Hello all, Anyone have any opinions concerning Pride Lines Union Pacific M10000. Fit, finish, do the perform well etc? Thanks in advance, Jim R.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I do not have the M10000 but I think my experience with their Hiawatha is relevant. The appearance is excellent, but it was full of serious mechanical problems. Many things were out of line, holes not drilled square, etc. The cylinders were out of line and so the piston rods were binding. The motor gave trouble from the beginning and finally expired with a bad field coil. The eccentric cranks were made of poor quality metal and had to be replaced. The leading truck had to be replaced, I forget what the problem was there. I do remember that the axles weren't parallel, maybe that's why I replaced it with an MTH part. My Hiawatha now runs fine, after replacing virtually every moving part with Lionel or MTH parts. I had to do quite a bit of grinding and drilling to make some of the Lionel and MTH parts fit, since the dimensions of what was supposedly a repro weren't all the same as the original. Also I believe the company is no longer in business - the founder died some time ago and the last I heard, the heirs were not planning to continue the business.
I have talked to a couple of professional parts and repair guys who specialize in prewar and they have trouble discussing Pride Lines without using obscenities.
Since the M10000 is a diesel, you will not have the problems I did with valve gear, crossheads, etc. You should be OK if you figure the cost of a new motor assembly into the price you pay for it.
I've got the UP M10000 but haven't really run it due to the fact my curves aren't O72. Th finish looks great and it seems to run on the short sections of straight track I have but like I said it hasn't really been given the chance to stretch its legs. I am planning to add an electronic reverse unit and sound to it and I am planning to upgrade the lighting to LEDs along with running a wire from pick up to pick up thru the string of cars to improve electrical conductivity. Over all I'm happy with it.
Jerry
Caveat Emptor.
I'm glad that I remembered this post yesterday when I was reaching for my wallet at the Greenberg Show in Monroeville. 
Originally Posted by Southwest Hiawatha:
I do not have the M10000 but I think my experience with their Hiawatha is relevant. The appearance is excellent, but it was full of serious mechanical problems. Many things were out of line, holes not drilled square, etc. The cylinders were out of line and so the piston rods were binding. The motor gave trouble from the beginning and finally expired with a bad field coil. The eccentric cranks were made of poor quality metal and had to be replaced. The leading truck had to be replaced, I forget what the problem was there. I do remember that the axles weren't parallel, maybe that's why I replaced it with an MTH part. My Hiawatha now runs fine, after replacing virtually every moving part with Lionel or MTH parts. I had to do quite a bit of grinding and drilling to make some of the Lionel and MTH parts fit, since the dimensions of what was supposedly a repro weren't all the same as the original. Also I believe the company is no longer in business - the founder died some time ago and the last I heard, the heirs were not planning to continue the business.
I have talked to a couple of professional parts and repair guys who specialize in prewar and they have trouble discussing Pride Lines without using obscenities.
Since the M10000 is a diesel, you will not have the problems I did with valve gear, crossheads, etc. You should be OK if you figure the cost of a new motor assembly into the price you pay for it.
