Affordable HO scale steam engine comparison!

[@Uptownloki47]

The IHC mogul has got to be the best bang for your buck. Good detail and a great mechanism along with nice customizability.

[@DarthSantaFe]

They're hard to beat! My IHC 2-8-2 is also a very smooth and quiet runner.

[@Uptownloki47]

@@DarthSantaFe So is my CP 4-6-4.

[@MarkInLA]

If anyone out there takes a liking to these old analog control engines, be careful as to what track you obtain..The flanges are the earlier very deep kind which, when designed, ran on (tall) code 100 rail..If you obtain code 83 or lower rail the flanges on these might very well collide with the simulated spike heads in the track and cause engine to bounce along on them.. IE. With these early engines you usually have to go with code 100 rail (usually, but not always).. Most engines and cars made today have low, more realistic wheel flanges with will run fine on lower code 83, and even code 70 and code 40 rail...

[@ocalicreek]

What you say is true - not everyone has the budget for a more expensive model. However, when you consider how much your time is worth, and add up how many hours you spend on making a silk purse from a sow's ear, maybe that expensive engine that looks great and runs like a swiss watch straight out of the box isn't so expensive after all. I like to tinker - I enjoy turning a train set toy into a well running, detailed custom model - but not everyone does. This is why I enjoy your channel.

[@michaelreilly8890]

Another possible idea would be that Oriental Limited in the late 80s early 90s made a series of locos under the “Powerhouse “ line these were locos with white metal boilers and frames but brass detail and running gear like you would have found in an imported brass loco so can motors good gearing and such. They were meant as entry level locos but of a quality way above most plastic locos of that time. These locos had many of the USRA designed steam locos including one articulated loco and sold for about $120-$180 new. Their value now is on a par with plastic models since the series never really caught on and sold well. If you see one at a train show that’s not beat up it could be a great deal with the upscale drive train theybhad

[@varrunningtrains4112]

Very nice comparison! Rivarossi is without a doubt my favorite make of steamers, simply due to the detail, performance, and variety at the price point they come in at. Most of my steam roster is Rivarossi, and while sometimes they can be finiky, when worked out like you said, they are absolutely excellent engines. Look forward to the next upload!

[@DarthSantaFe]

Thanks! A lot of people don't like Rivarossi, but I think a lot of that is because they don't know how to tune them up to run as well as possible.

[@varrunningtrains4112]

@@DarthSantaFe Very true. I absolutely adore their Pacifics, the Southern PS-4 being my favorite. With some proper service and lubrication they are silky smooth and extremely quiet.

[@adamhinkle7982]

The plastic 0-6-0 is the Alco D-30 style boiler used on later version models.

[@micoasters]

Apparently if a steamer runs better backwards that forwards is due to wear on the bearings. I bought a rivarossi for $5 with rusted side rode the guy said it was trash and would never run again, got it home tested it and it started. Rivarossi for the win. I will always buy a cheap rivarossi, they had great detail for the time

[@STho205]

Oh the runs backward better than forward phenomenon.
Those motors have insulating spacer washers on the shaft to keep the commutators centered in the magnetic field without being tightly bound.
Years of running and age causes the spacer washers to wear, compress and sometimes just crumble. This usually happens to the one under strain for forward motion.
Ta da.

[@raymondleggs5508]

playart was the original maker of the german engine, also sold under the name of charmerz, they had a line of roadbed track similar to unitrack, and was better than EZ track and power loc

[@GarrettTaylorLeedy]

Really nice collection of locomotives those ones I think I have one or two of them

[@isaacwatanabe9599]

I have a tyco-mantua 0-6-0 and its pretty good. I got it as part of a set from a friend of my parents

