USA Trains ALCO S4 Union Pacific - Any expereince of this loco

D

davecar

Registered
Hi All,

I am thinking of buying the above loco and I wondered if anyone has any experience of owning it. I know it is a big loco and I have R1 curves only on my layout. I run with a Bachmann Annie 2-4-0 and its generally Ok, but I just wondered how this would cope.

Also I note that there is a fan assisted exhaust and just wondered how this works. Is it a fancy smoke generator?

Any infor or experience of the above loco would be gratefully received.


Kind regards,

dave
 
I don't have an S4 but do have a USAT NW2 which has, I believe, the same running gear.

Should handle R1's with ease and, with two motor blocks, should pull well.

Here's a link to the USAT manual;

http://www.usatrains.com/pdf/s4manual.pdf
 
HI MATE..yes sw-4 are SUPERB runner so far!!! aslo i have nyc sw-4....VERY GOOD runner and pull very well,,,it got smoke,lite up,sounds...aslo mr.spockie are the expert coz i sold to him yr ago for sw-4 u.p!!! he can tell u about it....drop him a line...

so my ex sw-4 photos before it sold to mr spockie...aslo i have nw-2 as well!!!!
 
cut the coupling tension return bar, and it will pull trains fine around r1 corners. I have the USAT GP38 and that does r1 fine, so s4 will too.
 
Fine little loco. It does not pull as well as me NW2 as it is just slightly lighter. A little more weight and she is as good. The motors are really robust but will draw a lot of amps if they get to stall otherwise they are very efficient. Like all USAT locos the weak point is the gear cog splitting on the axle but as this loco does not have traction tyres, there should be no problem of too much strain on the gearing.
 
Had mine since 2006 and it has always run extremely well. Appears to be very robust, pulls well (oddly I think better than my NW2). One window didn't have much glue to hold it in -and fell out - easily fixed.
Than exhaust is merely a smoke unit with a fan. This gives quite a nice exhaust effect, not a huge amount, but it looks like it is being pushed out which is better than the effect on non fan exhausts.
Truly a loco for all seasons...
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[align=center]Mine runs very well and as it dont have the rubber tyres on can runaround happily all day and I dont have to worry about it falling off, may need a bit more weight for running up hills tho

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http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?tree=true&m=106422

hi so if u r wondering u mite like seein nw-2 runnin in the snow...very good runner tht it can ran in the snow.....awesome beast so far....yes i do agreed with beavercreek about put bit of weight inside to stop slip the wheels if go up hill or whatever.....
 
Thank you all very much for replying to my post and in particular taking the time and trouble to post pics - very much appreciated.

I have taken the plunge and ordered one and it is now on its way to me. I noted from the very helpful post detailing the manual that there is a switch for sound. Is this for sound to be added later or does it come with sound?

Thanks again and I will let you know what I think of it.

Kind regards,

Dave
 
Hi Dave
Unless it has been fitted as a special at the factory, USA Trains locos never come with sound or even a speaker! (unlike Aristocraft who do tend to include a speaker in their locos). But it is very easy to link up a sound unit as there is the power connection for a sound board on the loco pcb. As to where to fit the speaker etc in an S4 it is best in the void at the front of the body.
 
yes have to fitted with sound and speaker inside the sw-4..but not for me coz im deafness tht why..lol...wishe i was hearing so i can hear it!!! never mind,,but heard sw-4 ave problem trying to open the back door in the cab!!..but awesome sw-4 so far.......hw many can sw-4 pulled like fa1!!!...
 
Hi All,

My S4 loco arrived this week and I gave it a run today on my track. Not ideal weather conditions and the track was a bit icy in parts but it ran very well. I only got involved in G scale last summer and this is my first big American loco. I was quite pleased how tight it hugged the curves on my layout - better than my other five locos. Some comments/questions/observations below.

1. Does the loco pick up power from the wheels as well as the shoes?

2. I was a bit disappointed with the smoke but it was as described in this forum. In the booklet it stated that the smoke should last for 20 mins. I only achieved about 5 mins. I used LGB smoke oil - Am I doing anything wrong?

3. I noted the comments here about maybe needing a bit more weight but it feel really heavy to me. I must admit I only had time to attach four wagons to it and it pulled really well. Also I have got one slight incline on my layout so no real test going up hills!

