£50 For A Complete Train Set | Any Good?
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- čas přidán 31. 07. 2024
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A very affordable Mehano electric train set, 'CARGO TRAIN'.
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Hey Folks - the loco in the video isn't a SD40-2, it's an Alco C-628 (or something similar!), and Soo Line is a real company! Thanks to everyone for letting me know!
It is an Union Pacific Alco
Thank you! :D
Sam'sTrains they’re all scale models as well
I was just about to comment the real name
THE BIG BOY WAS ALCO! I did a full on project on that.
I know you thought that the "elephant turd" was a crappy accessory, but honestly if I had that as a kid I would have been really excited to do it up with paint and flock. It's a nice introduction into making model scenery if you use your imagination
that’s exactly what i was thinking. the craft abilities
This is fantastic, an actual affordable train set! I miss when these used to be more common, these are the sets that bring people into the hobby and as a result I think they're very important. Most of these starter sets today are all battery powered, I can't tell you how happy I am to see an actual electric one. Maybe I'm overly excited but this seems really good and I think I might get one my self.
haha I know - it's a shame they're not more common :(
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I know what mean smt mainline, I still have the bachmann challenger set with e-z track. I restarted my interest in model trains, with two starter sets, and second hand track from an antique shop.
Oh hi there
@@moisesm9602 Hey
@Joel Chandler Exactly, I don't think most families can cough up $250 for a train set. Even in the 2000s bachmann and lifelike were still making budget friendly sets. Now life like is gone and bachmann has raised their prices by around 3 times the amount.
Sam: Doesn't know something about this set
Americans: Now this looks like a job for me
haha you're not half right!! xD
@@SamsTrains en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soo_Line_Railroad
The Soo Line is indeed real and those hoppers, although in bright colours, are also prototypical and don't look too dissimilar to the Walthers detailed 4 bay hoppers. I'd say that the grey cylinders are supposed to be steel coils, a weathering and detailing job could give you a great train with everything you have there.
Edit: I believe the loco is based on an Alco century engine, rather than an EMD SD40-2
Sam: doesn't know something about this set
Americans: hold my beer
Ethan D CP doesn’t technically exist in the United States. Although all reporting marks are CP
@Ethan D If you go by foamer logic then yes UP does suck, however in the real world you use actual logic and if you are looking for a railroad career UP is the cream of the crop, next is BNSF, then KCS, then Amtrak, then NS and finally CSX for obvious reasons and this is just class A I am on about. There are plenty of class B railroads that are awesome to work for as well .
Deciding what railroad is largely demographic based though and depends on if you are willing to relocate or not.
This was my first train set, I got it long time ago for Christmas and I have so many fond memories of it. The play value, as you said, is great, but what I found far more important is the fact that this set offers gateway to railway modelling. Even though I was too young to really help with modelling, my father created nice and simple little model (I think it was mostly grass), turned that elephant turd into a hill with a tunnel and a little stream in that so called valley, bought additional tracks and switch tracks, fixed everything on a piece of plywood and I had an almost portable model railway. Thank you for reminding me of it, I think this set offers far more than it shows. Cheers from Slovenia!
That's awesome - the play value is awesome, and you're right - you can expand it if desired! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
When my brother was young, mum bought him the cheapest farmyard set you could ever imagine. There was a shepherd figure - grossly out of scale to the hut that came with him - with some horses and sheep, all of which were out of scale to each other etc. The number of hours he spent playing with it all is indescribable. So much so that when mum found, by chance, one of the farm figures decades later, mum had tears in her eyes at the happy memories.
Including having to make things like you have to, in the same way. I can see this set being similar - amazing play value.
haha really?! That sounds nightmarish, lol!! Some of these basic toys are often the best - I'd agree with that!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
The wagon load is actually underground pipe cut to size, and SOO line is an American railroad that ran in the midwest (Iowa, Illinois, etc that is now bankrupt) We still see SOO Line freight cars to this day that haven't been repainted yet. Many of they are from the 1970's old stock but still rolling.
Thanks very much for the info mate - appreciate it! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
@@SamsTrains Put this in the "Search Box" :> Soo Line GP38-2 switching and roaring in run 8 EMD 16-645
@TRAIN FANATIC 1200 lol thanks for watching
Soo line is now part of CP rail
That's about 96 inch pipe. I never see it that big. You're essentially burying a river at that point and hauling that stuff is most of the cost.
