Not the same at all, had both. Both were not designed very well for operation almost like that was an after thought.
I have the Walters TT on my current layout and had the Heljan TT on my previous layout. Many Walthers kits are rebranded kits from other manufacturers but I don't believe the two TTs are the same although the layout with the Heljan TT was dismantled about 25 years ago and I'm going from memory. The Walthers TT does not rotate as smoothly as what I remember with the Helgan kit. I'm not even sure they are the same size.
UPDATE: I looked on the Walthers website and I don't even see a Heljan TT listed. I do see one from Kibri. That might be the one I had on my old layout. I would have bought it about 40 years ago so I don't remember for sure if what I had was Kibri or Heljan.
Many say the Walthers 3171 kit is poorly made, but is the same true for the Heljan 804? (supposedly the same model), and what motor do I get for the Heljan? -Thanks all.