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

The old metal locomotive that were assembled from kits generally had good Motors. They may not have the fine detail of a plastic locomotive but the die-cast fast of the shell gives them much greater pulling power as simply being all metal instead of plastic is more realistic whoever heard of a plastic steam locomotive? You know what I mean. Those old steam locomotives also were built to last forever. I have a road test in Model Railroader from 1947 with a Mantua Mikado steam locomotive kit not only are extra bearings included with the kit so if you wore any of them out you could replace them but the fact that they have bearings on every moving surface shows the level of quality that they had. After World War with the tripling of prices after the war everybody started to look for ways to cheapen things and unfortunately that was not the way to go. You had to have real skills to be a Model Railroader in the old days. You have to put everything together yourself just about. Lots of guys with scratch build buildings to match certain scenes with buildings that were not available commercially and many isn't it better work than the buildings available to them to buy. Some guys actually made a living scratch building buildings for other people's layout because the owner did not have the type of skill to do it. I can understand that not all of us are scratch builders. I admire those who are and the few that are still left.

[@bobsbasementhotrains3020]

Like this video. Very informative. I know what you Mean with Rivarossi Quality. Some not good and others great. I pick up a Riv 0-4-0 with full valve gear at a train show and it ran good. After adding tender power pick up trucks and some weight is really good. Even milled the flanges down for code 83 track. Also added crew, but they had to have major surgery to fit , but they survived

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

I had a couple of those 260 steam tank engines and they were wired backwards to where you could not run them on the same track with other engines cuz they were go backwards both of them I had were like that.

[@STho205]

The Mehano moguls in their two boiler offerings (camel or std) and their late century American with the std Mogul boiler are, without question, the best running RTR DC models under $100. They went for about $50 new in 1995.
They are so consistently built they can be double or triple headed with just a good DC pack running them at scale speeds. Lock two together and they can pull a lot of cars realistically up grades.

[@Emilystar1095]

I love the mehano moguls because for a small price you get all that detail and beauty

[@elleryparsons2433]

Love The 2-4-0 Bowker.

[@jacobmaurin7549]

I got a 4-8-2 from IHC and it works great. 👍

[@tednouver9909]

That Tyco steamer has to be one of the more critisized locomotives of the actual four. Yes, although the motors were bad, the only thing you had to do was lubricate it when it had a case of the squeaks.

[@stevekovoc3939]

I have a Chattanooga and hoooo boy does it squeak when it needs lubrication. Sometimes you have to dig to find exactly what's causing the squeak.

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

Great showcase! I'd say the IHC Mogul is the best loco all round.
I've got quite a few of the old Rivarossi engines, and while the paint is simplistic and the mechanisms are a bit underpowered, they really can be made into some very good looking locos. The Bowkers are particularly charming!
That strange little German-ish loco at the beginning, I recall getting a similar one just to gut the big can motor and stick it into something else.
As cool as the new release high end stuff is, these HO classics aren't to be sniffed at, thanks for doing them justice!

[@Gfysimpletons]

Not a mogul……it’s a Camelback…….I have 2, and they run like champs……

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

@@Gfysimpletons A Mogul refers to any 2-6-0, camelback refers to the boiler design. Camelbacks were made in all shapes and sizes, some even as large as 0-8-8-0s!

[@Gfysimpletons]

@@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS no it dose not. A mogul has a cab in the back. I’ve been doing this for 42 years. And there is ZERO references anywhere calling a 2-6-0 camelback a mogul…….ZERO……….prove me wrong.

[@RocketStephen618]

@@Gfysimpletons He's right, you're wrong. Mogul only refers to the Wheel arrangement. The Term cambelback refers to the cab placement, and firebox design. Making it have a camel like cosmetic shape.

[@Gfysimpletons]

@@RocketStephen618 yeah, I have no idea what your talking about! A camelback is a camelback(MotherHubbard), cab in the middle, various wheel arrangements. A mogul is a mogul, cab in the rear, 2-6-0

[@elleryparsons5766]

Love the Bowker 2-6-0.specially in Red.

[@justaboringjoha3678]

The Lifelike 2-6-0 looks like a model of a german Br-24 exept in an american style.

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Awesome little engines!

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

The Prototype of the 260 Tank Engine is clearly German. Since my two engines were wired backwards I have one of them on a piece of track coming out of a tunnel with a German train station.

[@2048Megabytes.]

