[quote user="MisterBeasley"]
I have one Walthers Mainline engine. It's a GP9M, an old engine that was built from a used GP9. Mine is a Milwaukee which fits my road and era.
It is not highly detailed, but it runs just fine. It's got a motion-only decoder, and I have a sound decoder ready to install. Oddly, the engine from the top looks like they copied the shell of an old Athearn GP9 which we all recognize as being too wide.
Just to be ornery, I found out which old GP9 was used to build the GP9M and decorated a dummy GP9 to be that engine.
FYI, the Mainline engine had no decoder and was not DCC ready. It also had only a front headlight, no rear.
crossthedog rrebell To add to the story, yesterday I cleaned the main and started testing the Mainline NW2 at a slow speed and sound off, forgot it was running and went on a 4 hr walk, it was still running fine on my return and not the slightest bit warm. Thank goodness for continuous run.
rrebell To add to the story, yesterday I cleaned the main and started testing the Mainline NW2 at a slow speed and sound off, forgot it was running and went on a 4 hr walk, it was still running fine on my return and not the slightest bit warm.
Thank goodness for continuous run.
rrebellTo add to the story, yesterday I cleaned the main and started testing the Mainline NW2 at a slow speed and sound off, forgot it was running and went on a 4 hr walk, it was still running fine on my return and not the slightest bit warm.
Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.
To add to the story, yesterday I cleaned the main and started testing the Mainline NW2 at a slow speed and sound off, forgot it was running and went on a 4 hr walk, it was still running fine on my return and not the slightest bit warm.
I bought one of the Mainline GP9s, runs very nicely. It uses the same motor / chassis as the Walthers Proto version, but the Proto one comes with all the handrails and grabirons installed - with the Mainline one, you have to buy a separate kit and add them. In my case, that didn't really matter, as I really just wanted the powered chassis to use with an old Life-Like Proto GP9 body, which did come with all the handrails etc. factory installed.
I just bought two and they run great and the detail is just enough, at least on their NW2 ones. I need high detail on my rolling stock and would like it on my motive power and I have to say any detail left off is not noticed on my SP black engines.
Walthers Trainline is the basic affordable models such as the GP9M and FA1, which are made mostly from old tooling developed in the 60's and 70's. They're smooth and reliable runners.
Walthers Mainline is the former Life-Like Proto 1000 series. They use a high quality chassis and look very nice, although the detail is more basic with usually just one shell for all versions and a few separate parts.
Walthers Proto is the high end stuff and former Proto 2000 series. They compare very well to some of the best out there.
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I am glad that you decide to order one from Walther Mainline. Walther mainline (vs Walther Proto) is on the same line as Athearn (vs Athern Genesis). I have both Walther mainline and Athearn. They both run great and have similar level of details, or less details than their top lines. But in general, Walther mainline has slightly more details than Athearn. For example, Walther mainline has a decorated cab but Athearn's cab has nothing; you actually see wires in Athearn's cab. Also, Walther Mainline is about $20 to $30 less than Athearn. This is just the observation based on what I have.
Jerry
Thanks all, I will probably go ahead and order it. seems silly when I cant even run it but at least I will have it when the time comes. This one is DCC with sound so a bit more pricey.
New Mainline deisels are strong runners, and are DCC Ready or DCC/Sound equiped.
I have a couple, and while detail is less stellar than others, they do still look well. Get the detail add-on kit for grab-irons and they fit in well with others.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Walthers mainline is pretty nice. It's not going to blow you away with detail, but it's not going to break the second time you look at it either. It has the same internals as the Proto line, the only difference is the shell and the level of detail on said shell. I prefer Atlas Classic or Athearn RTR/Roundhouse to Walthers Mainline when available. Not to say one is better or worse, I just have a preference.
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.
I have limited exposure to Walthers locomotives.
I have two Proto Series Fairbanks Morse switchers decorated for ATSF that look and run great.
I also have a pair of FAs in thier lowest level line (Trainline I think) that were undecorated, but run great.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I havent even got track laid but preorders are being taken for an engine under the road name that I would like. It is Walthers Mainline. Before I do the preorder, are these decent engines? I just hate to wait until I NEED the engine and then its out of stock. Or, should I wait and get a different brand like Athearn etc if I can find one later on?.