Review: Walthers Mainline ES44AC GEVO w/ ESU Sound

[@Perfusionist01]

In this day of "already assembled" locomotive models the Walthers' Mainline series draws some interesting comments. I personally appreciate that they have helical cut gears and other qualities of the Kato drives that are famous for smooth, quiet running and dependability. Part of the hobby that I enjoy is adding some of the details, so the "spartan" locomotive is OK by me. I am not good at fiddling with a mediocre mechanism to get good running and in these models I have found an excellent drive train. I have a display layout and I have found that the Mainline SD70ACes keep running smoothly long after the more expensive models have overheated. I haven't run my ES44AC in a long-term test yet, but the mechanism looks the same from what I can see. So, I give kudos to Walthers for giving us a "runner" versus a "looker"

[@shipmate3577]

I love that Walthers Mainline ES44AC also have an Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) paint scheme. You can find these new online for $90!

[@shipmate3577]

You can get this exact train for $139.99 new at a few online stores. A great deal for an entry level train with a higher end sound (ESU > Tsunami). I would highly recommend this train for someone entering the hobbying to see if they really want to get into it. I have a Walthers Mainline w/Tsunami sound and it runs great and cost me ~$120 when I bought it 2 years ago... it was my "gateway" engine into the hobby.

[@daniellucas6573]

Good for expansion of the fleet, let alone super detailing them yourself on your own time.

[@tylerhays7365]

UP 2569 is a Tier 4 Credit C45AH. I will say, it is budget friendly without all the extra details. The Citirail (CREX) and KCS ES44AC's have nice looks too. The KCS 4774 is in the Retro Belle Scheme which is nice too. Great video.

[@MissouriRails]

Great review! I have the same problems with the super dim ditch lights. If your looking to detail your locomotive more you can buy a model kit by walthers dedicated to your model and it looks really nice. I've done it with my CN and CSX SD70ACe, my CSX SD60M, and my CSX SD50.

[@jamesburton7298]

Nice review as always, but say it isn't so. I heard a rumor you are going to slow down and do less reviews. Your family and your job don't matter. We will not have a life without your reviews. Just kidding , your family should be first in your life. But I will miss your talent. God Bless.

[@JoeG-firehousewhiskey]

This is a very nice engine, especially for the modeler that wants to add their own detail. Thanks for the video and review.

[@officialpennsyjoe]

I just bought a CSX variant of this locomotive and I am really looking forward to testing it out at my local railroad club's layout.

[@WhiteRiverRails]

Great video! These engines are great for the price. I like how you panned on the KCS runby.

[@cjfauxx6266]

I just got UP 2569 at a model train swap meet yesterday (3/23). its a bit quiet with the sounds but I was told it was very new and its currently my most modern engine as the irl counterpart was built in April of 2015. I hope to have many years of service out of this model. I got it for 140 dollars.

[@IAIS96]

Great review I got the Iowa Interstate one great locomotive but I had to exchange my one because the 1st one was shorting out wasn't working properly so the 2 one I got runs great love the sound in these awesome as can be and must realistic sound out of a gevo great pullers as well!

[@ussjohnston1]

I actually never considered the mainline series, but after watching this and being a modeler I might start getting these

[@RCmadness888]

Good models, if you are handy and detail it, great runners, awesome weights, even on the sd70's , smooth operation, long term good buy. But here(romania) american train stuff is hard to come by. Only ebay, but that has his own complications.

[@westtexasrailfan]

Very nice, I'm now adding this in the UP scheme to my list of models to get.

[@needs2quit1atgmail87]

Good job I like I can't wait to get some of these myself the handrail look kind of shaky though I might have to replace those

[@StevenKCRailfan]

Nice! I have KCS and Citirail for the 2nd Run!

[@dlae73]

Nice but the MTH version of the ES44 ac is much better. Great video, thanks for posting.

[@njandparailfan6332]

Derrick Adams Construction Channel the scale trains is the best

[@dlae73]

@@njandparailfan6332 Oh of course!

[@officialpennsyjoe]

I saw a scale trains version and was wondering how their motor and gear quality with the parts are and how long can they last compare with their competitors. On top of that, I know they are a newer company so I am just a bit concern on the quality. Details can be great for me but the price and quality of how it runs matters to me most.

[@DieselDog403]

I have one of these, UP #7484. I find that mine is slow on the high end of the throttle, but it is pretty smooth. The sound could use some help, though. In my house it's perfectly fine, but on the club layout it is far too quiet. They're solid, I'll give them that. I would suggest budget-minded modelers look at them carefully, cuz mine is not letting me down yet.

