Bachman,

They have several styles, fairly inexpensive.

Mogul

https://www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/model-train-specials/bachmann-51708-alco-2-6-0-steam-locomotive-nyc-dcc-ready/
 

$59 dc or $99 dcc is a pretty great deal!

David

S100

I'm with you on the S100. I bought my son one back when they were plentiful, put a LokSound decoder in it, it was a great little runner. Unfortunately, he put it on the floor one day and it got stomped accidentally and completely wrecked the running gear. I'd keep an eye on eBay or your local train shows. As others have mentioned, Bachmann also has made some great little runners in their Spectrum line.

Mike in CO

Small steamers

I have some small Bachmann and Athearn Roundhouse steamers. Not sure you can fine the Roundhouse anymore. All DCC ready. Converted to DCC.

Rich

A little humor

That Bachmann 2-6-0 states the proto went 70 mph. I'd hate to see someone run that at that speed on a shelf layout. You wouldn't be able to keep up with it. But. I will second the suggestion for that loco. Sale price of $60. You can't beat that with a stick! And I'd cut that speed with JMRI. And if you don't have JMRI, cut it anyway. CV5 at 120 or so.

Bachman Mogul

I went with a Bachman Mogul.  To date it has been a reliable performer at various shows; good low speed and response.  Basic DC operation but I suspect easily updated to DCC.  The tender has been kit-bashed to represent a more typical CPR style; otherwise a quick coat of paint and Black Cat decals. 

Bob

Attached are some photos of a

Attached are some photos of a Bachmann 2-6-0, which was modified to reflect an IC (Illinois Central) locomotive.

Enjoy,

Barry

Bachmann 2-6-0

About unanimous.  I kitbashed one into CN, sold it on EBAY when I went in another direction.  But they got so cheap I bought another one and have it tucked away "just in case". 

Rivarossi now = Hornby

Hi 

Rivarossi now trades under the Hornby banner. have a look for Hornby or Rivaroossi catlog #'s HR2641 and/or HR2642.

Looks like they may be available out of the UK or Continental Europe, but for probably more $'s than you want to spend. The ones I've seen available don't appear to meet your "cheap" criterion, especially the sound-fitted ones. Reynaulds in the US appears to have both versions available. 

So the S-100's are out there,

Cheap Steam engine

If you want cheap and steam, look for a Model Die Casting 0-6-0 switcher, offered as a tank or with a tender. Or possibly a Mantua 0-6-0. Kits can still be found on eBay, some for under $50. Not difficult to build and can run well if care is taken in assembly. The Mantua will be a little more challenging as it has valve gear. It is possible to convert to DCC if desired. (you did not specify)

MDC and Mantua can also be found already assembled or RTR. Check hobby shops that are purchasing estates. There is one in Cedar Falls IA. 

Bachmann Spectrum

The Bachmann Spectrum consolidation is a really smooth runner, and looks really nice. It's a very common locomotive too that could be found just about anywhere (except the goofy looking Pensey one that looks NOTHING like Pensey steam).

As with most locomotives these days, you can buy one for less than the cost of the sound decoder that goes with it, but if you're happy without sound, some come with decoders installed, or you could put a basic decoder in it.

Sound Value

I have a Bachmann Mogul with sound. They call it "Sound Value". It's got a Tsumami DCC and sound decoder that's a bit more feature limited than the aftermarket Tsunami's and the detail is lacking compared to Spectrum but the whole deal was around 120 bucks a few years back.

2-6-0 mogul

is the best thing going, especially for that price!!

I have several, all are swiss watches

...

That's not a joke.  Old does not mean slow poke.  Yes, they likely did run them that fast, you can see lots of train wrecks that attest to high speeds being involved, and not 30 MPH, either.  You wouldn' t run it that fast switching, but out on the main with a fast passenger train, yes.

I'm working on a little shelf layout, and I want a small steam engine to run occasionally. It's a switching layout, so I think a 2-8-0 is the biggest I'd go for, and if it's a tank engine that's even better. Since I need to buy basically all my materials and supplies in one go instead of dipping into a built-up stockpile, I'm looking for something on the cheaper end. I've been looking online and it's a bit harder to find the smaller engines...

You want easy to find and cheap, you're looking for Bachmann or Bachmann Spectrum.  In the last few years it seems like they are working on eliminating Spectrum name because more and more of their products have been increasingly released as Standard items.  The dies not concern you.  What does is their selection.

The Spectrum 2-8-0 is available, but fits your bill the worst because you are suggesting a tank engine would be ideal and the 2-8-0 is really on the level of a road engine or a late steam switcher where the road power is 2-10-2s and 2-8-8-2s and 4-8-4s.  Your road power would conceptually be 2-8-0s and maybe even 2-6-0s, the Southern Pacific ran them as such here in the Southwest to the very end on their lighter local road routes.  They run for around $230-$400 retail or $130-$210 with the lower value being DCC only and the upper value being DCC Sound and a middle sound value option further existing.

