One more addition to my already expanding locomotive collection

[FiveFlat]

I've always really loved steam, and as new as I am to MRR, I've kinda gotten into these transition era diesels. This one just showed up today in the mail. I still have on the way, yet to arrive:
Con-Cor PA1
Life Like E8

These are my new Bachmann Spectrum F7A and B both powered:

 

[FiveFlat]

I've got another question. On my Bachmann Standard Prarie 2-6-2 in that photo above, is that supposed to be a working light?

 

[extra7000south]

I love the F units, they are my favorite diesel.

As for the headlight on the steamer, not sure, but seems like it should be a working light.

 

[coaster]

Bachmann's Prairie -- as I remember from 20 years ago -- didn't come with a working light. I doubt it's changed since.

-- Paul

 

[MilesWestern]

yay! it's a black widow espee unit! don't see alot of those on this site!

 

[FiveFlat]

Okay, so I really like these units, they are pretty identical as far as speed and they sure are quiet runners, etc. But I also have a B-mann standard Prairie 2-6-2 and it runs like a DREAM down around 15-20% (I really like seeing trains crawl around bends, etc). But these F-units are spectrums and they need to be up around 50-60% to just crawl. What's the story Richie?

I don't have alot of rolling stock yet to compare pulling power, etc. So all I am going by is just the engine (or engineS in this case)

 

[coaster]

Sounds like you're ahead of the game with the Prairie. Those standard Bachmanns have been notoriously inconsistent over the years: they either run like dreams or nightmares; you lucked onto one of the dreams. As regards the F units, the problem might be nothing more than more break-in time needed. (My motto: go for the simple fix first hamr.)

-- Paul

 

[skipgear]

Break in time and the fact that you are now running two powered loco's on the same track so it will take more amperage to get them both rolling, thus a higher throttle range for starting. Try just one at a time and see if the starting throttle is considerably lower.

 

[FiveFlat]

skipgear, They are on separate tracks, sorta. I have the tracks double insulated and I'm using an MRC dualpower 2800.
As I recall (2-3 weeks is all it's been ) my Prairie needed more throttle at first too. But I think around 50% it was really humming around the track. Now that it's broke-in, at 50% it's really zooming around.
The F units are alot heavier than the little steamer too. I'll give it a few more weeks running and see if it improves.