The New Menards Union Pacific Engines: Ultra Affordable O Gauge Fun!
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- Опубліковано 22 лип 2024
- The New Menards Union Pacific Engines are Ultra Affordable O Gauge Fun!
Menards: www.menards.com
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Chapter List:
0:00 - Intro & Unboxing
7:01 - Model Stats and Facts
12:54 - Startup & Feature Demo
16:30 - Running Session
18:45 - Conclusion
19:51 - End Credits - Розваги
Menards continues to fill a much needed entry-level space in the O gauge hobby. A good bit of dialogue, too.
One thing I love about Menards trains, they are affordable for us on fixed incomes. Even the railcar and vehicles are affordable and that’s all I was ever able to afford. No complaints from me on Menards train stuff.
Never knew about these
Video Notes:
1) This video has chapter for those who wish to skip around.
2) The diesel sounds on the powered unit can be turned down for those who like silence.
3) At 9:40 I meant to say "1 Pound, 5 Ounces" of pulling power.
4) I bought a matching box car and caboose from Menards, but they didn't arrive in time for this video. :(
At least you still have the cheap yet awesome locomotives! 😉
Who would want to skip around anyway
I checked on the Menards website and shocking they still have them in stock
Nice
Non powered are gone.
I was thinking 15 years ago some said that our hobby was dying. Now we have a new manufacturer with an affordable price point. This should allow many more people to start running trains and fall in love with our hobby. Meaning that our hobby is not dying, but instead perhaps at the start of a new Golden Era! 👏😃😁
I like that the trucks & fuel tank are painted vs the chrome of the SF models. Also, the amount of crew talk was impressive.
Main takeaways of this locomotive are;
The trucks are no longer a blaring chrome... which is nice
The horn no longer abruptly stops after you depress the button
The locomotive itself doesn't abruptly stop
So yeah, it has some more room for improvement, but it's good for what it is...
Overall it is a solid step-forward, and I'm excited for the future with Menards!
Yep they're getting better and better at it with each generation. It's fun to watch.
Love to see menards doing something different. I'm looking to pick up some 1/48 scale vehicles from them
me to, I wish they would stop the service charges and mail in rebates
You're a real training, Eric. It's great to hear the genuine fun in your voice as you test out new equipment.
Woo-woo!
Eric, i love the fact that you get what Menards mission statement seems to be, to make O gauge affordable to everyone. So much Menards bashing going on! You are fair, and your comments are constructive! I am an MTH guy but i appreciate as you seem to what Menards is trying to do! Great review!
Menard's fills what I consider to be an important niche in model trains. Their stuff might not be overly prototypical, but they look decent and are affordable.
I have two ATSF units, power and dummy, that I like a lot. I'd buy the UP units if not for the big flag logo. I fly the flag daily at home....but never did a UP F unit run with big flags on the side. Thx
These look great Eric! I love the fact Menards is doing something for the budget conscious and beginner model railroaders and these locomotives fit the bill nicely! Even though I'm in HO and not O scale, I'll say this, its great having highly detailed locomotives and rolling stock with all the features and all, but sometimes it's nice to just go back to the basics and simply just have fun playing with trains, and Menards seems to be filling that need nicely!
As someone looking to expand into the hobby, these look like a great entry point. Thank you for putting these on display for us.
Love the improvements! These are really nice for the price. Great review! Happy Railroading!
I have to come in again your patience and skill, I don’t even think about it Beyond my small brain but the work you’ve done here is absolutely amazing. Congratulations details, remarkable.
I think they should add dummy B-units as well to add more to the model. They can also do a double A-A powered set and have both run on the same controller. Basically one petmanently under the same address as the main A unit connected to the controller.
Good idea, but probably won’t happen. The tooling cost might be prohibitive.
Eric,
These look darn nice! As you and others have said, it is nice that Menards takes the feedback to progressively improve the product.
Got to say that they did a good job with a paint scheme that is more difficult.
Have fun with them and thank you for the review.
Thanks!
The Menard's train is fine. The layout is the jewel here.
Strikes me that Menards is the only model RR manufacturer that is actually a customer of the railroads they offer as models.
If anything that probably makes them more qualified to do model trains. Takes a rail customer to know rail customers.
