Hello Everybody.

I have a question I would like to kindly ask, to anybody out there who has personal experience with MTH Locomotives. Perhaps this is a topic already discussed in the forum or even worst maybe this is a topic over the limits of the (Marklin related) forum. Hope I am forgiven (-:

My question is, how do MTH HO Locomotives compare to Marklin ones (on construction quality, level of detail, overall quality e.tc.). From the first look at a catalogue … they seem to be very close (I mean that MTH does not look inferior to Marklin). Am I right in this assumption or wrong?

And one last thing. Do MTH locos operate on C trucks with CS2?

Lots of questions …. but MTH have some American locos that are very tempting … (-:

Thank you in advance.

Paris

My personal experience is not favourable. Some time ago (shortly before Märklin announced that it would be producing its first UP Challenger model) I gave up hope and decided to buy the MTH 3-rail version of the Challenger.

The model looks very nice, on a similar level as my UP Big Boys, and the engine sounds are very nice (especially the varying offset between the front and rear sets of cylinders).

At the time I bought it I did not have a layout – only about 2 metres of straight track in a window sill. The MTH Challenger behaved perfectly on that track, with nice acceleration/deceleration behaviour and fitting sound.

When last year I finally had the time to build a larger (still more or less temporary) layout, space limitations forced me to use some R2 and R3 track in addition to R4 and R5, even though long engines like the Big Boys and the Challenger look fairly ridiculous on the R2 and R3 curves. The Big Boys don't mind that, but the Challenger has considerable difficulty, to the point of stalling, on R2 and occasionally on R3; even on R4 and R5 it runs unevenly, whether it is running solo or with (a few) cars.

Whether my particular Challenger model has some problem with its decoder or otherwise, I don't know. Anyway, I do not like the hassle of getting it in working order (if possible), so I will sell it off and start saving for a Märklin Challenger.

Jeroen

Just to add a few words: You'd be better off with an Athearn or Kato or Bachmann engine.
They are easy to convert to 3 rail
Our friend Alstersteek has some experience with these. Kit Bashing US models for 3 rail operation
I have myself a few underway , including a Union Pacific A-B-B-A EMD F3 (4 motors total) set from Kato to pull my DLS consist!
When I do the conversion, this time I'll document the process and will share with all of you so you can see how easy it is!

Cheers

Jacques

To add to JVuye´s comments, my experience with an "AC" GP35 : Designed with love and built with hatred. I documented my long struggle just to lift the shell here:

https://www.marklin-user...ift-the-shell#post561280

What I didn´t document is that the decoder died on me, and that I subsequently weeded out the entire spaghetti mess to install a simple and honest basic ESU decoder. In principle this four-axle diesel loco is after all this evolutive maintenance finally running smoothly, even over R1 curved turnouts (C track). However, the center of gravity was and still is quite high, meaning a derail equals capsizing which is quite scary close to the layout ledge.

Here is a short video of my re-painted MTH GP35 (after evolutive maintenance):

You would not regret buying a Märklin Challenger Jeroen. I bought one last year and it is beautiful!

From my experience MTH locos are a step below Märklin in quality, at least the American prototype MTH models that I have actually seen and run. I have not seen any MTH models as ambitious as a Challenger, so maybe they are of higher quality.

The features, detailing and finish on the Märklin Challenger are top quality and it operates perfectly anywhere on my layout, even though as you mention it does not look its best on tighter curves. I am impressed that it runs perfectly in curves far tighter than the prototype could ever have handled.

Märklin's Challengers are almost as impressive and every bit as special as my Märklin Big Boy and that is the finest HO loco that I have ever seen.

Funny - I have that little detail too but often I still find a solution that lets me get what I want.

There will no doubt be many future versions of the Challenger. Mine was first sold just last year and already the next version is here. I am certain that there will be one out there for you, when you are ready.

It really is an amazing loco and it proves that Märklin can still build top quality HO models when they want to.