I don't remember my AHM being so bad -- I remember it sounding like an electric drill, although now, with the slipping gear, it sounds a lot worse.
Thanks to all of you for the interesting and helpful replies! Upon further examination, I discovered the Krauss-Maffei is in fact a Rivarossi,...
I case anyone is interested, I'll share information about my small collection of HO locomotives. I'm just getting back into the hobby, and I...