I Bought a KATO BNSF SD70Mac HO Locomotive from eBay - Unboxing and Test Run

[@casstelles]

The decoder may have forgot its settings due to sitting in the box for a long time. I had an Atlas locomotive with a Lenz decoder that forgot its address, and it was quickly fixed by reprograming the address, but a factory reset is always a good idea, also. As far as the missing handrails, you can try Kato to see if they have any or you can custom bend brass wire to make your own. These options depend on which one is the easiest at the moment you decide to tackle that issue.

[@SMTMainline]

I was wondering if something like that could happen. Others said that it might have been set to "88" but I still think it was a decoder issue since it worked on DC after the reset.

[@antonbruce1241]

@@SMTMainline Remember....DCC decoders are computers. Every computer needs to be reset from time to time.

[@kcgrailgilbert8466]

@@SMTMainline your channel is awesome

[@leonardochavez7077]

@@SMTMainline iiuudiqdl

[@js-oy3td]

The one thing I learned from model railroading years ago was that you could never go wrong with a Kato.

[@alanwbelcher]

Nice save, SMT. It was probably set to a 2-digit address, and set to not run on DC, which is an option. But setting CV08 to 8 saves the day once again!

[@randallfawc7501]

I have several KATO SD70MACs. Love em! I have been running them for over 10 years and still going strong with standard DC. If I remember right, KATO hasn't made them in HO scale for several years. My other favs are my 4 Walthers Mailline SD70ACEs with Digitrax DCC and sound Great layout sir!

[@Fxe4014]

An excellent acquisition of that SD70MAc, I must admit that EMD has made almost the most striking locomotives to the human eye, I would recommend you to buy more modern EMD models Greetings from Mexico and excellent video!

[@johnblair8146]

Unlike most railfans, I always preferred EMDs to GEs or ALCOs.

[@Fxe4014]

@@johnblair8146 Do you know brother, Team EMD?

[@5stargamer132]

Thats impressive smt! Looks amazing that SD70 is a personal favorite of mine, especially in the warbonnet scheme

[@randallellison6421]

Very cool Harrison, welcome to the BN/BNSF SD70MAC club! As for the headlight placement on this locomotive, it is indeed correct for 8802 as it is on all of BNSF's later SD70MACs having nose mounted headlights. The earlier MACs (this includes those of BNSF predecessor Burlington Northern, early BNSF "Grinstein", the famous "vomit bonnet" 9647 and early Heritage 2 units) on the roster have high mounted headlights above the windshield. 8802 is still on the active roster for BNSF although, much like all the SD70MACs that have not been rebuilt yet, is looking pretty ragged currently. The 2 plus decades of hauling coal and freight trains has taken a hefty toll on its current appearance as the paint has faded pretty significantly on this and the other remaining Heritage 2 units! The older ones still bearing BN's "Grinstein" green and cream executive scheme seem to be holding up much better though. Most of them still look very good considering they're nearing 30 years old now! The units that have been rebuilt are now classified as SD70MACe, the "e" meaning "enhanced" with some having the high mounted headlight moved to the nose like the later model MACs.

[@MattKonsol]

Yeah I know some bnsf sd70macs have been retired and they must’ve sold them to progress rail I think here?

[@randallellison6421]

@MattKonsol yes that is correct, those particular ex BNSF units now wear PRLX lettering and in lease service now.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for all the information!

[@tacticalcalebgaming7264]

Um I may have #9580 a BN SD70MAC

[@ATSF2926Productions]

I love the sd70mac, it looks great, and I also love Bnsf h2 paint scheme on locomotives!

[@LevelUpModelTrains]

Awesome Loco SMT! The Decoader not working on dc mode is a setting that can be changed by setting the CV's I'm guessing that the original owner only ran dcc locomotives and that's why it was set like that. Great VID SMT!!!

[@rayinpau.s.a.6351]

Watching you work on trains inspires me to get my ho trains out of storage .

