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Walthers Trainline FA1

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  • Member since
    September 2020
  • 432 posts
Posted by JDawg on Thursday, October 21, 2021 1:44 PM

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

 

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

JJF


Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing. Smile, Wink & Grin

Yesterday is History.

Tomorrow is a Mystery.

But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present. 

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, October 21, 2021 1:11 PM

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

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    September 2020
  • 432 posts
Posted by JDawg on Thursday, October 21, 2021 8:46 AM

richhotrain

Hey, Dawg, you wake, you take.  Laugh Bow

Rich

 

LaughLaughLaugh

JJF


Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing. Smile, Wink & Grin

Yesterday is History.

Tomorrow is a Mystery.

But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present. 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, October 21, 2021 8:43 AM

Hey, Dawg, you wake, you take.  Laugh Bow

Rich

Alton Junction

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    September 2020
  • 432 posts
Posted by JDawg on Thursday, October 21, 2021 7:58 AM

I wonder who bought that? Hmmm. Confused

 

Big SmileWink

 

Psst! Me, the answer is me!

JJF


Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing. Smile, Wink & Grin

Yesterday is History.

Tomorrow is a Mystery.

But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present. 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, October 21, 2021 6:29 AM

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!Crying  

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.... 

Hey, Dawg, you snooze, you lose. Zzz Crying

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

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    September 2020
  • 432 posts
Posted by JDawg on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 10:50 PM

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!Crying 

 

 

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....

JJF


Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing. Smile, Wink & Grin

Yesterday is History.

Tomorrow is a Mystery.

But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present. 

  • Member since
    September 2020
  • 432 posts
Posted by JDawg on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 4:44 PM

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. 

JJF


Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing. Smile, Wink & Grin

Yesterday is History.

Tomorrow is a Mystery.

But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present. 

  • Member since
    January 2021
  • 88 posts
Posted by Great Northern Fan 54 on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 1:12 PM

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

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, October 17, 2021 6:40 AM

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!Crying 

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

Alton Junction

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    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Sunday, October 17, 2021 3:32 AM
I have several FA and FB, and the growl saves me having to fit a sound chip!!!Smile, Wink & Grin
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    August 2019
  • 164 posts
Posted by tankertoad135 on Saturday, October 16, 2021 6:51 PM

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.Cowboy

Don; Prez, CEO or whatever of the Wishram, Oregon and Western RRGeeked

  • Member since
    September 2020
  • 432 posts
Posted by JDawg on Saturday, October 16, 2021 4:42 PM

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

JJF


Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing. Smile, Wink & Grin

Yesterday is History.

Tomorrow is a Mystery.

But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present. 

  • Member since
    September 2020
  • 432 posts
Walthers Trainline FA1
Posted by JDawg on Saturday, October 16, 2021 4:39 PM

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!Crying

JJF


Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing. Smile, Wink & Grin

Yesterday is History.

Tomorrow is a Mystery.

But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present. 

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