“Cargo Train”, most creative name ever.
haha - someone must have spent hours on that name ;)
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
probably written by someone who has english as a second language. i challenge xenon to translate 'freight train' in to any eastern european language. or any other language for that matter.
Must of took 10 years
@@raymondo162 Should I use Google Translate for this?
That is so creative
My uncle who worked his entire life for the Frisco Railroad used to say, "You can't spell stupid without UP when referring to the Union Pacific Railroad...
haha that's brilliant Ron - I'll have to remember that one! xD
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
@@SamsTrains is the train HO Scale?
@@Eastkentuckysirensandtrains Yeah it is.
It’s an ALCo C-628, one of the most beautiful diesel locomotives ever made in my opinion
Ahh thanks a lot for letting me know! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Interesting to note that UP had Alco C-630 units . Not sure f they had the 628
@@railroadmike6843 They did not, unless they got them when they absorbed SP, and SP had a few of theirs from long ago still laying around.
I personally think they're kinda fugly
@@Ranger0463 The Alco’s were retired from the UP and SP rosters mostly in the 1980’s when new GE’s and EMD’s came on the lines for the most part for by 1996 when the
UP-SP merger happened it was just EMD’s and GE’s and maybe a few small manufacturers or rebuilders Locomotives on the two respective lines.
Alco’s and MLW’s still ran on Canadian Railway’s up through the 1990’s but all the U.S. Class 1 one Railroad’s had retired their Alco’s in 1980’s.
While Alco’s and MLW’s definitely went to many Shortlines and a few Regional Rail operations up through the 21st Century of course !
And The Museums Too !
To get a child for Christmas it's perfect. if they really like the hobby you can get something more expensive at a later date and if not you haven't spent a lot of money.
Yeah you're right - it'd definitely give them the bug! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Perfect for this.. or for an old guy's first trainset
Yeah, that's exactly what's missing in the model railroad world, cheap, simple, affordable entry sets for kids to play and have fun with. Children that are just getting started don't need the best detailing or the most advanced digital technology, they just want something to play and have fun with.
For a local train....that motor (alco) is really dated.........in real life it would be a gp40 4 axle
Mehano used to be Mehanotehnika, the main Yugoslavia's train model factory. It became in 1991. Mehano and worked until 2008 in Slovenia. They moved the production in 2010 in China. And this is a Chinese made set.
I can't over that, as a I kid, I destroyed a Mehanotehnika set.
Which was second hand, but... But... Haunts me today!
They used to made some fine trains!
From photos I've seen, the Soo Line Quad Hoppers were usually white with red lettering. Soo Line mainline locomotives were painted red or white with red nose.
Ahh interesting - maybe a bit of creative license went on there then?!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
@@SamsTrains On the yellow with blue considerable amount of creative license. On the green and white, if you change the railroad to Burlington Northern, then you have a little more merit as they had green and white freight cars. Also while the Soo may be nothing more than a paper railroad in the Canadian Pacific Railway system in current times, you can still see some of the old paint rolling thru here in the states.
I notice both quad hoppers have the same number on them, even though they're different colours. :)
An image search for Soo Line Quad Hopper shows plenty of brown ones, white or light grey ones. But no green or yellow. But for the money you save on the set, those bothered by this will have enough change to buy some paint. lol!
Open hoppers were oxide red. Grain hoppers were either white or silver.
They were white with black lettering not red and all locos were white and red
Thank you so much for posting this. As a teenager I had a train layout but then life happens.
Yesterday I looked into starting again but there is this thingy called budget...I saw Mehano on a certain selling site but never heard of it. Your review helped me very much, I'm buying one.
Hope you enjoy creating your new pieces of scenery. Can now wait to see more videos like this about the different railway items available. Love hearing the history of the class.
haha thanks Luke - yes I'll definitely do more one day! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
"I didn't include the big poo" ... "if you want to mess around with it you can"
*Yes review the steam!*
haha!! xD
Nice set to practice your painting and weathering skills on!
That's very true indeed Frank!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
My thought as well 😃
Not on shiny plastic.
@@MilwaukeeF40C A layer or two of matt varnish first.
I've never heard of them "Mehano" but it was brilliant to watch. I'm 67 and just getting into model trains. Only been a few months into model trains but it's so addictive and so much money, I'm having a blast. Fulfilling my childhood dreams
CZcams: I think you would want to see this
me: you must be kidding?
me, half an hour later: guess youtube was right...
haha thanks for watching! :D
I really like that! With a repaint, the wagons could look really smart, and a bit of weathering would make that loco rather convincing. The little set is fantastic value for money :)
That's very true - it'd actually make for a great project! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
That particular locomotive is an Alco Century 628 or Alco C-628. Just doing a little research will go a long way.
