Vintage EMD locomotives are fan favorites here, so you've made a good choice in picking one of these up. As for the Erie Lackawanna, they were one of the few roads in the American Northeast that were in a position to salvage the absolutely _awful_ state of railroading in the region. They were turning a profit, and then Hurricane Agnes hit. The EL went down the same commode as the Penn Central and got folded into Conrail. The lines in my neck of the woods were abandoned or sold off, now hiking trails or making up portions of the Wheeling & Lake Erie.
Props for your pronunciation of Erie Lackawanna but I'm afraid I disagree with your assessment of the top speed because this NW2 was a large switcher and capable of 65mph. Me disagreeing is a moot point because I do agree it could have been geared lower for better slow operation so in the words of Gilda Radner, "never mind". For me Walthers has always been one of my favorite companies and I never have a problem with anything they have made. Great review and video, Jersey Bill
Erie Lackawanna ist he most GORGEOUS livery in ALL railroading. Awhile back, you reviewed a Walthers GP7 and you remarked that the handrails were too thin. I disagreed with that, stating that the handrails were correct and that I was familiar with prototype GP7s. The reason that I was so familiar with GP7s was that I grew up along an Erie Lackawanna branch line and upon finding out that I was interested in railroading and was safe around the railroad, they allowed me to ride on the locos and even allowed me to run them on occasion. Yes, I Love the Erie Lackawanna. BTW, you DID pronounce that legendary name properly.
Yeah it's really lovely isn't it? I don't think I've claimed any handrails were too thin?? Might have been someone else? Thanks a lot for sharing! Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Walthers, in general, is usually quality. They make good models that aren't too detailed but still get the important details. It's always fun to see a review about them
I have a Walthers Santa Fe RS2 (HO scale) that I simply love! I'm hoping to buy more RS2 locomotives as that's my favourite diesel locomotive (since N-gauge at seven years old) ever!
I’ve got two Athern SW1500 switchers (similar to the one in the review) and they are fantastic! Great detail, Two flywheels, 5 pole motors, metal handrails, and great crawlers. Picked them up for 40 dollars each. Great video Sam as always!
Thank you so much, Sam, for another excellent review of an HO North American loco. The NW2 switcher is considered a classic here in the US. I've owned a Kato NW2 for about 25 years. I'm now sorely tempted to get a DCC/Sound version of this Walthers offering. And congrats on your pronunciation of Eric Lackawanna, as you were spot on. The EL was created by the 1960 merger of the Erie and the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western which were competing railroads in the NE US (although the Erie did make it to Chicago). Their merger was the first in a series that eventually led to Conrail and much "rationalization" of the eastern US rail network. Cheers from Wisconsin!
Occasionally I have had a Walthers loco that stutters a little on the crawl speed. Most of the time, they are fine though and it is usually just a one off. I have 5 of their SD-9s with one that needed some tuning as it was a little jerkier than the others. I believe the issue is with their Chinese motor suppliers who are not always super consistent. As for the top speed on the NW-2, a lot of American switchers were geared to be able to work local freight which required running on the mainlines between industries. This meant they did need to be able to travel at reasonable speeds, 50 to 60 mph, so they didn’t hold up important traffic. Remember very few American Railroads had more than double track mainlines with tens of thousands of miles of single track mainline!
By the 60s, the railroads of the Northeast were all going under or were merged with larger networks. The New Haven, for example, went bankrupt in 1964, with the Boston And Maine soon following suit. The disaster that was the Penn Central (a merger of the Pennsy and New York Central) caused economic shockwaves throughout the country. It was eventually reorganized as Conrail before being split up between CSX and the new Norfolk Southern (to distinguish it from an earlier line of the same name).
Thanks for another great video. It's great to see some budget locos. They are great to just run and enjoy. As great to get people started in the hobby.
Hi Sam. Those trucks (bogeys) are - I believe - Blount trucks, and are quite simplistic looking in real life, being meant for switchers that operated in/around a major yard, or an industry such as a steel mill or grain elevator. As such, they lacked creature comforts you would find on later road switchers like the Alco RSD-5, or the G.E. U-boat series. Features such as shocks/struts or better/more spring packs came about later. 😊
WRONG. They are AAR Type A switcher trucks. Blunt (Correct spelling) trucks were only used on early American Locomotive COmpany (ALCO) switchers, later ALCO switchers used AAR Type As like most other switching diesels.
I have a couple of these with Indiana Harbor Belt black and EJ&E brown paint schemes. It's nice to see they've got another run coming including an IHB paint scheme I don't have yet. I do not see any tooling variations in mine, but I'm not sure whether there would be. EMD made a variety of similar-looking switchers, including the SW7 (which you can see mentioned in the paperwork); so it makes sense for manufacturers to model them, as they have the opportunity to make new or slightly varied body shells and reuse the chassis. I don't know if it was an NW2 or one of the other variations, but I do recall when I was young seeing a very similar looking EJ&E switcher hauling a train on the line that went by my house a couple times. It was notable because it looked and sounded different from the SD38-2's they normally used. As for other Walther's engines, maybe check out an F40PH - a relatively modern passenger diesel (Amtrak has retired them but some regional operators still use them). Looks like Trainworld still have a few from a recent run, including an Amtrak one with DCC sound for an almost unbelievable price.
