The First Locomotive From Menards! The Santa Fe F3!

In this video we check out the new 3-Rail O-gauge Santa Fe F3 from Menards. This is the first locomotive to be offered by Menards. Enjoy!
Menards: www.menards.com
Support Eric’s Trains: / ericstrains
Eric’s Trains Merch: www.ericstrains.com/store
Try my other channel: / kitbashedsurvival

[@clt34beadg5str]

Hi Eric, I was one of the lucky 200 who was able to get one of these models. I must have seen the ad right when it came out. I ran to get my debit card rightly thinking it would go fast. Ive always had good luck with Menards trains, so I jumped on this quick. Less than 24 hours after I placed my order it was delivered to my house! Like everyone else I was impressed bythe build quality keeping in mind the cost targets Menards has. I did have a hiccup out of the box. The remote would not power up. After sending a frantic email to Menards, I checked online and found more than a few users had to bend the battery rabs in order to make contact. I also shimmed the contact to keep positive connection. The model ran as expected. I experimented with the remote to make the horn blow longer and succeeded. It pulled cars quite well, it left me hoping for a dummy B and A unit. I have a set of Williams Santa Fe F7 units that match the size of the engine perfectly. They proudly run behind the Menards engine! I did get feedback from Menards saying the B units and dummies are also in the planning, as well as other engine models.

[@jamesf791]

I am so happy Menards is finally selling engines. I'm sure they will use a similar mold and put different road names. I hope they come out with a steam locomotive (don't care if it blows smoke or not.) I think Menard's other products is great for the hobby. You don't need to go broke and it's great that Menard's is doing this for many of us who don't make a lot of money or just getting into the hobby. More people in the hobby and that is awesome

[@swdw973]

If Menards' intention was to "dip their toes" in the low end starter market, I think they did a great job and hopefully can jump in neck deep. Great review BTW.

[@christsogaugetrains]

Owner of Menard love o scale a decided to make in expensive trains for more people to enjoy hobby and not go broke.

[@trainman9743]

I think it would've been funny if they put Jack the German Shepherd as 1 of the crew figures.

[@benjaminstrains1174]

Thats one Beautiful unit!

[@rwchannel8832]

20:24: I now see the reason why Santa Fe’s freight trains are always on time 😂

[@PaulsToolReview]

Last I checked (3/26/22) the price of these on the bay is around $330 - $350 new in plastic packaging. I would just recommend everyone just wait until they come into full production if you want it. At that price, get a Lionchief starter set or a couple of post war era ones

[@michaelsullivan1262]

Ahhh, the rivet counters! Bless their hearts. 🤣

[@Ericstrains]

Haha

[@modelrailpreservation]

O gauge rivet counters. Just ask them about that third rail running down the middle of the track.

[@alanh1406]

😂😂😂

[@robertdunn1668]

Great review! Menards is certainly helping the new O-gauge operators get going in the hobby. Families that are not able to spend the "beginner" prices from other manufacturers will be attracted by this new engine! Even as a long time collector and operator of trains, I have been able to increase my fleet with great, inexpensive rolling stock, as well as Menards buildings. Thanks for getting this out there! I have subscribed! And... great layout!

[@christophermaschek]

Glad you were able to ahold of one.

[@garyjust.johnson1436]

Awesome video Eric! Menards locomotives were long expected and it looks like they delivered! I hope they offer a matching B unit and maybe even dummy unpowered too.

[@tjimmy71]

Great review, Eric! You’ve definitely made the best review I’ve seen. I’ve heard better sounds but they’re not bad at all. I’d say they’re more than acceptable. The lighted numbers look okay in the dark too. All in all I’m very enthusiastic about this engine though I think they’ll hit a home run if they use your suggestions for the production run. Thanks for the review!

[@Ericstrains]

Wow, thanks!

[@Railman79]

Thanks for the great review. Very impressive “first attempt” by Menards. 🙂👍

[@lb7144]

Thanks for a wonderful review. Wonderfully detailed and helpful on buying second hand. Take care

[@markmcdowell231]

Thank you for your review

[@Chessie1985]

Excellent review Eric!!!!

[@tomshearer7409]

Love mine and got it running right now as I watch. I use a cw80 to control the abrupt start/stop. Hello Mrs. Helper !

[@Ericstrains]

That is awesome!

[@NixCrossing]

Great review! Those gears are “ fun” 😄. My Lionel repair tech will replace nylon for metal gears. What a champ 🚂💨

[@gabrielutz7849]

Awesome video Eric! I'm hoping that they do a B&O version....

