Engine For Sale or Trade
or
"The Little Engine that Couldn't"

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I bought an MTH Union Pacific switcher engine (30-2138-0) in 1999. The list price was $129.95 and I bought it new at a local MTH dealer. I ran it very little (not more than a couple of hours total) and always kept it stored in its original box in a smoke-free, room-temperature cupboard in my home. After Christmas 2005 I pulled out my train and set it up. The engine worked fine one day, but the next day something was wrong.

As you know, normally the e-unit in the engines have a 4-stage cycle: neutral, forward, neutral, reverse. Well, this engine suddently developed a problem where the forward phase became neutral. Thus this engine has a neutral-neutral-neutral-reverse pattern. Once when I was fiddling with it, it switched into a normal pattern, and I was able to set the e-unit so that it was always forward. But since that time it has stayed as N-N-N-R. Around Christmas 2006 I put it on the track and it started to smoke, so I immediately turned off the power. It has been in its box ever since.

My UP engine isn't much use to me since I'm not a UP enthusiast nor am I a train repair guy.

So this beautiful little switcher needs a new home. You may be interested in it for one of the following uses:

1. You could repair it and have a nice engine.
2. You could use it for parts for other engines.
3. You could run it in reverse around your track.
4. You could keep it as a neat addition to a collection just for its looks.
5. You could use it as a doorstop or paperweight.

In any case, if you are interested in this, let me know. I hope it finds a good home.