Tell me I shouldn't buy a $60 4-4-0

[ArtinCA]

BLW is dumping them because MP has a new batch coming for Xmas, all with traction tires installed and some improvements, but they won't say just what the improvements are.

Better fitting PVC tray...  ;D

Sorry, couldn't help myself...

Art

[Pete Steinmetz]

They are good running little loco's. As is, they pull maybe 6-8 cars on level, grades are a different story. You can get a traction tire from the Pacific   

Bullfrog Snot

[Chris333]

I think $60 is about the limit. Sadly you can buy a Kato mikado on e-bay for $60, but these MP steamers are still over priced for what they are.

[wm3798]

If it was offered in Maryland and Pennsylvania garb, I'd find a way...  But it's not, so I won't.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The thing is, I have a Kato Mike, and yes, it's a great steamer, but it's not a great small steamer.

I'm thinking one of these, with "STEWARTSTOWN" spelled out on its tender would look pretty nice running around the Kidney, while we switch downtown Baltimore.

[delamaize]

Meh, all the ney sayers. I LOVE my 4-4-0, don't pull too much, but either did the prototype. I pull 5 Bachmann 65' coaches with mine. I love them, I would pick one up if it was me. Freight wise, looking at about 10 cars on the levels, and about 5 with grades. (5 MT 40' box cars, and a atlas caboose on my old layout with 4% grades.)

yeah, it does benifit alot from traction tires, and yes it does benifit from all pick up on the tender. regardless, if you want a happy little steamer to chug around your pike, and not have to worry about your $200 investment, loosing a rod, or throwing a traction tire, or worse yet shorting out and frying a decoder, Pick one up. As long as you don't have expectations of it pulling mile long trains, you will be happy.

[DKS]

I'm thinking one of these, with "STEWARTSTOWN" spelled out on its tender would look pretty nice running around the Kidney, while we switch downtown Baltimore.

Don't need our vote to float your boat. Go for it.

[SirTainly]

I suspect Ed has already bought it, and just wants us to validate his purchase!

[JDouglasFisher]

I would say, if you wanted a diversion, you could take that 4-4-0, and on another door, modeler the Tuckerton Railroad, which up until its demise, was home to those beasties.

[RDGNUT]

Take a look at

for a MP 4-4-0 running with Bullfrog Snot. Replace the MP tender trucks with B-mann or Kato side wipers (available from their parts depts), and hard-wire them - use DCC wire - the the engine. It's got the grunt, just needs the grip and the juice. Why can't the factories figure this out?

Where are the camelbacks? Where are the Baldwins? 

[brokemoto]

You could buy the eight-wheeler,but you might be happier if you bought the mogul.  Do make some modification to add an all wheels live tender, be it a swap-out or a modification to the trucks.

The alignment of the sanding lines is not quite correct for an eight wheeler, as this is really the mogul body jammed onto an eight wheeler chassis.

However, if you wanted power for those Strasburg cars, the eight wheeler would be what you need to buy.

There are also some mikados and pacifics available cheap.

The allegedly 'new and improvedd' skirted pacific has already appeared.  It does have traction tyres, but the tender is still only half wheels live.  MP is only half listening:  MP STEAM NEEDS ALL WHEELS LIVE TENDERS .

[Chris333]

The metal boiler detail is good, but it is a bitch to modify:

Where are the camelbacks?

Where are the Baldwins?

Next question  ;D

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I suspect Ed has already bought it, and just wants us to validate his purchase!

Nope, actually, ended up partying around DC and Baltimore this weekend, so I've decided against it. Gotta prioritize, and http://www.abbeyburgerbistro.com/ won out.

[RDGNUT]

Gosh. Thanks for the pics Chris. That little Erie looks great. Don't think it's N however.

But please note that the rear motor 'over-hang' on N scale engines does not allow for the proper placement of the rear driver to make a decent N camelback. I've bashed up several (

and they just don't have the correct proportions. I'd like to see a Reading I-8 2-8-0 or a L class 4-6-0

For Baldwin, sharks and switchers - diesels - are out there in N and even the A & B passenger sharks , now how 'bout the road switchers, Baby faces, centepiedes, and double-enders?

[DKS]

That little Erie looks great. Don't think it's N however.

Oh, it's N, all right: http://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/ErieRailroadD4440CamelbackNScale#

But please note that the rear motor 'over-hang' on N scale engines does not allow for the proper placement of the rear driver to make a decent N camelback.

Rich Yourstone flipped the motor around in a B'mann 2-6-0 so it's over the drivers instead of hanging out of the cab. Sadly his pics are no longer available, but it looked like a clever mod that wasn't too hard to do.