I am about to purchase my first new N-scale engine ever, unless you count the Santa Fe f-7 that came with my Bachmann Highballer set back in 94. Everything else has been hand me downs. Well I come to you knowledgeable people with a question or 2 or 3, well you get it. I have decided to go Atlas, and I either want a GP-38 or 40 maybe 40-2, But it needs to be Souther Pacific. I grew up around and on the rails of the Southern pacific near my house, so my Main roadnames are Southern Pacific and Union Pacific. So my questions are, which one of the 3 would you recommend? I want to stay with 4 axle power for now. I assume the 3 different Atlas models are all the same chassis and drive train, just the body's are different. So I guess the only deciding factor will be looks, so I guess that will be left up to me. Are the Atlas engines smooth running, can they run at slow speeds smoothly? The next question is, if I buy an Atlas with DCC decoder already installed, can I run it on my DC layout for now until I get my DCC system without modifying it too much or at all? Lastly, what on line retailer would you recommend buying from? I want a good price obviously, but service and IN STOCK so I can have it NOW, are most important. I would buy one from my LHS, and they have what I want in stock, but the GP-40 without decoder is $89.99. I see most online stores have them with the decoder for around that price if not less.
And if anyone has a recomendation for another brand/model to look at let me know. I am trying to stay under 90 bucks, so Kato is out.
Thanks in advance
And if anyone has a recomendation for another brand/model to look at let me know. I am trying to stay under 90 bucks, so Kato is out.
Thanks in advance