Menards Chicago & North Western diesel 9291 review (new 7-2024)

[@robertcontri4087]

Good job! I’ll be getting one soon. Thank you Menards for making the hobby alive and affordable!

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

@@robertcontri4087 thank you. Wich livery do you like the best?

[@robertcontri4087]

@@TooManyHobbiesJeremy My grandfather worked for the C&NW and the C&NW ran through my home town so I’ve always been a C&NW fan. When I was younger in the 60’s you couldn’t get C&NW models; most were the bigger railroads: Santa Fe, UP, B&O, NYC, etc.

[@robertcontri4087]

I’ll definitely be going C&NW, although I wished they had a more realistic graphic job.

[@TwistedMacGyversTrains]

Menards really improved this one. I really like this model! Great review Jeremy👍

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

I think they were paying attention. Glad you liked the video

[@TwistedMacGyversTrains]

Most definitely! Any difference in the sound of the motor or performance compared to the Santa Fe?

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

So far the performance is similar. I'm going to have to investigate that ticking sound from the rear truck. After running the loco by itself something is binding while in reverse.

[@TwistedMacGyversTrains]

That could be what is making the clicking noise. You probably have to look inside the rear truck. Thanks for the reply Jeremy! Frank

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

You bet! Odd that it doesn't bind in forward.

[@mikebrzostowski8183]

For those that don't have an unlimited budget, these Menard's trains and assories seem to be the answer. I have purchased some rolling stock for my grandson and have noticed problems with the wheel trucks, hope they can solve that problem, others have experience with this as well.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

They do seem to be interested in improving the product.

[@bradkorando]

Thanks for sharing your impressions of the newest Menards locomotive. It's nice to see that there appears to be improvements being made on the operating components of the engine. I just saw today that Menards is selling remote 072 switches that are compatible with most tubular track for a very reasonable cost. Thanks for another terrific video, Jeremy!

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Glad you liked the video Brad The Menards switch announcement certainly surprised me! I think it's great

[@phil8083]

Have one in PRR and love it! Hope they keep expanding their product line. Lionel prices have left the average guy behind

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

I'm super happy the PRR is working well for you. I'm really looking forward to what new products they bring out.

[@trainman5603]

I am glad you mentioned the paint. True the Menards paint scheme for the CNW and Milwaukee for that matter, is not prototypical. However I grew up with the CNW in Eastern Wisconsin and got to know some train crews. One night an E7 came in on the lead of three units hauling an 18 car passenger going to Northern Wisconsin and summer vacation spots. There was a great big CNW logo behind the engineer's crew door that was not supposed to be in that spot. I and my friends asked about it. It was explained to us that the locomotive had been involved in an accident. Rather than redoing the sheet metal and repainting it, the Company plastered a big CNW logo over the damaged part of the car body. Lesson learned. Also I like the yellow in the scheme a whole lot more. It is more like the yellow the CNW used in the 50's. 😂

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks for sharing that great story ❤️ Growing up in Central WI the CNW equipment I saw was pretty dirty. But those memories are what keeps my interests going.

[@stevesoscaletrainchannel.1901]

Looks like some nice improvements, thanks for sharing.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Agreed! Glad you liked the video Steve

[@darius7760]

I like the paint scheme of your Menards 9291 diesel particularly the yellow with Chicago & Northwestern Logo on the sides looks distinctive and sharp. Reminds me of my Lionel postwar Rio Grande Alco yellow also but with black stripes. Thank you for the demonstration and comparison looks like the 9291 runs very smooth and consistent.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks for the feedback ❤️ Glad you liked the video.

[@SteveRenon]

Sweet shirt. I think Dave has the first one. His runs forever.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks! I don't let a seasonal shirt stop me when it's clearly out of season

[@SteveRenon]

Same. Have Count Chocula and Franken Berry shirts.

[@paulbervid1610]

Great video. Nice Engine.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks Paul. I admit to liking the livery more after I got the engine in my hands :)

[@RaysTrains]

Good job by Menards great video Jeremy

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks so much Ray ❤️

[@ELWtrains]

I really like that model love the colors they sound and operate well don’t have one yet 🤔great video Jeremy looks great 👍

[@SignalMan9292]

You really do save big money at menards with this one.