[@SMTMainline]

You should, it's a good way to take the mind off things for a while.

[@rayinpau.s.a.6351]

@@SMTMainline I have built 17 layouts so far . the last one I donated to a Church organization for boys . Its been years since I have enjoyed the hobby .

[@EverthingAviation911]

Wow, I love how the train looks with the intermodal car. Keep up the great work

[@DRRP]

Nice it looks good pulling the intermodal train around :)

[@WrenchesAndRiffs]

Wow I really like that Loco! Love your channel keep up the good work, you inspired me to create my own channel. Although I don't nearly look as professional as your channel and my videos are really cringe.But everything comes with practice

[@SMTMainline]

It's all good, have you seen my older videos? I cringe at some of the content I used to make

[@kcgrailgilbert8466]

​@@SMTMainlinelike your SD70MAC BNSF locomotive

[@WrenchesAndRiffs]

lol thats all good:)

[@BriansModelTrains]

Kato; N & HO motive power are my favorites. Maybe not the most detailed but they run very very well and to me that is priority one on my RR. Cheers!

[@davidballoid2118]

Oh Man SMT, I thought you bought another Box of Rocks and it was a brick! Glad to see you brought it back to life again. You might be able to buy a detail kit with all new hand rails and horn etc. from kato.

[@SMTMainline]

Totally agree, I thought someone had pulled one over on me

[@tylonhartley8136]

Where did you learn to do all the amazing things you do? Love to watch you take a lifeless locomotive and bring it back to life

[@SMTMainline]

Years of experience but I still learn more everyday.

[@asterix_wrld]

Definitely a good train SMT never fails us

[@caswellracing7626]

I got a whole lot of ho and really struggled with the dcc. Ended up having to reset every one (including a QSI decoder. Very confusing!) And they all came to life.

[@habbyguys]

Great score. I too did a great score. For $140 bought a train lot off Facebook market place. Got 4 older blue box loco's, couple cars, 5 unbuilt Bachmann buildings. And a box of track. But as I am going through the box, at the bottom was 34 peco and atlas custom line turnouts. I would assume the seller had no idea what was in the box as he had just bought it for his grandson but was not interested in trains.

[@popcat2214]

Love them all and the vid👍 and I hope u all have a good day

[@stephenrickjr.7519]

I'm spoiled with dcc. They run so well and sound great. Enjoy😊👌👍!

[@SMTMainline]

Lucky!

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

Great model, for glue I used canopy glue recomended by Athearn because it dry clear

[@strobson1]

Aloha from the big island of Hawaii. Great video Harrison. Smooth locomotive

[@franksabatine9075]

Kool Locomotive , i see those all the time on my travels around NM .

[@MattKonsol]

Woah what a really nice Kato sd70mac you got man!! I might find one of these someday for my train collection if I could here and I agree with you bro the colors on it just looks amazing here and yes Kato locomotives are very strong in my opinion. Thanks for sharing this friend!

[@SMTMainline]

You should, they look great!

[@MattKonsol]

@@SMTMainline i know I agree bro like I said here I know it’ll might look good with my bnsf dash 8-40b here in h1 paint i believe from walthers trainline?

[@jade-a7990]

9:15 i heard wheel screeching and... sound so cool

[@LIMPGUITAR]

Wow it looks amazing with those intermodal cars, I bet they are your favorites now?

[@SMTMainline]

Kinda so

[@LIMPGUITAR]

@@SMTMainline yea I mean if I had those in my fleet I would run them every chance I get.

[@danielbatdorf3873]

I bought a second hand Kato SD80MAC (NS 7202) back in January that was also supposedly DC only. It had sat around unused for quite some time, and part of the rear deck hand rail is broken off, but I set it on my track and, after running it in for about an hour, it ran like a champ, yet the lights weren't working. Turns out that, just like your 70MAC, it has a decoder in it, which I discovered running it at my club's layout a few weeks ago. It's an absolute BEAST of an engine, easily able to pull 40+ cars by itself. Heck, I like it so much, that I'm gonna try to track down another one to go with it.

