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

[jagged ben]

Maybe traction tires make sense for European prototypes where you frequently have one diesel per train.   In the US, we just add another loco.

[peteski]

Maybe traction tires make sense for European prototypes where you frequently have one diesel per train.   In the US, we just add another loco.

Sounds like a reasonable assumption to me.

I'm also not sure if traction tire on the middle axles of a 3-axle truck is the optimal position (for increasing traction that is) but obviously the design engineers thought that would be the best. 

[C855B]

I expect mine next week, so if anybody doesn't post pics of the underside by then, I will. I have disliked traction tires since the beginning of N-scale time, so as soon as replacement axles are available (if necessary) the TTs are coming off.

My question now is speed matching. Close to Atlas? Kato (...heaven forbid...)?

[nkalanaga]

Since most of my units are Kato, Athearn, or older Atlas, I'd be just as happy if these DID match Kato, even if that is too fast. 

Marc:  That was my though as well.  It could cause problems on less than perfect track if there was a hump in the track.  Get the traction tire on the hump, the rear axle on the rail, and the front axle would be lifted.  On a curve, or if the loco also tilted toward the other side, and the front wheel flange could lift high enough to derail. 

I had that happen with my first run Kato Fs, and they have 2-axle trucks with no tires.  The trucks can't rock sideways, and after turning the flanges to run on code 40 track, they tended to derail if there was any warping in the track.  If the front truck tried to tilt one way, and the rear the other way, one or the other would lift over the rail.  Since my ME turnouts were all warped, there was a lot of shimming and filing before everything worked again.  On the other hand, by the time I got the Fs to run right, everything else ran REAL good!

[CBQ Fan]

I expect mine next week, so if anybody doesn't post pics of the underside by then, I will. I have disliked traction tires since the beginning of N-scale time, so as soon as replacement axles are available (if necessary) the TTs are coming off.

My question now is speed matching. Close to Atlas? Kato (...heaven forbid...)?

I run DC and they run like a current Atlas loco. I have not mu'd them with anything other than each other so I can't say for certain but they definately do not run like Formula 1 race cars.

[nkalanaga]

My Katos and older Atlas aren't race cars, but that could be the throttle I'm using.  They are faster than the current Atlas, though, which could cause MU problems.

[CBQ Fan]

Ok, here you go.....name that Q unit and its manufacturer!

[learmoia]

Ok, here you go.....name that Q unit and its manufacturer!

Back Track:
GP20 Walthers/LL, GP30 Atlas, F3?B.... Intermountain?  Appears to have free standing parts which would rule out Kato F2, U25B Atlas
Front Track:
Con-Cor/Kato 52' Gon, 2xU25C Arnold, NW2 Kato, and maybe another NW2 but it looks more like a SW9/1200 Walthers/LL

The U25C grey doesn't look like anything else in the group.. ~Ian

[learmoia]

I remember reading that the U25C would feature the debut of Charlie Vlk's new coupler... but the only thing I've heard is that it's  a smaller MT clone.  Is that all it is or is there something unique about it..

~Ian

[peteski]

I remember reading that the U25C would feature the debut of Charlie Vlk's new coupler... but the only thing I've heard is that it's  a smaller MT clone.  Is that all it is or is there something unique about it..

~Ian

I asked that same question a while back and Charlie Vlk answered. If you search the forums for Vlk, you'll find out what happened to the Vlk coupler.

[CBQ Fan]

Back Track:
GP20 Walthers/LL, GP30 Atlas, F3?B.... Intermountain?  Appears to have free standing parts which would rule out Kato F2, U25B Atlas
Front Track:
Con-Cor/Kato 52' Gon, 2xU25C Arnold, NW2 Kato, and maybe another NW2 but it looks more like a SW9/1200 Walthers/LL

The U25C grey doesn't look like anything else in the group.. ~Ian

Close. Athearn gon, F7B, nw2 and sw1200.  All others correct.  The Arnold Q gray actually looks a lot like the L&N gray.

[nkalanaga]

On my screen I don't think any two of them are the same, but that could be my computer or my eyes.  Since I model the BN it doesn't really matter.  They should all be faded and weathered by 1974.

[CBQ Fan]

The Reds are very, very close.  The grays to have a large variance.

[learmoia]

Close. Athearn gon, F7B, nw2 and sw1200.  All others correct.  The Arnold Q gray actually looks a lot like the L&N gray.

Yeah the F3 vs F7.. I was looking at the air intake and it looked like an F3..

Front Track:
The steps looked bulky and cockeyed.. so I guessed Con-Cor/Kato.. That doesn't speak well for the Athearn Model.. 

But...  NW2 Kato, and maybe another NW2 but it looks more like a SW9/1200 Walthers/LL    

~Ian..

[CBQ Fan]

Yeah the F3 vs F7.. I was looking at the air intake and it looked like an F3..

Front Track:
The steps looked bulky and cockeyed.. so I guessed Con-Cor/Kato.. That doesn't speak well for the Athearn Model.. 

But...  NW2 Kato, and maybe another NW2 but it looks more like a SW9/1200 Walthers/LL    

~Ian..

Just clarifying for the masses!