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Post by douggosha on Aug 18, 2012 15:50:24 GMT -8
I nominate the MRC Berkshire.  Doug |
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Post by KIM on Aug 18, 2012 21:17:59 GMT -8
I also have a special fondness for Berks.
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Post by alco539 on Aug 19, 2012 4:32:24 GMT -8
I agree Doug, for it's day it was at the top, and can still hold it's own today. I wish the one I picked up last year ran as good as the first one I had. Like me, it hasn't aged well, and yes I've cleaned all the contact surfaces. However, it still acts like it has poor contact, and I even hardwired the motor to the tender draw bar.
I can also say, I like the Life-Like 2-8-4, and being a C&O fan, it's called a "Kanawha". Pronounced kuh-NAW to you all not from WVA, LOL.
Regards Charley.
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Post by douggosha on Aug 19, 2012 6:13:41 GMT -8
I think I bought my Berk in 1970 so that makes it 42 years old and it has run fine all these years. However, yesterday I was running it on my new layout and the speed was irregular so I will have to disassemble the motor to see what's going on. Prolly just brush deposits between the commutator segments. I hope it's that easy. Charley, it's possible yours may be a motor problem too. They're great motors (the original can type from Rowa) but after 40 some years...  Doug |
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Post by powersteamguy1790 on Aug 19, 2012 11:50:09 GMT -8
I happen to like the Intermountain SP Cab Forward. Stay cool and run steam....  |
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Post by alco539 on Aug 19, 2012 13:46:29 GMT -8
Doug,
I've thought about the motor being the problem too. However, that motor has rotary brushes, and there a B***h to get back in correctly. The springs always seem to get out-of-place when the end plate is removed also. "In me younger days" as Popeye would say, I have taken them apart, but since I can't see, I'll live with it. Let me/us, know what you find, and good luck.
Bob, now that you mention it, I like the AC-12 too!
Regards Charley.
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Post by umtrrauthor on Aug 19, 2012 16:25:20 GMT -8
42 N Scale years-- how long is that in real years?
How about the Daylight 4-8-4? At least as a more recent contender to the title.
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Post by BarstowRick on Aug 20, 2012 9:09:51 GMT -8
What? I'ma supposed to choose one. Ok, here goes...but you are going to get a list. Not much of a conformist and I like it that way.
These are more about beauty then operational abilities. Someone needs to ask "Best Running Stove?" But I will comment with regards to the worst ones.
GS-4 by Kato or ConCor
Big Boy by Athearn
Challenger by Athearn
Back-up by Intermountain
Articulated by Life Like but, won't pull it's self around the layout.
Berkshires by MRC but runs like $#!+
Mikado by Kato
Consolodation's, one by Bachmann and the other by Roundhouse now Athearn. Sweet runners and pullers.
Does that help?
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Post by douggosha on Aug 20, 2012 15:56:15 GMT -8
Rick, is "runs like $#!+" shorthand for "runs like a dream"?
;D
Doug
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Post by umtrrauthor on Aug 20, 2012 17:57:20 GMT -8
Yes, a bad dream...
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Post by nw611 on Aug 27, 2012 4:24:57 GMT -8
Who made the MRC Berkshires ? Rivarossi, Roco or Mehano ? Were they made in Italy, Austria or Yugoslavia ? Ciao. Raffaele
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Post by alco539 on Aug 27, 2012 5:25:57 GMT -8
Raffaele,
When MRC sold them they were made by Rowa, in Germany. Plastic rods, plastic gears and a German motor.
When Con-Cor sold them they were "retooled" and made by Rivarossi, in Italy. Metal rods, brass gears and a Rivarossi motor (later a motor made in Japan). There were other slight differences, shells painted, handrails thicker on the tender top of the RR version, maybe other things I can't remember. I hope this helps.
Regards Charley.
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Post by nw611 on Aug 27, 2012 12:57:39 GMT -8
Rowa was a fantastic company, run by Mr. Roessler and Willy Ade. After the Rowa experience, Mr. Roessler founded Roco in Austria and Mr. Ade started its own company, making the best HO German passenger cars. The Ade cars, now over 30 years old, are sold at a three to five times their original price. Ciao. Raffaele
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Post by inkaneer on Aug 28, 2012 15:19:15 GMT -8
Kato E8
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Post by santafe524 on Sept 15, 2012 14:08:03 GMT -8
Atlas SD24/26
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Post by Brakie on Sept 16, 2012 8:21:43 GMT -8
To my mind that would be the Atlas RS1 or GP7/9.
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Post by dti406 on Sept 16, 2012 9:27:49 GMT -8
Although an HO Scaler, I used to repair locomotives at a hobby shop and the best ones I remember were the Con-Cor (Kato) PA's most beautiful and great running.
Rick J
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Post by cnj3676 on Sept 18, 2012 11:33:20 GMT -8
The Kato GG1.
Bob
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Post by powersteamguy1790 on Sept 18, 2012 17:29:38 GMT -8
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Post by bnsf971 on Oct 8, 2012 17:51:42 GMT -8
Best looking is different from favorite. I thnk the best lookng is either the Kato E8 or Kato PA.
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Post by ssteamguy on Nov 25, 2012 15:25:46 GMT -8
There seems to be no wrong answer here. To me all of my locos are nothing short of "the most beautiful", even my modern diesels.
I am amazed that many consider the Berk so beautiful, again which is true, but I have a kinship with the "America's Railroads" version that Rivarossi had years ago.
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Post by Bill Pearce on Nov 25, 2012 22:13:51 GMT -8
I'm not a steam guy, but I love the IM Cab Forwards. But for me the SD24's are great. Even better would be a Kato or Atlas or (best of all) an FVM RSD 15. The FVM GP60 A&B may take things over the top.
Bill Pearce
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Post by calzephyr on Dec 14, 2012 12:29:29 GMT -8
I purchased the Kato GS4 and Daylight train in N scale since it is a great model and runs very well. I model in HO, but the N scale GS4 seemed to be very nice and surprised me on how good it ran.
Larry
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Post by calzephyr on Dec 14, 2012 12:32:55 GMT -8
There seems to be no wrong answer here. To me all of my locos are nothing short of "the most beautiful", even my modern diesels. I am amazed that many consider the Berk so beautiful, again which is true, but I have a kinship with the "America's Railroads" version that Rivarossi had years ago. I got to watch the 759 on its trip to Kansas City in May of 1969. That blue paint looked good to me. Larry This is the 759 westbound at Moberly MO.  |
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Post by Spikre on Dec 17, 2012 13:33:31 GMT -8
was personally Steam cleaned by the 759 when it left Harmon-Croton on that Historic ocaision. still have the slides to prove it. nothing like a nephew of Erie S Berks coming at You full tilt. Spikre 
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Post by douggosha on Dec 17, 2012 16:02:32 GMT -8
Bob: The safe AND clean railfan! But seriously, I don't know if my heart could take the excitement of being in the presense of 759. Doug |
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Post by Spikre on Dec 17, 2012 16:37:05 GMT -8
Doug, we do our best to promote the Hobby !!
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Post by John Long on Jan 7, 2013 12:26:55 GMT -8
Arnold Baldwin Switcher  |
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