I know the Proto is Walther’s premium line of products. I know also they are superior to the other two classes as far as details are concerned, and that the Train line is rather an entry toy class. However, judging the internet images I cannot distinguish these differences. To be specific I have the F units and the upcoming ALCO-PA in mind. I would also like to know if a lower classes can be upgraded in terms of detail to match a higher class or do they have completely different construction?
As far as I know Trainline products were manufactured in the 1900s. Mainline products are the current releases which feature DCC and sound. I believe the level of details is the same except for some minor paint details like numberboards.
I would not call them toys. They are nice models which run far better than Athearn blue box locomotives. Toys have deep flanges and run at fast speeds. Trainline locomotives have flanges which run on code 83 track. They also operate really well at very slow speeds. My Trainline dash 8-40bw locomotives are my favorites in my collection.
Walthers Catalog is full of aftermarket detail parts to upgrade locomotives. MU Hoses are a good start. Grab Irons also look good.
Several manufacturers have a lower and higher quality level lines, or even low - middle - high. Atlas Trainman line is their less detailed / less expensive line. In general, the difference is in things like grabirons, horns, etc. A more expensive diesel model may have the precise type of airhorn for the railroad the engine is decorated for, and have all grabirons and m.u. hoses on the pilot factory installed. A less expensive engine might have excellent decoration and be smooth running (Atlas Trainman engines use the same motors as their more expensive models for example) but may just have a ‘generic’ single-bell airhorn, and have dimples marking where you can drill holes to add the grabirons on the front and back hoods, and have a fairly simple pilot.
If you can’t tell the difference, I’d say, go with the less expensive engines. You an always add details down the road.
BTW, it can get confusing to keep track of some of these things because companies buy other companies. So for example, Proto was originally the top line of Life-Like, which Walthers bought, and many of the pre-WW2 freight cars currently in Walthers Mainline are ones originally produced by Train Miniatures before Walthers took them over c.1990. I think the Mantua steam engine line is on it’s third owner now. Plus, companies make changes and improvements within their lines, that may see older models drop in status. Some of the Bachmann’s “standard” line engines were originally introduced 20+ years ago as top-of-the-line Spectrum engines.
Proto - former Life-Like Proto 2000 line. Their top of the line products with excellent detail and features.
Mainline - former Life-Like Proto 1000. More generic detail, but they ride on a Proto 2000 chassis.
Trainline - their cheaper stuff from before they owned Life-Like. The GP9M and FA-1 use old tooling, but they have a very smooth running chassis and plenty of power.
Life-Like - All that’s left is some cheap starter train sets. Tooling hasn’t changed or been upgraded in 35 years.
I have two Walthers Mainline Alco DL 109s. They are smooth running models. The level of detail on the models is much better than any Athearn BB locomotives, and better than any of my original Stewart ( Kato ) locomotives. They are much better running than the Intermountain F units I bought lately.
Proto 2000 was originally made by Life-Like. Walthers kept the name alive as their premium line, and added to it with models like their wonderful H10-44 locomotive.
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I have a Life-Like Proto 2000 SD-7 that must have 10,000 miles on it and still runs like a fine Swiss watch.
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Walthers also used “Gold Line” for a premium line of models for a while. Too confusing… too many product lines.
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I have a pair of FA locmotives from the Trainlne series, and they run very well. No complaints about those at all.
Trainline was Walthers main brand for a while. Walthers bought up Lifelike which includes LifeLike, Proto 1000, and Proto 2000. The tooling is separate from what i can tell. (This may not be universally true) Any way, you can upgrade anything. It’s a question of dimensioning returns and time. As I explained to someone else with regards to Athearn Blue Box, they are an excellent buy and highly reliable, but by the time you replace the motor, and add all the details, and settle on the details which can’t be changed, paint job, & time put in, is it really worth it?
If you are set on a budget then the long term upgrade might be worth it. If you are someone like me with a lot of engines, ham hands, little time, and would rather work on scenery and track, then no it’s not worth it.
Thank you all for your inputs. I am a bit aware of the history behind the three lines of products. I am also aware of the fact they have different level of detailing. I wanted to know specifically what these differences in detailng are like, and if the F7 and PA from a lower, or more precisely, the Main line can be upgraded to the Proto class. If it is about a missing painted pilot, grab irons and some horns I can fit these after market items, but hopefully not outdated shells with odd proportions and inferior paint, or wrong trucks with rigid (non close) couplers.