Just got my NW2's and they run great, super slow to as fast as is prototypical. Detailing and sound is fantastic and volume is great (will be turned down some later) which on some engines can not be loud enough. Runs 10 cars up 2% grade with no problems (three of them were way over weighted though). To think this is only their mainline stuff and I paid only $145 retail each
Great to hear. Walther mainline locos are always good deals and have a good balance between the price and the details...
Jerry
I accually find the detail to be quite good, in HO you really don't need more detail unless you are into lighting and such. The people into advanced lighting or sound would be disapointed but that is not your average modeler and the slow speed of these is as good as I ever got when I used to tinker with things. Now maybe I will get rid of my NW2 Kato's that I kept to DCC one day. Have one converted to DCC and these run just as well if not better and pull almost as good too.
rrebell I accually find the detail to be quite good, in HO you really don't need more detail unless you are into lighting and such. The people into advanced lighting or sound would be disapointed but that is not your average modeler and the slow speed of these is as good as I ever got when I used to tinker with things. Now maybe I will get rid of my NW2 Kato's that I kept to DCC one day. Have one converted to DCC and these run just as well if not better and pull almost as good too.
I have several of these NW2s from the first run and think they are great. By looking at pics of the prototypes, NW2s were fairly generic and did'nt have a lot of detail parts themselves. Most lack MU hoses and I find the Walther's pilot looking a bit sparce because of it. I'm impressed that the hood handrails are wire and not plastic.
The ESU Essentials decoder sounds great with the stock speaker. I run one in reverse mu'ed with another, and the stereo effect is very impressive.
And, all of mine came speed matched right out of the box. Very consistent quality running. Didn't have to do a thing to mu them except bump up CV 2 for a bit more starting speed. Yes, they run very slow like a switcher should.
- Douglas
Just received mine, Lehigh Valley with sound. Unfortunately, it does not always power up on DCC unless I cycle track power a few times. Once it starts, it runs great. Works fine on DC. Any ideas before I return?
You are using F8 to start I assume. Is the track clean, just asking because I had a spot on my where it stalled at slow speed even though I cleanined the track anticipating the arrival of the new engines. This spot between two turnouts just did not get clean for some reason and all was well once cleaned.
Thanks for the reply. The issue happens at all track locations. The behavior is as if it does not get any power to the decoder, no lights, etc, completely dead until I cycle track power a few times.
That is truly odd. If station deamed ok then it looks like a decoder problem.
PhilY Just received mine, Lehigh Valley with sound. Unfortunately, it does not always power up on DCC unless I cycle track power a few times. Once it starts, it runs great. Works fine on DC. Any ideas before I return?
Clean the track. If your other LokSound locos do not have this problem, then its a problem with your new NW2.
IMO, don't fiddle. Return it and let Walthers figure it out or get your money back from the retailer.
Edit: Sometimes Walthers locos have track pickup problems. The truck design puts the metal pickup strips that touch the axles on the INSIDE of the truck cover, so when they grease the truck gears at the factory some of it can spill over to the contacts. Might not impact DC operations but might be enough to disrupt the DCC signal.
All I can say is mine seem perfect, which is great as these are a replacement for a Bachmann one that I got that had problems but was never repaired correctly. It took a year to finaly close the books on that disaster and get these engines not to metion sending back and forth tp Bachmann and dealing with the retailer.
Decided to factory reset my DCS52 command station and it looks like then loco is working Ok now......
Thanks
I reset my command station (Digitrax DCS52) and now the loco responds properly.....
Thanks for the suggestions.
PhilY I reset my command station (Digitrax DCS52) and now the loco responds properly..... Thanks for the suggestions.
PhilYUnfortunately, it does not always power up on DCC unless I cycle track power a few times.
I would suggest you ask for an exchange.... This seems to be a decoder problem, especially it happens everywhere on your track..
hjQi PhilY Unfortunately, it does not always power up on DCC unless I cycle track power a few times. I would suggest you ask for an exchange.... This seems to be a decoder problem, especially it happens everywhere on your track.. Jerry
PhilY Unfortunately, it does not always power up on DCC unless I cycle track power a few times.
Decided to return and replace after the issue started again. Just received the new unit and it behaves the same. Need to do a little more debugging.
PhilY Decided to return and replace after the issue started again. Just received the new unit and it behaves the same. Need to do a little more debugging.
I love these locos, but I hate to say that mine would stall randomly...just run along fine on DCC, then cut out. Sometimes they would move again (without sound) or just stay there. That is a classic power pickup/decoder problem.
I finally got around to soldering every rail joiner, and resoldered some feeders. None of by other DCC locos had a problem with the way the track was. It seems to have solved the problem.
Since you're second one is doing it, its possible that these NW2s are more sensitive to signal disruptions than the normal loco. Great little loco in every way if you can get your issue nailed.
Doughless PhilY Decided to return and replace after the issue started again. Just received the new unit and it behaves the same. Need to do a little more debugging. I love these locos, but I hate to say that mine would stall randomly...just run along fine on DCC, then cut out. Sometimes they would move again (without sound) or just stay there. That is a classic power pickup/decoder problem. I finally got around to soldering every rail joiner, and resoldered some feeders. None of by other DCC locos had a problem with the way the track was. It seems to have solved the problem. Since you're second one is doing it, its possible that these NW2s are more sensitive to signal disruptions than the normal loco. Great little loco in every way if you can get your issue nailed.
Just found a new feature on the engine, may sound strange I did not know before but the engine will run fine without hiting F8 for startup, just runs without sound. Only found out because the throttle was a little open when I powered up the layout and the engine started moving. Had other engines before by others with a startup key needed and they would do nothing without being keyed in.