Something I notes about Ron's Trains N Things is that it feels less like a Youtub Channel and more like a high quality Satuday Morning 30 minute PBS program similar to Tracks Ahead. It takes a lots to become a great speaker especially when it's in front of a large audience every Sunday as a minister and that translates very well into the each video.
Thanks for sharing. I got two of the SP and I just love them. I got one with sound and one with out. They run together flawlessly. So I had to do it. I got a hold of Scale Trains and ordered a sound decoder for the second SP. Now they will both have sound. Can't wait to run them when I am finished. Thanks again for sharing.
I recently got one of these Dash 9s. The level of quality and detail is extremely well done, as is the movement and sound. I feel that ScaleTrains is becoming the new standard for N Scale locomotives.
I ordered 2 Southern Pacific ScaleTrains Operator engines. One of the Units was broken out of the box. It would only pull a few cars. The engine has a broken drive system on one set of trucks, not properly put together. Were any of your broken?
Ron, great video of some fine looking engines. The sounds from the decoders is awesome,. Thanks for the honest review also, means a lot to people looking at these engines. Thanks for sharing and stay safe. Ken
I also purchased a Rivet Counter and Operator in the SP livery. I saw the ScaleTrain video announcing a 50% off sale, unfortunately after 4 hours all the sound units were sold out. I am still very pleased with both units. There was a slight mix up in the order and ScaleTrains called me to ask if they could provide a different road number, which was fine, I was lucky enough to get my order in the same day of the sale. Most engines were sold out in the first 24 hours. The Operator series is superior to the Kato unit in everyway that I can tell, if it still runs in 20 years then consider it one of the best N scale engines ever produced to date.
Hi Ron, You're right about these locomotives. Scale Trains are the cream of the crop in N Scale locomotives in both detail and operation. Kato locomotives are also top notch runners, but lack the details of even the Scale Train Operator versions. Nice Review! Mike
I'm a huge Scaletrains Operator fan they are fantastic runners they sound really good and extremely affordable I have several dash 9's in n scale and ho scale. My n scale locomotives are BNSF my Ho scale are UP I have one n scale rivet counter the others are operator. My n scale I have 3 rivet counter locomotives and 2 operators.
I mostly order from Hobbylinc for my modeling needs, but a lot of stuff is out of stock right now. What other modeling/hobby websites do you recommend?
Nice review, Ron. Can someone explain why these locos have a stripe across the top? I've seen in on ATSF units in HO scale and they don't match any prototype photos that I have or have seen.
I've also seen your original video of these locomotives. And these look to be very impressive pieces. As an SP fan, I do like that particular livery - although I prefer Black Widow to the speed-letter livery. :)
Very nice review Ron. You make me nervous watching you use an ☓-Acto as a pointer. One slip and there's a scratch or worse, a gouge. I'd switch to a wooden or bamboo skewer. Awesome locomotives indeed. Two of my favorite paint schemes, BNSF and NS. Like how you mixed up the load a bit with the covered hoppers. Thanks for sharing. 👍 👍 👍
I'd think a pointer with something soft on the End would be the best approach How About using one of them Long feminine👨⚕️ Cotton Swabs they'd get the job done with a delicate touch.!
I'll probably go with N scale simply due to cost and space constraints. I mean, I would like to do HO, but the engines (even in non-DCC), are so expensive. Even coaches and freight cars in HO are so much more expensive than N.
I definitely I’m gonna try to get my hand on these but it’s just so hard with scaletrains to get purchases because you have to wait months for them to get to you
I would try Lombard Hobbies ( lombardhobby.com/) Good selection at good prices. If you can’t find it on their website, just give them a call. Hope this helps!
These Engines are Available and One place has them Plenty of Them, Paul M. You Can find them in the Small Farm Town in Nebraska just North of the Kansas Boarder I'm not saying Any Names as this isnt my Channel but they Have them and if you call them First thing in the Morning I'd say you'd have your Engine by the End of the Week maybe Sooner.!.. And Tell them Allen D in KS sent ya they know me Quite Well they Can set me Back a Rivet Counter with Lok Sound Southern Pacific for pointing ya in there Direction Hope your able to Get one.!
@@rdanscale3416 I don't understand all the cloak and dagger to find these things but I went to your suggestion (by the "Creek")... they have them, but with no sound decoders. They do have ES44's with sound. Thanks for the tip.
@@RonsTrainsNThings That's all well and good, but you should ask before you review, "do you guys have these in stock?" I think that's a disservice to your viewers. Scaletrains does the same thing on their UA-cam Channel. They promote items and then don't have them or you have to pre-order with months waiting time. As I told them, they have a supply problem as the demand is certainly there.
