[neil_s_wood]

I bought the Broadway limited Norfolk and Western Class J last year and it is great. However I still haven't got round to buying coaches for it, mainly as I am not sure which are the most appropriate. American rail is not my area of expertise. Can anyone recommend who would make the most accurate coaches to go with this loco. Thanks

 

[folkestonekeith]

Hi Neil

I've got a N&W J class as well and have ordered some Walthers coaches to go with it. Look at www.walthers.com and do a search for N&W coaches or search on the following model numbers:
932-5874
932-16784
932-10118
Have also recently got the book "Norfolk & Western and Virginian Railways in Color" by H. Reid (TLC Publishing) which even shows the J Class on freight trains in 1959 towards the end of their operating career!!

Keith

 

[neil_s_wood]

Thanks for that Keith,

I'm not an expert on US rail at all, however I had to have a J class. I wasn't too familiar with the American manufacturers either so thanks for steering me in the right direction.

Neil

 

[Ozzie21]

Rivarossi did two sets of four passenger cars to make up a Powatton Arrow train set which the "J"s regularly hauled. It has a dome car in it which was never used when the train was in service and generally ran as a seven car set. The round end parlour/observation cars were sold to the Saudi's when the service was downgraded to a five car set in the early fifties If extra cars were required they would take the form of rebuilt smooth sided heavy weights or standard heavyweights. The Rivarossi cars have been out of production for some time now, around four years, so the chances of getting them are slim. IHC also did N&W smooth side passenger cars based on the Rivarossi patterns but without the interiors. Bachmann and Branchline Trains do models of heavyweights.

Ozzie21

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 7 Mar 2006, 12:54) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I bought the Broadway limited Norfolk and Western Class J last year and it is great. However I still haven't got round to buying coaches for it, mainly as I am not sure which are the most appropriate. American rail is not my area of expertise. Can anyone recommend who would make the most accurate coaches to go with this loco. Thanks

 

[neil_s_wood]

Has anyone got any impressions of how good the Bachmann ones are. They seem reasonably priced but I have heard that Bachmann's American stuff is not very highly rated.

 

[Ozzie21]

The US Bachmann models are okay although they are in need of an update as they date back to the original issue of the first Spectrum K4. I used to replace all the wire handrails with new ones bent up from brass wire. The diaphragms need replacing with ones from American Limited. The Bachmann ones are made of some sort of rubber. The interiors are okay as are the lights. Underframe detail is okay but can be seriously improved. The trucks are metal castings and work really well and incorporate Bachmann's swing coupler which moves with the truck. If your curves are of a large enough radius I would remove the swing coupler, body mount a Kadee 58 coupler and add the American Limited diaphragms. And if you have a Broadway Limited N&W J class I would toss theQSI decoder into next door's yard and fit a Soundtraxx Tsnuami, better control and better sound. For further interest get a coupleof dvd's from Greg Schol videos called "Memories of N&W 611" and "Norfolk Southern Steam Frieghts" and compare the sound from the real thing to the abysmall noise the BLI loco makes.

Ozzie21

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 16 Apr 2006, 10:06) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Has anyone got any impressions of how good the Bachmann ones are. They seem reasonably priced but I have heard that Bachmann's American stuff is not very highly rated.

 

[neil_s_wood]

Thanks for that Ozzie. I may give the Bachmann ones a try.

I agree with you about the QSI decoder. It is not very well synchronized at all. When I stop it suddenly to get the brakes to squeal, by the time the screech of brakes comes on the locomotive has been sitting stationary for a couple of seconds.

 

[Ozzie21]

Neil, I don't have my QSI manual handy but I know you can reprogram that sound so it comes on earlier and I think if you activate the F7 button on your throttle you can get brake squeal to come on. I like everybody else was impressed with BLI locos when they first came out, I bought two NYC Hudsons and two N&W A class and was very impressed. But after that they seemed to go down hill especially ones that were made in China, the heavy mike, PRR M-1A and B, the light mike. Too much cast on detail compared to the Korean models. The QSI decoder is now 6yrs old and hasn't been upgraded and the blue they had with MTH didn't help. Now we have aussie manufacturers using them and I suppose thats because they are cheap.

Ozzie21

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 17 Apr 2006, 12:29) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks for that Ozzie. I may give the Bachmann ones a try.

I agree with you about the QSI decoder. It is not very well synchronized at all. When I stop it suddenly to get the brakes to squeal, by the time the screech of brakes comes on the locomotive has been sitting stationary for a couple of seconds.

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE The QSI decoder is now 6yrs old and hasn't been upgraded

It really shows. All my other sound locos have Loksound decoders and they are so much better. The QSI one seems well overdue for an overhall.

Back on subject I noticed the Bachmann coaches on sale at Hattons for 64 quid so I may give them a shot and try some of the modifications you mentioned.

 

[Ozzie21]

Neil, Try Caboose Hobbies in the US. Their prices are very good and they are very quick to deliver, 6days US to OZ by airmail. website is www.caboosehobbies.com

Ozzie21

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 18 Apr 2006, 09:36) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>It really shows. All my other sound locos have Loksound decoders and they are so much better. The QSI one seems well overdue for an overhall.

Back on subject I noticed the Bachmann coaches on sale at Hattons for 64 quid so I may give them a shot and try some of the modifications you mentioned.

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE Neil, Try Caboose Hobbies in the US. Their prices are very good and they are very quick to deliver, 6days US to OZ by airmail. website is www.caboosehobbies.com

Thanks for that Ozzie, I had a look at their website which is pretty good and seems to have lots of good stuff.

The Branchline coaches are really good. They seem to be way better than the Bachmann ones and would not have to be modified. Thanks for the info I wasn't aware of Branchline previously but I'm impressed. They seem to be the go.

 

[Ozzie21]

Neil, I should warn you that the Branchline coaches aren't the easiest to build but when completed they are an impressive model. There are a few tricky bits around the coupler pocket. I fitted mine with replacement RP88 wheelsets made by Steam Era models when I built up a Broadway Limited train set to run behind a BLI PRR K-4s. It'sa shame that BLI didn't adopt the cast metal body to more of their models as the extra weight certainly improves the hauling ability up a 2.5% grade.

Ozzie 21

 

[neil_s_wood]

I didn't realize they were a kit. I had a look at their website and saw some pictures of the assembled coaches which looked great but I suppose I didn't look too far into it as I missed that bit. As they seem the best I'll still give them a go though.

 

[Ozzie21]

Neil, just take your time when building. The model comes completely finished in that it's all painted and decalled and all you have to do it glue it together right down to the ends of the eliptical springs on the bogies. It's a time consuming kit but well worth the effort.

Ozzie21

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 20 Apr 2006, 09:22) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I didn't realize they were a kit. I had a look at their website and saw some pictures of the assembled coaches which looked great but I suppose I didn't look too far into it as I missed that bit. As they seem the best I'll still give them a go though.

 

[neil_s_wood]

Sounds good Ozzie.

The painting and decals are the bits I tend to screw up on the most so thats a relief. The pictures on the Branchline website made them look fantastic. The detail is pretty awesome. I found a place on EBay knocking them out for US$29 which is $10 less than almost every where else so I may give that a whirl.

Thanks again