I’m interested in opinions on the Proto 2000 SW8 switchers. How long ago were they released? Have any of you had any running or electrical issues with them? Thanks for the help. [:)]
Tom
Tom, I have the post-acquisition Walthers version with QSI. It was offered back in 2006. It ran poorly due to the installed single traction axle. When I called Walthers about my problem, stalling every 3", the guy admitted that it was a problem and offered to ship me a replacement metal tire set with the same gear in the middle for nothing. That programme ended in 2008 AFAIK. But I did the exchange myself, and the difference was night and day. It is still a light puller, as you might guess, but it is a very nice loco.
Crandell
Tom,
I have the same unit as Crandall and I guess I was lucky as I never had any of the problems Crandall notes but he is correct in that it is a light puller.
The sound is quite good and it can creep. Nice detail too.
Not sure what the price is now but I remember buying mine on sale from Walthers for $114 in early 2006. And that was the price from Central Hobbies in Vancouver.
CN Charlie
I have some of the earlier versions from Life-Like, (pre Walthers), and they not only run like a champ but have pretty good pulling power for a switcher, I can yank at least 15 freight cars on level track with them and would assume the difference is because of the room needed for the decoder and sound system.
Mark
I have two of the early, non-DCC models. They are fantastic running engines with excellent slow speed operation. They are very quiet runners. NCE has a drop-in DCC board for them. You can also wedge in a Lok Sound micro in the cab. The details are pretty good, too.
I have several Life-Like GM switchers in my fleet - some SW8s, some SW9s, and some that ! converted to SW900, SW1200, and SW1200RS units with various detail parts. All of them are pre-Walthers and have the Kato style flat can motors in them. They are my best running locos. The only problem I’ve ever had was on a couple units that I converted to DCC - the DCC equipped locos run jerky and stall if the wheels are dirty.
The first sound-equipped SW units to be released have open frame motors and traction tires on some of the wheels. I don’t have any of them, but I’ve read mixed reviews on them.
The early ones, before walthers took them over run really well. I remember being not only surprised, but startled at how well mine pulled. I had a train of about 15 or so hoppers, nicely weighted with metal wheels, that I was running with a pair of BLI SD9’s. And just for the heck of it I tried one of my old P2K switchers and it pulled it without a hitch and up a short 1-1/2% grade to boot. Admittedly only about half the train was ever on the grade at one time, but I was really impressed with its pulling power. The new ones don’t pull anywhere near as well as that.
John