Tough Baby locos: Alternatives ?

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ExeterGeek

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I'm looking at what would be appropriate to go with the LGB/HLW tipper trucks.
So, a factory/mine style diesel loco...
My theme is loosely Germany/Switzerland/Austria...
So, I'm looking at the small engines - but they also need to fairly child proof - or at least not delicate flowers...
Other posts here have implied that the LGB feldbahn locos - LGb 21910 and 20910 - have a toothed belt drive mechanism that stretches if more than a couple of small items are put behind it. Likewise the Orenstein and Koppel LGB 23140 ? Is this correct ? Having a loco where I have to watch what it is hooked up to is not going to be good for my health if I let others play with the stuff, and what's the point of having trains if not to run them ?
I already have a couple of the D10/10D series (LGB 2090 etc), Rhb Tractor and a Schoema and was looking for something that would be different but equally tough.
Others I've been looking at have been:
a) Bachman Davenport 0-4-0 Side road gas mechanical - I note its 1:20.3 scale though (I'm using LGB rubber ruler stock mostly though) - does it look smaller than the LGB 2090 series ? Are these Bachmann's suffering the same plastic gear problems as their larger brethren ?
b) The HLW MAC switcher... (can anyone give me a length on this?)
c) The Lilliput 0-4-0 diesel.

Anything that I've missed that is likely to meet my criteria ?
Any comments on the locos I've mentioned ? I'm also looking to go DCC and sound as well.
(There is the Kof III which offers me an alternative LGB 0-4-0 diesel).
Thanks
Chris
 
The Accucraft Whitcomb is a good little loco if you can find one. The Accucraft electric Porter is also very small.
 
Re:Tough Baby locos: Alternatives ?

ExeterGeek said:
I already have a couple of the D10/10D series (LGB 2090 etc), Rhb Tractor and a Schoema and was looking for something that would be different but equally tough.
Others I've been looking at have been:
a) Bachman Davenport 0-4-0 Side road gas mechanical - I note its 1:20.3 scale though (I'm using LGB rubber ruler stock mostly though) - does it look smaller than the LGB 2090 series ? Are these Bachmann's suffering the same plastic gear problems as their larger brethren ?
b) The HLW MAC switcher... (can anyone give me a length on this?)
c) The Lilliput 0-4-0 diesel.

Anything that I've missed that is likely to meet my criteria ?
Click to expand...

Hi Chris

You've got a good set of basic, rugged locos there. The Bachmann & Liliput locos are the same engine in US and European guises. The US one comes with knuckle couplers, the Liliput one with "normal" LGB type hook & loop. They aren't anywhere near as robust as LGB or Piko stuff in terms of kids bashing them about, but they will haul suprisingly heavy trains. See the "Day out on the Quinton line" thread I posted in Pictures for an example.

Aristocraft make some whimsical items which might be of interest. Their Lil' Critters are good haulers and as robust as you could want. The Eggliner is weird, but may please the kids. Amongst many pother suppliers, see, for example: http://www.dragon-gscale.co.uk/aristo-craft-176-c.asp

Getting significantly larger, there's the Piko 0-6-0 diesel shunter which is robust, hauls like crazy and will certainly do R1 curves, though it doesn't look great on them.

If all else fails, why not an LGB Stainz or a Piko BR80 steam loco?
 
Re:Tough Baby locos: Alternatives ?

Thanks for the comments so far.
Garrymartin - I'd forgotten Andelmodels - I'd have to speak with my DCC guru about getting one to work under DCC but it's a nice idea. It might be them (or somebody else) does a War department model engine, which if in bright yellow might capture my feel of a mine/gravel mine engine. I see that they are at the Fosse show coming up, so I can perhaps get to fondle one with a purpose....
Whatlep - thanks for telling me that Bachmann/Lilliput are the same but in different clothing. Eggliners just don't appeal to me (too wierd). Lil'l Critters are an idea I hadn't considered (I'll check the length). (In an alternative incarnation the track has Stainz and other steam locos).
Chris
 
Re:Tough Baby locos: Alternatives ?

Zerogee said:
One of these, Chris? An LGB one that I don't think you had on your list:
http://gbdb.info/details.php?image_id=2079
Smallish, neat and narrow 0-6-0, available in several different schemes (DR black, Wangeroog deep maroon, Austrian red/cream) and a very nice compact but powerful loco. Not the cheapest, but worth having. Most (possibly all?) versions are factory MTS chipped, some had factory sound too, but very easy to install a Massoth S and 40mm speaker in those that didn't.
Jon.
Click to expand...
Jon,
Probably a bit big for what I envisage - which is really (small) 0-4-0. There was an article in Continental modeller about a brick works that had baby diesels towing tipper trucks in HO/00 recently (i.e within the last 3/4 months) that set me off on this. Additionally there is the layout/video of the gravel works (in G scale) with the stupendous drag shovel crane. The 0-6-0 diesel you mention I may acquire later - I need to upgrade to LGB MTS III (from version 2) and the proposed new digital starter set offers me all sorts of goodies at a combined price over separate price, providing I can wait until quarter 3.... I'd been thinking the 0-6-0 might haul main traffic in Iscatalbahn land..
Chris
http://patiorails.blogspot.com/
 
Re:Tough Baby locos: Alternatives ?

