I’m using two Stanton drives in my ALCO C415 scratchbuild/3dprint project. I used two powered trucks, so a little bit of $$. I tested them on the raw frame, with DCC, and they pulled a dozen or so cars on flat and level track fine, but when I started going up a grade, and we have some ridiculous ones at the Cherry Valley Club, the wheels started to spin. However, NWSL strongly suggests a good amount of weight placed over each truck. I added some weight, and the grades were no problem. I will be doing more extensive testing, but satisfied. Compared to other locos I run on the layout, I’d put the dual Stantons pulling power somewhere slightly better than an Atlas SW-8, and slightly less than a Weaver or Atlas China Drive. They are quiet and smooth, and have real nice low speed running - real nice, as in so slow you can barely tell loco is moving. Built in pickups are nice and whole wiring deal is a piece of cake. I’m not sure anything else would have worked for me - the C415 hoods are narrow and would have been hard to fit a motor and drive train. Also, the slightly off-center cab would have meant placing the motor inside the cab. With the Stantons I can fully detail the cab interior, and have plenty of room for decoder and sound. If and when I ever get back working on the C415 and finish it, I have a few more switcher projects, and will use these drives.
|