[@railchief74]

I enjoy the review Jeremy! I thought that the CNW is a huge improvement

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

I'm happy you liked the video Mike The black frame and trucks is a nice change from the overly chromed Menards Santa Fe

[@railchief74]

@@TooManyHobbiesJeremy I really wish that they could change the sound pitch of the horn but I’m more than satisfied with the crew talk

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Great point on the horn! While the crew talk is much improved - for me it's a limited use thing. Personally I don't like the 20 phrases all strung together, in the same order, every time you power up the engine. But it is cool they tell a story.

[@huntercoleman460]

Like the diesel as a CNW fan Jeremy.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Excellent Hunter Do you have any recommendations for a Menards CNW car I should get?

[@huntercoleman460]

@@TooManyHobbiesJeremy maybe the new ACF hopper.

[@josephschuster1494]

I’m hoping Menard’s expanding offerings of F units also includes plans for the offering of an 0-4-0 or an 0-6-0 saddle tank engine with similar electronic features and similar retail price. 🚂

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

That would be great The release of a pair of track switches certainly surprised me. Fingers crossed for new motive power.

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

Could you check out the Pennsylvania f3 diesel locomotive great video Jeremy I enjoy watching your videos thank you

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks for the suggestion ❤️ And thanks for watching the videos.

[@loco4locos142]

I feel like a lot of people don’t realize that ofc these models are not top notch. They are beginner level models for younger folks or people like me who are on a budget, but yet would still like to enjoy O gauge trains. To you seasoned modelers these are about as good as a dummy/background engine. But for us this really paves the way to our beginning layouts! And for photo purposes those Menard’s engines aren’t too shabby.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks for the great comment ❤️ I'm quite happy with what I paid for this loco. Interestingly when running this one & the Santa Fe together- the Santa Fe looks classy. I didn't expect that.

[@mzinet2099]

I appreciate the crew talk and the better sound on the newer Menards train, but I don't use the crew talk much and while the talk is suppose to increase a players imagination, some of it doesn't make sense when you are just running your train. It's a nice add on, but I'd rather have 5 horn and bell options instead. Regardless, I think it's definitely an improvement and I'm considering on getting the Menards Pennsylvania train. I like the 5 pin strips and my current layout is based on the Pennsylvania road name. - As far as your opinions or reviews - I really appreciate them. You speak as an average consumer and not like a picky stuffy train realist who only cares about details. - Not all of us can afford a $900 train. - I also really like your layout. I had to think about it for a long time to figure if is really a good approach to a layout and you did a great job of having 2 tracks and with a interesting layout pattern - as opposed to my boring ovals. - Thanks again for sharing.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Wow, thank you for the awesome comment (and compliments I'm really loving my "temporary" layout. I agree 100% on the crew talk. I don't really like that it just 20 some phrases all strung together - in the same order every time. Speaking of crew talk, I was thinking about Menards making passenger cars. In hearing this crew talk Menards is still all about freight (and that's ok). Glad you liked the video *did you think it was too long?*

[@mzinet2099]

@@TooManyHobbiesJeremy Your video could have been longer and I would still like it, because what you say comes from the perspective of a common consumer with a limited budget, like most of us. I have a lot of youtube channels that I subscribe to that have people with what seems to be unlimited budgets, who buy the expensive stuff to show off their stuff - but it doesn't mean that most train people are wealthy with those unlimited budgets. - Your channel offers a perspective that is refreshing, honest, and average consumer friendly. - In the end, we just want to watch our trains go by pulling cars and if my train doesn't have all the details of a $1000 train - that's ok. My train can go around my track just like an expensive one. - Plus, having more cost affordable trains gives you the ability to have more options to put different trains down to run them. - The train colors and designs are the first things that catch my attention when running it around. If you stop a train you can look at all the details it has or doesn't have - but then your not running your trains around - you are watch your train not moving. - You could argue that if someone care so much about a detailed train, then why not just get a plastic model kit of a train or something - then they would have a model full of details. - Anyway - thanks again and I think your video was fine, but even if it was longer I would still appreciate it. - Thanks.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Great comment

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

I have almost all of menards building's locomotives and rolling stock and enjoy running them everyday

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Excellent. What's your favorite building? Menards made some fun ones for sure

[@mrsam6751]

Where’s the Caboose?

