Your thoughts on NOS 1997 MTH Allegheny

As with any MTH engines with ProtoSound 1 (prior to mid 2000), always check with the seller that the battery is still good. If it's not, and you run it with a dead battery, it could fry the older electronics. If they're not sure, it's better safe than sorry to buy a fresh new one.

Thomas,

Thanks.  Where do I look and how do I verify?

I have that MTh Railking  Allegheny engine since new..After only 18 months  the circuit board failed due to a battery problem.After a hundred dollar repair from MTH the engine runs fine. I replaced the battery with a BCR and since then no problems.Always check battery condition on Protosound 1 engines before running them.I have run the Allegheny with conventional control with both MTH Z1000 and a Lionel ZW  transformers. 

Some of the best values around are PS-1 steam locos - especially the Premier, full-scale ones, but the RK 2-6-6-6 is a substantial piece on its own - and pretty much all that can go wrong with one are the PS-1 (they didn't call it that) boards. And that is no biggie these days.  Of course, I'd upgrade it to ERR TMCC - no harder than putting in "new" PS-1 boards. Other boards are available.

Anyway, I don't run conventional much, but my old PS-1's seem to always crank up - if you let the battery charge up a bit first!  

My understanding has always been that a dead PS-1 battery is no problem - but trying to run a unit with a dead battery...well, you know the story. Charge it a bit.

Have a friend who purchased a Proto 1 steamer and 3 diesels this year. He says he runs them just like any other engine with older PS1 and PS2 locos he bought new. And the mechanism is bullet proof!! Guessing the PS1 replacement by an ERR Kit is an easier install than a TMCC ERR upgrade if needed. The PS1 engines do have some good sounds too.