Growing up in the Midwest i miss Menard’s, it’s so cool to see them make Trains!
Good review Eric. Great job comparison with the Santa Fe and the crew talk is cool!
This is Incredible!, the New Menards Union Pacific Engines are Amazing, Especially the Crew talk sounds Awesome.😃👍
Ok, I thought hearing “Menards” doing model trains until I saw the box and logo name’s font and knew immediately it was them. I’m laughing right now because there’s a Menards store down the road from my house and my mom used to worked there. Loved that store so much
Saw this and immediately ordered..looked on e bay and running between 3 and 350...glad Menard still had em in stock!
Extraordinary realistic cab Chatter on a friendly Budget locomotive ✨️✨️✨️✨️👍🏻Eric you own an extraordinary layout and collection
It's a great "starter train" to get a newbie into the hobby. As always thank you for sharing.
The crew talk is AWESOME!!! 👍🚂
Excellent assessment!! You made it fun to own one of them!!! And I will look into this as soon as I can!! Thanks so much!!!! Earl of El Barrio, NYC, NY. 8/7/23
👍👍Very good review and demo! Can't beat the Menards pricing, makes O gauge affordable to get started. Menards has some affordable buildings in O & HO and some are actually pretty cool looking. This was my first visit to your channel, I'm now a subscriber I enjoy seeing other modelers layouts in any gauge. I'm building a HO layout. 🚂🚂
I really appreciate Menards for making affordable trains, I find it very respectable, the same reason why I love the old Marx trains company.
I got into this hobby about a year ago, and I am still in the middle of building my first layout. I kind of went a little crazy on the size of the layout, deciding to make it as big as possible now and avoiding future expansion problems. The side effect of all that is that is that I am spending almost all of my train budget on the table/layout… leaving very little for actual trains.
The Menards stuff has been FANTASTIC for me, because I can still occasionally buy some actual trains (while I am still building the layout).
I bought this engine and dummy unit and I am very glad I did. It gives me something modern to run around my basic track… even if the layout is pretty bare otherwise.
Thanks for the videos. I have learned a lot here over the past several months.
The layout “issue” has hit all of us in the beginning, and if a modeler tells you otherwise, we’ll….. I think we all liked the idea of the big rail empire. If you pick up a copy of “ A 101 Track Plans” go to the back and check out “ If I Had a Million” and you’ll see what I mean. Good luck and remember, we’re in this crazy hobby for fun!
Love Menards products. I have a couple of their buildings and many of their cars. Love their prices. And a bunch of great crew talk.
I liked the blue bonnet. I've been waiting to see more from Menards.
Nice!!! Menards removed the chrome excellent move to more realistic look.thanks Eric you rock. Keep it going looking forward to the next video.
I'll try this Union Pacific FA-A set, Eric. This is a great review!
Menards has done it again! These units will fill the bill for the budget minded O gauger for sure. The “play value” on these locomotives is fantastic. I hope Menards will continue manufacturing these nice trains, the one really big issue I have with the model railroad industry right now is “limited run” mentality. If you don’t get it now, you won’t be able to get it later. Even manufacturers like Bachmann have fallen into this. As I mentioned before, keep it up Menards!
it's a beautiful train I really love the paint and just looks awesome
IM AM IMPRESSED WITH MENARDS O GAUGE TRAINS! Love the Crew talk and I agree the horn is much better!!
can not wait to get one not only affordable but instead of dull silver trucks there fully chromed looks awesome
Super cool! Thanks again Eric!
Mernards has definitely improved the performance of their engines, and it’s opening the hobby to more people!
Got mine last week and really enjoy it.
Same here.
Let's see a Menard's set of Soo Line "covered wagons" in the original maroon color scheme next.
Good stuff as always Eric.
Another great review! Thank you .
I ordered both units, as well as the UP flashing caboose and UP Operation Lifesaver Boxcar. The caboose and boxcar arrived today, so I’m expecting the units tomorrow.
Finally someone doing affordable toy trains!
Was unaware menards sold these affordable trains. Awesome
Pretty cool Eric.
If l had O gauge these would be the cat's meow.
Thanks for the review and sharing. 😊
Thank you for the very informative video. I look forward to receiving this loco on july 26.