As a child, I saw many Indiana Harbor Belt locos as this pulling those molten steel cars separated by flatbed cars. At night, the molten steel would glow bright yellow by the lids and we could feel the heat as they went by. That was on the south side of Chicago near the steel mills. Those memories came back as soon as Sam showed the loco. I’m glad you brought up the livery name. Thanks.
There are still many NW2 (and similar switchers from that same ere) operating across North America. They are just the right size for small industrial railroads doing interchange work and since not many smaller locomotives have been made in the last 30+ years, these and the GP series of locos soldier on in great numbers despite being many decades old.
For another review of a Walthers diesel, i would suggest the EMD E9 in the Burlington livery. It appears to simulate stainless steel side panels, and a review would demonstrate how well it pulls that effect off.
Since you asked for suggestions, I'd like to see the Rapido EP-5 New Haven electric. It's on sale at Trainworld for $279 USD. It's an interesting prototype. Kind of resembles something you'd see in Britain, but it's a US locomotive. On top of that, the livery is very... modern art looking.
If you bought this with the factory sound and DCC (ESU's "Essential" line of basic sound decoders), then this would be the king of crawling. I have ten Walthers units (EMD SD45, SD50, SD60, and SD60M) with ESU and their crawl speed at 1% is incredible. I've accidentally caused layout shorts because my locomotives would creep toward a switch without me noticing because of how slowly they advance. XD
I have a set of Walthers ALCO PA locomotives. One of them can pull 125 cars up a 2% grade and maintain whatever fast or slow speed doing so, and I have 4 of them. Absolute beasts. And as a note about Walthers, all of their locomotives have the same mechanical specs across the board. This means you can get a super detailed $300 locomotive or a $120 budget locomotive and they'll both have the high quality mechanism.
I have one of the Walthers SW7s (very similar engine that shares the same chassis) and I’ve always been super impressed by how well it runs and how nice the detail is!
I have several Walthers locomotives. I can’t say that I’ve ever had a bad one. I’ve always had a good experience with them. Their E7s and E8s do have problems with the axle covers being loose and sometimes coming off. Aside from that, all of my Walthers models have been very consistently good-running and powerful. I also have bought several of their building kits and pre-assembled model buildings and they’re all very good and well worth their price.
Prices on the US websites are excluding VAT. When purchasing from outside of the US, you normally would have to pay VAT and handling fees when your purchase enters your country. In the UK, we don't check our borders that well, so lots of packages arrive without those extra charges. But officially it should happen, so prices shown can't be compared with prices of model trains in the UK (and the rest Europe). Sam, I wonder if you had extra charges, as you don't mention this in your video. I would expect you would have mentioned it if that was the case.
Hi Sam, now that's a block of ice packaging. I love this model especially in that livery, but I do agree with you on the flat finish and lack of screws to fix the body on, great balanced review as usual🙂
Hi Sam, Your reviews are always comprehensive and cover nearly everything your viewers need. But with the increasing popularity of DCC I do wonder if you could possibly keep a jar of assorted good quality decoders handy so you could try each loco with your NCE PowerCab - even if it was done "body off" while you're examining the mechanism. The PowerCab is possibly the most popular DCC controller in the UK so it would be representative of what many viewers have. The reason I ask this is that I have many locos where the crawl is not great on DC, but manages to be utterly faultless on DCC. On DC I have found that there are very noticeable differences in the crawl depending on the exact type of controller in use, whereas there is much less variation on DCC. It's just a thought, but it would be good to find out what a loco's absolute best performance is like.
The Erie Lackawanna was a combination of the Erie Railway and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. The line ran from Chicago, Illinois to Hoboken, New Jersey. The Lackawanna was primarily a coal hauler from the Pennsylvania anthracite coal region plus express freight service in combination with the Nickel Plate Road with the Lackawanna providing the Buffalo, NY to Hoboken, New Jersey leg of the service. Trivia: The Lackawanna had a deluxe passenger train called The Phoebe Snow. In the 1970's an American singer chose to use Phoebe Snow as her stage name. The Erie was a long haul freight carrier and had a reputation for poor finances. Often stated on Wall Street Hell would freeze over before the Erie would pay a dividend. The E-L was combined into Consolidated Rail Corporation, the U.S. government's attempt to to take over and restore and rehabilitate 7 bankrupt Northeastern rail lines. Oddly enough the plan worked and Conrail was sold off to the Norfolk and Western and the Chessie Rail System.
The original use of Phoebe Snow was for the railroad advertising campaign around 1905 to promote how clean travel in their trains were by using anthracite coal and so keeping travellers cleaner. Phoebe Snow travelling safely and cleanly in a snow white dress was the advertising illustrations in those early years. One original advertising slogan was : Says Phoebe Snow about to go upon a trip to Buffalo "My gown stays white from morn till night Upon the Road of Anthracite" I wonder if the 1950 born Singer name was influenced by the train connection?
