diesel and a Tenderlok they have mostly been reliable and pull well. The two I mentioned just will not pull and judder around the slightest curve. I fitted a motor in the tender of the latter and added huge amounts of weight but it made no difference. The board in my LGB trackcleaner also fried after 3 yrs of use.
Both of my Bachmann Annie's had intermittent running problems straight from the box. I fixed one but haven't got around to tackling the other. The internal wiring is v frail and easily snapped. My K27 does not appear to live up to its Plug n Play claims and I have yet to get a sound card to work properly but as commented above the detailing is v good if fragile. I am forever retrieving cylinder fronts from around the track even after I have glued them on.
My Hartland Mack is a revelation, amazingly powerful and reliable although it needs the wheels cleaning after a few hours of running. The Line Car is also excellent except that on delivery it shorted out the controller each time I put it on the track. I discoverd that the trailing bogie had been fitted the wrong way round! So much for quality control but, I would happily buy more HLW products.
My one USAT Mighty Mo is excellent and does all that I expect of it even perfoming as normal after a 5' fall from a shelf onto a laminate floor which snapped off the front coupling at its boss. (One of the Annies also survived the same fall)
The Accucraft Caledonia is a pleasure to run once I had replaced my LGB R3s points with Piko ones. It will negotiate R1 curves with an horrendous over/under hang and it is a puzzle why Accucraft did not allow just a slight amout of lateral play in the front and rear drivers. Perhaps it would have made too big a difference to its scale appearance which is simply astonishing when you compare it with a photo of the original.
I have just been adding one or two minor details but the only feature on the model so far as I can see which differs from the original is that the lamp pegs at the front should have been rotated through 90degrees!
 
KeithT said:
The Accucraft Caledonia is a pleasure to run once I had replaced my LGB R3s points with Piko ones. It will negotiate R1 curves with an horrendous over/under hang and it is a puzzle why Accucraft did not allow just a slight amount of lateral play in the front and rear drivers. Perhaps it would have made too big a difference to its scale appearance which is simply astonishing when you compare it with a photo of the original.
I have just been adding one or two minor details but the only feature on the model so far as I can see which differs from the original is that the lamp pegs at the front should have been rotated through 90degrees!
Click to expand...
We should start calling you Hawkeye Keith! The direction of the lamp irons (facing forwards or sideways) depends on the era your are modeling as they were changed at some time in her history. The other thing not mentioned is the first release of the model actually carries a good semblance of a Beyer Peacock jack on the tank top, the Dubbs jack is different and has been picked up on for the live steamers and second batch of electric models.

Happy steamings,

John
 
Sea Lion said:
KeithT said:
The Accucraft Caledonia is a pleasure to run once I had replaced my LGB R3s points with Piko ones. It will negotiate R1 curves with an horrendous over/under hang and it is a puzzle why Accucraft did not allow just a slight amount of lateral play in the front and rear drivers. Perhaps it would have made too big a difference to its scale appearance which is simply astonishing when you compare it with a photo of the original.
I have just been adding one or two minor details but the only feature on the model so far as I can see which differs from the original is that the lamp pegs at the front should have been rotated through 90degrees!
Click to expand...
We should start calling you Hawkeye Keith! The direction of the lamp irons (facing forwards or sideways) depends on the era your are modeling as they were changed at some time in her history. The other thing not mentioned is the first release of the model actually carries a good semblance of a Beyer Peacock jack on the tank top, the Dubbs jack is different and has been picked up on for the live steamers and second batch of electric models.

Happy steamings,

John
Click to expand...
The rotated lamp irons became obvious when my lamps faced sideways!! In fairness someone posted about it on GSM too.
I did think that the jack looked a fraction oversize but it is certainly not obvious.
Currently I am fitting vacuum pipes but neither the front nor back ones are standard. For the time being I will live with the discrepancy but I need to shorten the front one and add a pipe along the buffer beam at the rear. The front pipe seems oddly located as it looks as if it would obscure a lamp on the r/h iron.
I did spot one other small discrepancy, the steam pipes from the cylinders into the smokebox on the original are copper. Fortunately a quick dab with some metallic copper paint has solved that.
 
LGB;
-U class, old yellow box; bit battered but brilliant, the loco that first got me into G, superb runner!
-Stainz; had a number(10+) over the years, don't really like the design but for a cheap 0-4-0 they pull great and I've NEVER had one break, ever!
-Big NG red/white diesel loco, can't recall the code, the one with the rear luggage compartment; twin powered bogies; superb in every way.
-twin tram unit blue/white; superb again!
-Gustav; slow and rubbish....but novel all the same.
-LGB Track cleaner; as per other currrent thread, not as good as expected.

Bachmann
-Percy(my lads), very good, although had to reqire as it went backwards compared to everything else!
-Closed/open/santa trams; for cheap entry level items they're very good, run well, even outside. Not that robust but you just learn to treat them gently!

-Lionel Thomas; poor chassis, replaced with an LGB 0-4-0, now fine(obviously! ;-))

-Playmobil 0-4-0's; Kyle my little lad has a couple of these; good runners, relatively powerful for their size; can be dropped from a decent height and live to tell the tale; just re-attach various removable plastic parts!

As a scale I've had relatively few bad experiences with G stock, compared with N and 00.

I'm about to venture into building some kits this winter!
 
It seems as though, with the exception of the early Bachmann locos, this is a very healthy picture. It looks like all the brands mentioned so far are pretty much reliable. I don't think we have any reports of MTH or Newqida locos. MTH I expect to be good but I have no experience at all. Bearing in mind the price I don't expect much from Newqida but I could be wrong.

I would guess that Newqida are selling plenty of coaches and wagons but maybe not so many locos.
 
One update to my eulogising the Caledonia. It blotted its copybook at Netty's today, refusing to negotiate a couple of R1 curves and points! Odd, because in the past it has managed R1 reverse curves.
 
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