Walthers Trainline FA1

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello all. I just purchased A new old stock Trainline fa1 in the classic empire builder off of eBay. I just want to give my impression of the loco.

First the body. The detail is basic, but very sharp and clean. The paint is great, and the GN colors are some of the better ones I’ve seen. Not the best, but not bad at all.

Performance. The locomotive runs well on DC power. It runs at an acceptable slow speed, not perfect but I’ve seen a whole lot worse. My only complain is a low growl at low speeds. I’m not sure if this is the motor or the drivetrain. However, I plan to add an ESU sound decoder, which will overcome the low growl, no problem.

I don’t usually go for what some might consider a low end model, but for $25 I’m very pleased with the locomotive. I only wish I had another one for a consist![:'(]

2

Oh, also, the loco has good pulling power. It’s equivalent to about 30 cars on level track.

3

We run an early Walthers FA/B combo on our club layout. They have been superbly reliable and literally as bullet proof as Athearn’s Bluebox F7s.[C):-)]

4

I have several FA and FB, and the growl saves me having to fit a sound chip!!![swg]
Cheers, the Bear.[:)]

5

There are several on eBay right now including one for $35 (or Best Offer). It is “pre-owned” and being sold by a train club.

Rich

6

You got a Trainline in Classic EB? That’s really nice. Almost every Trainline FA I see is in Simplified. But these are quality models. I have two A-B-A Sets. Set A will be used on my layout. While set B will lose the B-Unit and become the 276 set that the GN had on the Kettle Falls branch

7

Yes! Green, orange AND GOLD! It was nice to see one in the classic scheme and not the imitation.

8

Hey! Thanks for the tip. I might just buy that…

9

Hey, Dawg, you snooze, you lose. [zzz] [:'(]

That one sold and the seller took a Best Offer, under $35!

Rich

10

I wonder who bought that? Hmmm. [*-)]

[:D][;)]

Psst! Me, the answer is me!

11

Hey, Dawg, you wake, you take. [(-D] [bow]

Rich

12

[(-D][(-D][(-D]

13

I did some experiments on my Walthers Trainline FA1 last year. A single powered unit will pull five freight cars and a caboose up a 5% grade with a 24" radius curve.

That is impressive.

I came up with this nifty paint scheme for them I call the “Nightbird Freight” special. Unfoirtunately these are unfinished and still packed away.

I should have cleaned up that mold parting line on the nose. It looks terrible.

-Kevin

14

Looks nice! I will say the nose flashing is annoying. I don’t want to repaint so it’ll have to stay.