[@michaelgmoore5708]

Great to see more ladies into this hobby. Many of them are great artists and paint Murals. My niece and sister like the size and looks of American Flyer Trains. I like all gauges but Post war trains get more of my votes that F3 looks like Postwar Lionel and the price is great too

[@Ericstrains]

Right on

[@sammyvh11]

I need a train assistant too!

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

Enjoyed video you put together with lots going on. Thanks for sharing .

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks for watching

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

@@Ericstrains Great and thanks very much for replying to my comment. I have a new video out now. Hope you like and share.

[@davepiper4537]

My nephews got me one for Christmas. Definitely wasn't expecting that.

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

That is an awesome looking engine!

[@grouseroadie]

A great review. I learned a bunch, with the practical comments on an upbeat product.

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks!

[@angeloavanti2538]

its nice. the headlight is dope! it can boogie too. menards all in good time.

[@LRSX]

Awesome engine, I wish I could have scored one before they sold out. For my Xmas layout. Nice review. I agree hate price gougers, alot of that in nscale.

[@jimbobdrg3247]

Love the reports!

[@MrDanielmarlowe]

I really like the chrome bottom and couplers they look very good. Outstanding train for the price..

[@MLManimasters]

If Menards makes another locomotive, they should have an optional figure of Jack sticking his head out of the cab window. Maybe in the engineer's seat to explain the abrupt starting and stopping.

[@WesternMichiganRailway]

Man I wish I had known about this when they were for sale! I really enjoy my Menards freight cars. Hopefully if they do make this a production model I can get one!

[@codyhilton1750]

A very nice presentation.

[@TheBrickCraftsman]

Great looking model! Always been a fan of Santa Fe locos. Also, look at that little bug on the railway sleepers @ 4:41

[@slvrktman7824]

Wow...how did you notice that!!!

[@jameseagan4863]

I like the passenger car choice, too. 👍 another good review.

[@trainroomgary]

Cool review - I have this loco & I purchased mine from MENARDS on day one. The fly wheels is a must have on the next production run. The engine will start up and jerk and sometimes cause a derailment. Happy Halloween from Michigan 🎃 Go "Braves" ⚾️ • Cheers from the Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂

[@stanwalls4829]

Hi Eric, I am a former 2 rail O scale enthusiasts. I would really like to see the very best detaled, Sante fe car body on your r.r. Having been on the original. Many times as a small boy. Love your show

[@markslioneltrains]

Spot On with what they should fix.! I'd buy one for sure if they do.! Great Review Eric.! 👍☺

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks 👍

[@railtietate3182]

Been waiting for this review! I had done a review quickly the day received to get it on the tube for menards to get the initial Impressions. Glad you gave it the “Eric’s Trains” treatment. Kids getting these at menards someday in the future can say “mom, dad, this is the one Eric’s trains reviewed!” Thanks for showing all the kids of all ages that even these are super entry level models can be thoroughly enjoyed and look amazing even on a high rail layout such as yours.

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks!

[@pancake2662]

Another way to make tube track look really nice is rubber sheets that are 3 in wide by with your desired thickness depending on O ro 27 use a utility knife and cut the rubber slide under track on the tube track looks really nice

[@donl3248]

Love the Santa Fe Super Chief!

[@rusty383]

As an old guy on a fixed income it really helps me. Thank you Menards

[@christherailfan5851]

Awesome video!

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks!

[@TriGogglin]

That is a beautiful model and Yeah there's high demand on any of the menards train stuff but they won't do anything for N scale, I've wrote them an Email and they told me to go fly a kite. But do love the look and quality of their stuff.

[@F40M07]

Love it! (Sad I couldn’t get my hands on one)

[@AndrewNeilFalconer]

This was a test production run. When they work out the problems and release them as a Regular production run, you can buy the diesel locomotive that matches the EMD FP7 loco design.

[@MrBnsftrain]

I'm glad Menard's released a 'test run' of their first O gauge locomotive. Hopefully, they can make complete sets one day and possibly acquire ex-MTH Railking tooling to make more locomotives and even passenger cars.

[@steffenrosmus9177]

What MTH tooling. Production was in China, so tools and molds are gone or will be released by an Chinese Company soon

[@rusty383]

Love everything you do Eric. God Bless you. Rusty Clarke Chester/Enon Va

[@Ericstrains]

Thank you!

[@Linayer327]

Nice! Hope you can review some other locomotives from around the world, too. Happy Halloween!

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks! You too!

[@Scorch04]

Wow, Steve Lerro from k&l Trainz is one of your patrons!

[@marblox9300]

I want to see MORE of your Lovely Assistant.