Hi Sam. Well, that's quite impressive for that amount really. Pity about the gap between the running plate and the cab, and the plasticy appearance. However, considering the purchase price, little room for complaints remain actually. The crawl is adequate as is as well tbh. Walthers have really done a splendid job. Cheerio.
These locos could reach a train's speed, even with a load, despite its not classified as a "road-switcher"; so the grearing might not be that far from reality. But I agree I usually choose Walthers/Life-like and Athearn, when i want a good US H0 loco, over Bachmann if i can.
The EMD had export models,and a cousin of the NW2 would up in Belgium,and had a cut down Continental cab! So there's a prototype for even British operations! Also there was a steel mill in Wales,that had Alco S2 engines,so another type of American engine was used in Britain,long before the Class 59,and66's! Anyway,some data,from the recent past! Excellent review,and very objective! Thank you 😇 😊!
The 5 Alco switchers that were owned by The steel Company Of Wales at Port Talbot works were S1s not S2s, the S1 was 660 hp and the S2s were 1000 hp. Both had the same Mackintosh & Seymour six cylinder engine but the S2 engines were turbo charged and the S1s weren't.
@@juneyoung6357 Thank you for the correction,and from the outside,it's a bit hard to distinguish S1's from S2's,as the really only way,was to know the Roster numbers! The Long Island had several locomotives that were used in both switching and road use,back in the day! Thank you 😇 😊!
This is one of the reasons I have more American than British trains in my collection build quality have been outstanding for years compared to some of the British manufacturers but we are getting better
Well done to Walthers Sam. Once again, they have a top quality model for a reasonable price. It is a shame that the model is not being held by screws and it runs a bit too fast but it performs pretty well thanks to quality mechanism. Overall, the Walthers EMD NW2 diesel locomotive is a pretty good model.
Hi Sam, it's been a very long time since I've said anything about my GER P43 project. I haven't really done that much work to it, and I'm pretty satisfy with the results. I'll keep you up to date on what happens next. Cheers Jasper & Willow
Not sure if you've done one before, but I'd love to see your review of one of the many geared locomotive models from here in the States. Shay, Heisler, Climax, whatever you fancy. I have a soft spot for Shays personally, having seen so many in person and how wonky they are in shape.
I'm in America very close to Scranton where the Lackawanna (predecessor to the EL) had a major yard and shops. I've started getting into UK O gauge with the Dapol 14xx on your recommendation. Funny that you chose a locomotive from my backyard. I'm building a Slaters O gauge van kit. It would be fun to follow along with your journey as you build a slaters 7mm kit.
I’ve been having bad luck lately with Walthers. I just had to replace a motor in a loco that I only had for a month and now the DCC decoder burnt out in the same loco after only 6 months. They at least have a 1 year Warranty. But still you are on the hook for shipping and I had to send the same loco back twice.
I have this same loco but in G gauge in Union pacific livery by USA trains with smoke from the dual stacks directional lighting and sound it’s a lovely model with exceptional detail and all in all fantastic runner
I’ve got a great video idea What about trying to make a 7-pole motor with the 3d printer? You sure must have plenty of burnt motors to scavenge parts from. It does exist I saw a 7-pole motor in a pre-ww2 steam loco once, don’t know what brand it was though.
Those of us in N.A. are blessed by a prototype coupling system that translates to a practical, working model form. G.B. and the rest of Eruope really missed the boat on knuckle couplers.
@@Waty8413My local state railway in Australia, the Victorian Railways, started conversion to knuckle couplers about 1925. So just about everyone modelling the VR and V/Line system uses Kadees or clones. Same for most UK and European models running at my clubs layout. Kadees on UK equipment still more prototypical than tension lock couplings or the European Markin types that no railway ever used. Later became the standard in almost all of Australia.
@@johnd8892 yeah the kadee style of couple is a better choice. It allows closer coupling, smaller profile, and they dont have that obnoxious toy-like appearance. The couplers on British models really take away from the appearance of otherwise very nice, well detailed models.
I'm hoping Walthers makes their EMD F40PH models to such a high mechanical standard as this. I've had my eye on that model in a Metra livelry for a while but seeing how good the mechanism on a budget model is has me thinking I'll buy one in the near future. Though the plastic retaining clips are the worst aspect of this model. I never like the anxiety of having to deal with them on anything
The Walthers Mainline stuff is amazing! I wish more locos were priced the way these are!! Honestly I don’t care too much about detail, so to pay so little, get great preformance, and only a little less detail is perfect for me (and by the sounds of it you as well!!) Are you planning on picking up the Bachmann Class 31 and Class 25? Both models have just been released and I want to pick up the 25 but want to wait fora review first!!
How about that! A model of a locomotive that I have seen in service! The handrails on the hood were not solid so each hood door has its own section of handrail. The footboards were outlawed in the late 1960’s for safety.
Ive been meaning to get a walthers loco, ive seen some for less than 100USD at a hobby shop. I do have some of their rolling stock. The crane and log car are sturdy but they look toy-ish, but oh boy are their tankers absolute beauties. Smooth runners too.