Leo or a C630. Definitely an Alco Century series diesel.
Thanks a lot for filling me in Leo! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hello @leo @sam, yep, that's an alco century, (typical TYCO in the old days) a different matter is the realistic number in the cab, and also, if it would corespond to a gp (4wheels per axle) or sd (6 wheels) but yeah! Completely agree!
@@stevebarnes2 and worse still, before that was a LIGHT PACIFIC 4-6-2..... ;(
Give the kid a break.
Sorry Sam but when I was still at school I bought an Airfix railbus kit and acting on a suggestion of a reviewer in a magazine by utilising a rocket motor I motorised it by fitting a stick around the axle of metals wheels that I fitted to the kit. I glued the motor onto the floor and applied some glue to the shaft of the motor. I had to buy a box of small elastic band to go around the motor and the axle with the twig . A couple of bits of single core wire was used for pick ups. Now it is very fast at 12 volts and will do 240 mph/15 seconds scale speed around a circuit of 1 scale mile. That layout was exhibited 2 years running at the MRC exhibition in London. The layout was.constructed by the Crawley Model Railway Society. I was a member and the layout was put up in the club room were I used to run my rail bus. That was about 63 years ago when I was mates with Rodney Stenning and Gordon Gravit. Can I challenge you at 12 volts.Bye from Ian Cooper?
Its once again one of those recommended videos at 3 AM, i was never into railways as a whole, but i can say that i enjoyed this review, even though i aint going to buy it or anything. It reminded me of my train set when i was i child, and i still cant believe how much fun i had with one locomotive and few cargo vagons! Thank you for this well structured content. I regard people doing this, playing a mastermind behind a small world. I cant imagine doing it my self, but watching it is very, very satisfying.
Glad to hear that Roman, thanks very much! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
That western set looks interesting (although you didn't link to that one). This is what hornby should be doing to get children into the hobby at £50 you get more value than the nearest priced hornby set, where as Hornby release a bundle at £200 for the lockdown.
I'll check that one out mate! I agree - this would be awesome from Hornby!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
As someone interested in models but also a student, I really appreciate you reviewing cheap/budget stuff in addition to the more 'standard' locos and sets, even if some of it is elephant dung!
Great to hear that mate - yes I love the bargain locos too! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
An amazing videos Sam thank you for showing every one the different locomotive packs on offer from different place. Hope you enjoy your new locomotive and rolling stock. Take care
Thanks a lot Luke - it's a pleasure, really glad you liked seeing this! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I love your enthusiasm Sam, it's inspiring. Super respectful and honest, much like the legend that is James May. This set is rather lovely, it almost makes me feel like a child again. I'd have no hesitation in purchasing this for my son's as a starter set. Thanks for the review Sam. Stay safe.
Thanks so much Dan - that's very kind of you! Yes it did me too actually! xD
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Man this looks very nice👍 I really like the locomotive and the waggons. The value is so good, much better than the Hornby Juniors train. Maybe adding some weights to the loco will make the power even better. I''m definitely looking forward of buying one. The AWD is amazing and my favourite feature. Great review, Sam
haha thanks a lot mate - I really did too - very impressed with this one! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I'd really love to see you review the Steam version of this set. Looking at it online, it looks pretty interesting and I'm thinking about getting it. However, I live in the US, and I don't know how I'm going to deal with the power situation, since we have a different input/output and different voltage.
Thanks Matthew - I will try to do that some time, thanks for the tip! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Favorite budget controllers in order of preference
- Mehano (I just love how the dial glides, and the lil' click when you change direction)
- Bachmann
- Hornby with the original large red dial
- Airfix
- Hornby with the newer red dial
- Lima
- Hornby black and silver
I had one of those as a kid , almost the same , 2m track steel ,4 wagons , santa fe on main loko . 1 motor with driven shafts to each wheels with full gear box inside. Control box was ran by 2x4,5vlots and that was bad. I even than changed it to run on wall adaptor . Watching your channel and smt mainline bring s bac memories and now i want to go and get new loco ...