The märkin one was actually a good model, it even had valve gear

[@DarthSantaFe]

Thanks, I thought it might be a Marklin!

[@Gfysimpletons]

What märklin?

[@bestoutdoors7902]

For the first model you demonstrated, you said it runs smoothly going backwards and you can't figure out why, I have an idea on how you may fix it. If at all possible flip the gears around. The teeth may have a slight lip on them causing it to run rough going forwards but not backwards

[@DarthSantaFe]

Thanks for the idea! It's a new gear though, and works perfectly elsewhere. :(

[@gacj2010]

I am so glad you did this lecture ... I have a tendency to like Mantua/tyco I think only because it goes back to younger days...Although having less detail , I love the big heavy Mikado as well as the the 6 big wheel loco. I just wish they had fly wheels, but thats another thing...Hope some day you might do one of those big heavy mantua locos.... I think they have an open motor .... are the open motors reliable ?

[@DarthSantaFe]

I actually do have one of the 4-6-2 kits from the 50's, and it's a great runner! The open frame motors are very reliable, and for the heavier steam engines, powering them up with a better magnet is an easy process (and a lot cheaper than replacing the motor). www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=B888-3PE

[@gacj2010]

@@DarthSantaFe Yes , that's it 4-6-2... I love the motion of the rods. I checked the prices on these when they were first introduced from old advertisements and , for the time , it was huge money. When I went to an inflation calculator site to determine the value, if purchased today ..it was more than most of us would consider paying. Did you ever do a lecture on replacing the magnet with a new stronger one for this loco? I would go to the magnet store site and order some if its something I could do.
Thank you

[@DarthSantaFe]

@@gacj2010 I haven't done a video on magnet replacement, but next time I have a motor that needs it, I might just have to do that!

[@gacj2010]

@@DarthSantaFe Thank you.

[@cacline72]

That lifelike model is cursed beyond belief. A German steam locomotive shell paired with a North American tender and lettered for the PRR.

[@Thebanjoberk]

if it were a german tender then i would buy one

[@DarthSantaFe]

@@Thebanjoberk Swapping the tender is easy enough! The hard part is making it run well without a chassis replacement.

[@Thebanjoberk]

@@DarthSantaFe what chassis could it be replaced with?

[@DarthSantaFe]

@@Thebanjoberk It might be possible to modify a Mantua/Tyco 0-6-0 chassis to fit, or the wheels, siderods and bearings could be replaced with better ones. I haven't tried repowering this one, so I can't give you any definite parts info or anything, but I think it can be done.

[@Thebanjoberk]

@@DarthSantaFe i would use a tyco 2-6-2 chassis

[@jeremiahwilliams7809]

I have 2 of those rivarossi 2-4-0, V & T Bowkers,I also have the 4-4-O.the one you have is the best,with the motor in the tender,all of my rivarossi's run like clockwork........

[@STho205]

The JW Bowker was a niche loco. It was a track firefighting locomotive for the dry Nevada ROW. The odd casting between the domes is a water canon system like a NYC fireboat might have.
That's why AHM colored them bright red. The prototype wasn't.
The locomotive model looks great if you repaint the boiler black.

[@STho205]

Bowker is quite oversized to the scale of 1/87. One reason it runs so well ...room
Inyo and Genoa are closer to scale but are also oversized.
Mantua's Dixie Belle, the Petticoat Junction Sierra #3 is way oversized even for a late century American. Their General is about right...but getting it to run was a challenge being so tiny.

[@jeremiahwilliams7809]

@@STho205 you are correct!!! I have a tyco/mantua 1890 rogers,not only is it ovesized,but they also put the wrong type of counter balances in the drive wheels, the prototype has curved rectangle shaped counter balances,the model has half moon counter balances that are incorrect for that locomotive..........

[@TomasTrains7]

Hey Darth, I was wondering if you had any tips for someone wanting to find a replacement gear for that life-like/play art engine? I’m a big playart fan (despite the cheapness) and I just managed to get one of those weird 2-6-0s but mine has the same gear issue and I’m not sure how’d I’d search for a replacement online. Thanks for reading :)

[@the_autism_express]

I genuinely feel like the life like/model power 2-6-0 is just a German tank engine that they just coupled a slope back tender to

[@DarthSantaFe]

Yes, it's the old Marklin DB 24058 shell on a much cheaper chassis.

