Anybody Ever Worn Out Modern Trains?

I blew up a motor (partially on purpose) on an MTH 2-8-0. Also, I have an MTH Rugged Rails F3 (the tiny one from the RTR sets) that came in a B&O Freight starter set circa 2004. The pick up rollers literally disintegrated from near constant running over the years. That engine has mileage some where, IIRC, in the 4K scale mile range and may be pushing, if not past, 5K miles. Did I mention the rollers were my only issue with the engine and has been running strong well before I put new rollers under it and well after (ok, ok...maybe the battery and headlight bulb were changed along the way but that doesn't count)? This tiny little bugger is a dual motored, PS2 equipped engine that is one of, if not the most reliable engine I've ever had. Most of its running has been at home although it has been run quite heavily and hard on National Capital Tracker display layouts over the years.

Not so sure that qualifies but I think it says something about the quality of that engine.

No but I have worn out my Lionel 773 at least three times. It was my favorite engine back in the sixties and seventies. At least twice the motor started smoking after hours...maybe days....of solid running. The motor is really showing her age again but now she is in genteel retirement only running with her designated train. I doubt that the mechanics can be worn out but the smoke, lights and E unit is more subject to wear. Most model trains are pretty sturdy and will run forever with proper care. But then they are works of art....at least I consider my pieces to be works of art. Maybe yours are just toys. Odd-d

hello guys and gals........
yes i have, the axle driver bearing of the front gear box worn out to point where the gear on the driver axle started to grind because the bearing on one side was oblong from at least 100 hours of running time. the engine was a pennsy Q-2 # 20-3048 from 6 years ago.
the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

I actually don't know what 'a lot' of hours are for a modern loco even though I thought about both what "worn out" means and what a good lifetime for a modern loco might be.

I have a Lionmaster Big Boy with 800+ hours on it over about four years that is giving problems now. Did I wear it out? I think so and I'm trying to just buy a new replacement rather than have it repaired, as I think its probably like an old car with a bad engine - replace the engine and the trans breaks next, etc.

An automobile is typically "worn out" after about 4000 hours (at 40 mph average = 160K miles). A laptop computer in my experience goes about 6000 hours or more for me. A clothes washer about 1500-2000 hours though.

On the other hand, my a garage door openers wear out after about 300-400 hours of operation, and a microwave oven at my house lasts somewhere around 500 hours of operation, max.

So I don't know what to compare a model train to and if I really wore out that Lionmaster - but I will say that I think I did.

We have a MTH Premiere SD90 purchased from Tom (Warowrax) here on the Forum that had over 9200 scale miles a couple of years ago. It has run fine for us with the only problem was that the strap holding the speed sensor broke off and needed replacement. We've serviced it and she just keeps running!

I'm glad I started this thread! Its getting very few responses......good thing!

No.

An acquaintance wore out/broke (I forget the specific complaint) his MTH Bantam N&W J 2 or 3 years ago; the little
loco was about the only thing he ran, and he ran it mercilessly. His maintenance
habits were poor, also. Hardly a scientific sample, I'm afraid.

Train-O-rama had engines with 45000 miles +. During the summer they run 7 + hours aday. I don't know how many times the motors and trucks were rebuilt or replaced.

Bill

I have seen front drivers wear out on a museum layout where the steam loco was running on a tight loop of Atlas track for about a month. I saw it struggling to get around the curves, so I told the guying running the layout to turn the loco around. Ran like a top in the opposite direction

hello ripleymanor......

I AGREE with you all the way !!!!!! as "maintenance is the key" in making anything last. I just bought a 1983 dodge ram truck last month with 161,700 miles and replacing everything on it as time and money permits so i hope to drive it for next 30 years. I LIKE doing maintenance on my railking trains and my truck, its a dirty job but has to be done.
the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

The question of how long an engine will last could be best answered by exhibits such as the Choo Choo Barn, Roadside America and to a lesser degree the NJhighrailers and the modular clubs.
I haven't worn out many trains over the years but the motor brush plate bearing wore out on an old 2046 and had to be replaced. However, that engine ran every day for a solid month every Christmas season for hours on end.
As for modern; too many DOA and broken pieces for my liking.

I have never wore out any engine, prewar, postwar, or modern. Since all of my prewar and postwar engines were bought used, I have no idea how much time is on them.

Earl

I blew out a speaker on an FM Train Master by MTH from 2000. It had
hundreds of hours on it, and needed replaced in 2009. I had a Lionel
700E from 1991 blow out a rear drive axle bearing after a few hours
because the axle spline to hold the driver was cut too deep. I consider
electrical board type issues to be separate, and there have been quite
a few of these type problems. I used to sell Williams, and in over
three hundred locomotives, I think there was one bad board!