Walthers HO scale Fairbanks-Morse H-10-44 diesel switcher

A semi-streamlined carbody developed by famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy made the Fairbanks-Morse H-10-44 a distinctive entry into the diesel switcher market. Many H-10-44s had careers that spanned 40 years. The new Proto 2000 from Walthers HO scale H-10-44 is available in a version that includes a dual-mode Digital Command Control sound decoder that operates on DC or DCC layouts.

The prototype. As the end of World War II approached, Fairbanks-Morse debuted a new 1,000-hp switcher for the Milwaukee Road in 1944: the H-10-44. (H stood for hood unit, 10 for 1,000-hp, and 44 for its B-B wheel arrangement.)

Railfans and modelers refer to the detail differences that occurred during production of the H-10-44 as phases. A description of all the H-10-44 phases is given in the July/August 1993 issue of Diesel Era.

Our review sample came decorated as Milwaukee Road no. 1824. Delivered in 1950, this engine was one of the last H-10-44s built. The model has the correct phase IIb carbody with three louvers along the top rear of the carbody sides and a screened opening on the first door behind the radiator shutters. Walthers makes a phase IIa version with two sets of louvers in place of the screened opening.

The 1,200-hp H-12-44 was introduced in 1950 and had the same carbody as the H-10-44 until 1952. Most Milwaukee H-10-44s served into the 1980s.

The model’s dimensions match H-12-44 drawings in the Simmons-Boardman 1950-52 Locomotive Cyclopedia of American Practice.

Details and paint. The model’s cab, long hood, sill, end steps, and truck sideframes are plastic. Engraved details, such as the louvers, are sharply defined. Separate parts include acetal plastic handrails and grab irons. The latches on the engine-access doors are also separate pieces.

Another standout detail is the etched-metal grill over the radiator fan. The cab interior includes painted crew figures.

Unlike its Milwaukee Road prototype, the model doesn’t have a bell above the front headlight.

User-applied parts includes cab sunshades, wind deflectors, F-M builder’s plates and front plate.

Paint coverage is smooth. All lettering and striping match prototype photos from the 1950s.

Drivetrain. After removing the H-10-44 from its packaging, I unscrewed the end protectors from each coupler box. Then I lifted off the long hood.

A can motor with dual brass flywheels rests in the center of the die-cast metal chassis. Plastic universals, shafts, and worm gears drive all the axles. The H-10-44 has a drawbar pull equivalent to 49 free-rolling HO freight cars on straight and level track.

The printed-circuit board and DCC decoder are mounted above the motor. The speaker is inside the plastic fuel tank.

Once I replaced the long hood on the frame, I installed the couplers using the Phillips screws that had held the end protectors in place.

Performance. The model comes from the factory set to Regulated Throttle Control, which simulates the momentum of a prototype locomotive starting or stopping. For our speed tests, I set the model to Standard Throttle Control.

In DC, sounds and lights came on at 5 volts. As I advanced the throttle to 8.5 volts, the model started moving at 1.2 scale mph. At 12 volts, the switcher reached 64 scale mph, close to the prototype’s 60 mph top speed.

In DCC, the QSI decoder supports 14, 28, or 128 speed steps. The model crawled along in speed step 1 at 1 scale mph and accelerated to a top speed of 62 scale mph.

The HO switcher ran through turnouts without any interruptions in the sound or lighting effects.

The model includes a cab light, lighted number boards, and constant-voltage headlights. In reverse the front headlight dims and the rear headlight shines. (On the prototype, this wasn’t an automatic function.)

Dual-mode sounds. The QSI Quantum sound decoder operates in DC as well as DCC. You can activate the model’s horn and bell and program several features using your power pack’s direction switch as outlined in the instructions. For easier operation and programming in DC, you can buy the QSI Quantum Engineer DC controller (suggested retail price $59.99).

The model has 13 DCC functions, including horn and coupler crash. Function 9 lets you simulate a diesel struggling with a heavy load or steep grade. When function 9 is toggled on, the locomotive’s speed remains constant, and the DCC cab controls the diesel’s throttle notch, increasing or decreasing the rpm sounds.

In DCC, you can program the model’s configuration variables (CVs) in service mode (using an isolated programming track) or in ops mode (programming on the main). All CVs can be reset to their factory defaults using the supplied magnetic wand to flip a reed switch under the long hood.

Realistic sound and a high level of detail make this HO H-10-44 a worthy depiction of an F-M switcher.

HO scale H-10-44 switcher
Price: $279.98 (DCC), $179.98 (DC)
Manufacturer
Wm. K. Walthers Inc.
P.O. Box 3039
Milwaukee, WI 53201
www.walthers.com
Description: Plastic and metal ready-to-run HO diesel
Road names: (two road numbers each, unless noted) Milwaukee Road (four road numbers); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Baltimore & Ohio; Central RR of New Jersey; Chicago & North Western (four road numbers); New York Central; Nickel Plate Road; Pennsylvania RR (four road numbers); undecorated

HO scale H-10-44 features
All-wheel drive and electrical pickup
Die-cast metal chassis
Drawbar pull: 3.5 ounces
Dual-mode DCC sound decoder (DCC version only)
Five-pole skew-wound motor with brass flywheels
HO scale 40″-diameter RP-25 metal wheels in gauge
User-installed magnetic knuckle couplers at correct height
Weight: 10 ounces