Is the new Arnold U25C the best N scale engine ever?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

That is a loaded question with a complicated answer.

The shell is nothing short of a miracle. Flush, thin glass with scale gaskets and wipers. Tons if see through and etched parts. Scale MU cables, cut lever and hand rails. Oh god those hand rails... So fine and durable. Fuel tank and chassis are metal and this engine is heavy! Total state of the art....

Until you look under. Wheel back wipers, wires and traction tires. What the hell? You see, this really is a European model of an American prototype. Construction is state of the art, just not to American tastes. Will it operate as well as Kato and atlas engines? Stay tuned...

These Roco red truck gears leave me a bit worried.

[bbussey]

Mine arrived today as well.  Lots of railroad-specific details, such as the PRR old-style signal control box on the Conrail unit.  The bell and horn placement are to Pennsy specs.  The etched brass rear ladder is free-standing.  The detail "behind" the rear grills is similar to the Atlas U25B models.  There are black simulated I-beams under the carbody that serve as a visual block, and they are additional detail as well.  Wire uncoupling bars and free-standing hoses on the pilots.  The pilot steps are separate detail pieces.  The marker lights are painted, simulated silver lenses seated in black gaskets.

The couplers definitely are a new design but based on MTL precedent.  They appear to be midway in size between an MTL 1015 and 905.  There is detail on the outer face of the coupler thumb.

[peteski]

Sounds like the mechanism is an anachronism.  Why couldn't they just copy Kato (like most of the companies did)?!
Kato mechanism if low-friction. reliable and has a very low parts count.  That should have been a no-brainer.

Too bad as the shell sounds like it is superbly made.

[w neal]

Crikey!! 

[CBQ Fan]

Mine runs really nice. I think the CB&Q gray is a touch too light but not enough for me to object!   I hope this is the first of many!

[peteski]

Mine runs really nice. I think the CB&Q gray is a touch too light but not enough for me to object!   I hope this is the first of many!

Does it have flywheels and coast over dirty spot as well as low-friction Kato mechanisms?

[CBQ Fan]

Here is a photo of the parts diagram from inside the box. I don't take apart my locos just to see what makes them tick.  It runs like a Kato, IM, Atlas, FMV.

[C855B]

Oooo... horizontal split frame! Shades of old Kato (original PA, U50) and its Con-Cor spawn.

Couplers sound encouraging. Impatiently waiting for mine to arrive.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Oooo... horizontal split frame! Shades of old Kato (original PA, U50) and its Con-Cor spawn.

Couplers sound encouraging. Impatiently waiting for mine to arrive.

Nope, the frame is neutral. It reminds me of modern Minitrix or Fleischmann engines where the electrical are all routed to the PC board.

Mechanically it has more in common with late Roco engines like the SD50.

[peteski]

Looks like Arnold designers are marching to the beat of their own drum. The mechanism seems different, but not in a revolutionary way like Kato FEF (another recent loco). It seems to be adequate (I haven't seen the truck design yet).  But if they use steel axles with plastic gears, I hope that the gear won't be prone to cracking.

[C855B]

Nope, the frame is neutral. ...

Interesting! While US-style split frames are vogue, I would value neutral frame designs for things like... stay with me here... aftermarket brass body shells. Think of the possibilities, especially given expanding modeler expertise in brass and nickel-silver etching.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Mike, its funny you mention that because it feels like a Hallmark brass engine in the hand. Heft feels similar, traction tires, the wonk/loose feel of the trucks in their bolsters.

[peteski]

I just looked over an European prototype loco recently made by Arnold (within last couple of years) and it also has a mix of old-school and new constructions.  The pickups are really old-school (similar to the Arnold GP9 from the late 60s).  Same are the trucks (but at least the gears are all brass with helical cut teeth).  Then there is a modern circuit board on top which has a 6-pin NEM DCC socket. But they also use wires from that board to the warm-white headlight LEDs. So, it is a hodgepodge of designs.  Oh, they also use Bearden method (only one end bearing for the worms).

[jagged ben]

Traction tires on a six axle diesel???
And yet it's heftier than your typical Kato or Atlas?

Call me flabbergasted.

[Chris333]

All this talk and no photos