Is There Such a Thing as a Good Running 0-4-0 Steam Loco?

[ajkochevar]

N Scale of course. The old Bachmann and Lifelike are just not cutting it on my suitcase layout. It needs to be DC. I'll take tips on getting these brands mentioned to run good too.

[randgust]

With a couple decades of critters under my belt....

It's one of the ultimate challenges in N.   I've had multiple generations, but if you are looking for an 0-4-0T, the pickup problem becomes the biggest one. 

Figure out how to put on a pickup car, or tender, and it's possible.   So that's the real first question.   Oddly enough, one of the best legacy designs was the old Rivarossi B&O C19, all metal boiler, and a bitty tender.

The real 'secret sauce' needs a bunch of things....

1)  Heavy weight.  And if you're trying to put in DCC and sound, move on....
2)  A decent motor and a sincere gear reduction, not just a worm on a spur if you can help it
3)  Equalization on one axle.   That's almost never done, but if you've ever seen a flawless Kato 11-109 chassis run, you know it can happen somehow.

Chris and I have found this guy in Japan, and between the tiny chassis, RP frame and body, and a spur/double worm, it's darn awful close to the ideal mechanism.  Only catch is a short wheelbase.   Essentially, that design is under the Showcase Shays and geared locomotives.   

Yeah, sold out, but I've been bugging him, I want an Nn3!

https://tomamw2.com/products/0961?variant=39443793150124

[mmagliaro]

Does it have to be without a tender?
With modifications, the best one I know of is the old Atlas 0-4-0.  If you go through the delicate surgery to put all-wheels-live pickups in the tender, and change out the motor to a small coreless, it can be made to run stall-free and pretty darn good.

Surprisingly, the Bachmann "Thomas" series engine, "Percy", is an 0-4-0 mech that runs really smooth and slow.  It needs a bit of help in the pickup department.  But if you are just going to use the mechanism and put a tender behind it, you can solve that problem.  I got one as kitbash fodder and haven't gotten around to making anything from it.  I was surprised at how well it ran right out of the box.

[RAILCAT]

Tramfabriek in the UK has a nice configurable 0-4-0 chassis.
Wheelbase and wheel size are configurable. Coreless motor.

https://tramfabriek.nl/allrounder.html

[peteski]

I think that the elephant in the room that in N scale no anything (not just steam loco model) with only 4 wheels and a short wheelbase will ever run well, as far as my definition of "well" goes.  The new Kato "critter" chassis with equalized suspension and coreless motor is probably as close to good running  as one can come, but it also has a wheelbase longer than any 0-4-0 steam loco.

[ajkochevar]

Thanks everyone.  I'll be checking out your recommendations.  Poor pickup really isn't the issue; I can fix that.  It is having to crank up the voltage just to start the old ones (I can hear the hum, so it is getting power) and have to run it fast to keep it going.  I'd like to slow down the movement with a better runner.

[Chris333]

The Toma model uses the same design as his HOn30 0-4-0. I have 6 or 7 of them and they run great. Very high gear ratio.

[bbunge]

Toma's chassis are very nice (and simple!).  Ironically, you can make a short wheel base two axle chassis run better, in my experience, with DCC, by adding a TSC KA-N1 keep alive.  Makes a world of difference when it comes to pickup.  You can also adjust the starting voltage - within reason - to start at a higher voltage.  A new motor (and gearhead also help). 

Depending on how you look at things, you can replace the tender on the Atlas unit with an all wheel pickup Bachmann tender (for their newer 0-6-0).  This tender is larger than the original, but might work for you.  Be sure to remove the lame lightweight "weight" in the Bachmann tender with something heavier. 

Bob

[Roger Holmes]

My N scale journey started in 1971 and somewhere in my early years I bought the Atlas (Rivarossi) 0-4-0 with the metal body and slope back tender. I loved running it on my first Atlas snap track layout.  I have sold almost all of my early N scale stuff but this little 0-4-0 is stored safely.  I really should put it in my display case.  If you can find one and with your skill on pick-up improvement, I think you'd have a winner.

[John]

OP specified DC only.   So then problem remains, what is a good little loco 0-4-0 DC runner

[Maletrain]

ajkochevar, have you considered using a pulse-width modulator throttle to run your DC locos?  That helps a lot with smoothing slow speed operations.

[u18b]

My rebuilt Atlas 0-4-0 runs great.
Adding a Bachmann tender makes I big difference.

[ajkochevar]

ajkochevar, have you considered using a pulse-width modulator throttle to run your DC locos?  That helps a lot with smoothing slow speed operations.

What is this and how would I go about setting this up?  The layout needs to be portable and not need plugged in.  The throttle is one I made myself that uses a 9volt battery.

[randgust]

Check out the Blue Snail throttle.  9v battery power and it works wonders on my Nn3 tiny scoreless motors

http://ztrackcenter.com/AN-1-PIC-ABZ-AD-B

[garethashenden]

Check out the Blue Snail throttle.  9v battery power and it works wonders on my Nn3 tiny scoreless motors

http://ztrackcenter.com/AN-1-PIC-ABZ-AD-B

I have one of those that I use for testing. Its very good.