Scottychaos,

Thank you for your list.  I printed it and I will hang it up on my wall.
So far I have purchased the following:
GE AC4400CW
GE C44-9W qty-2
8-40 CW
a 4 axle CW
GP-50
SD-45
SD-90
Alco C628 qty - 2

Hello guys,

Here I am again with different issues.  Mind you this is stuff I did not run accross while reading back on all the posts. 

Before anyone gets upset about me inquiring about products from another brand let me tell you that I am a proud owner of over 10 Bachmann locomotives which I like very much.  (Mostly steam but I do own a diesel) SD-45.  Especially my 2-8-0s (3) consolidation.  I like my 2-6-6-2s (3) although 2 are going back for issues. I like them mainly for how menacing they look although in all reality my consolidation can pull way more and better.  I have others too...
Anyway,

I need your help with this problem.  I hope you guys find the time to drop in and enlighten me with your wisdom.

I just purchased a Kato GE AC4400CW on ebay and it's used.
It runs great at slow and fast speeds.  smooothhhhhhhh

I also purchased a  Kato GE C44-9W NEW on ebay as well.

The problem is, I'm currently running a DC system but the locomotives run at different speeds. The C44-9W is significantly faster than the AC4400.

I don't see anything wrong with the slower loco and it actually runs very smooth even at a very slow speed. The only thing I can think of is that the motor might be a different production.   Their motors begin to turn at a different voltage and their speeds peak at different rates.  They both run butter  smooth and sound super clean.  I can hear the brass wheels spinning perfect.

Taken apart they seem to be manufactured around the same period, very current.   The chassis is similar, the motor and couplings all identical and the LED circuit is identical except  for on one of them the light is white on the other loco the LED emits amber light.
I don't think they're geared different and I don't see any articles about these machines having different gear configurations.
The contacts look clean and they run super smooth and super quiet.
I guess I could try replacing the motor?  It is the only thing I can think of.

I guess I should buy identical machines when I plan to run them together.
This perhaps is a lesson learned?
The gears inside seem identical so I don't see how it would be geard differently I just think one motor is not as efficient as the other and not necessarily because it's used but perhaps it's a different generation.\
Manufactured differently... 

So this is where I need you guys' expertise the most.  On the stuff I wrote below that's just me telling you where I stand and how I see myself evolving with this hobby and how my layout will fall in place... a few months down the line.



See like I said before,  I'm new at this so there are steps I may not follow in order.  When purchasing locomotives.   I currently own 3 conolidations, 3 spectrum 2-6-6-4, and a couple of the Bachmann standard 4-8-4's I believe.
a few 0-6-0 switchers.  about 7 Power Metal locos that are fairly impressive in quality.   That's all steam because I love that era.

But in my layout I wanted to incorporate a modern section where you have Alcos and GEs and others running around hauling cars.  Mostly UP and some Santa Fe.  I have plenty of rolling stock for all this. 
I will stick to Crapido couplers which is what most of the used rolling stock came with.  The diesels all have knuckle so some cars are hybrid.
later on I will experience with magnetic couplers.


So I have enough trains to get this whole layout started and I have some ideas in my head - I'm definitely going with DCC and I will have a turn table and the yard's gonna be busy as heck.


Thanks for your input.

I would like to see that picture BaltoOhioRRfan.

What is the name of the book?

So does it splatter the water all over the place as it scoops it up?

Hello guys,

Me again.  Trying to learn about contemporary diesel locomotives.

First of all, Is Alco out of business?  I thought I read that somewhere.

And which of these engines is bigger as in more powerful or even more modern.

EMD SD70M
EMD SD70MAC
EMD SD80MAC
EMD SD90MAC

It is pretty obvious that the SD70 Precedes the SD90 and they must be some changes but were these huge changes or just aesthetics.
Maybe a bigger generator?
And how well do they compare to the General Electric locos?

GE AC4400CW
GE C30-7
GE C44-9W
GE P42
GE U30C

Was the AC4400 the answer to the SD70 and therefore the SD90 the answer the GE's AC4400?

Any help will be great.  There's not much in wiki about all of these locos.
thanks.

Thank you all for your information.
Thirdrail.  I had never heard that steam locomotives scooped up water from below.  That's pretty ingenious.  I thought they simply stopped and filled up from water towers.  Back in the day I'm sure only upper class could afford first class and they were probably divided into several classes.

I bought a DVD of the mexican railroad called "Pacifico"  and this was video taped in the 90's.  Well they were still communication via telegraph relay.
Now I'm sure in the US they probably have a permanent computer link via satellite.  But it's interesting to see how some old systems and some really old engines are still being used elsewhere.  The reason why I dropped 30 dollars on the DVD is because I grew up in Mexico and I lived real close to the train station so I spent a lot of time watching the train go by.  I used to put money on the track so the train would flatten it.  That somehow never got old growing up.  I should have bought a DVD on steam engines but I figured, sooner or later I will have them all.

I was doing some work in Durango Colorado and I had the privilege of watching their steam engine make its rounds.  I didn't have time to actually ride it but it was a very special moment for me to watch it ride past me from just a few feet away.  I felt shivers down my spine.  It actually looks like a living machine.

