MTH Loco's on Lionel 80Watt?

[msbsouthpaw]

Good Evening:

I was considering buying a MTH GP-9 locomotive.  A fellow much more experienced than me w/ O-gauge trains said it probably wouldn't work properly on a Lionel transformer.  I have a layout consisting of four separate tracks, each w/ Lionel 80W transformers.  Has anyone out there run into problems putting a MTH locomotive onto a track powered by a Lionel 80W transformer? 

Any comments are greatly appreciated.

Happy Holidays!

Matt

[ADCX Rob]

Google search:  MTH RailKing Y6b CW80 24hr Test

[msbsouthpaw]

very interesting!  thanks for posting that link.

I can't believe things got so heated and personal on that message board.   For the guy that started that thread and was so meticulous in recording and communicating his results, to get the crude responses from some people there, was uncalled for. 

Thanks again, looking forward to landing that MTH GP-9!

Matt

[wrconstruction]

they really treat that guy like crap over there  and any one else thats not up to there standards. i hardley ever post there

 

I personally enjoy reading his "outside the box " posts.

[Firelock76]

Out of curiosity I ran my MTH locomotives with a Lionel CW-80, and didn't have any problems.  Mind you, I didn't run them 24 hours like the gent on the other forum was planning to do, maybe a half-hour at the most.  I think the MTH Z-1000's a better transformer anyway, more powerful, although the Lionel unit does get the job done.  I should say I run conventional.

[gunrunnerjohn]

There are locomotives that don't do well with the CW-80, including some Lionel models.  I've seen admonishments against using the CW-80 in several manuals.

In general, it'll probably work, and in any case I can't see any damage resulting from trying it. 

[phillyreading]

An MTH PS-2 engine and Lionel CW-80 just don't mix! At least that is my experiance, tried it with a CW-80 and an MTH PS-2 steam engine, the engine didn't know which way to go and half the sounds went off at once. Williams will work okay with the CW-80. Anyway I used the CW-80 at a freind's house as I don't own one.

[Wabashbud]

I owned a MTH Railking Berk that was conventional only and a CW-80 transformer with I think a G code.  My Berk operated just fine for several days and then became extremely erratic.  All kinds of strange behavior until my MTH Z-1000 arrived.  All of the goofy antics of my Berk disappeared and it ran smoothly again.  I sold the CW-80 and never looked back.