What is the general concensus on the Walters Trainline series of locomotives?
I have experience only with the U.S. Army decorated GP-9M shown on page 72 of the 2008 HO scale catalog. They run smoothly and can easily be converted to DCC. The shells lack detail. An Athearn clone mechanism with dual flywheels and can motor. Something like an Athearn Blue Box kit loco, but with the plastic handrails glued on instead of being applied by the purchaser. If the detail couldn’t be cast on, it isn’t there.
I had a pair of the FA diesels. Like cacole says, the details are lacking - I was planning to install wire grabs and other details to make it look a bit better. The mechanism looked a little cheap but it ran VERY well. In fact, I first saw the units offered on eBay, and in digging through my collection of Model Railroader, I found the issue where they were initially reviewed. When I saw the minimum starting speed under DC was less than 1mph, I immediately bid on them. They really do creep along nicely. No DCC plug, it was a straight hard wire job to install a decoder, but extremely easy to follow the wires from the truck pickups.
–Randy
Yes, as they come the shells are very lacking in detail. Also, on the GP series (I have the GP9) the hoods are much too wide, but not that noticeable unless you have something to compare it to. Don’t run it with an Atlas or P2K geep!
But the running quality is very good. Mine only has one very small flywheel, but the locomotive can run pretty well by itself, and in a consist it works fine. My model came with brass wheels, you may want to replace those, but so far I have had no problems with them.
I installed a TCS T1 decoder in my unit. There was no socket, so I hardwired it in. The job was the easiest hard-wire installation I’ve done.
I actually have one of these units on my roster, making an exception for it in my roster of all Atlas or Proto 2000 units. It’s custom detailed (did you think the stock Trainline model came with ditch lights, coupler cut bars, air hoses, scale plows, brass horns, a strobe light, scale handrails, and a firecracker antenna?), painted, and decaled by my friend Alex (Guilford Guy here). It’s the only unit painted for my home railroad, so I’m keeping it for now. Once I paint the rest of my fleet, it will probably be retired, however.
Here’s a photo to see how the GP9 can look with a little detailing, paint, decals, and weathering.
Hope this helps!
Like the old Athearn GP7 the Trainline GP9M hood is a foot to wide.
Running: Very good for the price.
Detail: OK, on a par with Athearn blue box. The GP9M has AAR sideframes instead of the correct Blomberg sideframes.
Paint: Good, better than Athearn blue box.
I’ve used Trainline FA mechanisms to repower Lionel HO FAs of the 1960s. The Trainline mechanism turns a “boat anchor” into a usable locomotive. Although this conversion is close to the “jack up the whistle and roll a new locomotive underneath” change.
I bought three of the Trainline Dash 8 40-B’s when they first came out. At the time, they were the only game in town. For the most part, they ran fine. The only problem I encountered was with the small brass wipers that provide electrical contact with the back side of the wheels. Over time they tend to wear down and you also have to be careful not to bend them if you pull the wheelsets when cleaning and lubricating the gears. I don’t know if the newer versions still have the same set up.
This past year I bought the new Atlas release of the same locomotive. The Walthers is not nearly as detailed and nothing beats Atlas when it comes to running smoothly right out of the box. I gave the Trainlines to a neighbor who is starting out in HO. He was very happy with them and I feel I got my money’s worth over twelve years.
John Timm
I have 5 FA and 5 FB’s and an SW1-they are all good models,well worth the money,and the SW1 came with a bag of grabrails,to be attached by the purchaser.
Back about 10 years ago,MR did an article on how to super detail a UP FA,very good too.
Steve
I also have a FA/B set. Detail about equal to older Athearn, run VERY good!! At a price that is hard to beat!![:)]
Those shells have a long history in HO scale, they go way back - which is why the detail is light (speaking of the FA’s here) and the cast on stuff is somewhat coarse. Price sure it right - I paid less than $20 on eBay for the PAIR! The original price was listed on the box, I got two for less than one cost, I guess everyone else was ‘over’ the relatively poor detail and only wanted the P2K FA’s.
–Randy