Walthers N scale 0-8-0

[propmeup1]

I been eyeballing the Walthers n scale 0-8-0, DCC ready. Was wondering if it is a good engine and worth the cost of putting a sound decoder in it. Engine is selling for $150 as is.  Are they good pullers ?

Thanks,
KTB

[Boulderman]

The 2nd run of the 0-8-0's were very good pullers.  15 cars or more. They run very smooth.
Not much room in the tender for a decoder.  There is room for a tiny decoder.

Doug

[propmeup1]

Thank you

[nickelplate759]

I have a 1st run 0-8-0.  It's awful and great at the same time.  When it runs it's great.  It doesn't run very far....

The problem is that the valve gear/rods tend to hang up, and then the whole engine locks up.  I've tried to fix it, but No Joy.  Shelf queen....

[wm3798]

I did a decoder install in one, I think it may have been from the first run (the photo dates from 2010).  It wasn't a sound decoder, so I don't remember space being an issue.



In my test runs, I thought it was very nice, and I loved the detail of it, especially the high mounted headlight.  I can't recall for whom the work was done, or what kind of decoder I used, even.  But I really liked it, and have been side eying Ebay to see if one shows up that's on the lesser expensive end of the spectrum.

Lee

[jdcolombo]

The second run was more reliable than the first run.  I have two first-runs, which have never run all that well, and now both have a cracked gear.  I've put off working on them for other projects. 

As for decoders, it is possible to put in nearly anything, including a full sound installation, in the tender, which is deep and wide.  For sound, it does require stripping out most of what's already there, but it's doable and not even all that hard.  See the following:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=39821.msg488166#msg488166

John C.

[delamaize]

First run takes a ton of work to get them to pull much more than 5 cars on flat and level. Draw bar modifications, wiring changes, driver shimming, using the traction tire, etc. The tender is VERY limited on space, and it would be a big challenge without making modifications to the tender.

The 2nd runs are better, I don't own one, but I have been able to run a few of them, and they fixed a lot of the issues from the first run.

[mmagliaro]

As others have said, 1st run problems, 2nd run much improved.  Although to be fair, I only know the second run was better because I have read so many accounts from people who have bought them, and also have personally talked to friends who bought them and say they are much better.  I do not personally own any of the 2nd run.

1st run issues may or may not include (depending on what you happen to get):
Drawbar, wiring harness, pickup, traction (i.e. pulling less than 5 cars without shimming, adding weight, etc),
slightly bent frame halves causing wobble in some of the internal idler gears, and drivers being slightly out of quarter
causing jamming or a hitch in the motion once per wheel revolution.

There was a 40 page (yes 40) thread on that 1st run in the old Atlas Forum, about 50% of which was arguing
and sniping, but a lot of it was honest experimentation and methods of fixing the engine (I like to think I contributed
to that half of it and not the sniping half).  But sadly, that forum's threads are all lost now.

I can tell you that after that thread was up for a while, I got a call from a product development manager at Walthers,
who discussed what I found and fixed, and he sent me another engine to play with to see how I could
improve it.  I will never know if that thread, or my discussions with that guy, resulted in any improvements they made
for the 2nd run.  But I hope so.
 

[Chris333]

Hey don't forget the gearhead motors. 

[muktown128]

Are there any easy spotting features to differentiate between the first and second runs?

[johnb]

Are there any easy spotting features to differentiate between the first and second runs?

road names...

[jdcolombo]

The second run roadnames were
C&O
L&N
Boston & Maine
New Haven
MoPac
Indiana Harbor Belt

Each had two numbers, and there was an undec with ladder steps.

The Walthers stock numbers were 90013-90025

If you're not buying one of these roadnames, I'd stay away.

John C.

[Bill H]

I seem to remember a large part of that old A board thread were dealing with the rather innovative ways Max found to add weight to the first run in an effort to decrease wheel slip, which seemed to be the major issue with the first run. I have a second run, and have no issues with it. Have not found time to add DCC but in tests it seemed to be a very nice slow puller.

Kind regards,
Bill

[Cajonpassfan]

The second run roadnames were
C&O
L&N
Boston & Maine
New Haven
MoPac
Indiana Harbor Belt

Each had two numbers, and there was an undec with ladder steps.

The Walthers stock numbers were 90013-90025

If you're not buying one of these roadnames, I'd stay away.

John C.

Thanks for this info. I guess my B&M “project loco” is the second run....good news in theory; I’ll get on that “project” as soon as the layout is done
Otto

[wm3798]

For what it's worth, my old Atlas Rivarossi 0-8-0s handle 8-10 cars pretty effortlessly.  But only in one direction!
Lee