Which Locos to Choose?

2093 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Chinahand, Nov 15, 2008

stirling

Discussion Starter · Nov 2, 2008

I have followed Forum recommendations and am testing my first Kato point with DCC fitted Farish GW Railcar. Now want to purchase Steam Outline loco to have decoder fitted by Professional. Can members recommend the most suitable model (from either Dalpol or Farish) to choose in the light of their experience. I have a GW bias but can waver!

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upnick

· #2 · Nov 2, 2008

QUOTE (stirling @ 2 Nov 2008, 14:07) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I have followed Forum recommendations and am testing my first Kato point with DCC fitted Farish GW Railcar. Now want to purchase Steam Outline loco to have decoder fitted by Professional. Can members recommend the most suitable model (from either Dalpol or Farish) to choose in the light of their experience. I have a GW bias but can waver!

Hi Stirling,
For steam locos from Dapol the Ivatt or 45XX are superb runners in general with better control of course fitted with DCC, new 45XX go for around £25 on ebay a TCS M1 chip and its less than the RRP of the loco.
Farish A4's are nice had several of them and they always perform well

The Minitrix 9f is another suggestion.

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Chinahand

· #3 · Nov 2, 2008

Hi Stirling,

Choice of loco depends very much on what you, yourself want. I.e. do you want a mainline express, a goods hauling loco, a small 0-6-0 shunter or something like the 0-4-2 + Autocoach.

I have 14 different GWR N Gauge locos and will be happy to advise further depending on the type of operation you want.

Regards,

Expat.

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stirling

Discussion Starter · #4 · Nov 3, 2008

QUOTE (Expat @ 2 Nov 2008, 15:18) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Stirling,

Choice of loco depends very much on what you, yourself want. I.e. do you want a mainline express, a goods hauling loco, a small 0-6-0 shunter or something like the 0-4-2 + Autocoach.

I have 14 different GWR N Gauge locos and will be happy to advise further depending on the type of operation you want.

Regards,

Expat.

Thanks Expat, I am looking for a reliable steam outline Prarie tank, a Castle or a King, small tank Pannier or other 060, all fitted or to be fitted DCC. And the whole lot depends on funds raised from my 00 layout sale! Stirling.

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Chinahand

· #5 · Nov 3, 2008

QUOTE (stirling @ 3 Nov 2008, 14:46) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I am looking for a reliable steam outline Prarie tank, a Castle or a King, small tank Pannier or other 060, all fitted or to be fitted DCC.

Hi Stirling,

I have both of the GF Praries plus the Dapol one. Of the three I would recommend the Dapol as being the smoother runner of the lot plus it is better detailed. All are fitted with an Elektronik DCX74 chip which is excellent for slow runnning. There is a newer version (DCX75d) which is, I'm told, even better.

Re. the GF King and Castle I again have both. These are quite old models and are due for an upgrade though when GF will do this is uncertain. Both are tender driven but, despite this, are quite good runners capable of hauling up to 8 carriages. The main problem with both of them is the front bogie, which looks, quite frankly, b****y aweful. This can be rectified though by fitting replacement front bogies from NBrass. These are much better looking but do reduce the radii round which the locos will go. Both my Castle and King are fitted with TCS M1 Decoders which have Back EMF/Load Compensation to provide constant speed running up and down gradients.

I have all 3 of the GF 0-6-0s which, as they all have the same drive mechanism, are virtually identical runners. They are fitted with a very small Elektronik DCX74Z chip which gives very good slow running, ideal for shunting. As far as I'm aware this is the only chip which will actually fit inside an N Gauge 0-6-0 and, even then, at takes up most of the cab.

I have just purchased 2 of the new Ixion Manors which, if the spec. is anything to go by, should be absolutely superb runners. The motor is mounted in the tender but is connected to the loco via a drive shaft with a universal coupling. I haven't tried mine yet as they are away for chipping. (I always leave this to the experts and have my locos chipped by Digitrains).

Hope this helps but if you need any more info. please don't hesitate to ask.

Best regards,

Trevor.

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stirling

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 4, 2008

Thanks Expat for the comprehensive information. I will be pleased to hear how you get on with the Manors, but meanwhile am saving for an 2-6-2 Tank. I am trying my first Metcalfe cardboard model in this scale and finding it didicult due to my Parkinson's tremor. All good fun! Regaeds, Stirling.

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Chinahand

· #7 · Nov 4, 2008

QUOTE (stirling @ 4 Nov 2008, 15:37) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks Expat for the comprehensive information. I will be pleased to hear how you get on with the Manors, but meanwhile am saving for an 2-6-2 Tank. I am trying my first Metcalfe cardboard model in this scale and finding it didicult due to my Parkinson's tremor. All good fun! Regaeds, Stirling.

You're welcome

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Roy S

· #8 · Nov 15, 2008

Hi Trevor

Surely the Farish Castle and King are loco not tender drive?

I do not use DCC myself but believe that those who chip the loco for DCC often use the tender to house the Chip.

Cheers

Roy

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Chinahand

· #9 · Nov 15, 2008

QUOTE (Roy S @ 15 Nov 2008, 13:06) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Surely the Farish Castle and King are loco not tender drive?

You're absolutely right Roy.

I thought the wires between the loco and tender were pick-up wires when they are, in fact, chip wires.

Sorry about that.

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