Those are super awesome for budget O gauge locomotives.
THEY FIXED THE HORN!!! I'll buy one as soon as they make them in an eastern paint
GREAT camera angles!👌🏿
Thank you 🙌
Totally admire u my friend
Thank you Menards
Great review 👏 good looking Engine 👌
Great video! I could never pay that much for an incorrect 3 rail setup however. Still fun to see a good layout and trains rolling and man that is a huge setup!
Actually it’s not incorrect. Most people don’t know this, but real trains run on 3 rail track as well. The central rail is typically painted with clear paint, making it very hard to see.
I've been watching this menards train for a while know because I want to eventually get back into model trains. I used to have HO scale trains, but I really like O scale due to the size. I recently found on30 which feels like a happy medium in size and the price seems the same as HO. Narrow gauge trains also seem to have there own character. I think that on30 would be my choice if i decide to get into model railroading again.
This is what you get when a Railfan makes a product really for there own enjoyment! Fun all around!
The crew talk really surprised me. It's actually great.
For me just slow the bell down and that will do it. Great looking model. Thanks for letting it rip !
I live right near a Menards in Chicago and I’ve never seen trains in the store. Never knew they did this! Good for competition lol! Thanks for sharing!!
What few Menards I have been to keep a small train section in the upstairs part of the building. (Usually near an elevator.)
The section is mostly Menard’s tube track and buildings for your layout, with only a handful of trains.
During Christmas season, they beef up their stock a bit and set up a display on the main floor… then send them back upstairs after the season is over.
I got an A-A set of the Union Pacific's 3 days ago. They are really nice for the money. Get of around the Christmas tree. Wish they had smoke and brass gears. But just as they are I like them. Hope I can catch a set of Santa Fe units. They named the dog with good name. I'd also like to know what the little black things are. Your videos are very good.
Great description information.
I like the radio noise prior to talking.
No BFIMO? But I think the crew talk would win the award! Great video as always!
I saw someone who pointed out that the reason these are an inch longer than the Lionel F3s is that they are actually FP7s which were four feet longer than standard F7s to make room for a steam generator for passenger service.
I like the air brakes sounds. Have you noticed they have released a ton of new freight cars in the last 2 months. Not sure if that was intentional but i'm getting tons of email alerts lately. Their stuff isn't as detailed, but its definitely focused on fun.
Very nice Eric!!!
just got mine and ran it for an hour, in my humble opinion, it the best bang for the buck... my paint is good no stuck buttons, runs great, here comes the butt,,, the rear coupler needs a height adjustment.. back to youTube I go. I have Lionel LionChiefs and welcome this one... now make a Rio Grande road name
Good video thanks for sharing locos look 👍
Those units are really nice for the price-I think Lionel could learn a thing or 2 from the Menards “Crew Talk”‘dialogue-really nice feature. It’s like the tower and engineer are actually in a conversation instead chopped up phrases.
I think they got it locked in for the price. The horn is fixed & no crazy crome.
Can it get better? Yeah, but for the price it's good. Can get one for the kids to play with when dad isn't there. Run the nice Lionel, MTH, Atlas... when dad is there.
Makes a great entry option! They probably should sell it next to transformers. Put a note on the outside saying what you need to get to running. Maybe a link to an online start up/setup guide.
Nice job Menards! 👏 Maybe in the future have a level up with electro couplers and smoke. (Not water vapor)
Thanks for the video Eric. I received mine yesturday. After 5 laps around my layout the engines wheels started to squeak.badly. I took the body shell off and oiled the axels and used grease for plastic gears. The engine runs fine now. I don't believe there was any lub from the factory. I think the sounds are great.
Yeah, mine started squeaking too. A little oil took care of that.
I received mine a couple days ago. I agree with your assessment. (no BFIMO?) If I were to point out a small issue with these units, the number boards light up quite a bit of the nose of the unit. I did not notice this on the Warbonnet units. A bit of silver paint or possibly some aluminum foil inside the shell to block the light would solve this. Also my couplers don't match up real well. Not sure if it is possible to adjust this. They also require a pretty good smack to close, but as you point out, for the money I love them! The paint on mine seem a bit better than on yours.