Can you please try to do an as perfect as you can BR mk1 blood and custard using 3D printing? It'll be challenging but i seriously believe you can manage it quite well. (Especially if you try tamiya paints with an airbrush on it)
Hi Sam, I have a question, I bought a Flying Scotsman on eBay and when I tested it, little sparks started to appear and I wanted to ask you, is it normal, should I buy another one?
Hi Sam, a very good review and a very good price, but it is Ugly and I suppose that you could improve the crew, the horrible grey bell and the grey whistle with a little paint. Hornby used to supply a seated driver and a shovelling fireman in black plastic at one time, they could also be easily painted. What happened to them ? So well done Walthers for them, I think that DCC would considerably improve the slow/ crawl running. Sam have you ever thought of adding a DCC chip to your models ? Regards from Ron 🚂👍
Hello SAM , we are really living in a bizare era. Nothing is going on anymore . I am French and I look at an English chain of miniature train don a majority of tests are in an obscure scale. and I like it! It’s serious doctor? PS in the Yankees, I love athearn genesis and in Canadians, Rapido trains for their qualities
Hi Sam, edrrrrr ummmm helical gears do not cog like straight one do! What you thought was cogging was the motor changing polarity as it turns. However, I might be talking utter rubbish, has been known!😂😂 Great video👍
If you look at a proper set of helical gears, eg in a car gearbox, the gear teeth are gently curved so they mesh in a beautifully smooth fashion from one side of the gear wheel to the other as it rotates. The so-called helical gears in this loco (and others) are just straight-cut teeth set at a slight angle, so they mesh just like normal spur gears really. Proper helical gears would be much smoother. Woof!
@@uscgtankerwhitmore8777 Nothing HO or even the Kato built Atlas and Stewart models. But he has the Kato N scale Amtrak P42 set. Maybe others with a search.
Sam, you are running out of topics,and I admit it must be difficult, so why not try branching out? How about working on the scenic side of things,i.e., who makes the best plastic trees 🌳, what grass coverings are the most realistic? Let's face it ,this direction can only make your layout more interesting.
Vintage EMD locomotives are fan favorites here, so you've made a good choice in picking one of these up. As for the Erie Lackawanna, they were one of the few roads in the American Northeast that were in a position to salvage the absolutely _awful_ state of railroading in the region. They were turning a profit, and then Hurricane Agnes hit. The EL went down the same commode as the Penn Central and got folded into Conrail. The lines in my neck of the woods were abandoned or sold off, now hiking trails or making up portions of the Wheeling & Lake Erie.
Yeah they have great character to them don't they? Ahh I didn't know this - thanks for the info!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Props for your pronunciation of Erie Lackawanna but I'm afraid I disagree with your assessment of the top speed because this NW2 was a large switcher and capable of 65mph. Me disagreeing is a moot point because I do agree it could have been geared lower for better slow operation so in the words of Gilda Radner, "never mind". For me Walthers has always been one of my favorite companies and I never have a problem with anything they have made. Great review and video, Jersey Bill
hahaha thanks Bill - must have been by chance! And thanks for sharing your thoughts on speed!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Erie Lackawanna ist he most GORGEOUS livery in ALL railroading. Awhile back, you reviewed a Walthers GP7 and you remarked that the handrails were too thin. I disagreed with that, stating that the handrails were correct and that I was familiar with prototype GP7s. The reason that I was so familiar with GP7s was that I grew up along an Erie Lackawanna branch line and upon finding out that I was interested in railroading and was safe around the railroad, they allowed me to ride on the locos and even allowed me to run them on occasion. Yes, I Love the Erie Lackawanna. BTW, you DID pronounce that legendary name properly.
Yeah it's really lovely isn't it? I don't think I've claimed any handrails were too thin?? Might have been someone else? Thanks a lot for sharing!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
This locomtive was designed over twenty years ago as Proto series from Life Like. That company was bought by Walthers, Regards, Alexander
I think you are confusing this NW2 with Proto 2000's SW8, SW9, and SW1200 models.
Ahh fantastic - it looks damn good for 20 years old!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Walthers, in general, is usually quality. They make good models that aren't too detailed but still get the important details. It's always fun to see a review about them
I have a Walthers Santa Fe RS2 (HO scale) that I simply love! I'm hoping to buy more RS2 locomotives as that's my favourite diesel locomotive (since N-gauge at seven years old) ever!
Yeah I think that's right - they get that balance just right don't they?
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I’ve got two Athern SW1500 switchers (similar to the one in the review) and they are fantastic! Great detail, Two flywheels, 5 pole motors, metal handrails, and great crawlers. Picked them up for 40 dollars each. Great video Sam as always!
Ahh lovely - yeah I liked the Athearn models I tried too!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
@@SamsTrains also I have a video idea. Could you do a video about your favorite hornby railroad range locos?
Thank you so much, Sam, for another excellent review of an HO North American loco. The NW2 switcher is considered a classic here in the US. I've owned a Kato NW2 for about 25 years. I'm now sorely tempted to get a DCC/Sound version of this Walthers offering. And congrats on your pronunciation of Eric Lackawanna, as you were spot on. The EL was created by the 1960 merger of the Erie and the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western which were competing railroads in the NE US (although the Erie did make it to Chicago). Their merger was the first in a series that eventually led to Conrail and much "rationalization" of the eastern US rail network. Cheers from Wisconsin!