[@Zebrails]

"If you buy it, it will run!" Good job, Harrison. John

[@bittyboy721]

You can program a DCC decoder to not operate on DC. DCC has constant power to the track and certain circumstances can cause the DCC decoder to fall back to DC mode. If the decoder is on DCC powered track at say 15v and falls back to DC mode for one reason or another the locomotive will take off and not be able to be controlled by a throttle.

[@newhavennscale]

Good thinking SMT! That is a very nice locomotive. I really like all of my Kato N-Scale locomotives they run so quietly and smoothly. I am posting a Kato SD-7 today.

[@captandysir8670]

Nice angles and even sounds from trackside.

[@sva60_cyyz59]

0:00 The perfect “Welllll Fooolllks”!😊😊😊

[@mercuryoak2]

Wow reminds me of my SD70M I have but from Athearn Genesis EMD demo unit. I got mine from the train show I went too. Very nice model great addition to your collection

[@John-op5vi]

Yeah..$80 you want it to run...again your troubleshooting skills are spot on.

[@mgr_video_productions]

Great video and find! That's a good deal for one of these. The missing handrails can be replaced with brass wire and painting them to match. The horn, plow, and MU cables can be replaced with aftermarket parts from Details West, Cal Scale, etc. I love finding locos on ebay for good deals and having to fix minor issues. That's the fun for me in this hobby.

[@dougd1115]

Had to chuckle when I noticed the little green garbage dumpster. LOL

[@dennisarmes3473]

harrison... could not help but noticing you said that you wanted some more modern engines for your pike... here's one for ya'... just this morning and right after my previous email to you, i received my 3 cp sd30 ecos from otter valley, and they are beautiful !!! here is some friendly, and jokingly, advice... "cut out the tyco/ahm baloney and get spending your confirmation money on REAL engines" !!! to tell you the truth, you have a lot of talent and it seems to me you could continue helping us with more modern stuff. in being a retired industrial engineer, i know good talent and nice work when i see it !!! besides, that tyco/ahm stuff actually fits only a small audience of modelers.... time to step up and bust out, harrison !!! blessings to you, my friend !!!

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for the suggestions. To tell you the truth I don't see the work on junky locomotives going away as I enjoy it however I do want to do more videos working on more technical modern locomotives as you suggested.

[@dennisarmes3473]

harrison... please go for it as i know you will be real successful !!!@@SMTMainline

[@barrygibson8109]

Great deal !! I just bought a used Kato loco HO DCC, no sound. It must have been sitting awhile because at first it didn't want to run very well. After It woke up it runs like new, all lights work, even ditch lights. I'm gonna try putting decoders in the new Kato HO's

[@engineerpat5290]

WONDERFUL VIDEO SMT! Love that BNSF H2 Mac. Glad this unit still had some life left into it! When DCC engines sit for a long time they will loose their address. I had a similar problem with an O gauge engine. A quick factory reset is all it needed and it was running again. The MAC looks good with the stack train! Keep the videos coming!

[@VestedUTuber]

So, a bit of info about dual-mode DCC decoders - there's actually a setting on them where you can enable or disable DC operations mode on them. It's possible that this locomotive had that setting set to disabled. For programming I'd recommend setting up JMRI and using a PC interface. It provides a graphical interface for decoder programming that massively simplifies all those settings. No need to memorize CV addresses and values or consult a cheat sheet all the time.