I can't wait to get my hands on my spectrum 2-6-6-2.  I was interested to see how many cars it could pull but it looks like that's already been done.
But as I build my railroad I will follow the following suggested numbers:

2-6-6-2 or 2-8-8-2 pulling 35-40, 34' hoppers
Two, 2-8-0's or 2-8-2's pulling 30-35, 40' and 50' merchandise cars
4-8-4 pulling 25-30 freight cars or 7-9 passenger cars
2-8-0 pulling 18 cars, local way freight
4-6-2 pulling 5-8 passenger cars

I wonder what it was like, preparing an engine for the morning trip.  What was it like when a locomotive broke down in the middle of nowhere?  What was their plan B?  Would they send out another locomotive or would they send horse carriages?  What was the customer service like then?  I'm sure people had a little more patient that now.  It was a much slower paced world.

Anyway this is all very awesome to me.  I was about 5 when my step dad showed me his N scale collection which comprised of a 0-6-0 switcher.  A few boxed cars and a caboose.  Also there was another locomotive without the shell and it didn't work.  I was hooked.  I knew that sooner or later I would have to have my own collection.  And the time is now.  I am 30 years old and I decided it was about time I start.

Wow,
This is going to take some time to digest.
Thank you all for the wealth of information.   I will go back and read it a few more times - will need to.  It's where you got the big number of drive wheels but then the locomotive's task is not so strenuous where it gets confusing.  I know that the 0-6-0 was a switcher.  I got that much down.
Or for example, I read that the Spectrum 2-8-0 is a great puller but a 2-6-6-2 is not.  I don't understand why this is so.  I have a 2-8-0, it is indeed a phenomenal engine and I am waiting for a 2-6-6-2 so I will see how well it compares.  The more drive wheels the better it should be is what I reckon.  Maybe it has to do with the articulation.  In any case I have some reading to do.

I read lots and lots of posts here in the 31 pages you have under general discussion and it's all very helpful.
One phrase stuck to my head and had been cracking me up all day:
"When first you open the Katsup bottle
first a little, then a lotto" ...something like that.

That was good stuff.  Not to veer off the topic but that's what stuck to my head while playing catch up here.

Anyhow thanks for all the info and I'm glad I signed up here.

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the hobby.  I started a week ago.  I purchased a Kato Amtrak set but I've always been fascinated with steam locomotives so I picked up a Bachmann consolidation.

I really like it a lot. I've been looking at pictures and I've been reading about steam locomotives online but I don't seem to find information regarding their average speed.  All I see is information on records they set at 100+ miles per hour and I am not interested in that.
Also, what's a realistic amount of cars they pulled, I can't seem to find that either.
I'm gonna make a trip to Barnes&Noble to pick up a few books on these magestic giants but I bet you they will be filled up with dates and high speed records but no information I am looking for.  I want to know how long it took them to warm up the boiler in the morning  before their schedule and how often they had to stop to get more water and fuel.  My grandpa told me so much about these machines but unfortunately I was too young to care about his stories.  He would tell me that they had steam valves that would release steam while the engine was idling and so you had to keep your distance and so forth...
Will you guys please help me with this.  Anyway if you know of a good book I would greatly appreciate your recommendation. 
Thank you.

Yes it's slow but boy can it pull some cars.  It pulls cars like it's nobody's business

I have that same Model Power model and I deal with the same traction problems.
Compared to my spectrum 2-8-0 it is no match.  Which is weird because The Metal Power loco is bigger and heavier and you would think it would have better traction.  I guess it comes down to less drive wheels = less traction. 

Well I have a Spectrum 2-8-0 and it is my slowest locomotive.  Slower than all my other steam and diesel locomotives.  I would say that it is 50 to 60% slower than my fastest one which is a Kato Amtrak phase IV.  I can hear the motor spinning happily so I know it's just geared down and there's nothing physically wrong with it.
That being said this little guy happens to be my favorite.  It pulls like no other.  The most I have pulled with it was a mixed bundle of 40's and 50's and and it didn't even twitch.   My Atlas C-628 Diesel had a hard time here and there.  My Metal Power 4-6-2 had a really bad time.  Now I know that the Metal Power locos are not the best pullers plus it's less drive wheels so it may not be a fair comparison but watching the Consolidation pull without any hesitation just blew me away.  I did not try to add any more cars because it's not even realistic for a steam engine to pull any more than that.  I could be wrong but I have never seen pictures where a single steam locomotive is pulling more than 20 cars.
So I guess you give up some speed for some amazing pulling power.

Yes I am interested.

I recently bought a Bachmann spectrum 2-8-0 and the unit is slower compared to my Kato Amtrak or my Atlas C-28.  About a third of the speed as the Kato Amtrak and about half the speed of the C-628.
But when I turn the dial it only takes about a quarter of the turn and the Bachmann 2-8-0 begins turning at a very slow, constant and precise speed which means it has a phenomenal motor and does not require a lot of voltage to get started.  It's top speed is just not  high but it is a steam model.

However just the other day I plugged in a 9v power supply by accident and I had to turn the dial 90% just to get the locomotives to start moving.

I suspect issues with the power supply since you didn't mention anything about a jerky motion