ATLAS:
SD-35- Smooth, Quiet, Never derails, beautiful to look at, steady, no problems what so ever. Can be used for 2-10 car locals, as a switcher, and leading 100 car trains. It's my workhorse, with a decoder, purchased for $45! Great loco!
B-40-8- Smooth, slightly noisier than the KATO's and the SD-35, but quiet nonetheless. I team it up with my DASH-9 on long coal drags and with the SD-35 on 30 car mixed freights. It also never derails. The performance is flawless and smooth but the looks are what make it special... AMAZING DETAILS and a great loco!
HALLMARK:
SD-60- This guy looks wonderful except for no glass in the windshield, but that easy to fix (If you want to). It runs smooth, but loud. It also finds EVERY track problem, due to it'[s heavy weight. I team mine up on the coal drag and as an interchange engine from the NS. I love this engine though!
Life-Like:
GP-38- This loco is an average one, but over time the engines seem to get worse. They do look good though. I have 5 of them and 2 run great (a little noisy and it cannot creep, but acceptable.) Two of them run very jerky, and need help. The last I bought used and lubed. It runs quiet, but excess oil burns creating smoke. I use them to run short, through trains. I think this is an above average loco overall.
GP-20- This is a great loco phisically, and is modern inside. Mine runs pretty good, but it is loud. I think it woukd be great after a lube. Mine needs new contact strips, after I trimmed them too much.
F-40PH- This is a great engine at high speeds. It is a little noisy though. It is very smooth. My only complaint is the over-brightness of the light, but I can fix that.
S-7/9- This engine looks and runss great, like an Atlas. It is also not as loud as my other LL's. I love this guy. There was a problem that I fixed many months ago, but I don't remember what. This is a great loco, especially for $30!
BACHMANN:
F-7- My first N-scale loco. Forgot how it ran at first. Debris and ballast went up through the large opening near the wheels. It ran very bad for awhile, but now it stopped. A buddy got it to move a few feet, and then buzz. Then it stopped. It will sit in a park now, but may see action if I have a LOT of time on my hands to repair it.
GP-50- An average loco, but very loud. Didn't run at first, but then I fixed it. It runs very slow. It occasionally runs locals. It looks ok. It is very average.