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

Good quality and great price

[@juliecohen9041]

once these become more able i will have to get one for my layout

[@doctordeath.5716]

I agree with you on it having metal gears and that would be alot better

[@MustangsTrainsMowers]

The first I heard of this engine was on one of the Facebook O gauge forums or maybe the Facebook Menards forum along with oh by the way it’s sold out already.

[@ashtonmorrison642]

Awesome unit

[@Ericstrains]

Indeed!

[@mollycaz1]

What is a good train set to start out with. When I was younger I had a tyco train set. I would like a engine with horn and bell sounds. The ones you have shown with smoke and track talk are very cool.but cost alot

[@alleghenycityproductions]

awesome engine . i would love to see a rock island or Norfolk and Western one come next. its a shame people are so ugly to sell a 140 dollar engine for 400 bucks and then on top of it be really rude to your customers. thats why i'm just gonna make a menards account and just wait. very excited for products in the future from menards. like you said put in some flywheels and metal gears and she'd be perfect

[@daivdwalker2374]

JOHN Menard himself loves trains even had them as a child he's behind all the train stuff I know cause I worked there for 4 years

[@joesattler2773]

Hello Eric, very nicely done and informative video. I hope Menards decides to come out with some more powered models, with, as you had stated, maybe some improvements. We all love model trains, but unfortunately many are priced way above what some families can afford. Maybe they can bridge that gap. It may not be a top of the line engine, but for the price that they went for, it would be perfect for some people. Your review is the most informative that I have seen for this model.

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks!

[@the_mississippian_railfan]

If I had a kid who loved trains I would go ahead and get a cheap model like that it’s good to sell o gauge as toys sometimes instead of models

[@Nkp757railfan]

Failed to get one hope it comes back out soon

[@roccomanginelli9498]

If they do a full production, it would be cool to pick one up and mod it into a A>B>A unit for my Lionchief 159

[@roccomanginelli9498]

*Santa Fe 159*

[@bharmon1980]

I hope they make more

[@VintageRenewed]

To me, it seems like the starts and stops are more noticeable on that engine than they are on something like a postwar engine With the postwar engine while it can be abrupt your able to get around that by slowly increasing power on the transformer But with a modern locomotive like that where your using a remote to control just the engine while track is at full power you aren’t able to get around the start and stop

[@budrindfleisch9445]

Couple things need mentioning on this Menards engine. While some may think its not an F-3 because it has the F-7 style grillwork along the sides, the phase IV F-3's did indeed use the same grills as were on the early F-7, score one for Menards! This unit lacks the F-3 dynamic brake detail on the roof forwardof the fans which would be two lengthwise slots, so this unit represents one without dynamics. The "detail" on the roof at the rear are steam generator exhaust vents as would be found on passenger units. One Flaw if you could call it that and its very slight and not real noticeable, is the drip strip above the nose door, this was only on Canadian built F units by GMD, not seen on EMD's from LaGrange, like I said, very slight but it makes me think they used drawings from Canada.

[@gigeastman]

I have 2 of them and run them as an A-A. Almost everyone has had the issues with scratches on the roof. It’s a packaging issue.

[@michaellindsey8044]

I got one for 129 from this store on line I love it so much

[@mamanbear1]

Incredible value for the money.

[@nathandunn6974]

Didn't realize menards made these locomotives!!

[@petertate5741]

Great model for the price,you couldn't get an O gauge model in the UK for the equivalent price.Prices for new O guage in the UK for a loco can be between £400-£550 its a shame we don't get value models like these as it is a very expensive hobby over here.Great review mate.👍🇬🇧

[@Shipwright1918]

Howdy Eric, many thanks for doing a thorough review on this. Got my fingers crossed that Menards goes ahead with the full production run sometime soon, and hopefully they make more locomotives in thr future (a Menards steamer, perhaps? Yes, please!). It's great to see affordable locos and rolling stock being made for O gauge, gives everybody a chance to join in the fun!

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks!

[@rycn1450]

Add some flywheels and jack in the right seat it will be a winner

[@Thomasthestreamliner]

Hey Eric, I just heard about this new offer that Lionel is putting out on January of 2022, it's the new Lionel 1218 class A model. They already made a 3d printed model of one but it's to show what it will look like when the models come out, it was shown by "RBR trains" it's quite a showcase he did, overall happy Halloween to you, your family and friends

[@jameszimmerman4693]

Use to work on two of those.

[@casstelles]

If there was one small tweak, I wish the LED lights were golden white versus standard white. The standard white LEDs are more blue which bothers me, but they could be changed out by the user with a more golden white LED.

[@doctordeath.5716]

I wonder if they are going to make a B unit and another A unit to match this engine and have both of the units working.