Thanks for a great review! I had Mehano trains as a kid since 1980.s. At that time still in former Yugoslavia ,Mehano was called Mehanotehnika (existing since 1950 s) .They made a very nice affordable train sets and also export them a lot in the USA or UK too...Today in Slovenia ,EU, Mehano produce starter sets like this one but also more expensive and more high detailed digital locos too.😊
Someone needs to send him a nice E or F unit, I’d love to see him react to some more American locos
I'd love to see his reaction to a life-like trains layout lmao
It’s a beautiful locomotive!!! Great video Sam! Have a awesome day 😁
-Nick
Thanks a lot Nick - have a good day too mate! :D
Cheers,
Sam :)
My first train set (Christmas 1978) was an HO Model Power Canadian National freight set (made by Mehanotechnika in Yugoslavia for Model Power, with the exception of the caboose, which was made by Roco) featuring an Alco RS-11. I still have the loco and it still runs.
Ooh fantastic - glad to hear they last a good time! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I used to watch your content religiously a few years back. I returned today, and I am pleased to see the charm hasn’t left!
That's lovely to hear - thanks so much for the kind words! :D
Cheers,
Sam :)
Hi Sam..a brilliant review..I'm really tempted to get one of these...the Elephant turd LOL..you could incorporate in your own layout and maybe paint it or add some scatter and bushes...or maybe not, having looked at again, lol
Thanks very much - I can highly recommend it - although I'm certainly not putting that turd anywhere near my layout ;)
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Yay at last a review I thought you’d given up on making reviews
haha nooo - of course not!! :D
Never gonna give it up, never gonna let subscribers down
Looks like the trains my local toy store and hobby store used to sell back when they were still in business! My first “modern”-inspired toy train was an EMD Geep, three or four freight cars, and a caboose all in brightly painted metal. Took me back a ways. Thanks for showing us!
Ahh very interesting Richard - that one sounds pretty good! It's a pleasure mate! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Never in my years, have I ever been disappointed by a Mehano locomotive (need to procure their TGV & ICE high speed sets, sometime!). Owning one of these ALCO C628 locos, I am most grateful to see you're pleased. God's Speed to you, and keep Uncle Pete's ALCOs rolling!
Me neither actually - they seem to be very good indeed, especially for the money!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
That is an amazing price. Even in CAD it's a heck of a good deal. Now I have been to Maheno's webstore now and then and writing up my shopping list. Their webstore is a bit clunky as they do not seem to list DC/DCC powered stuff separate from the AC powered stuff.
Thanks a lot Den - I agree, lol!! Ahh okay, I'll have to be careful with that too then!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Ok, that is NOT an SD40. Looks to be a U-Boat of some kind, or some alco locomotive from the 60s.
Now, on the opposite end of the spectrum, get a scaletrains rivet counter locomotive. Insane amount of detail on one of those.
Thanks a lot William - based on the comments, I think you're right!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
ALCo C628, to be exact. A very cheap tooling of it lol
I agree re Scaletrains. Have a look at their stuff Sam and you'll consign your UK stuff straight in a skip. Over 800 parts on the HO scale UP Turbine
I've noticed Alco had oddly spaced axles on their C+C bogies. Looking at my Bachman SD70AC and an ICH Premier AlCo Century 628, I can see the EMD has evenly spaced axles, where as the AlCo has a bigger space between 2nd and 3rd axle.
@@CardboardSliver This was done back then to keep the traction motors inside of the locomotive truck (bogie), where the axles are furthest apart the traction motors face each other.
Awesome review. The locomotive looks to be a former AHM tooling. The set reminds of the Tyco and Life Like electric HO scale train sets seen here in the states.
😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️😉😉😉😉😗😗😗😗😝😝😝😝🤓🤓🤓🤓😏😏😏😏😒🤫🤫🤫🤫🙄
This is a self-contained set aimed I would say at (approx) 6-9 yr olds, and as described by Sam it completely fills the bill. No need to quibble about lack of detail, steel track, elephant turd etc., it's not supposed to be an accurate scale model, but it offers enormous play value and learning skills to its intended market, and equally important, appears to be functional and pretty well built for its purpose. If I can get hold of it, my 6yr old grandson will be getting one for Christmas - just the job! I often take him to Chesterfield (Derbys) station to watch the trains, this set doesn't look like anything he's seen there, he's not old enough (like Sam) to have heard of Soo Line, but he won't care!
Great video Sam the train set is a good deal but it is not available in The USA I wish it was . Thank
You for keeping us entertained during this times of not being able to go out.