I noticed some light bleed on these locomotives, especially when you ran them through tunnels. Maybe covering the inside of the body with black would help
LIONEL only did the specific road number crew talk for all locos between 1995-2000.
Menards has done very well with this release. For what you spend you certainly get your money's worth.
I purchased one of the power and dummy units. On both of mine, the entire rounded nose glows yellow from the LED's inside. I can see it on Eric's dummy, but not as bad on the powered unit. The glowing yellow body appears on the back doors when the the backup light is lit.I was going to see if I could open it up and subdue it with electrical tape or shrink tubing so it would only shine forward. However, one of the screws on my dummy was stripped and cannot be removed.
Beautiful engines I wish you the best of luck God bless you and your family and I wish years of enjoyment your layout is absolutely
Thank you very much!
Absolutely beautiful you're an inspiration I have 80 right now but I've had every size and I have an o scale that I've been saving up for him almost done paying it off almost
Very nice Eric 👍👍
Great video and tutorial of the purchase of the new UP locomotives! I was thoroughly impressed with this unit especially when its priced affordable for a new model rail roader. If i had O scale I'd certainly buy from Menards. Thanks again for sharing this video with us Eric! Cheers from Laurel, Delaware
Btw, im a disabled Delawarian due to a hereditary nerve disease and im creating a railroad room in our new home. Would you be willing to donate one of your stickers to put on a designated area on the wall? Thanks for your time reading this. Take care my friend!
Great budget train set.
Would love to see someone do a nice weathering job on one of these or some other mods. They seem like a good low cost way to practice weathering or customizing a locomotive.
They actually sell weathered box cars cheap. I have some they are really good.
I have all 3 4.5 units. I love them all this one does have the best horn better than the Santa Fe 4.5s. I painted inside of the shell black to stop the light bleed thru which is my only complaint about these units for the $$.
Great review
Menards seems to be getting better with their locomotives. It also just occurred to me. Since the locomotive is actually an FP7, I wonder if they could make one in Canadian Pacific 'Multimark' colors. If they do, I hope they choose road numbers 4070 and 4067, that way I can patch over the roadname and 'Pac-Man' logo to make me a Silver Streak unit in O gauge.
I love menards. These i wouldnt mind weathering. The more expensive egines and my post wars i would never
Would’ve been cool if Menards picked up some of the budget MTH RailKing tooling, the starter set 2-8-0 and some of the diesels come to mind. They could’ve likely offered them at a low cost not having to make a sole profit off them.
Also, I think their crew talk sounds MUCH more organic (tones or voice, radio sounds, etc) than Lionel or MTH.
Great video! Can’t wait to see what more they come out with as they improve over time!
It would be nice to see some steam, maybe even some “old timey” stuff as well.
Lionel bought many MTH dies.
The nose light glows threw the front end can this be painted black on the inside?
Hola buen dia excelente video muy bueno la locomotora abrazo grande
Knowing Menard's, they probably approached Lionel asking for sets similar to those offered to True Value by K Line in the 90s, but Lionel wouldn't give them a break on pricing. Instead, they bypassed and went straight to the OEM. I had a relative that retired as a Menard's VP and they put him to work his last few years before they would allow him to retire.
How do you know when the next Beta is getting released iv looked all over the website and can't find anything
What was the switch for under the non powered one ?
Bro i work at Menards and i cant get my hands on these!how are you getting them?
I love these diesels!
I have a lion Chief set. Could I use that track and power supply to run this train?
How do you guys find out when these are dropping? I signed up for the Menard’s news letter and I don’t ever get anything from them
I hate to admit it. This old prewar and postwar guy was impressed.
Top speed is right on the money, not too slow or too fast to control. Looks pretty much like when Amtrak goes by at high speed.
When I was a kid, my first train was an F unit with both engines and the middle power unit. I got it for Christmas. When I got it out of the box, it has two non power units. Boy was I upset. It took another week for Santa to bring my power unit. It was Lionel set painted in red and silver. That is about all I remember of that train. My friend across the street had a set by Lionel and it was the heavy cast set. It was also an F unit. Is is possible to find those anymore? This was back about 1960. Not sure the scale of either of the trains. Santa brought him an expensive. train.
Great video thanks