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Walthers Proto 2000 HO scale E7A/B diesel locomotives
I have 2 old E7A/&E7B Walthers proto run fine.they run on DC.Cant aford D.C.C. Both are powered an pull about 35 cars
Hello, I have some older 1st and 2nd runs of Proto 2000 E7As and E8As. They run and pull very good. I think the list price was $90 to $95 at the time. I paid between $30 and $60 for them new … from dealers at train shows.
Now that Walthers has bought out Proto line … they cost too much.
Frank 10/13/09
These units are $499 retail for the 2 locomotive set eqipped with DCC; reputable web sellers have them marked 30% down from MSRP. If you were to purchase older runs of these locomotives from the clearance houses [Train World, M.B.Klien] at $30-$50 and then retrofit with speakers and comparable decoders such as the QSI Revolution, you would not be saving a lot of money. I also believe that the new frame, drive system and baffling used in this locomotive is far superior and was designed with help and advice from one of the major decoder manufacturers. Most locomotive designers and builders for too long have looked at DCC sound as an after thought. With the technology becoming ever more affordable, user friendly and popular, sound will become the equivalent of the Kadee coupler [or knock off], all but the cheapest toy like equipment will have it.
I agree with all of the glowing remarks about these locomotives. I do have a couple of criticisms, however. 1) It is not clear to me what I am supposed to do with the two extra headlight/backup light parts castings in the parts bag. There is no mention of them in the instructions that I can see. It think one is an alternate headlight casing and I assume the other is a backup light for the rear of the A-unit, but I’m not exactly sure where it goes. I am still trying to find a prototype photo to help in that regard.
2) The top speed on my locomotive (in DCC mode) is a bit disappointing. I‘d estimate it to be around 65 mph. I didn’t expect it to run at ‘Lionel speed’, but it seems the 20th Century limited would be a little more fleet of foot. I have yet to see what the F10 function claims is the scale speed when running full out.
3) The packaging is wonderful for display purposes and probably for shipping purposes, but once the locomotive is fully assembled, there’s no putting it back in the box for storage or for transporting. At least not without hacking up the Styrofoam insert.
Mine are on the way PRR E7 A/B… ordered them w/o a decoder so I can install the QSI TITAN!