[@braaandon5716]

Big Steveo yes I feel like the speakers r too quiet

[@YourLocalRailfan]

I want each one of these I’m getting the CN one but next I want a Citirail

[@jefflizotte4758]

thank you,nice review

[@mrk1075]

I’ll say it’s budget, but not friendly. I got the Walthers Mainline BNSF one and had to return it because the front wheels would not turn left causing it to jump the track.

[@devernepersonal3636]

Great review as always.

[@richardcolemanjr3749]

I have a feeling Walthers will offer a under body detail kit besides the current grab iron one with a PTC antenna in the near future. I hope?

[@CraftyFoxeMC]

I just learned Lok in LokSound means locomotive, since in German locomotive is lokomotive

[@vidfreak727]

I'm not really good at modeling and i wish they would at least make it easier to add the detail parts. I bought a Trainline F40PH Metrolink diesel from them and i had to ask my friend to install the parts for me.

[@pacoperezabella]

Hi, sorry my bad english, im from argentina. Some mainline locomotives as detailed as proto?. Thanks!

[@njandparailfan6332]

Can’t wait to watch which I’m doing

[@njandparailfan6332]

Also I don’t know if you remember a channel Ethans trains this it my new channel after that one got terminated for no reason so if I could get and help getting subs I would love that soooooo much

[@robertmiller3801]

So you pay $199.00 for what no grab irons no windshield wipers you have to pay for extra parts

[@twiztedmowers2]

I'd like if u could take the body off and see what the inside looks like. I've worked on other walthers stuff and don't too much care for it. But that's me. I do have to say good review on them.

[@sargeisaboss]

Good review, but the run by's just seem too slow for regular operation.

[@hulk7345]

I can't find any walthers mainline KCS ES44

[@zachmalcolm6342]

I thought you pre-order the CP, CP 8876, BNSF and IAIS ones

[@ReadingAreaRailfan]

I got one and even at full volume its barley audible

[@Trashman702]

Budget friendly saves on the up front cost. But when you h e to buy all the detail parts, paint for the parts, and the time and labor to paint and install the parts it's not worth it

[@IronhorseRailProductions]

Do all of walthers dcc engines already speed match?

[@stevecristea3082]

Great review as always but honestly putting details on a loco like this isnt really an easy task (especially considering how much is missing) Furthermore scaletrains offers a fully detailed product at about $230 vs this one at $199. $30 is a bargain compared to sitting down trying to glue and paint tiny details that would take you weeks and probably not end up looking even half as good.

[@John-oc1ow]

Steve Cristea I agree I don’t see how there is a market for these. I’d much rather buy a 200$ non sound Intermountain loco than these.

[@jackanderson3940]

At most places these retail for 135.00 with ESU such as my local hobby shop in Lombard. If you are buying something at MSRP, than you are doing something wrong.

[@John-oc1ow]

Still at 135 it's over priced for what you get.

[@jackanderson3940]

The market is for generally lower income people who still want to enjoy sound equipped modern day locomotives. Being a college student, 135 is practically 1 to a quarter of a paycheck. Or this is for the parents who want to buy their son or daughter something that resembles what they would see without breaking the bank. Walthers mainline locos are also smooth runners, and weigh nice. Not to mention ESU sound decoders my themselves are pretty expensive. so to me a person who has lower income, the value is there. If I had the money for a 230 dollar model consistently than sure the Scale Trains is FAR superior there is no way I'd argue against that.

[@manitobarails7000]

I have two of these with sound (in Canadian National) and had no problem decaling them and adding grabs, mu hoses etc. Maybe I've just done this a lot before and I enjoy doing it. My only complaint is the ptc antenna array missing on the top which isn't easy to model as no one make the plus shaped antenna cover common on CN units and some Norfolk Southern units. I know Internountain makes the complete set but it's a little pricey. These units do run very smoothly and have a ton of pulling power. The sounds are also great but limited.

[@mercedes8192]

Nice!

[@lakrfan4980]

Walthers Mainline diesels are really great except for the fact that their ditch lights are very dim and need a drastic improvement. This applies to both their SD70Ace and ES44AC diesels. Regardless of the other nice features on these trains, the inferior design of the ditch lights is a deal breaker for me. Wake up Walters, you need to fix this!

[@gheidt12]

How do I get the ditch lights to flash on my Nce remote?

[@alexander1485]

Ive been on that kcs loco before

[@mitchellwade3365]

Anyone know the exact decoder name/number for JMRI?

[@nickbarman4145]

Well I'd buy it but Id have to get all the detail parts

[@CameronRenaud]

$199.98 is a little expensive don’t you think 🤔

[@JoshsTrainVideos]

That's actually not that expensive for a model locomotive with DCC and sound. Keep in mind that $199.98 is the MSRP. You can generally find these in hobby shops for closer to $150. Another thing to keep in mind is that more expensive ones can run for about $300 MSRP.

[@CameronRenaud]

Oh ok

[@jedi-xe2er]

Fantastic