Average life expectancy of a model locomotive ?

[ben10ben]

I realize that you asked about HO engines specifically, but, for what it's worth, there are some Lionels from 1905 or so that still see regular service on standard gauge layouts. The earlier 2 7/8" gauge pieces probably would as well if it weren't for their extreme rarity and high prices.

[Virginian]

I have two brass engines from the late 70's (a J and a 4-8-2 K2) that still run perfectly, a Mantua 0-6-0 that was my fathers and he died in 1959, and a Rivarossi from the early seventies and they both run as good as they ever did. A little TLC goes a long way.

[BRAKIE]

A well maintain locomotive will last a life time.you may have to change motor brushes every few years and perhaps a gear or two but,quality locomotives will last a life time.Athearn locomotives will last forever with proper maintenance.
I still have my Dad's locomotives from the 50s and early 60s..They still run as good as they did back then.Of course I don't use these antiques but do test run them from time to time.
At the club on all steam operations you still see old Penn-Line,Varney and older brass locomotives chalking up the miles like they did years ago.

[cjcrescent]

All of my steamers are at least 35 years old and all still run like swiss watches.Two of the HTB diesels I run at the club are at least as old, and still perform magnificently. I owned an original Athearn Gp-30 from the mid sixties that I had hi-hooded for the SRR. I kept that locomotive for over twenty years and then sold it to a friend. Two years ago I came across that loco again at a flea market on another friends table, seems he knew the guy I sold it to. I talked to him about the loco and he decided to keep it for himself. Have seen it run once a week on his layout since then, and it still has the original no flywheel mechanism in it, and still runs extremely well, in fact better than even a lot of the stuff on the market today.

[cwclark]

I have nothing but Athearn locomotives and on an average they last a good ten years..my oldest one is a GP 35 that i bought in 1986 and it's still running...The Athearn SW1500 is the one that doesn't last very long..I don't know why, but they are good for about 5 years and then they go up in flames...Chuck

[AntonioFP45]

Just like an automobile.

There are people out there that own cars from the 50s and 60s with 500,000 miles on them and keep them pristine! Other people's cars look like "Jimmy Jalopy Junk" in less than 5 years!

Take care of your Athearns, Atlas, Kato, Stewart, Proto, brass, or whatever you have and it will last a lifetime. Just as a car's transmission or water pump will wear out, so will your locomotive's gears, armature, lights, etc. Clean, lube and maintain. When something brakes or cracks don't sit on it, fix it as soon as you can.

My 25 year old Atlas HO Santa Fe GP40 is still cruising. I just need to give her the pearl drops treatment and she'll probably be good for another 2 decades.

If you raise your kids with love and DISCIPLINE, they'll likely cherish you enough so that when you pass away, they'll take care of your trains and tenderly share it with their kids, or they'll sell or give them to someone that's deserving.

If you spoil the kid(s) rotten, well........expect your trains to be trashed!

[orsonroy]

I've got two of my dad's circa 1964 Mantua Pacifics that still run great. They need an occasional cleaning and lubing, and both have had their motor wipers replaced within the past five years, but they've racked up thousands of scale miles without a major failure.

[Anonymous]

It all depends on how well its maintained, and the quality of the materials used in the production of the model. How well the asian metals used for frames lasts will have to be seen, hopefully it wont fall apart like Lionel scale Hudsons from the 30's are. I have a Atlas/Kato drive Alco RS-1 that the nickle plating is completely worn off of the wheels, and it just keeps running just as smooth as the day it was new. I tore it down and cleaned all the original grease and dirt out of the gears and replaced with fresh. If the motor fails from the brushes wearing out then parts are avaible from Atlas to replace it. At our club back in Indiana we had 2 of the old Solid Brass Boilered Bowser Mountians and they run just like they were new, smooth and quiet, and both still have thier Pittman open frame motors!!

[twhite]

My first steamer (Tenshodo) was bough in 1964, followed by an AKANE Yellowstone that same year. Still running perfectly, though I replaced both with can motors in the '80's. Went through some cheaper locomotives like a plow through a cornfield. Just about all of my brass, no matter what age, is still performing flawlessly. Just hope my new BLI's decide to do the same.
Tom

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dimastep

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomotive3

About three years ago last summer the President of Mantua told me,"It's guaranteed for life". Then they got out of the train business.

Well, look at it this way - they created a perfect engine that can live forever. As good as it gets. What else it there to do ? Explore new fronteers [:D]

I did just that and bot the new Athearn Challenger, my first Athearn.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomotive3

About three years ago last summer the President of Mantua told me,"It's guaranteed for life". Then they got out of the train business.

Well, look at it this way - they created a perfect engine that can live forever. As good as it gets. What else it there to do ? Explore new fronteers [:D]

[Anonymous]

About three years ago last summer the President of Mantua told me,"It's guaranteed for life". Then they got out of the train business.

[Anonymous]

They all die 1 day after you die, since while you're alive and treating them well, they won't fail you.

[Nieuweboer]

I have a Tenshodo Consolidation that I bought in 1963 and that still is functioning flawless. All of my Athearns bought in the sixties have their motors replaced by Mashima or Faulhaber motors(not because the Athearn motors were broken) and are running without any problems. Of my Atlasses also bought in the sixties only the FP7 had motorproblems but after replacement runs fine again. So I could say that all of my more than 30-40 year old locomotives are doing fine and I expect them do continue doing so for many more years. My experience with newer Atlasses, Katos, P2K and Spectrum is too short to give an opinion. They should do fine however I should think.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

... I really doubt if anything made today will last as long.

What makes you think so ? Is it the plastic gears or the motors that are less reliable ?

[cacole]

At the Cochise & Western Model Railroad Club we have a couple of Mantua and MDC cast metal locomotives that were made in the 1950's or '60's that are still running. I really doubt if anything made today will last as long. A friend recently had decoders installed in six old Mantua and MDC cast metal locomotives that he purchased many years ago, and is going to use them as the primary motive power on his home layout.

[mcouvillion]

I've got an Athearn DD35 that I bought in 1967 that is still running, although I had to replace the shell since it was kinda abused when I was a kid. Most of my locos last at least 10 years without a problem, although I do have a Proto 2000 BL2 with a split drive gear I haven't gotten around to replacing.

I think if you lube them properly and pay attention to any things that appear to be out of the ordinary (excess noise, lurching, smoke!) they should last more or less forever.

Mark C.

[Anonymous]

One day after the warranty runs out! [|(]

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

I am wondering what veterans can say about average lifetime of their locomotives. HO in particular. Assuming the locomotive is of hobby quality like Genesis, Spectrum, Kato, Atlas. How many years (or months) can it run before failing.
What is the most failure-prone part, motor or gears ?

I seldom see complaints here about these kinds of failures, which leads me to belive that hobby railroading is by far the most technically reliable hobby of all (R/C aircraft, cars, boats)