Thanks a lot Louis - it's a shame they're not available in the states?! :O
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Union Pacific has a licensing division that decides if a company is allowed to use their likeness on models and toys. I'm pretty sure that Mehano hasn't been in touch with them...as an aside, Mehano made HO gauge models (locomotives and cars) for Atlas in the 1970's and 1980's. I'll bet someone in Serbia found the tooling in the back room and started cranking out new ones again 🤣
Louis buscarino I looked it up and you can get it in the USA,but it’s $184.00 not worth it. It should be about $50.00 if that
@@theodorelease8477 true, considering that you can get a trainset quality model from Bachmann, with EZ-track and Bachmann's own Kadee coupler clones, for around $100
Well Sam, you have managed to clear amazon uk’s stocks with this review. the only one showing this evening is from Poland at £161.00!
haha I know - they all went really quick!! Hopefully they'll get more in stock soon!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I have a Mehano train set from 1994 that was made for President's Choice it's a 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotive and I got it used at a flea market and it's really nice for who it was made for and still works great today
President’s Choice, a grocery store chain here in Canada, featured almost a dozen train sets released around Christmas time over several years. The engines were decorated in Canadian liveries while the freight cars were either painted in authentic Canadian markings or had PC products featured on the sides of the freight cars. Two of the sets were diesel while the rest were steam powered. Mehano and later IHC (International Hobby Corporation) produced the train sets. The same transformer in your set was included in the sets as well. I would highly recommend you take a look at these interesting sets and even the buildings that were produced to go with them.
Great video Sam it is an ok price just wish it had some British stock in it instead if American
Same here
Thanks David - ooh better get yourself some British models ;)
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
13:33 continuity error, Sam. Tut tut.
haha! Wow - that was pretty sloppy! xD
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Mehano put out sets for a Canadian Grocery store. I have 2 of them they were about $99.00 cad in the early 2000s. One of mine is that bullet nosed 6060 that you reviewed, and the original tender was very like the one in the set. One of the locomotives also came with smoke liquid. The track looks identical. Another great video Sam. Thanks
Very interesting David - that sounds great! Appreciate the comment,
Sam :)
Thanks Sam! I am repainting a much older version of the Mehano C-628 from UP, like the one on your set, to Minnesota Commercial. Thanks!
The gondola has a brakewheel!
Huzzah!
Edit: Oh wait all the freight cars have brakewheels. Even better!
haha I know right!! xD
Awesome, tho honestly looks like something from when my dad was a kid
haha yeah me too!! ;D
@@SamsTrains
Unboxing electric Locomotive EP09
Unboxing SM42.
This two models trains no Bachmann no Hornby this two trains models from company PIKO
Please.
As I am old enough to be your Dad, I agree. In fact, I would have really wanted this!
This is a fascinating review, because you are assessing it against other model railways when most of those purchasing it will probably be looking for a toy. And it does rather well. The level of detail, printing on the wagons, controller and general contents of the box are astounding for fifty quid. Imagine how delighted a youngster would be getting this as a present that's the price of a video game. Imagine how delighted a model railway enthusiast would be!!! Something to keep everyone having fun in this lockdown. Great vid.
Thanks a lot John, yes this is very true - but even so, I found it impressive for the cost! I would have been thrilled with this as a child!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Just seen this video today Sam, this is a great value and great starter set for any youngsters wanting to start in model railways.
Thanks a lot Peter, I agree, great value indeed! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I thought it said "sod line" XD
haha I'd love that!! :D
How about throwing that 5 pole motor from the other day in it :)
Absolutely - I've thought about it! xD
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
And don't forget to add flywheels.
My very first train set in the early to mid 90's was one of these mehano layouts in a box. including the brown plastic mountain! think it had a lot of the same rolling stock and a similar logo with a different livery. mad to see they are still being made.
Very cool Sean - thanks for sharing! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
im just about to get started with model trains and this looks nice i havent watched the full vid yet but it looks good
Ah U Boats, very nice locomotives
Yeah! I quite like this one!! :D
It’s actually a an Alco
actually an Alco C628, but still a very nice locomotive
my favorite U-boat is the U8B! A Vietnam veteran LOL
Looks like a alco c430
Cool! Thanks for letting me know! :D
Cheers,
Sam :)
It is a SD40-2 I Checked the loco road number
@@themadcoachman it's not. They just misnumbered it.
great to see you doing other than the usual items at the moment Sam, the loco in the steam set looks a bit iffy but yes would love to a review for that set as well. Cheers for another entertaining review.
