Greetings -
I have one of the 1st run Walthers SW1 switchers that they released in the early 90s. It’s heavy and does a great job at low-speeds:
I know it’s been out a couple of years now but I was wondering how the re-released Mainline SW1s fare to the older SW1s - i.e. detail, mechanical, pulling-power, converting to DCC, etc. I’m toying with the idea of picking up an undecorated model and painting and detailing it myself.
I appreciate any input - Thanks!
Tom
Also, does the newer SW1s come with a working rear headlight. I had to install one in my older SW1, which turned out to not be all that difficult. And are the lights LED or incandescent? Thanks!
Tom
Tom,
I have two of the Walthers Mainline SW1’s. Not My road name, but I didn’t care…not for the price I paid, more than half off. They are PRR, Brunswick Green…which looks black to Me. Anyway…one of them experienced a short, right out of the box…some tinkering, I found one of the trucks, the contacts were put on the wrong side on the rear truck. I had thought that the trucks were reversed… but you can’t reverse them…tower gearboxes won’t line up. I just changed the wires on the board and they both run like little jewel’s. Quiet, enough weight, pulling, I really have not tried that…but they should, weight is fine. They have front and rear Led’s and a lot of detail, like cut lever’s etc. All detail parts came already installed, not broken, bent or missing parts. I got them from Walthers, at a 60% discount…I am a Yardmaster member, which doe’s save a lot of bucks on certain items and shipping. I’m highly satisfied with them. They surely out perform My BLI DCC with sound SW7’s. I do run DCC with sound some times on My DC layout…mainly for the Grandkids.
One Of them is behind the RS2 in the pic’, if You can see it. I also picked up two of those from Walthers, again road name didn’t matter…price did!
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
BTW: They came with Protomax couplers, already installed…looks like a Kadee and works just as well…I left them on.
Thanks for the feedback, Frank. I was kinda hoping that Walthers would re-release a NYC SW1 like they did their 1st run. Not sure whether to continue to wait…or purchase an undecorated version like I mentioned and paint and decorate it myself.
Not sure when that would happen though. I purchased an Atlas undecorate HH600/660 a few years back with the intention of painting and detailing it in the pre-'48 scheme. It’s still sitting in a storage box with my other diesels since dismantling my layout. [:(]
Tom