[@wrangler70jkujeep74]

Great for new folks in hobby starter . But yeah same gose for Ho scale folks out price items of any items of all scales . Great review . I'm getting back into O scale new to O scale haven't had layout since I was kid .

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks 👍

[@wrangler70jkujeep74]

@@Ericstrains Your welcome . I'm at learning curve watching your post helped allot .

[@garrettcastlebury5260]

I love trains

[@sort187]

A long time in coming, no doubt.

[@arrow1414]

Regarding as to if the model is an F3 or an F7. I think the confusion is due that many railroads refurbished their old F3 locomotives to varying degrees, including changing out the "high fan" cluster on the roof of the units to more F7 like "low fan" cluster. One thing that can still immediately distinguish an F3 from an F7 is that on an F7 there is a fith fan just behind the horns. On the F3 it is blank as it is on the Manard's. Also, on the F7 there for for square vents in between the portholes, the Manard's model correctly leave them out, so it would seem that Manard's chosed to model a post upgrade version of the F3. The only thing that could be incorrect is the long top grill that begins just after the cab and ends at the back of the loco, but it could be that some prototype railroads upgraded that along with the fans.

[@robbcamp682]

Hey Eric, love your videos, question, who makes the track your running the trains on?

[@Ericstrains]

Atlas track

[@chrismetafora6565]

They should do a Menard's boxcar. Free advertising for them. A nice souvenir.

[@jeramyclay4541]

Hey I'm doing a train set too but it's a show I'm doing HO trains I have my Burlington on Santa Fe that has sound and have a Union Pacific that has sound and it has and it's from a world war II paint scheme for Union Pacific and I like them and I like the headlights and the sounds and announcements and it also whistles when it goes over gray crossings but what is the best DCC controller for ho

[@chadkono1821]

What did you use for a power supply?

[@lindat5368]

Are there any dummy A or B units available?

[@machia0705]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🚂 The hobby needs affordable locomotives. Are you listening Lionel, Atlas and MTH? Thanks Mernards!

[@gruntkiller3307]

Nice

[@DavidSimpson1973]

Anyone else see the tiny bug crawling over the ties under the fuel tank at the 5 minute mark? He seems to like it. Hopefully he jumped on board and took a ride!

[@Ericstrains]

Wow, I didn't even notice. My layout has real wildlife on it!

[@miguelangelgarrido7233]

Hola buen dia excelente video muy buen modelo abrazo grande

[@petergulotta8183]

Excellent review Eric! In my opinion, no one does it better!!!!

[@johnruppert5630]

Nice review👍I hope Menard’s continues to produce engines going forward. I would not pay a premium for this particular engine as you mentioned!

[@andy41417]

Open frame AC motors had heavy armatures which act like a flywheel.

[@Broncort1]

Although I’m a hard pass on this, I think it’s great that someone else is stepping up and keeping the “other train company” honest. This could just be the beginning in terms of quality for Menard’s. I agree, EBay is an absolute JOKE now. I remember when there were 25,000 Lionel items, now it’s barely 1500….between people trying to rip off, the fees if your selling, and a few other issues, it’s done!

[@Ericstrains]

Yeah their fees are ridiculous so I can understand sellers having to mark stuff up to compensate. I once sold an engine for $900 and they took almost $200 in fees.

[@zacharygutshall8452]

I think it would be awesome if Menards would sell smoke units separately that you can install yourself. That way it won't raise the price, and for those who want smoke they could have it

[@michaelragan5799]

I can live without the flywheels but metal gears are a must. Hopefully they will offer A and B dummy units or even offer the B units powered as an option. Sound in the Dummys would be a strong selling point from a realism view, even in powered B option, sound would be great. I look forward to seeing these available, I will buy if the dummy units become available...especially powered dummy Bs. They will need the extra power to pull a string of heavier passenger cars as they sure look the Super Chief part.

[@mollycaz1]

That is a very nice engine. What is difference between fly wheel stop and no fly wheel stop

[@Ericstrains]

One is smooth, the other is abrupt. The flywheel equipped motors all the motors to coast to a stop rather than stopping instantly.

[@louisjinhui1420]

Bonjour! I like! Your channel is improving i see. You have massive audiences! Bye for now!

[@Ericstrains]

Thank you! 😃

[@mrsaturngamingandstories]

Wow

[@mgr_video_productions]

Great video and review! I didn't know they were making locomotives now.

[@markmcdowell231]

You can fix plastic gears with baking soda and supper glue put the soda on then a touch of glue then clean of the gear ,have a small file on hand to file out the gears and sides this will fix your broken gear.