skipgear said:
(Edited for brevity and content) The most recent runs of the standard line 4-8-4 are not as bad as the people on here are making the out to be. It is not perfect but by any means, but not as bad as the posters have made it out to be. The biggest thing it needs is tender pickup for more reliable operation. The standard line 4-8-4 that comes in the plastic jewel cases are very good pullers. Mine topped out at 30 cars on a 11 3/4" radius test loop. After a little tinkering and moving the traction tired driver to the rear position, it now pulls 45 cars before wanting to nose. I haven't added weight to cure that yet.
If you want smoother running steam, you should look at the spectrum loco's. My hands down best choice for a first time steamer is the Bachmann 2-8-0. They run smooth as any diesel and pull like a "feight train". My Bachmann 2-8-0 tops out at 64 cars on level. The detail matches brass and they have fully live tender pickup.
So then, in your opinion it is mostly an issue of current supply... if I were to go this route (and I'm not saying I am) and add tender pickups, is it a simple (like anything like this is simple) matter of adding bruch contacts to hit the back of the wheels? Like a spring loaded copper reed brush? Or do I need to get new wheels, change the trucks, yada, yada, yada....
I've heard others speak in other forums to gear quality (not just Bachmann either) and retro fitting brass tube "bushings" to worn plastic gear shanks. In the opinion of others reading this (eyes trainnut) might this be a solution to your wear issues?
I'm not looking for a huge work horse here, but something that can pull 9-10 cars like the 261 does on excursions. Yes, I know that the engine is/was actually a fairly powerfull freight unit that typically meets all of its current power needs at like 15-20% of its capacity.
My issue here is sticker shock and not mine. My wife is fairly understanding, but $100+ for one engine is going to cause conniptions that will register on [FONT="]seismographs [/FONT]half a world away until she's had some time to adjust. Yet I've been guided..nay tasked to have "a 261 train", for my son, to run on my layout that I'm planning. So I've got conflicting requirements. She's looking for this to be a bonding, educational and patience building exercise for him, and she thinks having a train that he's got a connection to (we took him on the fall excursion trip for his 4th birthday) will help.
Now once my initial setup is done and the missus understands that $149.99 for "5 ounces of metal and plastic" is reasonable, I'll likely add more "excursion steam" models to the layout and I will be in a position to A) spend more and B) be free of the "261 like" requirements.
And should anyone get the wrong idea, it is not my intent to have my 4 year old operating my N scale setup. But I'm already setting up a 4' X 8' HO layout for him with flea market track, stock and locomotives so "we can run trains together"
Thanks again everyone for all the advice and comments! :thumb: It has been invaulable and very educational! I wish there had been something like "The Gauge" 22 odd years ago. I might not have had such a long hiatus.