So therefore your use of the conrail caboose is totally prototype
It's a pleasure Andrew - I can see why this is a classic!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Walthers Train Line is the budget stuff and Main line is the better-quality stuff. I used to see the Erie Lackawanna when I was growing up in Ohio.
I got one of these in a KCS livery with DCC sound for less than a 100 quid, it's worth it just for the ESU decoder alone. Amazing value. :D
Blimey amazing - yeah that is good just for a decoder!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Occasionally I have had a Walthers loco that stutters a little on the crawl speed. Most of the time, they are fine though and it is usually just a one off. I have 5 of their SD-9s with one that needed some tuning as it was a little jerkier than the others. I believe the issue is with their Chinese motor suppliers who are not always super consistent. As for the top speed on the NW-2, a lot of American switchers were geared to be able to work local freight which required running on the mainlines between industries. This meant they did need to be able to travel at reasonable speeds, 50 to 60 mph, so they didn’t hold up important traffic. Remember very few American Railroads had more than double track mainlines with tens of thousands of miles of single track mainline!
By the 60s, the railroads of the Northeast were all going under or were merged with larger networks. The New Haven, for example, went bankrupt in 1964, with the Boston And Maine soon following suit. The disaster that was the Penn Central (a merger of the Pennsy and New York Central) caused economic shockwaves throughout the country. It was eventually reorganized as Conrail before being split up between CSX and the new Norfolk Southern (to distinguish it from an earlier line of the same name).
Thanks a lot for the info - interesting stuff!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Erie-Lackawanna was the main railroad operating through my town, brings me great joy to see one of its locos appearing on your channel!
Ahh fantastic - yeah don't think I've done this before!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Like how neat and tidy the black lining around the rear windows are.
Thanks for another great video. It's great to see some budget locos. They are great to just run and enjoy. As great to get people started in the hobby.
It's a pleasure Robert, glad you enjoyed it! Very very enjoyable to run!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hi Sam. Those trucks (bogeys) are - I believe - Blount trucks, and are quite simplistic looking in real life, being meant for switchers that operated in/around a major yard, or an industry such as a steel mill or grain elevator. As such, they lacked creature comforts you would find on later road switchers like the Alco RSD-5, or the G.E. U-boat series. Features such as shocks/struts or better/more spring packs came about later. 😊
No they are AAR type A Blount tru ks are typically fou d only under alco S1 and S2 switchers
WRONG. They are AAR Type A switcher trucks. Blunt (Correct spelling) trucks were only used on early American Locomotive COmpany (ALCO) switchers, later ALCO switchers used AAR Type As like most other switching diesels.
Ahh thanks a lot for the info - much appreciated!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I have a couple of these with Indiana Harbor Belt black and EJ&E brown paint schemes. It's nice to see they've got another run coming including an IHB paint scheme I don't have yet. I do not see any tooling variations in mine, but I'm not sure whether there would be.
EMD made a variety of similar-looking switchers, including the SW7 (which you can see mentioned in the paperwork); so it makes sense for manufacturers to model them, as they have the opportunity to make new or slightly varied body shells and reuse the chassis.
I don't know if it was an NW2 or one of the other variations, but I do recall when I was young seeing a very similar looking EJ&E switcher hauling a train on the line that went by my house a couple times. It was notable because it looked and sounded different from the SD38-2's they normally used.
As for other Walther's engines, maybe check out an F40PH - a relatively modern passenger diesel (Amtrak has retired them but some regional operators still use them). Looks like Trainworld still have a few from a recent run, including an Amtrak one with DCC sound for an almost unbelievable price.
Ahh fantastic - I did have a look at some of the other liveries... all look great!!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
As a child, I saw many Indiana Harbor Belt locos as this pulling those molten steel cars separated by flatbed cars. At night, the molten steel would glow bright yellow by the lids and we could feel the heat as they went by. That was on the south side of Chicago near the steel mills. Those memories came back as soon as Sam showed the loco. I’m glad you brought up the livery name. Thanks.
I live one town over from Lackawanna, (NY) you pronounced it well. Nice review as always.
Ahh excellent - looks a lovely place from the photos!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
There are still many NW2 (and similar switchers from that same ere) operating across North America. They are just the right size for small industrial railroads doing interchange work and since not many smaller locomotives have been made in the last 30+ years, these and the GP series of locos soldier on in great numbers despite being many decades old.
For another review of a Walthers diesel, i would suggest the EMD E9 in the Burlington livery. It appears to simulate stainless steel side panels, and a review would demonstrate how well it pulls that effect off.
Every new release on your channel is a surprise that makes my day. Thanks for the pleasure!😆 9 😁.
Since you asked for suggestions, I'd like to see the Rapido EP-5 New Haven electric. It's on sale at Trainworld for $279 USD. It's an interesting prototype. Kind of resembles something you'd see in Britain, but it's a US locomotive. On top of that, the livery is very... modern art looking.
