Your top 5 best running locomotives...?

[modelrr_hobby]

Hey gang! My name is Tom and I have been in the hobby for about 17 years now. I had a HO set when I was 11 that my brother built (he was into quite a lot of scales growing up). It was great to have the detail in HO. After high school my Dad bought a LGB train for Christmas...and I thought it was a waste of money. But the train was made really well, they took great care in building it, and it ran great for years. Since then I have collected LGB trains and love how they run...I don't like locos that perform poorly, and am willing to pay a little more for quality. For the last 5 years I have read Model Railroader magazine with a renewed passion for trains in all scales...I like to see whats out in HO, N and I really love the size and values in O gauge. My sister just got me a On30 Bachmann set for Christmas, and now I am working on a track plan for this scale as I really am excited about the new metal locos they offer (Climax, Shay and Consolidations,etc.) It seems model railroading just keeps getting better - the models run better than I was a kid, the value is better (price/performance) and the details are outstanding. Bachmann has come a long way from the early 90s toys r us junk. So...lets hear what your TOP 5 greatest runners are on your pike. Be sure to name the scale/gauge too. I would be interested to know how the newer Bachmann spectrum steamers in HO hold up to say, Broadway Limited. I don't have much HO yet, I have several "3rd production era" series Athearn "growlers" and these are fantastic runners. The shells just lack the detail you would expect nowadays. I wish Athearn would re-do the molds for the body and I wouldn't mind sticking with these for my "special" engines (for example, FP45's aren't something that other firms come out with!) I know Atlas locos are excellent, perhaps that has to do with a Roco drive (I love Roco European too). Warm Regards, Tom M.

[flaretired]

Welcome to the group Pete, where do you live? Can't wait to see your photos, have never seen an overhead system before. Chuck 🙂

[dl85vette]

Welcome to the group Pete #2. Hopefully all our wealth of knowledge and experience helps you out. Perhaps you have some tricks from traction to share with our forms of motive power. Most of all,enjoy the group and the folks. dave PS. The other Pete likes to adopt 'sons' and give away cool cars 😉

[alcotrains]

Well, besides H.O. traction, I run Pre-War (WW II) tinplate,old "O" scale, and PLAY with old cars and trucks (full size). Right now, in the works are..1973 International 1 ton Pick-up ( #51 of 55 made ), 1974 International 4 wheel drive P/U, 1938 Ford 81 "T" Highway tractor, 1967 SAAB Sonnett 3cyl/ 2 stroke, and my driver, 2001 Dodge 1/2 ton. I am always available to give any information on trolley/interurban modeling, remotoring, and putting up overhead. I live in Southern California with my wife who puts up with all my stuff and a load of cats. So, if any of you have questions about streetcars of other electric operations, let me know and I will try to help any way I can. Later, Postal Pete