Paul, we don't have a supply issue. In fact, we never have had any issues with supply. We ran a sale on these locomotives to allow N Scalers to "Get to Know Us." We didn't expect to sell out (on in-stock items and preorder items) in three hours, but because of this, we were overwhelmed and didn't have time to pull our marketing materials before we sold out. We apologize for your frustrations as a potential customer and hope that in the future, you'll come around. Thanks for sharing your concerns. -Drayton
It's simple actually, enter the consist number, then each loco in the consist and whether it's running forward or backward. Don't know how much simpler it could be.
@@RonsTrainsNThings I use Digitrax, so no consist number needed, it just uses the lead loco as the "consists" number and anything added to it. That is when using the base station (zephyr express) I also have the LNWI so I can use my phone using the JMRI Engine Driver app. That makes it even easier as it can remember prior consists with a simple tap. Adding a loco to a consist is the same as digitrax but you do get some more options as to facing (with the base station it auto configures) and light control/sound control if applicable. Still, each to their own, I know some people swear by NCE, others like Lenz and MRC. It helps when friends all use the same system or clubs as in my case I was suggested to Digitrax. Found out they have the cheapest starting setup out of everyone and its pretty easy to use. The DCS52 Zephyr Express is around $180 can handle 20 n scale locos at once or 10 for HO and is perfect for making the jump to DCC as I did a few months ago. LNWI is about 70 bucks, works with any LocoNet and can handle up to 32 throttles at once per a module and you can have up to 8 per a LocoNet, so a total of 256 throttles at once without the need to buy any extra throttles, just use a tablet or phone!
Hey Ron this is Ron its been a While since I've set down in my Easy chair 💺 And Talked with ya, I gotta mention my Mom got outta of the Hospital a few weeks ago this was Mom's second Hospital visit in less than a year this time she had a mild Stroke she's doing ok but she's had some hurdles to pass over she's had to deal with excessive water on her legs but with her Now back on her water Pill and other Meds and her strong Will I think she'll bounce out this Medical setback.. I Wanted to tell ya these Scaletrains Engines are a Real Deal my First Experience though with Scaletrains was like what Eric went through my Engine a UP acted like it Didn't wanna move so after several tries I pulled the screws to see if there was anything stuck or the Mechanism needed a minor lube everything seemed to move ok but after reassembling the shell nothing came out of the Engine just the lights came on so I returned the Engine.. But this BNSF Engine I own Now has been much like what you Reviewed in this piece my Engine Run's smooth & seems to Have Ample Power it in some ways runs Smoother tham my KATO'S I'd like to get one or two more Dash 9 44cw's to go with My Special little Engine this is the First Engine that I've not had to test run it 30 to 45 min in either Direction maybe that should be Done but in speed step 1 it truly Amazes me how this Engine can slide smoothly down my KATO Rails going through My # 6's turnouts has been good as Well.. My only Minor Griggles with this Engine the Ditch light on the Engineers side seemed to be sticking out further than it should of been and some of the paint is wearing off the Engine but side them little sticklers its a peach Ron To end this all i can say is want more of these Engines.. & Drayton I need some of that Candy you send with products send me some Green Striped candy And maybe a 2x T-shirt 👕 please!!!!! I'll advertise For ya😉 Allen D Satisfied Scale Trains Owner..
Ron, thank you for this very in-depth review of our Operator and Rivet Counter N Scale DASH-9s. Keep up the great work! We love what you do. -Drayton
Something I notes about Ron's Trains N Things is that it feels less like a Youtub Channel and more like a high quality Satuday Morning 30 minute PBS program similar to Tracks Ahead. It takes a lots to become a great speaker especially when it's in front of a large audience every Sunday as a minister and that translates very well into the each video.
Thank you. That is much appreciated.
Thanks for sharing. I got two of the SP and I just love them. I got one with sound and one with out. They run together flawlessly. So I had to do it. I got a hold of Scale Trains and ordered a sound decoder for the second SP. Now they will both have sound. Can't wait to run them when I am finished. Thanks again for sharing.
Another nice video, Ron!
I recently got one of these Dash 9s. The level of quality and detail is extremely well done, as is the movement and sound. I feel that ScaleTrains is becoming the new standard for N Scale locomotives.
I ordered 2 Southern Pacific ScaleTrains Operator engines. One of the Units was broken out of the box. It would only pull a few cars. The engine has a broken drive system on one set of trucks, not properly put together. Were any of your broken?
