MTH has announced 4 US locomotives that they will be producing with NEM 311 wheels and NEM 365 couplers.
see
http://www.mthtrains.com...010_ho_v_3/pageflip.html


The 4-6-6-4 Challenger
The 4-8-8-4 Big Boy
The 4-8-4 GS-4 Daylight
The 2-8-8-8-2 Tryplex
None - I have no interest in US locos
None - I will only buy marklin

MTH is notorious for not putting a catalog item in to productions unless it has enough orders to justify a production run.
What Loco would you be most likely willing to order in 2011.

4-6-6-4 Challenger (Oil Burner) Steam Engine w/Proto-Sound 3E+

Union Pacific (Two-Tone Gray w/Yellow Stripes)

http://www.mthtrains.com/content/80-3201-5




With a M* CS2 how many functions would be available in DCC? This Lok comes with 28 functions.



r/Thomas

I forgot to add colors and road numbers to the choice I hope that they would build the color that you want if they have enough orders to build the chassis.

As far as functions I that will work with the CS2 I have no ideal or can you even set which ones you can choose from.

Haven't placed and order, but I have told my dealer about them and that I might be interested in a Big Boy and/or a Challenger.

Robert

Darrin,

You could edit your first post to ask anyone voting to add a comment and insert what color or scheme they are interested in. So far the votes outnumber comments.



r/Thomas

I get a no permission warning if I try to follow the link.

My vote goes to a black UP Challenger.

Jeroen

well, I have a marklin big boy, I have two HO Lionel UP Challengers (one black and one grey), which I believe MTH bought the tooling from or is using the same shop in Korea to make new ones, and also have a GS-4 in SP Daylight. I didn't get the Erie Triplex when they first cam out so that's my vote from the list. But I think my next purchase will be a Milwaukee Road Little Joe Electric in the passenger color scheme - its not listed on the poll.
Next I also would very much like to buy a Milwaukee bi-polar electric.

I think in 2011, as long as I have sufficient funding available for MRR, will see me buy more US prototypes, especially the new MTH locos, than Marklin (I think the 2011 Insider Franco Crosti is the only new item I'd like to buy so far). These will get converted to run on 3-rail AC someday. I haven't converted any of my other DC locos yet. I will have to practice on some cheaper models I have first before I hack my nice Lionels, MTH, or BLI locos.

MTH seems to be making some really nice HO locos now. Many have die cast bodies, not just frames. I've seen some run and they run very nice on DCC, with excellent sound. They and BLI have some very nice passenger cars too - I've been buying various US passenger cars for my US ALCO PA-1's and a few F7s and GG-1s, like Walthers PRR cars, including the silver "Senator" train, Milwaukee Road Hiawatha Walthers set for the Milw F7 set, NYC 20th Century Limited from Walthers. BLI and MTH have a nice set for the SP Daylight Limited. So far I've bought the one car BLI put out so far for the Daylight. Its very nicely done, and will look great behind the Marklin SP in the daylight color scheme. Even if the passenger cars need at least an R4 curve, or better yet R5, they look nice on display.


I've not abandoned Marklin DB/DRG trains, but I like to get some nice looking US cars to complete the MArklin US locomotives, especially those which were primarily passenger train haulers.

Thanks for information, Darrin ... Well, looking under the hood for me Marklin only

yes, ask them if there is anything they can do about the required 22" curve radius, since there is probably only three layouts around the world with all r4 and grater turns.

The tryplex

Exactly my feeling as well, if it can't handle R1 curves then it will not be in my collection. Was compactness with reasonable detail not the aim of HO scale?

Regards

Update from the Big E Train Show.


I went by the MTH kiosk and spoke to both reps that were there.

First if you or someone you know is at the Nürnberg Toy Fair, MTH is there with AC prototypes. In addition to the models shown in the catalog the rep is supposed to have an AC model of an F7, and the 4-8-8-2 Cab Forward is also being made in AC. Supposedly there will be others, all coming in 2011.

The reps said that there is strong interest in Europe, hence the trip to Nürnberg.

I was told because of the wheel profile required for Marklin AC, the models will require R4 22 inches. They also said that could change for the better once production is firmed up.

These will require a Marklin DCC capable command station such as the ECoS or CS2.

All Marklin capable models will have a -5 number. Such as 80-3200-5

NEM 311 Wheels
NEM 365 Couplers




r/Thomas

Hi Jeremy. I got the sense from talking to the reps that the toy fair was important to see what would sell. The European market is going to drive what comes out. I certainly like that there is an F7 model.



r/Thomas

It is very nice model.

It will not run on 24130 and 24230 radius curved as most locos run on min radius 468mm.

I will stick with Marklin.

Thanks for posting those great photos Alberto. I $mell trouble.

Jeremy.

Found one seller
http://www.rd-hobby.de/shopping/catalog.php?id=619

Thanks Alberto, lovely photos.

Steady down Jeremy.

Caution is required. (Same here)

NN

Well a minimum radius of R4 (22") counts me out - M-track is a maximum of R2 and I have lots of R1...

I don't know if the wheels will be replaced as the coupler.
I agree, the original low profile can run only on C track, starting from R3.
My experience with USA model are reported here:
http://www.marklinfan.net/usa.htm

Simply speaking: models with wheels according to NEM311 are just suitable for K- or M-tracks in a display case (this is by no means just limited to MTH).

Jeremy, i believe the issue may be with the diminutive flange on NEM 311 wheel. It has to be much closer to pizza cutters to prevent derailing on our track. To which NEM standard does Marklin wheels conform; we can compare the dimensions.

http://www.morop.org/de/normes/nem311_d.pdf


Regards

I think the NEM311 wheels would run somewhat ok on the 1st generation of C-track which was very sharp-egded with a flat top rail surface. Unfortunately they changed it to a rounder rail profile some year after the C-track introduction in the later 90's. K-track has never been "sharp-edged", the first generation (21xx) had the same rounded profile as M-track, got a bit better with the 22xx series of track but nowhere near "real model track"...

So if we were to try and get MTH to change the wheelsets to another NEM standard for C and K track, which one would it be?



r/Thomas

Actually just about all the MTH steam locos (and Broadway Limited) have die cast zinc frames AND bodies, just as marklin does. their diesel loco bodies have been plastic with metal frames. I've never heard anyone complain of MTH's quality.