Probably the hardest parts will be the control boards, which as far as I know can't be repaired (GRJ or one of the other experts can weigh in on that). It may not even be easy to get the boards as spares and would likely be pretty expensive (from what I recall being told, often with parts they keep inventory for repairing under warranty. There also is the option down the road of finding scavenged boards from other engines, or there may be someone with enough skill that can repair old boards.
Couple of things I can think of:
1)When you get them, try to have them run often. If there is some kind of borderline defect or the like, by running it regularly you likely will see it before the warranty runs out.
2)Like with any modern engine, understand it isn't a post war engine that runs through anything. An obvious one is having quick react circuit breakers (if using older power) and especially having TVS on the outputs, even if it is a modern transformer.
3)If you are someone that likes to open the engines up, do what people who work on electronic components do, have a ground strap on your wrist and or touch metal to make sure you have dissipated any charge built up. That kind of thing can fry a board's components.
4)On the layout itself, do extra effort to make sure you don't have derailments that caused shorts, that is what causes surges and the like that can fry boards.
5)Do regular maintenance on them, the lubing and the like they recommend. An engine that has any kind of binding can cause extra power draw and heat that can hurt electronic components.
So what if down the road it blows out, and there aren't parts to repair it? You have some options:
1)Put an electronic reverser in it and run it in conventional using tradition method.....
2)If it is Lionel, you could get a ps 3.0 upgrade kit (assuming MTH has them).
3)Or buy an ERR upgrade kit. Obviously with either of these options, you lose legacy features.
4)Or if you really get mad, convert it to DCC. Has the added advantage that DCC control boards are not unique. On the other hand, you lose legacy features.