Thanks a lot mate - glad you enjoyed this one for a change! :D
Cheers,
Sam :)
On my 10th birthday, after years and years of asking my parents for a train set I got a Mehano train set which is pretty basic, it's the loco (a GP18 in an SNFC livery) +3 cars (and the tracks and controller of course) so the box was much smaller as it got no buildings nor mountains and such. After it, I went with other brands like Athearn, Atlas, etc as Mehano is quite strange in Mexico, but anyway, it's a great starter kit for someone with a low budget and the quality is really good for the price (still got everything after 15 years except for a car). Also, it is ideal for someone who wants to experiment with detailing and weathering. Nice video, I subscribe!.
That's awesome - great to hear you expanded it too, perfect!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I've had 4 Mehano train sets as a kid.
I didn't know for better than Mehano because in Croatia it's all we had, mostly sold as kids toys in various stores. Cheap and plastic but I gotta say pretty reliable for the price. Mehano is an old company from ex. Yugoslavia and now it's in Slovenia today. I still kind of miss having a train set to play with.
I donated my last train set to my high school where I was in a team to make a small model railway layout. It was an Burlington Northern Alco C628 with a crane and boom tender, hopper car and a caboose.
Yup and I'm a train engineer today! :)
Trains were always my passion.
Ooh that's pretty awesome - glad you found them reliable back in the day too! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Here in Canada, Mehano train sets were marketed under the President's Choice brand and were sold in supermarkets around Christmas for around $70. They had a steam locomotive and around 5 freight cars and a large oval of track, though the loco was the only decent part of it. Sadly, they haven't been made for years but they can be found for sale online for much higher prices.
Ahh very interesting - I didn't know this, thanks for the info! :D
Cheers,
Sam :)
Amazing value! Yes, as others say, that loco and wagons would look much less like plastic toys with some good weathering - perhaps add a caboose to the consist? The 'elephant poo' could look really good after painting and grasses, bushes and trees etc. are added
Thanks a lot James - yes indeed, they would make great projects! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Looks like a great set! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks a lot mate - it's a pleasure! :D
Sam, love your videos. Yeah this is not an SD-40 dash 2. . Its either an Alco Century C-630 or a General Electric U33-C. The U-33 series are what we chaps in the states nickname "U-Boats" dont know why, but its what we call them. Also generally the -2 or Dash Two means it was upgraded to better electronics / motors etc. Similar to a Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1 is an early version and a Mk4 is a later more improved version. GP in front of a diesel stands for "General Purpose" Whilst SD designates "Special Duty" i.e. 3 axles or what you call Co-Co ... keep up the terrific work. Love the vids...
Mehano was sort of a "every ones got one" here in the states. Although pretty much no one realize it. Because of the company eastern European heritage, remember, this was still the tail end of the cold war, It decided to market its products to established train manufactures that sold their products in the US. Everyone for AHM to Bachman to Model especially, repackaged and sold some or all of their models. They were great pullers despite the little 3 pole motor's, as they had all wheel drive by this point. I had a gp18 when I was a kid that was sold via Bachmann, I did not know it was a Mehano at that time. I always like it because it was about to pull huge trains. When I started installing DCC decoders, About 12 years ago, I used some of these models, from the likes of AHM as my early attempts. I was highly impressed by how well they put together for what they were.
haha I can see why - they're such good value really! Many thanks for all the info!
Cheers,
Sam :)
Thank you for an intelligent comment, most here seem to be just random comments containing information that is wildly guessed at.
I searched on Google for the Alco C-628 locomotive in the Union Pacific livery along with its running number "3222". I compared the pics to your shot in the white backdrop and they're a perfect match. All of the shapes and printing on the locomotive looks exactly like the model that's in this train set.
Thanks a lot for doing that mate - I bet you're right!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hey Sam great review ! I had Mehano sets all time when i was younger , still have a +15year old diesel loco ( still runs ) and a new set in whcih the main loco is really detailed and heavy , did cost 50€ , and mehano has some more pricy sets, regarding the quality i was never bothered by that as it looked nice and was working well , the track really like to rust if they get exposed to moisture , ( to the more hardcore collectors the medium quality will be a turn down ) , and yes please rewiew more mehano sets . cheers from Slovenia !
Great to hear that David - it's amazing how well they run, even after some years! Can't wait to try more of their products! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Those Mehano controllers are quite impressive indeed. I own a couple of them. They're based around an LM317 linear regulator.