[@chicagolandrailroader]

It's nice to see another new unit from Menards! The sounds seem a bit better, and the crew talk is great! However, I think they dropped the ball on the graphics. The sides especially don't look right. The way the logo and text are placed on the side is awkward and unbalanced, not to mention unrealistic. I like Menards stuff a lot, but I feel like they tend to distort and misplace the size of logos and text a bit much. Great review!

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thank you so much I was a bit put off on the graphics before holding it and seeing it zip around the layout. Now I like it much better. But I agree - something more prototypical would have been better. I'm surprised they left off the little details that the Santa Fe has (builders plate, "F" at the front of the loco, water capacity for the steam generator). *did you think the video is too long?*

[@chicagolandrailroader]

​@@TooManyHobbiesJeremyI thought the video was a good length with a mix of running and review.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks, I really appreciated the feedback

[@hecticaperture]

i have an old post war setup with new menards tracks running a modern (2008) lionel locomotive drivem by a cw80 transformer. How do i go about being ablt to run these newer locomotives? i also have fastrack available im mainly wondering how to i adapt the handheld controller to an old DC system, for example. thank you

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

To run the Menards locos with a CW80 or any standard transformer - Set the loco on the track- Put the transformer voltage up to a max of 18 volts (it can run with less) - then operate the locomotive remote.

[@ncopictures7182]

Will these work with a lionchief wall plug?

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

@@ncopictures7182 I don't see any issues using a Lionchief wall plug. But I would not try running multiple engines at the same time.

[@markslioneltrains]

I was excited when Menards announced the locomotives a few years ago. As it turns out they are more of an entry level inexpensive alternative for young kids and folks on a budget just getting into the hobby. This example did peak my interest. However, like Chicagolandrailroader pointed out the extra large CNW logo and text placement look so unrealistic was the end of that. The cheesy horn/bell along with the plastic gears have long been a dealbreaker for me since the beginning. Unfortunately I have grown tired of all the out of box problems with Menards products and am very selective what I purchase. Thanks for your detailed review. Well Done.! 😊

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

I really appreciate you explaining your decision process. I agree there are vastly better products out there. Thanks for watching and I'm glad you liked the video.

[@banjoplayingbison2275]

Will this engine run on o27 tracks?

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Great question! On Menards website it says the Santa Fe units are designed to run on 31" diameter curves. So it might not work on O-27 track due to the tighter curves.

[@casstelles]

While I like the idea of Menards doing a C&NW unit, the lettering and the side logos are too big which make them too distracting. I'm willing to overlook the silver fans, but the other two things make it hard. Of course, a person could strip the logos and lettering and use proper O Scale decals. Much like the UP F7, Menards seems to go a little too far on making things look over the top which kind of ruins a great thing that was going on. I wish Menards would dial it back a little. They would have a nice model if they would do this.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks for the great comment! Agreed - it is a bit overstated with the livery. It's the same way with the caboose. I think the gondola and hopper look pretty good though.

[@PhilBender612]

Yeah , cool and all. I still rather order a lionel legacy.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

I understand 💯 Thanks for the comment.

[@genemanno1533]

An awful lot of hand held remotes just to play with a couple trains. Too much like playing with video games. At 18 volts that should be flying off the tracks. Too much electronic junk. These electronic engines are of no interest to vintage Lionel train lovers. Video modern trend is a big depart from previous stuff. Sorry not interested.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

No need to be sorry at all. I continue to purchase, fix up, & enjoy both postwar & MPC era engines. I love the sound & smell of the pulmor motors. Agreed on the too many remotes. Thanks for the great comment.

[@Shark_Builds_Bro]

You can control Menards locomotives with a standard transformer. Someone made a tutorial to show how.