The Alco 2-6-0 fits your bill the best in terms of value and features like DCC Sound, 170-250 Retail., $100-120 street, it's good.  Bachmann has some what limited the supply, but they're out there.  But the Alco 2-6-0 is not the only small switcher option. 

Bachman also has a standard line 0-6-0 with tender that also appears as a 2-6-0 and a 2-6-2 with the addition of extra equipment.  The retail here is about $150.00-330.00 (Street $80-$200).  This includes a wide span of DCC, DCC, DCC w/Sound, many options and three different styles of tenders.

Further, there is the Bachmann Spectrum 0-6-0T. This locomotive has been made since the 1970s and revised in the spectrum era into a decent little switcher.  You might find one for a good price.  It is discontinued and sold out everywhere, though.  $145 Retail w/DCC, I was able to find an online retailer with two on hand for $130 a piece.

Most of these options are widely available...

Now, if you want to entertain Diesel, there's more options.  But enough for now.

All prices, you can find better out there if you look carefully or shop Ebay.

Not so fast!

Benny. I just found this again. Your comment about 70 MPH on a shelf layout depends on how long that layout is. If it's a 2' by 6', that engine won't take too long to get from one end to the other. On my 24' long shelf, any engine running 70 mph would look so ridiculous it wouldn't be funny. Not to mention if it's a passenger with 4 coaches. The distance traveled would be so short it wouldn't be funny. Now may if that shelf is 50', even then kind of quick. And you can't turn around. You'd have to run the engine around the train and if no turntable, run backwards the other direction. Don't sound like fun to me.

...

Morgan,

I want a model railroad that will allow me to get up to mainline speeds.

So I'm not about to go after a 2x6 or a 50' shelf.

Bachman 2-6-0

What is the driver size for this model?

Jason Greene

Don't take it personal

Benny: The OP stated he has a "little shelf layout". And I'm referring to him. You are the one that mentioned running the 2-6-0 at 70 mph. And I was putting my 2¢ worth in. Sorry if I ruffled your feathers.

...

The point we shall both take is that he will not be running any mainline trains are road speed.

Driver is roughly 5/8" in

Driver is roughly 5/8" in diameter. Sorry, I don't have anything handy to give a better measurement. I've misplaced my good scale ruler.

I'm presently converting

This ancient Bachman 2-8-0 with a pancake Motor to DCC (hopefully sound).  I think I have figured out how to isolate everything  (yanked the smoke, light and replaced all the brass screws with Nylon!) and had the chassis running with a cheap decoder a few weeks ago.  Sadly, it wasn't running perfectly and I started tinkering. 

I think years of grime were holding everything in quarter as even a small adjustment revealed that the the axles are cracked and pulling it apart to try and fix it has now got everything out of quarter and jamming. 

It's one of those things that I learned long ago that I have no patience for junk and I either put it aside for a bit until I’m again in the mood, or just toss it in the trash.  Lol. 

I decided to let my frustration lapse, threw it all in a box, and brought it home to work on it on a proper bench.  Hopefully I can get it fixed up good enough to run for another 50 years.  Only one axle has a gear so in theory some CA on the axles and a wheel gauge ought to fix things up.  Somewhere, if I can find it, I have the one my Dad bought me as a kid, and that one runs a lot better, and may just get a new shell as I really like the Glacier paint even if it is way to shiny!

I doubt it will stand any more than $100 (I bought it for $15) once complete with a cheap Digitrax sound decoder.  Still tinkering though - have been taking photos as I go, so will publish when complete.

See if you can get hold of an

See if you can get hold of an IHC 2-6-0 based on an SP M-4 mogul. 

 My 2-6-0 has been repainted and the tender modified. I bought it for $19.95 about 6 years ago. Bachmann in background is also somewhat modified. I also fitted a DCC decoder and a TCS KA-2 keep alive in the tender. I think this came in coal tender versions too. But the tender is too large for most RR's. SP did have some of their M-4 Moguls fitted with larger tenders. 

Owl Mountain Models has a large number of cast and 3d printed parts for the Bachmann 2-8-0 in the works but much delayed by the pandemic to better replicate a stand-in for a Harriman era style locomotive. 

Bachmann UK did make an OO scale S100 a few years back for the UK ModelRail Magazine promotion.  Runs on HO track. The USATC S100 class are fascinating. See https://www.wikiwand.com/en/USATC_S100_Class. Bachmann may also have made an HO version maybe 10 years ago.  Hornby is now the owner of Rivarossi.