4. How easy is it to convert to sound? I am an OK Diy person but no experience of doing this type of job. Is there a website or a supplier than anyone can recommend?

And finally a big thank you again for members help and guidance on this - very much appreciated.

Kind regards,

Dave
 
davecar said:
! yep it picks up from the wheels as weel as the skates

the smoke is dependant on th oil viscosity and voltage, so cold oil, low volts = variable other oil is avaailable on other suppliers

My loco drags as much as the big locos, so twenty cars are easy on the level, curves and inclines wipe it out especially curves

Sound Depends on the maker perhaps, and preference, and also your operating system.Adding this is nt a big deal butg taking the loco to bits often is!!!



Hi All,

My S4 loco arrived this week and I gave it a run today on my track. Not ideal weather conditions and the track was a bit icy in parts but it ran very well. I only got involved in G scale last summer and this is my first big American loco. I was quite pleased how tight it hugged the curves on my layout - better than my other five locos. Some comments/questions/observations below.

1. Does the loco pick up power from the wheels as well as the shoes?

2. I was a bit disappointed with the smoke but it was as described in this forum. In the booklet it stated that the smoke should last for 20 mins. I only achieved about 5 mins. I used LGB smoke oil - Am I doing anything wrong?

3. I noted the comments here about maybe needing a bit more weight but it feel really heavy to me. I must admit I only had time to attach four wagons to it and it pulled really well. Also I have got one slight incline on my layout so no real test going up hills!

4. How easy is it to convert to sound? I am an OK Diy person but no experience of doing this type of job. Is there a website or a supplier than anyone can recommend?

And finally a big thank you again for members help and guidance on this - very much appreciated.

Kind regards,

Dave
Click to expand...
 
Hi dave
Yes it does pick up from the wheels and shoes (some people remove the shoes for appearance and problems with certain frogs on some LGB R3 points and due to the good pickup from the wheels)
Maybe you did not put in as much oil as it can take? The smoke generator only kicks in at a certain voltage so it depends on how much voltage is being supplied to it - how fast it might be going.
It is very easy to intall sound. The only long part will be accessing all of the body screws to remove it. They are situated along the side, front and under the bogies (if you turn them from left to right you will see the holes). Once in you will find a connection on the loco pcb board that says 'speaker' or 'sound'. Attach the power connections from the sound board to this and the sound board will then be able to react to the voltage being applied to the track. the speaker can be fitted in the void in the nose of the body (if you make a 'sound box' to fit the speaker into, it will increase the volume and bass response)
 
ah u mean pick up shoes for power? thought it was for clearing debris or leaves falling on the tracks line?? wow..didnt realised it.....

never run without smoke oil when switch the smoke on without oil...
 
I completely gutted my S-4 insides and fitted RC, battery and a speaker. The speaker is for'd under the forward airvents facing upwards. I changed out the lamps to LED's too. I always remove the smoke units on all my loco's, so thats gone. I also take off the track sliders. I bought a few MRC diesel sound decoders when they were on offer at $10.00 a piece. Works well enough for me, until I can afford Phoenix systems.
Oh, forgot main question, yes it will run on R-1 points, but, it depends on what type of truck you are pulling. I am more than happy with it's capabilitys.
Rod
 
I forgot to mention that my system is analogue. Does that make a difference?

Could anyone give me some links for a suitable sound system if it is posssible with analogue.

Kind regards,

Dave
 
Hi Dave
the sound boards range in cost and also fidelity of sound.
The Phoenix 2K2 (now superceeded by the pb11) are very good...but ...expensive can be used with DCC as well £200 or so...try Sandy at http://www.gardentrains.co.uk/2001web/2001webhtms/pricephoenix.htm < Link To http://www.gardentrains.c...bhtms/pricephoenix.htm
ESU loksound XL great sounds £160 or so mainly meant for DCC but will give engine and bell/horn sounds on analogue try Jeremy at dragon-gscale.co.uk
QSI + magnum boards are good, have good sound and are fairly reasonable about £150 to £160 works on analogue..try Jeremy at dragon-gscale.co.uk
Dallee reasonable sound analogue about £100 from GRS (maybe chaeper on ebay even with shipping from US)

There are older boards and ones like the MRC ones that can be found at cheap prices but it is finding them that is the problem.

The very cheap Mylocosound is .....okay-ish sound wise hear at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO8UdMh3ypQ
 
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