Aristocraft: Dash-9 (Norfolk Southern) - Photo and Video page:

05/16/07 -  New addition to the fleet.  This engine looks fantastic in all black.

06/09/07 -  After a bit of a wait the remaining engines arrived.  This is the final number that will be used to pull the 60 car coal train.

12/28/07 -  The conversion of the NS Dash-9s to MTH DCS is under way with four completed.   Their first day on the job was to put to fighting snow on the layout with the dual rotary.

1/6/08 -  The four new NS engines got their first shot at running the 100ft coal train.  NS#5 is awaiting a DCS board so Santa Fe #1 had to stand in as the pusher.  The set performed flawlessly.

4/6/08 -  All 5 Norfolk Southern Dash-9s take on the 100ft coal train for the first time.

Aristocraft Dash-9 Norfolk Southern:

                                              Click the Link to play video

-  Video #8 - 1:40 mins  -  Test run of three newly converted NS Dash-9s to DCS- YouTube

-  Video #9 - 2:24 mins  -  4 NS + 1SF Dash-9s pull the 60 car coal train- YouTube

-  Video #10 - 2:25 mins  -  4 NS + 1SF Dash-9s pull the 60 car coal train- YouTube

-  Video #11 - 2:14 mins  -  4 NS + 1SF Dash-9s pull the 60 car coal train- YouTube

-  Video #12 - 2:42 mins  -  4 NS + 1SF Dash-9s pull the 60 car coal train- YouTube

-  Video #13 - 1:05 mins  -  4 NS + 1SF Dash-9s pull the 60 car coal train- YouTube

-  Video #14 - 3:41 mins  -  4 NS + 1SF Dash-9s pull the 60 car coal train- YouTube

100ft Coal Trains (x 2) - MTH Big Boys & Aristocraft Norfolk Southern Dash-9s:

-  Video #1 - 4:27 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains- YouTube

-  Video #2 - 1:56 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains- YouTube

-  Video #3 - 4:31 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains- YouTube

-  Video #4 - 2:13 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains- YouTube

-  Video #5 - 3:42 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains- YouTube

Product Review/Comments:  (*Updated 08/25/2013*)

Overall:  (Aristocraft Dash-9   --  1:29 scale)
Of all the G scale diesels produced (includes MTH 1:32, USA Trains 1:29, etc) this is hands down my favorite.  The detail on this engine meets or exceeds all other similar offerings by the other companies.  You can see from the photos above, the Pdetail, paint, finish and overall look of the engine is just excellent and is everything you could want or expect from a model train.  The engine runs very smooth and pulls very well (around 5lbs pulling force).    

Pull force: 

• Aristocraft Dash-9=5lbs
• Aristocraft Mallet=2.5 lbs
• MTH Big Boy=7.5 lbs
• USA Big Boy=8 lbs

Engine Weight:  (excluding tender)

• Aristocraft Dash-9=
• Aristocraft Mallet=15 lbs
• MTH Big Boy=18 lbs
• USA Big Boy=45 lbs

Performance/Construction:
 

Detail:

.

Drivers:
.

Connecting rods:
.


Suspenion:

Return to the Garden Railroad 2004 page.