I’d like to see how Rapido Canada compares to Rapido UK
Thanks for the suggestion - I'll have to look at that!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Yes, finally we have something new to see and very nice Walthers NW2 - Happy to see :)
If you bought this with the factory sound and DCC (ESU's "Essential" line of basic sound decoders), then this would be the king of crawling. I have ten Walthers units (EMD SD45, SD50, SD60, and SD60M) with ESU and their crawl speed at 1% is incredible. I've accidentally caused layout shorts because my locomotives would creep toward a switch without me noticing because of how slowly they advance. XD
I have a set of Walthers ALCO PA locomotives. One of them can pull 125 cars up a 2% grade and maintain whatever fast or slow speed doing so, and I have 4 of them. Absolute beasts. And as a note about Walthers, all of their locomotives have the same mechanical specs across the board. This means you can get a super detailed $300 locomotive or a $120 budget locomotive and they'll both have the high quality mechanism.
I have one of the Walthers SW7s (very similar engine that shares the same chassis) and I’ve always been super impressed by how well it runs and how nice the detail is!
This engine could be another option for a shunting engine in the American shunting session video
I have several Walthers locomotives. I can’t say that I’ve ever had a bad one. I’ve always had a good experience with them. Their E7s and E8s do have problems with the axle covers being loose and sometimes coming off. Aside from that, all of my Walthers models have been very consistently good-running and powerful. I also have bought several of their building kits and pre-assembled model buildings and they’re all very good and well worth their price.
Awesome video Sam
Very solid review of a personal favorite. I love my NW2 so much I’m looking to get a second.
I MUST get a EMD NW2 as it's long overdue. Terrific review indeed!
Prices on the US websites are excluding VAT. When purchasing from outside of the US, you normally would have to pay VAT and handling fees when your purchase enters your country. In the UK, we don't check our borders that well, so lots of packages arrive without those extra charges. But officially it should happen, so prices shown can't be compared with prices of model trains in the UK (and the rest Europe). Sam, I wonder if you had extra charges, as you don't mention this in your video. I would expect you would have mentioned it if that was the case.
Hi Sam, now that's a block of ice packaging. I love this model especially in that livery, but I do agree with you on the flat finish and lack of screws to fix the body on, great balanced review as usual🙂
Hi Sam, Your reviews are always comprehensive and cover nearly everything your viewers need. But with the increasing popularity of DCC I do wonder if you could possibly keep a jar of assorted good quality decoders handy so you could try each loco with your NCE PowerCab - even if it was done "body off" while you're examining the mechanism. The PowerCab is possibly the most popular DCC controller in the UK so it would be representative of what many viewers have. The reason I ask this is that I have many locos where the crawl is not great on DC, but manages to be utterly faultless on DCC. On DC I have found that there are very noticeable differences in the crawl depending on the exact type of controller in use, whereas there is much less variation on DCC. It's just a thought, but it would be good to find out what a loco's absolute best performance is like.
You should definitely buy the hornby apt!! All you need to do is sell all your other locos to buy it 😂
Seriously hornby are pricing themselves out of their own market 😂
@@tripwire3992 I know lol 😂
The Erie Lackawanna was a combination of the Erie Railway and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. The line ran from Chicago, Illinois to Hoboken, New Jersey.
The Lackawanna was primarily a coal hauler from the Pennsylvania anthracite coal region plus express freight service in combination with the Nickel Plate Road with the Lackawanna providing the Buffalo, NY to Hoboken, New Jersey leg of the service.
Trivia: The Lackawanna had a deluxe passenger train called The Phoebe Snow. In the 1970's an American singer chose to use Phoebe Snow as her stage name.
The Erie was a long haul freight carrier and had a reputation for poor finances. Often stated on Wall Street Hell would freeze over before the Erie would pay a dividend.
The E-L was combined into Consolidated Rail Corporation, the U.S. government's attempt to to take over and restore and rehabilitate 7 bankrupt Northeastern rail lines. Oddly enough the plan worked and Conrail was sold off to the Norfolk and Western and the Chessie Rail System.
The original use of Phoebe Snow was for the railroad advertising campaign around 1905 to promote how clean travel in their trains were by using anthracite coal and so keeping travellers cleaner. Phoebe Snow travelling safely and cleanly in a snow white dress was the advertising illustrations in those early years.
One original advertising slogan was :
Says Phoebe Snow
about to go
upon a trip to Buffalo
"My gown stays white
from morn till night
Upon the Road of Anthracite"
I wonder if the 1950 born Singer name was influenced by the train connection?
@@johnd8892 "I wonder if the 1950 born Singer name was influenced by the train connection?"
The singer was inspired by the passenger train's name.
Happy you are doing American locos. 😊
Hi Sam. Well, that's quite impressive for that amount really. Pity about the gap between the running plate and the cab, and the plasticy appearance. However, considering the purchase price, little room for complaints remain actually. The crawl is adequate as is as well tbh. Walthers have really done a splendid job. Cheerio.
These locos could reach a train's speed, even with a load, despite its not classified as a "road-switcher"; so the grearing might not be that far from reality.