[@lorenzobeckmann3736]

congrats, really good addition. Kato's the best

[@cessnaace]

Our first layout (HO Scale) our dad built in the early 60s when we were still living in France. In 1963 we moved back to the States. The layout had a switching yard. I don't recall how many switches it had but I seem to recall a total of at least 5. There were two loops with a switch going from the outer to inner loop on each side of the layout (one on the front side and one on the back) plus at least 3 in the yard area. Each switch could be controlled electronically. The Controller was an MRC (Model Rectifier Corporation) AMPACK Dual Controller. We had a small Steam Switcher (Shunter), a small Diesel Switcher, and an EMD F3. We could run any two simultaneously. We had a mountain on the layout (I don't recall which loop it was on) and if we weren't careful the locos would sail off of the mountain if we were running them too fast. None of the locos ever broke though. Either we were lucky or they made them tough back then. We had some coaches that our dad bought in France that were a nightmare because they were so long that they tended to derail on the outer loop. They couldn't handle the inner loop or mountain at all. In the early to mid 70s our dad bought us some Tyco sets. The Tyco locos weren't nearly as tough as our older ones from nearly 15 years earlier. In fact the old ones still worked. I wish I could remember who made them.

[@seeber563]

Very cool video! You should try double-heading it with your other Kato BNSF engine.

[@VestedUTuber]

You should probably contact the seller to let them know it had a DCC decoder. Not all eBay sellers actually know what they're selling, sometimes a seller is the relative, friend or executor of a deceased owner or the parent of a kid who moved out and didn't take their "toy train set" with them. Other times the seller is a dealer but specializes in a different kind of product. I once saw a listing for a big, hand-built 7.5" gauge Galloping Goose listed for only $200 by a lawyer's office because they assumed it was some sort of kid's ride-on toy rather than a full-on miniature railtruck. Didn't buy it since I don't have the space for something that big, but also because it didn't feel right to buy something that high-end at such a low price. I sent them a message to tell them a bit about what they had and gave them the contact info of a miniature railroad club in their area, they were surprised and actually a bit grateful about it since they would have been out thousands of dollars had someone bought it.

[@williamkolina3988]

Great looking consist

[@oskarvalance3041]

Great purchase. From Texas

[@kcmorailfan4784]

Nice sd70mac! I also got a Kato sd70mac except mine is in the CSX YN2 scheme that I bought from my local hobby shop.

[@jesikebiking]

=====Extremely quite and very smooth

[@BritishRail60062]

I am happy to see you got it working and gave it some love. As for the missing parts. I think there are brass replacements available online if you wanted to restore the model train and make it complete. I have an N scale version in CSX livery and I love my wee Kato trains.

[@railfaninacar]

Nice model trains😮

[@dennisarmes3473]

harrison... great work !!! isn't it nice to find "surprises" like this, especially kato ? if you still need that one handrail, i have an extra but i am sure it would need to be painted, as it is in cp kato red color. it is from an sd 90 mac i converted to an sd 70 acu in cp.... i purchased a bag of various manufacturers handrails for 5 bucks at a train show several years back so let me know if you want it. knowing you, you will probably make your own out of brass wire !! at that same show i bought 2 kato ns sd 80's and a santa fe warbonnet sd 70 which i converted into an nrex leased unit... all 3 in 1 consist, with dcc for $ 100 !!! all 3 are years old, i cleaned and lubeb, added some lost detail parte, and they are immaculate runners !!! keep in touch !!

[@cWrobe901]

They run so smooth!

[@NYandAtlantic]

Excellent locomotive that was my first choice till I saw my short line NY and Atlantic

[@haraldhechler3557]

Looks like someone has set the decoder to "DCC only". The reset "unlocked" it because the factory setting of the decoder is "running on analog and digital", simple as that. If you have a sole DCC layout, you don't need analog mode. It can even cause "runaway locos" if the decoder falsely detects analog mode because of some DCC signal issue. And some DCC systems use direct current to detect "brake zones", decelerating trains smoothly in automatic operation before stops. If you use that feature in DCC, as far as I know you have to switch off the analog mode.