You can mod them by adding a TO-220 heatsink to the regulator itself. This increases the current output of the controller to around 1 amp continuous and 1.5 peak (!). One of my controllers is modded this way and it handles my old clunky Spanish Ibertren models (which absolutely devour power) no problem at all.
I certainly thought so - very good indeed! Thanks for the tip on that - I'd be interested in trying that!
Cheers,
Sam :)
I bought a Mehano French outline train set for a small nephew a few years ago. Funnily enough it contained an SNCF B-B 67000 diesel just like your Lima 0 gauge one. I remember being pretty impressed given the price. The loco was quite good as I recall and I improved the rolling stock by adding some extra weight.
This lot would be quite nice with some extra weight and some very serious weathering...
The loco will probably be better once it's well run in.
Ooh a French one?? That sounds awesome - I'll have to look into that one! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hi Sam..enjoyed the video. Thank you!
The Locomotive is an Alco Century C628(The trucks/bogies give it away).
Yes..a matter of fact,I have operated a Mehano made Locomotive (Life-Like Brand).
Bought it in 1992,from the local Toys R Us store( back when the store stocked good stuff)
It was a good runner.. equipped with a 'Can Motor' ..ran good. Having no traction tyres/tires...I added a little lead weight on the chassis...and it could pull a really long train.. putting other much heavier, traction tyred Locomotives to shame.
I had loads of fun with it.
Thanks so much John, and many thanks for sharing - they've been around for some time for sure then!!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Superb set...I have a few Mahano models....A great first set to run full pelt for young gen to get going and plant a seed......great review....
Thanks very much - yeah I agree, fantastic fun for kids! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Yes, the Mehano controller is surprisingly good. We used them a lot on how club layout years ago before converting to DCC. Very intuitive.
I thought so too - fantastic for what they cost! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I've had two Mehano locomotives, they used to be sold in North America under the "IHC" name and before IHC by Pemco and AHM. They are very basic in detail, but very reliable runners that will last forever and make good budget locomotives.
Duly noted - yes I've seen some of their models marketed as IHC before too! You're right!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
My first and only train set is a Union Pacific freight train which I got for Christmas when I was eight. Such fond memories.
Ahh fantastic - glad to hear that mate!
Hi Sam! I've had a similar Mehano set as a kid, two actually. A Thalys set and a Boston & Maine diesel cargo set. The little plasic things in the bag at 11:09 are for clicking the tracks together. You don't really need them (as you show too, you didn't use them) but they can come in handy for kids.
I recently found out that both trains I have still run after having been stowed away for more than ten years. The Mehano quality is amazing.
I now use the tracks of these sets to run a more expensive Roco locomotive, an 1100 series from the Dutch National Railways.
That sounds pretty cool mate - thanks for letting me know what those clips were for - sounds good for keeping everything together actually!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Sam'sTrains No problem Sam :)
Do you only cover trains from the British railways and it’s predecessors, or do you also cover foreign material?
Greetings from Slovenia, where this set originates from :D Mehano is great i had (when i was little), and still have a whole lot of mehano locomotives and rolling stock. It all still works 15 years later. With proper servicing ofc.
Greetings! Yes I've been very impressed with them so far - they seem to be very long-lasting! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
This reminds me a lot of my first electric train set which is similar but of an Australian diesel and wagons that I still have. Mine's all wheel drive(just bo-bo) and pickup, if my memory is correct the controller went 100% forwards to stop to 100% reverse just in the dial motion, it had a front light and until I eventually got into modern model trains was by far the best puller I had. Sadly though I'm stuck in the difficult process of attempting to find a replacement motor for it, but eventually it'll run again :D
Sam, I bought a set called the "western" for 30€... the mehano controler is ace... great stuff...thanks Mate
Wow that sounds great - and glad you like the controller, they're great aren't they?! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hello Sam from the United States! Very nice review on this set.
One nice thing I should tell you is that there is a railroad here in the US called the Delaware & Lackawanna and they have some similar big 6 axle ALCOS like the one you have in your video still in service today and you should look the railroad up on CZcams when you get the chance! Keep up the good work and stay safe! :)
Thanks very much mate - appreciate the info, those sound really cool! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Beautiful set, runs very smooth, ....thanks for sharing
Thanks very much mate! :D
Seeing inside that locomotive I see a good place for a custom build. Get rid of the toy-like carbody, repower it, throw a bunch of tungsten putty in there around the driveshafts, 3D print a body of your own, and you've got one hell of a puller. Also easy to rig for DCC if you wanted to.
