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!
JJF
Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing.
Yesterday is History.
Tomorrow is a Mystery.
But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present.
Oh, also, the loco has good pulling power. It's equivalent to about 30 cars on level track.
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.
Don; Prez, CEO or whatever of the Wishram, Oregon and Western RR
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
JDawg 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!
Rich
Alton Junction
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
Great Northern Fan 54 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
Yes! Green, orange AND GOLD! It was nice to see one in the classic scheme and not the imitation.
richhotrain JDawg 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! 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
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.
Hey! Thanks for the tip. I might just buy that....
JDawg richhotrain JDawg 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! 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 Hey! Thanks for the tip. I might just buy that....
That one sold and the seller took a Best Offer, under $35!
I wonder who bought that? Hmmm.
Psst! Me, the answer is me!
Hey, Dawg, you wake, you take.
richhotrain Hey, Dawg, you wake, you take. Rich
JDawgOh, also, the loco has good pulling power. It's equivalent to about 30 cars on level track.
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
Living the dream.
SeeYou190 JDawg Oh, also, the loco has good pulling power. It's equivalent to about 30 cars on level track. 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
JDawg Oh, also, the loco has good pulling power. It's equivalent to about 30 cars on level track.
Looks nice! I will say the nose flashing is annoying. I don't want to repaint so it'll have to stay.