I agree the newer Life Like units are very nice, but I also run DCC, so until I get ambitous enough to put decoders in them, they must run on address 00, and the make a bit of noise. I have 10 GP20's, but only have 2 painted so far, but I may run 2 of them together and use them as yard switchers on 00. They do pull allot for a 4 axle locomotive.
best brands of N scale locomotives
- Thread starter CNWGP38
- Start date
Mike,A fast comment here..I noticed when ever a nonDCC unit is ran on 00 there seems to be a noise..Of course I am speaking HO here but,N scale should not be any different so I would not fault your GP20s..What causes this? Heck,I wish I knew. 
Brakie, it was explained to me that the noise was caused by the half-wave AC current the DCC system uses to carry signals to the loco. This can also cause a DC loco to heat up after a short time making it risky to run it too long.
Dick
Dick
Oh I know that's what it is from, I'm not faulting them because of the noise, it will just be hard to put a decoder in them. The noise kinda sounds like a mini diesel engine running!
Thanks Dick.. I always suspected it was not good to run a DC engine on DCC.However,I never could figure out that sound was.
I always suspected it was not good to run a DC engine on DCC.However,I never could figure out that sound was.SD90 said:
I don't know if you checked out this web site yet. It does not seem much harder than all the other pre-DCC frames.
http://www.nscalesupply.com/Base/Digitrax/LLGP20/DecoderInstallLLGP20.html
Roland
www.engineshop.org
Why Kato doesn't have a wider line of locos than Atlas?
They DO! Its just that Kato is serving 2 (or more) prototype markets, North American railroading and Japanese. Compare the FULL loco line of both Atlas and Kato and my guess is Kato produces more different locos than Atlas (roadnames aside).
I don't have much experience yet, but my one Atlas diesel loco (DCC equipped) ran just fine at Chantilly, as did my pre-2K Life-Like E8, and my 3 Kato diesels. My Kato Mikado has run fine, although its a bit weak (traction tire yet to be installed), and my Atlas Mogul has yet to grace my field of view. (Arrived after I left on a Rideaboot)
Buy what you like, its a hobby! :thumb:
They DO! Its just that Kato is serving 2 (or more) prototype markets, North American railroading and Japanese. Compare the FULL loco line of both Atlas and Kato and my guess is Kato produces more different locos than Atlas (roadnames aside).
I don't have much experience yet, but my one Atlas diesel loco (DCC equipped) ran just fine at Chantilly, as did my pre-2K Life-Like E8, and my 3 Kato diesels. My Kato Mikado has run fine, although its a bit weak (traction tire yet to be installed), and my Atlas Mogul has yet to grace my field of view. (Arrived after I left on a Rideaboot)
Buy what you like, its a hobby! :thumb:
engineshop said:
It's alot harder than a DCC ready loco! I think I'll just run them as dummies or in '00'. Thanks for the web site, I've bookmarked it, adn if I ever get really ambitious.
fifer
Active Member
I put my LL GP20 on a Kato GP30 chassis and in DC they all run together.
I have a milling machine so the decoder issue is not an issue.
Atlas and Kato all the way , although my LL SW pulls my unobtainium train up and down on my mine track all day long with a little noise.
Mike
:thumb: :thumb:
I have a milling machine so the decoder issue is not an issue.
Atlas and Kato all the way , although my LL SW pulls my unobtainium train up and down on my mine track all day long with a little noise.
Mike
:thumb: :thumb:folks
currently i have about 30 atlas gp38. all were bought brand new. 25 of them sound like a coffee grinder while the remaining 5 run almost as silent as a kato. i had some of them checked at atlas but no result. still noisy. the shells are nice but the drive is rather lousy.
you know, something like a woman wearing make-up. beautiful at first sight but ugly underneath....
currently i have about 30 atlas gp38. all were bought brand new. 25 of them sound like a coffee grinder while the remaining 5 run almost as silent as a kato. i had some of them checked at atlas but no result. still noisy. the shells are nice but the drive is rather lousy.
you know, something like a woman wearing make-up. beautiful at first sight but ugly underneath....
Well,I can't say any of my Atlas units are noisey..Nor are my LL GP20s and SW1200. :thumb: But,of course I cleaned and lightly oiled them before putting them into service as I do my HO units...Sometimes a little TLC goes a long way even with new out of the box locomotives.. :thumb:
C
Catt
Since you two gentlemen are having problems with your dash 8s I suggest that you return them to your respective dealers or contact ATLAS about getting them fixed.
Do not call ATLAS or any other manufacturer names like crap or garbage again as it is in the rules that you are not allowed to do such things on this forum .
Do not call ATLAS or any other manufacturer names like crap or garbage again as it is in the rules that you are not allowed to do such things on this forum .
Sorry Cat. I'm just frustrated with the performance of my product which I paid good $$$ for. You get what you pay for and I paid alot for these engines.
cpr_boy said:
then if they don't work, return em for replacement. Most other people here swear by their Atlas equipment. Any batch can have a lemon or two....go swap it.
I started with N gauge european then a visit to a local trade show i got talking to a guy who sold american trains i brought a N gauge Lifelike sw9 and it ran like a dream thats what got me into american shortly after that i went up to HO so i cant comment on the rest but good luck.:thumb:
beteepee Welcome to the-gauge!!!
Best bet for pricing is to search e-bay, and if you find it, jus tkeep checking back and see what it sells 4
Best bet for pricing is to search e-bay, and if you find it, jus tkeep checking back and see what it sells 4
beteepee,Todays Atlas locomotives and cars are made in China.As you know you have a very old set that was made in Austria.While these was good running locomotives they can not compare to today's quality locomotives such as Atlas,Kato(Japan) and the newer Life Like(China)..All of these locomotives IMHO are top notch.You can not go wrong buying these brands. There are other quality brands out there such as Intermountain and Micro Trains..However I am not acquainted with these locomotives..
Atlas by far has the wider selection of locomotives and road names,followed by Life Like and Kato..There are several brands of quality cars on the market.
I will pass this link along so you can see what is available in N scale.I feel its easier to browse then Walthers(www.walthers.com)
http://www.buynscale.com/Index.html
Atlas by far has the wider selection of locomotives and road names,followed by Life Like and Kato..There are several brands of quality cars on the market.
I will pass this link along so you can see what is available in N scale.I feel its easier to browse then Walthers(www.walthers.com)
http://www.buynscale.com/Index.html
C
Catt
Apology accepted but I meant it seriously when I said return them to your LHS or contact ATLAS.ATLAS does not like unhappy cutomers as long as you act in a civilized manner with them(Not meaning to say you wouldn't).
beteepee said:
Here's a GREAT resource - the "N-scale Locomotive Encyclopedia" located here:-
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/locos.html
Photos and commentary on just about anything ever produced in N-scale.
Gavin