Yeah of course - it would make for a great project! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
The Union Pacific number 3222 belongs to an UP EMD (General Motors Electro-Motive Division. [Later: Electro-Motive Diesel ]) SD40-2 but the loco model in the kit is an ALCO (American Locomotive Co.) Century 628. ALCOs have those distinctive rear corners on the long hood and on front hoods on "High Hoods". This is a Low Hood for better forward visibility.
Duly noted Julie, thanks a lot for the info!
Cheers,
Sam :)
Brilliant video as usual Sam !
First US one in a while.
Thanks a lot Henry - yeah it's been a while!! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I actually bought the locomotive itself from Amazon for $28 (yes, I’m American) back in 2020. It was, for a good amount of time, my largest operable diesel locomotive. It was that way until earlier this year when I purchased a Bachmann SD40-2 With dcc and sounds from the real NS 3430 for an astounding $178. It replaced the mehano c630 as my largest diesel. I later sold it off after I converted to DCC.
Great video. Thanks for posting this. Have a nice day.
It's a pleasure mate - you too my friend! :D
Interesting review. Thanks Sam. You might be interested to know that the Soo Line was originally a subsidiary of a Canadian Company. In the early 1900's, There were serious problems building track north of Lake Superior. The Soo line connected two sections of track in Canada by going south of Lake Superior which means going through the USA. The name comes from the connection between the cities of Soo St Marie and Winnipeg. The line created a vital connection to Western Canada for goods ( and other more controversial items). i.e. Canadian troops were moved through the USA to react to a rebellion in 1904. I have driven the length of the original Soo Line. The bridges etc still say Soo Line. I am not sure if the Soo Line is still owned by Canadian Pacific Railways.
my 3rd mechano set was similar to this one the old controller had accessories output also and a direction knob the track layout was also diferent you had additionally two switches also had grass and ballast included 3 plastic car's and a castle for the elephant mountain
Ahh very interesting - I'll have to check their other sets then! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I used to live on Ex milwaukee road trackage in the early 2000s whan CP just aquired it, I used to see SOO SD60s (Some Triclops!) and many ICE\DME SD40-2s, but i was very very young. still have some vivid memories.
Ahh very interesting - did they look like that then?? :O
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
@@SamsTrains unfortunately I never really got to see very much SOO rolling stock but if you look up SOO Line SD60, that was the most common Soo power I got to see, known as "Candy Apple" Red
Soo line used to run through my town. Further out near the highway there is a big grain building or something for trains with "SOO LINE" painted in huge letters. Now it is mostly union pacific and bnsf
Ahh fantastic - thanks for sharing! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Wow! As a kid, I've started with a MEHANO starter set like this. This was about 15-18 years ago. Good to see, that they are still making theese cheap sets. I know they are more like toys, than serious models, but that's it's benefit. If gets broken by the kid or something, you won't bother.
Ahh fantastic - yeah they still seem to be going strong (I think!) Absolutely!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
What a buy. I love these reviews because it shows what gems can be found out on the market. Loved this video and I hope you do the steam version. Hornby need to take note on what others are offering. They might take a few learnings from this. Clint
haha thanks Clint - really glad you like these - I was very impressed wit hthe price of this one!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hi Sam, You are absolutely right that things need to be packaged properly, since many items are shipped air-mail, which means that they fly through the air into the shipping bin.
PS - My friends and I who have N Scale trains, here in Canada, nearly always use that kind of controller, with the built-in clicky-switch at zero. Brilliant :-)
Nice video.. reminds me of my first HO scale train set (my first train set!)
Looks similar to what i remember.. a loco, cars, caboose (not in this one), track, controller, some scenic accessories(signs, people etc).. memory is hazey but yes..very cool :-)
haha awesome - did it have the same loco? Any idea of the year? :O
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
The elephant turd is a economical bit as it's the tunnel shown on the box, I think its clever how they have made it part of the packaging. Pretty interesting set for the money especially when you get the locomotive, three decent sized wagons, proper steel track with a controller, track mat and some scenic items (including the elephant turd tunnel).
Yes it's sort of clever, and sort of daft at the same time!! ;D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I've got that Peckett that you used in the video myself, bought it at the exhibition I went to a couple of months ago. Wasn't expecting that train set to run as well as it did on your normal layout myself and I think you should totally review the steam version of it
Ooh awesome - they're such good models aren't they?! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)