[@greggabel7238]

Do they make Dummy/Non-Powered Steam Locomotives? A powered diesel pulling a dummy Steam Locomotive !

[@DarthSantaFe]

Not as far as I know. The closest you can do is disconnect the motor and remove a gear.

[@Brianrockrailfan]

great video

[@thetoontrain6073]

Just wondering. Does the 2-4-0 have pickups both on the tender and driving wheels or just the tender itself?

[@DarthSantaFe]

It depends on the version. The ones with the motor in the tender pick up from one rail with the engine and the other with the tender, and the later ones with the motor in the cab only pick up from the engine.

[@heavyglassglass]

They don't run on steam power though?

[@chasesrailwaylinesrr6447]

My rate would be 1ihc 2rivarossi 3 tyco 4 playart

[@elleryparsons5766]

Out of All of Those Engines Which one can Pull the Most?

[@DarthSantaFe]

Probably the Rivarossi 2-4-0 since it has tires. Not counting tires (or the metal 0-6-0), the IHC 2-6-0 can pull the most, although that's still only around a dozen free rolling cars on level track before it starts to slip.

[@Gfysimpletons]

Every time you slide those engines it damages the gears and/or wheel set…………
The Bowker was made by Pocher……

[@DarthSantaFe]

The sliding over a few inches of smooth track causes no more damage than running the model. They're perfectly fine.
Pocher never actually made any trains themselves. All manufacturing of their railroad products was outsourced (mostly to Rivarossi and Marklin). The 2-4-0 was made by Rivarossi for Pocher, and since Pocher didn't offer trains in the US, this one was instead imported and sold by AHM.

[@harrywatson9812]

What was the magnet you put in the tyco 0-6-0 ? The mantua loco.

[@DarthSantaFe]

I used this one here: www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=B888-3PE
It's a perfect fit for these motors, and gives a very nice improvement to power and efficiency!

[@harrywatson9812]

@@DarthSantaFe thank you very much. Seems like a long website or am I reading it wrong.

[@DarthSantaFe]

@@harrywatson9812 Just click the link and it goes right to the store page. They put a lot of info on there, but all you really need to know is that it's a strong magnet. :)

[@scrailwaylines8535]

2-4-0 is actually made by poacher (rivarossi copy)

[@DarthSantaFe]

It was manufactured for Pocher by Rivarossi (quite a few tell-tale signs of RR production, including the logo on the motor). Rivarossi made quite a few train products for other brands that were never sold under their own name, such as the AHM O scale kits and parts of the original C-630 chassis for Tyco.

[@scrailwaylines8535]

@@DarthSantaFe the only models I can think of are large engines like ones with eight Drive wheels or their 4-4-0s were once I can remember rivarossi had their name on

[@IIIIIIlllllllIIILLL]

Whats the cheaping hi scale train

[@DarthSantaFe]

That’s really hard to say since the cheapest can change from day to day, but sometimes you can find older Bachmann and Life-Like train sets at yard sales and such for around $10.

[@IIIIIIlllllllIIILLL]

@@DarthSantaFe Is there any profit from buying in garage sale or yard sale?

[@DarthSantaFe]

@@IIIIIIlllllllIIILLL That all depends on what you’re able to find and the condition it’s in.

[@bradhamrick1267]

Ho N O Lion Amc Flyer Marx 3 Old Train

[@chasesrailwaylinesrr6447]

The First loco you showed is not the greatest. gears crack, not great quality, Decent motors, And The wheels are most of the time not quartered right

[@DarthSantaFe]

Yeah, it's one to be avoided by anyone not wanting to do repairs.

[@chasesrailwaylinesrr6447]

Most are made by playart or life like when I got mine it did not work well gear was stripped gear holder actually broke so got a new chassis for it did not run great but better then before

[@raymondleggs5508]

The life like engine is german