No, the 5 that I dealt with were all intact and in good running condition out of the box.
@@RonsTrainsNThings I must be the only person that gets broken stuff from Scaletrains
No mine were fine. I did have to fix the programming. Simple fix. The lights operated opposite of the direction of travel on both.
Yeah these are on my list for my layout.
Hi, Jimmy. These are both great locos. I think you'll be happy with either.
Got 6 of these from their recent release and they're just simply amazing in details and sound!!
Ron, great video of some fine looking engines. The sounds from the decoders is awesome,. Thanks for the honest review also, means a lot to people looking at these engines. Thanks for sharing and stay safe. Ken
Very nice video tutorial great job👍🚂
Thanks, Ron, wish I had the need and money to get one. Glad you and I have done well with MRC, it does well with anything I need to do...
Yes, my MRC has had some quirks, but nothing major and I've been happy with it for 15 years.
Nice review of all 4 locos. They are really beautiful.
Wow! Those are both very nice models!
I agree, the Southern Pacific Dash 9 is stunning, I have a few my self from Scaletrains in HO. Highly recommended.
I also purchased a Rivet Counter and Operator in the SP livery. I saw the ScaleTrain video announcing a 50% off sale, unfortunately after 4 hours all the sound units were sold out. I am still very pleased with both units. There was a slight mix up in the order and ScaleTrains called me to ask if they could provide a different road number, which was fine, I was lucky enough to get my order in the same day of the sale. Most engines were sold out in the first 24 hours. The Operator series is superior to the Kato unit in everyway that I can tell, if it still runs in 20 years then consider it one of the best N scale engines ever produced to date.
Hi Ron, You're right about these locomotives. Scale Trains are the cream of the crop in N Scale locomotives in both detail and operation. Kato locomotives are also top notch runners, but lack the details of even the Scale Train Operator versions. Nice Review! Mike
I'm a huge Scaletrains Operator fan they are fantastic runners they sound really good and extremely affordable I have several dash 9's in n scale and ho scale. My n scale locomotives are BNSF my Ho scale are UP I have one n scale rivet counter the others are operator. My n scale I have 3 rivet counter locomotives and 2 operators.
Those are both very nice engines for their values.
Nice video 👍
Greetings from Germany Gert
I mostly order from Hobbylinc for my modeling needs, but a lot of stuff is out of stock right now. What other modeling/hobby websites do you recommend?
pulling ability and how loco compares to a kato model .can you buy in the uk
Do they run smooth at low speeds like a Kato ?
Very much so, yes.
Nice review, Ron.
Can someone explain why these locos have a stripe across the top? I've seen in on ATSF units in HO scale and they don't match any prototype photos that I have or have seen.
I've also seen your original video of these locomotives. And these look to be very impressive pieces. As an SP fan, I do like that particular livery - although I prefer Black Widow to the speed-letter livery. :)
Very nice review Ron. You make me nervous watching you use an ☓-Acto as a pointer. One slip and there's a scratch or worse, a gouge. I'd switch to a wooden or bamboo skewer. Awesome locomotives indeed. Two of my favorite paint schemes, BNSF and NS. Like how you mixed up the load a bit with the covered hoppers.
Thanks for sharing. 👍 👍 👍
I'd think a pointer with something soft on the End would be the best approach How About using one of them Long feminine👨⚕️ Cotton Swabs they'd get the job done with a delicate touch.!
Hey, thanks. I usually use a bamboo skewer, but when I sat down to do the opening I didn't have one handy but the hobby knife was right there.
what railroad(s) operate on your layout?
Those are a joy to install,not really,but they do look awesome when you finally get them on
Very right cowboy87, and he doesn't take a mandatory collection.
I'll probably go with N scale simply due to cost and space constraints. I mean, I would like to do HO, but the engines (even in non-DCC), are so expensive. Even coaches and freight cars in HO are so much more expensive than N.
I definitely I’m gonna try to get my hand on these but it’s just so hard with scaletrains to get purchases because you have to wait months for them to get to you
I would try Lombard Hobbies ( lombardhobby.com/) Good selection at good prices. If you can’t find it on their website, just give them a call. Hope this helps!
@@traininman5335 2nd this, Lombard ships way fast, sometimes same day. Model train stuff often takes a full week to even ship out.
@@77surefire 3rd this. Lombard has been a go to since 2013 for me. Small orders sometimes ship out same day. They rock!
Nice shirt Ron - your wife must be dressing you. Haha
Equipment = Camera, camera, tripod, the sun.
