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Walthers HO scale Proto 2000 EMD GP20 with sound and DCC
I have had Proto 200 units since the inception of the line, including the ugly but beloved BL2. I appreciate Walthers buying the line and further producing new engines. While I have yet to purchase a GP20, the MR review is sufficient to tell me it would be an excellent motor for our club layout. My nly wish would be that Walthers could fina way to sell the unit for under $200. Remember more people will buy someting for 199. than 225.
I bought 2 WP units with sound & DCC and 2 units without sound and DCC. I am runnig all 4 together in a consist with the sound units being the 1st and 3rd unit. Sounds great! I have installed Digitrax DH163LO chips (plug in)in the 2 non DCC units. After speed matching them to the other 2 I am running a beautiful set of 4. My only problem; the reverse lights do not work in the 2 units that I added the chips to…not a big deal in a consist, but funny that they don’t.
I have bought the GN Empire Builder painted model without sound, and it is another fine addition to my fleet. It is comporable to the GP7 that was released moderately recently, but the headlights are brighter. The detail is about the same, and it runs just as well, which is very good. Apologising for both the shadowed nature of the trucks and the fact that it’s running the wrong way forward in the second picture, here are a pair of shots that I took of it on my layout. http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b274/trainboysd40/MRR%20pics/F1000026.jpg http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b274/trainboysd40/MRR%20pics/F1000024.jpg This is a fine running engine that is of a quality fit to lead any train that I care to take around my pike, and would be appreciated on any layout with any prototype. (Note that my prototype is CP)
I have one of the “non-sound” GN BSB GP20s. The paint and details are first rate, and she runs very nicely. While detailing the puppy, I ran the mechanism for 4 hours on my break stand, 2 hours each direction. I am strictly a DC type, and after the “break in” running, I find lokey starts creeping at around 1 volt, and speed control is very smooth throughout the full throttle range. The details are well done, and even the bell matched the GN location for this particular number series. GN GP20s ran long hood forward so I needed to reverse and reposition the horn on top the cab. I also added certain details such as snowplows (Details West), front and rear, and firecracker antenna (Detail Assoc) to match her up to the GN prototype. I matched the dark grey paint using Floquil Espee Lark Dark Grey. The handrails also needed touchup as they were solid blue lacking the white ends. Overall, this puppy is a top notch model and is the first Proto 2000 lokey I purchased. I have pretty demanding standards for locomotive smooth running and reliability, and this puppy does not disappoint me. I am well pleased with this purchase.
I don’t own any P2K’S, but would not hesitate to purchase the Geep-20 from the discription. I feel like Robert in that this would be a great seller at $199. instead of $225,
I bought 4 of these in non-sound, DC configuration, in Builder colors and they are nice quiet runners. I appreciate Walthers adding GN specific items such as the long hood mounted bell and the extra steps on the ends as ordered by GN. I own many P2K’s and feel these are the best ones yet.
I have just bought a Proto2000 WP GP20 with sound and it’s great, my first Loco with sound.
I got BN #2002 and 2014 with QSI sound and BN #2017 plain DC. There are photos of all three locos on Railroad Picture Archive showing them fitted with all-weather external cab window boxes (though not in every photo), so I am puzzled that whilst the exploded parts diagram shows all-weather external cab window boxes as separate parts, these parts are not present in the user-detailing packs in any of my three models. Three models seems too many to be an accident, especially as the DC one came from a different retailer. I would be interested to know if they were present in the review model?