I've been unable to run trains for two weeks now - my layout is under-reconstruction in places and all power is disconnected, etc., but I alligator-clipped leads to one section of track this morning because I wanted to see this new MTH Union Pacific NW-2 switcher and calf (30-20228-1 and 3) which arrived very last night (UPS delivered it around 8 PM - guess they are already on overtime for the Holidays!). I'm supposed to be a Lionel buy but this makes six straight MTH locos for me more recently.
Anyway, I've always liked the NW-2 - it's the boxy yard switcher as far as I'm concerned. I would not have bought this pair were it not for the calf, though, which I think is just really interesting and sort of different and, well, nice to have.
- Price: keep in mind that both units, with shipping, cost less than $500. They are, overall, fairly priced in my opinion.
- Scale: this is 1/48 scale according to MTH and while I have not measured, it does seem scale size to me.
- Out of the box: Both units were well packed and looked perfect out of the box.
- Detail, paint, etc.: This is Railking, and thus it lacks some of the detail of premium offerings, having cast rather than real screens and few "separately applied parts" as do Premier, Legacy, and Vision locos, but both units are nicely cast, well assembled, have good railings and such along with good paint and graphics., and the main unit has a good interior, windows, and figures in the cab.
- Lights are directional and appear to be constant voltage - nice and bright anyway.
- Sound is good, not great, but very good: it sounds far less "real" than the best Premier or Legacy diesels I have, but again then keep in mind the price. In my opinion this loco is at its best on start up and idle - lots of interesting and dynamic sounds as it starts and runs up to idle (or shuts down) including some odd tinkling/rattling machinery sounds, and a good rumble at idle. Running sound is not that dynamic and the sound changes slowly even if you up the throttle quickly, but it's more than adequate and quite pleasing enough. Note in the fourth video that if left to its own idling for long enough, it starts talking . . .
- Horn is nice. Bell is just a generic bell.
- Smoke: neither unit has smoke
- Running. I run only conventional. This loco runs smoothly, has nice linear throttle control and will go as slowly as I want (see third video) while pulling a heavy load. I show it in the second video running at 11 volts pulling 14 scale reefers and a scale caboose.
- Noisy: this is noisier than many other diesels. Turn the diesel sound off/down and you can discern gear whir particularly at low speeds. Haven't heard that from a new loco for a while. Note the first photo below. First time I have seen notices like this in a while. I always lube a new loco but I did particularly this time. It is adequately lubed, just noisier than most, I guess.
- Tight curves. Note the second photo below. That is the powered unit on D-16 (11) 'Streets curves. I did not run it, but it fits with a bit of margin in the play of its trucks, believe it or not. I'm sure if I had powered up that street it would have run (but no, it would not make it through the tunnel!
).
Overall, I am very pleased with these guys and I think they were, if not a bargain, very good value for the money.
Here it is on D-16 'Streets curves. The trucks will easiely swivel even more, believe it of not.
Here it is starting and idling and then running a bit.
Here it is pulling the calf and 14 scale reefers and a caboose. It looks as though it has two medium-small can motors (slightly smaller than in Legacy locos, etc.) in it and I imagine it will pull much more, but I'm not going to stress it much beyond this.
It will run just a bit slower than this in conventional, while pulling this train, but not much, its at just below 10 volts here and seems to shut down somewhere around 9.
Horn and bell. I like the horn alot.