[@jemhobbies]

One of the setting you can control with CV 29 is DC conversion. If it is turned off the decoder will not respond to dcc. That is helpful if you store DCC locos on the track and are using DC those engines will not take off even if the storage track is getting power.

[@Photoline1]

A real situation!

[@johnrobertfox7775]

HARRISON RUN THIS WITH YOUR BNSF DASH 9 ! INTERMODEL BLISS ! 😎

[@MattKonsol]

It’ll be awesome but I’m not sure if the dash 9 is equipped with dcc here idk? It just could be a dc (dcc ready) model here.

[@Syracuse_rail_product]

Wow that's a awesome sd70Mac

[@sankardas5974]

Nice locomotive really fan of SD70 in BNSF skin

[@zaclamitraille2]

hey! i've been watching a few of your repairs video and i was wandering if you ever looked into getting a 3D printed to print new parts such as motor mounts (instead of hotglue) of new details, i think it would be an awesome addition to your shop and toolbelt

[@SMTMainline]

I have, I'm just not sure which I should pick.

[@zaclamitraille2]

@@SMTMainline it really depends on your budget and how much you are willing to tinker, considering how much you tinker with model trains, i dont think you would have a trouble with that, so a few brands i like, the ender series of machines, work horses but can be finiky, but pretty cheap. on the other end if you want something along the lines of start it and forget it, the prusa machines are realy good for that, i have an 8 printer farm with only prusas. then resin wise if you want finer details and a lot smaller prints, the elegoo brand is a go to. (they also have filament based machines that are really good too) if you would like to exchange furthure on 3D printers, id be really happy to do so via DMs, could be more efficient then trough comments. XD

[@NFNYPlayz]

LOVE YOUR VIDEOS! We will get you to 100K

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, that would be a dream come true :)

[@NorthmassRails]

Awesome! I got a BNSF ES44 for Christmas!

[@commanderblueproduction2401]

Omg I live this kind of bnsf coler scheme

[@philipvandyke5980]

Well, a bonus, DCC. Now just see if Kato has parts for you

[@tylonhartley8136]

Not a Bad Deal. Great Looking Locomotive

[@WaybackTECH]

My experience with DCC decoders is that if they are on DC and are not DC/DCC compatible they make a high pitched hum as soon as throttle voltage is applied.

[@christopherschmidt4264]

Nice addition to the collection! Better fix that roller bearing issue before sending the train Down here to the states 😂😂

[@ApproachDiverging013]

Congrats on your Kato SD70MAC! They look great and can pull a good amount of cars. If you need some parts for your SD70MAC, I have some spares parts from a SD9043 but they are UP grey so they will have to be painted if you want them!

[@TourDriverSean]

I've bought some used ones that the previous owner set the address too the last two digits of the road number. I would have tried "88" and "02" before resetting the decoder. Can't say I've ever had a DCC run on DC though... that's an odd thing to see

[@SMTMainline]

I wish I had thought of that but I'm still thinking that the decoder wasn't working right.

[@CodysTrainz]

Well, besides Resetting the Decoder to factory defaults, she runs good, for the horn I recommend a cal scale nathan K3LA-R3 and Details West painted Brass Handrails for KATO SD70M's

[@normancoreyBuildingTrains]

Hello if cv 29 is set to 6 that's the default most decoders will operate on dc and dcc. Set at 6 doesn't allow the 28 speed step to work so you end up with les motor control cv 29 set at 18 will allow the 28 speed steps to work but no dc operation if you find the loco is to slow you can try changing cv 5 to 255 max voltage at full power. Nice video as usual.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for the tips, this is all helpful information since I don't know much about CVs.

[@normancoreyBuildingTrains]

@SMT Mainline I hear that I don't know much been back in the hobby for about a year and a half now since I came across you videos. I spent a lot of time reading and watching videos to learn about dcc and even managed to cook a few decoders along the way opps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZjUdoSuhrhnb8U My latest project take a look if you have a min. Hope all is well.