ExeterGeek said:
.....
b) The HLW MAC switcher... (can anyone give me a length on this?) ......

Anything that I've missed that is likely to meet my criteria ?

Thanks
Chris
Click to expand...

The Hartland Mack is around 200mm long, not including the coupling loops (LGB style). Runs on a very simple motor block that is relatively easy to convert for DCC (I just removed the thin brass busbars in the block and soldered leads directly to the tops of the pickup plunger casings). I used an LS programmed with the sound file for a pigsnout railbus, gives a lovely "chuggy" petrol engine sound just right for the little Mack.

Jon.
 
Re:Tough Baby locos: Alternatives ?

Something a bit different in the way of 0-4-0 diesels....

http://gbdb.info/details.php?image_id=2620 Jon.
 
Re:Tough Baby locos: Alternatives ?

Madman said:
Zerogee said:
Something a bit different in the way of 0-4-0 diesels....

http://gbdb.info/details.php?image_id=2620

Jon.
Click to expand...

Nice little loco. Do you know any more about it? Cost, where to buy, what to ask for?
Click to expand...

From the text, Dan, which is in German and English:

"Small diesel locomotive Diema DVL 15
Hand-built model for gauge II
Material, plastic / brass
......
Production: Unique single item"

So, it's not a commercial item, it's a one-off made by Franks Garten-Bahn in Germany. I wasn't suggesting it as something that Chris could buy, just pointing it out as an interesting design (found while looking for the HF130 pics) that could be used as inspiration for a scratchbuild if anyone was so inclined, particularly as it is of a real prototype (the inset picture next to that of the model).

Jon.
 
Re:Tough Baby locos: Alternatives ?

If you want durability for kids then the LGB toy train diesel shunter could be what you want. I think they are back in production.

The Bachmann 0-4-0 pulls well. Mine is quite a few years old now (got it as soon as it came out) and has done many,many laps of the Quinton line which includes a long 1 in 20 hill with no worries so far. The plastic is a bit thin which makes for a nice model but also makes it not so robust as the LGB (cab fell off mine when I dropped it).

I think it looks good with HLW tipper wagons. Five wagons carrying gravel is not even close to capacity
d94b90d79e9b4538b30bbf3d19af11b6.jpg
 
Re:Tough Baby locos: Alternatives ?

Christopher, if you can find one of these you will find them a great little loco with a little extra weight put inside the hood

http://www.ironhorse129.com/Resources/Chassis/mdc_big_hustler.htm < Link To http://www.ironhorse129.c...is/mdc_big_hustler.htm

http://www.gn15.info/mine-mine-all-...44/7d8ecc52daaf448b9552c6251b6ca373.jpg[/IMG]
 
Re:Tough Baby locos: Alternatives ?

Another vote for the HLW Mack if you're looking for a simple little loco with a rugged motor block, as has been said very simple to fit a DCC chip.

Bachmann Davenport is good, if slightly more fragile details. Smaller wheels so you do need to keep the wheels clean. Can haul quite a load.

LGB Feldbahn type of chassis will handle a nice little string of hoppers, just don't overload them. I run a string of a dozen HLW hoppers with my Chloe or Olomana, no problem at all.


How about one of the old track-powered Playmobil diesels for the kids? Dead easy to chip one of these, I've actually put the chip in one end of the block next to the weight, making it self-contained (there's my thread on here somewhere in the DCC section, for chipping the maintenance train).
 
Re:Tough Baby locos: Alternatives ?

If you're happy with the LGB build quality, how about 'dieselising' a 2030 steeple cab. Remove the pantograph/bow depending on the model acquired, then add exhaust. Or just remove the pan and say it's a battery electric.

Malcolm
 
Re:Tough Baby locos: Alternatives ?

Another vote for the Bachmann/Liliput Davenport! It is surprisingly robust and performs incredibly well for it's short chassis with no skates. I've been known to say it's magic - it runs over dead frogs as well as the bigger longer trains, amazing! It's quiet, heavy and nicely detailed - cheap and readily available from a huge range of shops. I've got the Liliput one which is more European looking with twin head and tail lights and a European looking exhaust stack in front of the cab. I added some extra handrails, removed some rivets and the 'Davenport' brand and aim to badge it up as an O&K (take a look on my EJ&KLR layout thread for photos).
 
Re:Tough Baby locos: Alternatives ?

Another vote for the Mack, they are easy to dismantle although I have not fitted any cards to mine, pull beyond their size and scrub up well.
3e07b3f9a5ad4ae284c612616ce23f59.jpg
 
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