Great engine, but you go to Scaletrains and these loco don't even exist (pre-order or in stock). What's the point of a review if you can't buy one?
These Engines are Available and One place has them Plenty of Them, Paul M. You Can find them in the Small Farm Town in Nebraska just North of the Kansas Boarder I'm not saying Any Names as this isnt my Channel but they Have them and if you call them First thing in the Morning I'd say you'd have your Engine by the End of the Week maybe Sooner.!.. And Tell them Allen D in KS sent ya they know me Quite Well they Can set me Back a Rivet Counter with Lok Sound Southern Pacific for pointing ya in there Direction Hope your able to Get one.!
In this case the folks at ScaleTrains asked me to review them. I think they sold out faster then expected, buy it was all in the works by then.
@@rdanscale3416 I don't understand all the cloak and dagger to find these things but I went to your suggestion (by the "Creek")... they have them, but with no sound decoders. They do have ES44's with sound. Thanks for the tip.
@@RonsTrainsNThings That's all well and good, but you should ask before you review, "do you guys have these in stock?" I think that's a disservice to your viewers. Scaletrains does the same thing on their UA-cam Channel. They promote items and then don't have them or you have to pre-order with months waiting time. As I told them, they have a supply problem as the demand is certainly there.
Paul, we don't have a supply issue. In fact, we never have had any issues with supply. We ran a sale on these locomotives to allow N Scalers to "Get to Know Us." We didn't expect to sell out (on in-stock items and preorder items) in three hours, but because of this, we were overwhelmed and didn't have time to pull our marketing materials before we sold out. We apologize for your frustrations as a potential customer and hope that in the future, you'll come around. Thanks for sharing your concerns. -Drayton
Geez, it takes that much to try and consist with MRC? Talk about over-complexity!
It's simple actually, enter the consist number, then each loco in the consist and whether it's running forward or backward. Don't know how much simpler it could be.
@@RonsTrainsNThings I use Digitrax, so no consist number needed, it just uses the lead loco as the "consists" number and anything added to it. That is when using the base station (zephyr express) I also have the LNWI so I can use my phone using the JMRI Engine Driver app. That makes it even easier as it can remember prior consists with a simple tap. Adding a loco to a consist is the same as digitrax but you do get some more options as to facing (with the base station it auto configures) and light control/sound control if applicable. Still, each to their own, I know some people swear by NCE, others like Lenz and MRC. It helps when friends all use the same system or clubs as in my case I was suggested to Digitrax. Found out they have the cheapest starting setup out of everyone and its pretty easy to use. The DCS52 Zephyr Express is around $180 can handle 20 n scale locos at once or 10 for HO and is perfect for making the jump to DCC as I did a few months ago. LNWI is about 70 bucks, works with any LocoNet and can handle up to 32 throttles at once per a module and you can have up to 8 per a LocoNet, so a total of 256 throttles at once without the need to buy any extra throttles, just use a tablet or phone!
Hey Ron this is Ron its been a While since I've set down in my Easy chair 💺 And Talked with ya, I gotta mention my Mom got outta of the Hospital a few weeks ago this was Mom's second Hospital visit in less than a year this time she had a mild Stroke she's doing ok but she's had some hurdles to pass over she's had to deal with excessive water on her legs but with her Now back on her water Pill and other Meds and her strong Will I think she'll bounce out this Medical setback..
I Wanted to tell ya these Scaletrains Engines are a Real Deal my First Experience though with Scaletrains was like what Eric went through my Engine a UP acted like it Didn't wanna move so after several tries I pulled the screws to see if there was anything stuck or the Mechanism needed a minor lube everything seemed to move ok but after reassembling the shell nothing came out of the Engine just the lights came on so I returned the Engine..
But this BNSF Engine I own Now has been much like what you Reviewed in this piece my Engine Run's smooth & seems to Have Ample Power it in some ways runs Smoother tham my KATO'S I'd like to get one or two more Dash 9 44cw's to go with My Special little Engine this is the First Engine that I've not had to test run it 30 to 45 min in either Direction maybe that should be Done but in speed step 1 it truly Amazes me how this Engine can slide smoothly down my KATO Rails going through My # 6's turnouts has been good as Well..
My only Minor Griggles with this Engine the Ditch light on the Engineers side seemed to be sticking out further than it should of been and some of the paint is wearing off the Engine but side them little sticklers its a peach Ron
To end this all i can say is want more of these Engines.. & Drayton I need some of that Candy you send with products send me some Green Striped candy And maybe a 2x T-shirt 👕 please!!!!! I'll advertise For ya😉 Allen D Satisfied Scale Trains Owner..