But I agree I usually choose Walthers/Life-like and Athearn, when i want a good US H0 loco, over Bachmann if i can.
NW2 traction motor gear ratio was 62.15 so 65mph is spot on.
The EMD had export models,and a cousin of the NW2 would up in Belgium,and had a cut down Continental cab! So there's a prototype for even British operations! Also there was a steel mill in Wales,that had Alco S2 engines,so another type of American engine was used in Britain,long before the Class 59,and66's! Anyway,some data,from the recent past! Excellent review,and very objective! Thank you 😇 😊!
The 5 Alco switchers that were owned by The steel Company Of Wales at Port Talbot works were S1s not S2s, the S1 was 660 hp and the S2s were 1000 hp. Both had the same Mackintosh & Seymour six cylinder engine but the S2 engines were turbo charged and the S1s weren't.
@@juneyoung6357 Thank you for the correction,and from the outside,it's a bit hard to distinguish S1's from S2's,as the really only way,was to know the Roster numbers! The Long Island had several locomotives that were used in both switching and road use,back in the day! Thank you 😇 😊!
You should try proto 2000 model, they're amazing!
They make a good gun barrel as well.
As an American, I do not have any running American engines, might have to pick this up to run with my Walthers wagons
At least the crew is better than constipated Colin
This is one of the reasons I have more American than British trains in my collection build quality have been outstanding for years compared to some of the British manufacturers but we are getting better
Well done to Walthers Sam. Once again, they have a top quality model for a reasonable price. It is a shame that the model is not being held by screws and it runs a bit too fast but it performs pretty well thanks to quality mechanism. Overall, the Walthers EMD NW2 diesel locomotive is a pretty good model.
Hi Sam, it's been a very long time since I've said anything about my GER P43 project. I haven't really done that much work to it, and I'm pretty satisfy with the results. I'll keep you up to date on what happens next.
Cheers Jasper & Willow
Ahh glad to hear you're happy - sounds like an amazing project!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Not sure if you've done one before, but I'd love to see your review of one of the many geared locomotive models from here in the States. Shay, Heisler, Climax, whatever you fancy. I have a soft spot for Shays personally, having seen so many in person and how wonky they are in shape.
I'm in America very close to Scranton where the Lackawanna (predecessor to the EL) had a major yard and shops. I've started getting into UK O gauge with the Dapol 14xx on your recommendation. Funny that you chose a locomotive from my backyard. I'm building a Slaters O gauge van kit. It would be fun to follow along with your journey as you build a slaters 7mm kit.
I’ve been having bad luck lately with Walthers. I just had to replace a motor in a loco that I only had for a month and now the DCC decoder burnt out in the same loco after only 6 months. They at least have a 1 year Warranty. But still you are on the hook for shipping and I had to send the same loco back twice.
This is one of my favorite styles of Engines (my future layout will be N Scale)
Best Channel ❤
Absolutely!
I have this same loco but in G gauge in Union pacific livery by USA trains with smoke from the dual stacks directional lighting and sound it’s a lovely model with exceptional detail and all in all fantastic runner
Great to see your new caboose when you are running a North American train!
I’ve got a great video idea
What about trying to make a 7-pole motor with the 3d printer?
You sure must have plenty of burnt motors to scavenge parts from.
It does exist
I saw a 7-pole motor in a pre-ww2 steam loco once, don’t know what brand it was though.
Brilliant video Sam :)
Walthers is really good at diesel locomotives right now
has to be said the couplings on non-UK models are seriously far better than what we get
Those of us in N.A. are blessed by a prototype coupling system that translates to a practical, working model form. G.B. and the rest of Eruope really missed the boat on knuckle couplers.
@@Waty8413My local state railway in Australia, the Victorian Railways, started conversion to knuckle couplers about 1925. So just about everyone modelling the VR and V/Line system uses Kadees or clones. Same for most UK and European models running at my clubs layout.
Kadees on UK equipment still more prototypical than tension lock couplings or the European Markin types that no railway ever used.
Later became the standard in almost all of Australia.
@@johnd8892 yeah the kadee style of couple is a better choice. It allows closer coupling, smaller profile, and they dont have that obnoxious toy-like appearance. The couplers on British models really take away from the appearance of otherwise very nice, well detailed models.
I'm hoping Walthers makes their EMD F40PH models to such a high mechanical standard as this. I've had my eye on that model in a Metra livelry for a while but seeing how good the mechanism on a budget model is has me thinking I'll buy one in the near future.
Though the plastic retaining clips are the worst aspect of this model. I never like the anxiety of having to deal with them on anything
the locomotive has quite a interesting livery and the locmotive looks really nice i think i even saw a simular one back in poland
nice work sam my grandpa has the same switcher in the same livery but in g scale
The Walthers Mainline stuff is amazing! I wish more locos were priced the way these are!! Honestly I don’t care too much about detail, so to pay so little, get great preformance, and only a little less detail is perfect for me (and by the sounds of it you as well!!)
Are you planning on picking up the Bachmann Class 31 and Class 25? Both models have just been released and I want to pick up the 25 but want to wait fora review first!!