[@theguildofthetranquilpine5360]

I love the video, keep making these videos. 💯

[@NotDaender]

Some DCC locomotives have their decoder set to a default 0003 instead of the cab number. I don't know if yours comes with sound but it's worth hitting the 8 button while it's running to see if it has a speaker installed. I Googled that cab number and Kato sold a DCC + sound-equipped version with that cab number, so yours might have it!

[@micoasters]

I saw one of these at a train show recently but it was $150. For that price which was my budget I got 17 locomotives. So way better deal

[@SMTMainline]

That seems kinda high unless it had sound.

[@micoasters]

@@SMTMainline around my area anything Kato, athearn, Bachman is super high. Then people are just giving old tycos and blue boxes away. So it’s strange

[@Railroadracer49]

I do love the ace’s but I really miss the SD70MAC’s😢 especially in BN executive colors

[@uncleh5460]

What a great looking train! Do you have an absolute favorite paint schemes/rail line?

[@jmm2000]

If you're planning on adding the missing hand rails, either use some metal twine or find some used plastic hand rails on ebay.

[@agressive_cementbag]

looks great.

[@Boilermaker-Rick]

Very nice locomotive

[@sergioarroyoguerrero5434]

Intermodal train with the SD70MAC Burlington Northern Santa Fe 🎃 Kato 🇯🇵 in the HO scale layout. Is the Scooby Dum engine.

[@jacksnavely559]

You can use the KISS brand of fake fingernail glue, it has a small brush is like super glue BUT IT DRIES SMOOTH AND CLEAR, not all course and lumpy, WORKS

[@burleyscott2910]

Oh, that's what you mean by 'boxes'!?! Those bronze centering springboards. You fooled me SMT. I'm gonna get you back lol.

[@mrrailfan95]

Amazing video

[@4everdc302]

Kato score,nice! I'm getting a little worried, tho. Pretty hi-end. You are kinda close to Kris in local, haha.

[@johndowd7010]

Great deal

[@wlerailfan9870]

Nice

[@MMRails]

I still think you should take it apart and run a hot screwdriver through some plastic. Just to make sure. Lol. Nice buy!

[@HimanshuSharma-dm8ol]

Very powerful

[@sawyercustom]

Wonder if that was the one I was looking at. the orange and black is too cool

[@michaelschultz5127]

Hey!! That giant just took our house!! Hey jack didn't you chop down that beanstalk??

[@stephenhudson8739]

Yeah I wonder if it has a sound chip in it that would be great and it runs like brand new

[@Timerman765]

You have your BNSF DASH-9 Muscle brother

[@awr1050]

Firstly, H1 is superior. Jokes aside, very, very nice loco. So glad to see you added it to your collection. Cool video, thank you!

[@SMTMainline]

I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree with you on the H1 paint scheme lol

[@arturoq5611]

Hello SMT Thank you for all the videos that you post regarding fixing these locomotives. I was able to bring back to life my Tyco Alco 630 Santa Fe, by following one of your videos. I have a question. What motor brush I could use as a replacement for a Life-Like pancake style motor ? Keep up the outstanding work and thanks again for your videos Arturo

[@mrsillycats]

the trains KATO makes are very reliable.

[@cjfauxx6266]

This reminds me of when I got my Athearn SD40 Santa Fe. It said it was dc but turned out it was DCC. I got it for less than 30 dollars. No one else bid on it cuz the photos were Very low res. It’s by far my best diesel.

[@SMTMainline]

That's awesome!

[@ravingsFNF]

I need to learn how to do all that stuff. DCC, resetting. I should start studying. Seems incredibly complicated. Loads of buttons, numbers and stuff that I have no clue about 🤷‍♂️

[@tylonhartley8136]

I would Love to have one of those undecorated and put a B&O paint scheme on it.

[@uprailfan73]

You can add your other gevo as mid dpu