I found this on ebay-World War II Era Nickel Plate Road L1a for $550 brand new. this sounds too good to be true for a brass loco with TMCC. I have never owned a weaver train so I need some of you weaver guys to let me know if this is worth jumping on. the ebay item # is 140162029766. put this in their search to bring it up.
Hi John
We’ve been talking about this very engine on another thread here named:
Breaking in a new engine.
The author of that thread gives a nice review of this engine.
I bought one from Justrains of Delaware…500.00 on blowout.
Mine should be here this week. I would advise you check out Justrains web site.
Dave
I have a NH I5 Brass Hudson from the first run. Being a NH fan this was a must have. I paid a little over 900 for it. I then spent another 250 upgrading the smoke unit with Turbo Smoke, adding EOB and a different soundset with a more correct whistle. This is by far my most expensive engine. But also my favorite. This train was never really discounted and was popular enough to be rerun with EOB now added. This engine is a great runner and Weaver offers top notch service. The few nitpicks are. I would have prefered a more scale wheeled pilot truck. The engine was a great puller and really didn’t need EOB cruise. What I didn’t like was the mechanical click activating the smoke unit as well as the chuff trigger. It got annoying to listen to and could only be drowned out if the Railsounds volume was way up. Adding EOB solved both issues. The chuff was now triggered by the timing tape as well as the smoke unit. I was also able to now have 4 chuffs per rev rather than 2. I felt the cruise wasn’t needed but it runs even better with it.
As far as the NKP Hudson. Seems like a bargain to me. Weaver at times produces engines that other manufactures won’t. Brass can be done in much shorter production run than diecast. Your not paying for the mold. Chances are this engine has been produced in HO and the info and specs may be readily available. Weaver may pick a production run of say 100 engines. There just may not be that many NKP fans as they thought. Or there are but the price may be to steep. Thats where you see these at blowout pricing. A well made but simply not a popular enough engine for the masses. I’ve also found that many purchasers of die cast MTH or Lionel seem to shy away from Brass engines feeling they have to be handled very delicately. I know one thing. If it’s an engine you want because your a NKP fan. If Weaver wasn’t able to sell enough of them. MTH and Lionel aren’t going to spend the money to tool up a correct one in die cast so I wouldn’t wait.
Hi Dave, I went to Justrains of Delaware and they are now $650. you got a great deal at $500. I think I am going to grab this one at $550
Hi John
On Justrains site click on YORK SPECIALS and you will find his ad for $499.00.
However, shipping must be paid by the purchaser.
At this price, less than half, you can’t go wrong for a brass engine.
Just got mine, very nice.
Got to check it out now!
Cheers
Dave
Hi Dave, does yours have the EOS cruise control? their ad says it comes with it. the weaver site doesn’t mention it
John
Despite the advertising indicating cruise.
This engine does NOT have curise.
Weaver confirmed this to me my email prior to my receiving the engine.
Still a good deal. Cruise can easily be added.
Dave
Hi dave, I spoke to kirk at just trains this morning and he says the EOB is installed on these trains. I think I am going to order either way. you should run yours through its paces to actually see if it is in there.
Hey John
Kirk is probably going by the box which does say EOB.
Weaver, as I mentioned, apologized to me for the confusion and indicated no cruise on this model.
I had mine apart yesterday to re-affix the headlight bulb and no evidence of EOB
IE no tach tape on the flywheel.
This engine should be a good puller given the size of the motor in it.
Please keep me posted on your results.
Cheers
Dave
thanks Dave, I suspected as much. I am going to order monday. which did you get, L1a or L1b? my track radius is about 46, how critical do you think this will be for that engine. all my switches are 11d.
I read the other thread on break in time and found all the answers you gave me here. should have gone there first. seems like everyone who has one likes it. I’m going to try to email laz and see what he has to say about the curves.
Hi John
I tried the engine on 042.
It cannot operate on this diameter, derails.
054 - 060 would be the minimum for reliable operation.
Cheers
Dave
thanks Dave.
JOHN as DAVE stated run it on 0-54 or larger curves mine is on 0-72 and I ran it on 0-54 ran good. Hope you enjoy your engine. I had problems with the engines taking commands from the Cab1, and sent it to WEAVER to fix. They told me over the phone they would make it run good again. Have fun,
laz57
Laz, I’m sure Weaver will make it right as they offer great service. My experience with the one Weaver brass engine I have. As delivered all the TMCC sound portion boards had to be reseated. In fact one was floating in the tender and had to be relaced. Weaver promptly sent me both the sound board as well as the Railsounds power supply board.
The next issue was the same problem Laz experienced. Engine not taking commands at times. If this engine is similar in construction to my NH Hudson. The brass tender shell is the TMCC antenna. The pin to the drawbar is soldered to the shell. In order to keep the antenna from being grounded out when coupled to the engine. There is a plastic washer that is in the drawbar to keep the pin from grounding out. If you move the engine from layout to shelf it’s very easy to lose the washer when seperating the engine and tender. It took about a week to figure out the problem after numerous resets and swapping out the reciever board. I finally figured out what was wrong and sure enough. I found the washer laying in the roadbed in the area where I usually remove an engine from the layout.
thanks guys, I just got off the phone and ordered it. I will make sure to open it up and check all the boards and keep an eye on that washer.
THANKS DAVE, The NPR road Hudson was probably constructed the same way so I’m sure it was grounding out? The guy at WEAVER told me don’t worry they’ll fix it. They are located about 30 miles up the road from me and 2 years ago took a tour of their facility nice friendly place to visit. Saw some of their newer engines at the time. Anyway, I really love the engine with the ears on and it does a real good job pulling. I did a review on the emgine on a thread I started a few days ago about breaking in a brass engine. All went good till the engine wouldn’t take commands from the Cab1. Thanks again.
laz57
Thanks for the info Dave
I checked the drawbar for the suggested plastic washer problem.
They may have used a different system on this unit. I don’t see the plastic washer you speak of. I also moved the drawbar up, down, and around while fired up and no shorts.
Took the shell off the tender and indeed the entire shell is the antenae.
One wire is soldered to the roof of the shell. I can see where this one solder joint could become disconnected or loose causing Cab 1 command signal problems.
Dave