How about that! A model of a locomotive that I have seen in service!
The handrails on the hood were not solid so each hood door has its own section of handrail.
The footboards were outlawed in the late 1960’s for safety.
Late 1970s.
Nice model, well engineered. Would look brilliant weathered !;)
Sam you should review the hornby class 153 in fgw livery!!
Ive been meaning to get a walthers loco, ive seen some for less than 100USD at a hobby shop. I do have some of their rolling stock. The crane and log car are sturdy but they look toy-ish, but oh boy are their tankers absolute beauties. Smooth runners too.
SAM - The Lenap Native Americans lived in Eastern Pa. The english translation is:
Lacka Wanna meaning: "I am well satisfied at night."
Ahh very interesting Richard thanks for this!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Have ever thought of measuring the current motors draw to see how efficient they are?
Look like Walthers has put Heljan to sham again in price and Quality
Oh yeah they totally have!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I own 2 of those and they are awesome!
Hey! When does the Hattons or Accurascale Bluebell P Class be released?
If you want to have a look at affordable high-quality models, have you checked out PIKO?
I own an original 1949 Lionel one still running on my layout bought it from the original owner
You should try the Walthers SD70ACe
The nearest Loco I've g0ot is a BR Plymouth Switcher - it's a bit smaller thou - mine has no lighting & it is made by Lima 😐🚂🚂🚂
Can you please try to do an as perfect as you can BR mk1 blood and custard using 3D printing? It'll be challenging but i seriously believe you can manage it quite well. (Especially if you try tamiya paints with an airbrush on it)
Maybe you could persuade Walthers to do a BR class 20 for £80!
Or a class 25. They’d kill it on the UK market if they did!
Another great review sam I have a suggestion for walthers gp15 or a gp40 by walthers
I'm not really into diesels Sam, but great review.
Cheers Jasper & Willow
No problem - thanks for checking it out anyway!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Good engineering in old tooling…excellent value…why can’t the uk guys do this?
And this is walthers mid range…
Trainman is the true walthers budget line…very old tooling but excellent engineering
Great looking and works well....a slow crawl would be very realisitic....
Hi Sam, I have a question, I bought a Flying Scotsman on eBay and when I tested it, little sparks started to appear and I wanted to ask you, is it normal, should I buy another one?
Hi Sam, a very good review and a very good price, but it is Ugly and I suppose that you could improve the crew, the horrible grey bell and the grey whistle with a little paint. Hornby used to supply a seated driver and a shovelling fireman in black plastic at one time, they could also be easily painted. What happened to them ? So well done Walthers for them, I think that DCC would considerably improve the slow/ crawl running. Sam have you ever thought of adding a DCC chip to your models ? Regards from Ron 🚂👍
There is a problem with the model I've got. At 75-100% speeds, the wheels start sparking. And having a wood floor, i barely run it.
Yes you said it right😄
hahaha there's a first time for everything!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Why does the Locomotive Rankings start at 2?
Hello SAM , we are really living in a bizare era. Nothing is going on anymore . I am French and I look at an English chain of miniature train don a majority of tests are in an obscure scale. and I like it! It’s serious doctor? PS in the Yankees, I love athearn genesis and in Canadians, Rapido trains for their qualities
Does Walthers sell a powered calf for the nw2? (A cow-calf lashup, for those who don’t know, can be best compared to a semi-permanent BR class 13)
No😊
The crew might have a disease...
Decent looking model overall, it’s not something I would buy though due to me only buying British locos.
Hi Sam, edrrrrr ummmm helical gears do not cog like straight one do! What you thought was cogging was the motor changing polarity as it turns. However, I might be talking utter rubbish, has been known!😂😂 Great video👍
If you look at a proper set of helical gears, eg in a car gearbox, the gear teeth are gently curved so they mesh in a beautifully smooth fashion from one side of the gear wheel to the other as it rotates. The so-called helical gears in this loco (and others) are just straight-cut teeth set at a slight angle, so they mesh just like normal spur gears really. Proper helical gears would be much smoother. Woof!
William
Have you reviewed anything from KATO? I have several KATO engines US and Japanese.
Just some Kato N scale that impressed him.
@@johnd8892 kato peco England class in 009. But looking in Sam's videos my self nothing in ho scale. Still great reviews sam. 👍
@@uscgtankerwhitmore8777 Nothing HO or even the Kato built Atlas and Stewart models.
But he has the Kato N scale Amtrak P42 set.
Maybe others with a search.
No sprungbuffers 😅
👍 👍 👏 👏 👏 Sam .
Chipped versions? Who would want to pay for something that is broken?
That's so cool
Sam, you are running out of topics,and I admit it must be difficult, so why not try branching out? How about working on the scenic side of things,i.e., who makes the best plastic trees 🌳, what grass coverings are the most realistic? Let's face it ,this direction can only make your layout more interesting.
It’s pronounced (lack) u wanna
Such profligate packaging.
Budget model? Cheap? Amazon are charging £694.44 for that one. Others are 143.17
Surely you're kidding?
Solution is do not buy that from Amazon. Find lots of much better suppliers at prices less than a third of that.