I just noticed MTH is releasing it’s second engine (PRR K4 being it’s first HO Steam Engine) believe it or not a 2-8-8-8-2 Triplex In Erie and Virginian Colours. $499 and can handle 22" curves. Comes with Steam and Sound. Question is “Why?” I’m not complaining here as a new unreleased Steam Engine is always a welcome addition, however I figured there would be others out there that would more marketable than a Triplex.
My thoughts anyway
Fergie
IF there is any logic behind it, I’d guess they’re aiming more at the Collector’s market rather than modellers. Kinda odd to have this rare bird in HO, along with the 8-10 or whatever it’s up to now different versions of UP Challengers and Big Boys, but still no NP or DMIR Yellowstones.
I’d like to see the model companies concentrate on restored engines running today, like MILW 261, since a model of those engines could be used by steam or transition modellers, or as fantrip engines on “today” model railroads. (261 model in HO would be great, given some of the new Walthers Hiawatha cars are models of cars owned by the Friends of 261 et al and used in fantrips.)[:)]
Fergie, a bunch of us gave this subject a thorough going-over about three pages back if you would be interested in digging it up. Some of us wonder if MTH isn’t a lot cagier than we give him credit for…it is a very appealing and interesting engine, if a bit of a dud…okay, a lot of a dud…but think of the gee-whizz factor if he can produce this well enough to actually run around 26" or so curves…or even if we all put it under glass.
I’ll see if I can find the post and provide you a link if you wish. I’ll be right back.
-Crandell
I suppose the Erie fans will love this engine as will the Virginian Ry modelers.
However,and as a side note the Triplex was a failure and lasted a very short time.
BTW…There was a brass Triplex offered in the early 60s.
Don’t forget the folks who like the oddballs.
I received the following message from MTH today:
Hello. Thank you for contacting MTH Electric Trains. The MTH HO
Triplex will have only the front two drivers powered. [sigh] The sounds
will be correct for a six-cylinder locomotive. [:)] We hope to have a
video of the sample for this engine available on the HO website
(http://www.mthhotrains.com) within the next day or two.
Mark
I guess all other drivers just go along for the ride. What’s that do to the pulling power?
Why a triplex?..because MTH likes the “big” engines…
Since I will model the Virginian I want the triplex, but it has to be Virginian’s Triplex, not the Erie design.
They produced the Triplex in a larger scale and had the drawings so it would be somewhat easy to convert it to HO. The problem I see is they are offering the Erie version as the Virginian also, and the two engines are not alike in any of the major details including the tenders.
The Virginian was a 2-8-8-8-4 and most of the engine details were diffferent including the tender. I was surprised they would offer the same model with both roadnames, but that is the way it is handled in Toy Hi rail land. The Baldwin Story book shows both engines and they do not look alike.
Cheers
Their reply tells me that the engine will be like all HO models; only the drivers under the boiler will be driven, and those under the tender will be dummies.
This loco just lost half its appeal for me. [tdn] How much did they say they wanted for one of them? I don’t think so!
I guess the guys at Con-Cor did an obscure diesel (the Aerotrain) so MTH felt obliged to build an obscure steamer.
Meanwhile when I ask why no major manufacturer has made a new 1900 era car model in the last 30 years, people keep telling me that no manufacturer will spend the money on tooling to build a model with small sales potential. Go figure.
Dave H.
I think Con Cor may be wising up (although they commited themselves to “The Worm” already). They are going to be doing Santa Fe hi level cars next year, including the long awaited lounge in plastic, and at least one version of the baggage dormitory cars.
dinwitty, if you want a Virginian Triplex you are going to have to wait awhile unless you can figure out how to change the 56" drivers on the Erie machines with 63" ones used on the Virginian engines. You will also need a custom tender with a two axle trailing truck; and lastly, to be absolutely prototypical, you will have to figure out how to get your engine to run out of electricity before it runs out of yard.
Well, gang, I hate to say it, but after seeing a photo of the production model in this month’s issue of MR, I have to say–I’M INTRIGUED! Okay, don’t send out the butterfly nets quite yet, because I certainly wish that someone–ANYONE would get off the UP binge and start making some articulateds that are NOT a Big Boy or a UP 3985 (or whatever that Challenger’s # is), like a Missabe M3/4 Yellowstone or an NP/SP&S Z-series 4-6-6-4, or maybe one of either WP’s or Rio Grande’s HUMUNGUOUS 2-8-8-2’s, but this Triplex thingy just kind of fascinates me.
Okay, where in HELL would I put it on the Yuba River Sub, which is Rio Grande and SP steam? I have no idea, guys, no idea at all. But good Lord, look at ALL those drivers–it’s an articulated lover’s Dream Come True (okay, the prototype didn’t work, but that’s BESIDE the point, IMO). Three sets. Count 'em–THREE sets of eccentric gears. WOWSER! Besides, we can always throw on an auxiliary tender to make it SEEM like it works, can’t we?
I’m just trying to figure out where I’d put it in my Rio Grande loco classification system. I’ve already got some never-was 3900 2-8-8-4’s (but that’s all right, because Rio Grande borrowed a bunch of Missabe Road M-3/4’s during WWII, which is the period I’m modeling anyway). But how the Heck would I explain a Rio Grande Triplex?
But you know, MTH DID sport an O-gauge Triplex a couple of years ago, and they just released some O-gauge GN/SP&S Z-series Alco Challengers, so maybe–just maybe–since they’ve got the specs, we might get an HO version of those incredibly handsome 4-6-6-4’s in the next couple of years.
Besides, remember–not to cause any flame wars-- but Mike, who was getting very ‘sue-happy’ with everyone, also remembered to include Union Pacific and at least get THEIR 'licencing
Tom, while you were typing you may have missed some telling traffic above your post. Does the fact that the tender engine will be an idler, or dummied, make much of a difference for you?
-Crandell
Crandall:
I kind of figured out that the tender drivers would be just along for the ride. Just as long as the two locomotive sets are driven, I’d be a happy camper, considering that it’s a die-cast loco, which means plenty of weight on the drivers under the loco.
Now, I’ll admit, that I wonder if the middle set of drivers is going to be fixed under the firebox, like a prototypical Articulated (which is how most of mine are fixed–but they’re brass), or swing out on some kind of weird ‘triple’ articulation. That I’d have to see before I really get interested. So I really don’t know what kind of drive MTH has planned for it. I would assume that if the middle set is ‘fixed’, that the first set would be driven by some kind of direct connection from the middle set, rather than the current ‘tower’ style of articulation popular with current plastic manufacturers. I’ll just have to wait and see.
But as to the tender drivers just going along for the ride–as long as the first two sets are actually geared, it shouldn’t bother me too much. I have an old brass Akane USRA 2-6-6-2 in which only the rear set of drivers is powered and the first set runs free, and it runs like a little Swiss watch, and pulls like a baby ox.
But as I said, I’ll have to see one of these babies in action before I make a decision. But as I said in my original post, I’m really intrigued.
Tom [:P]
Certainly you have a point… there are other locos with broader appeal; but I for one am happy to see some attention being given to a niche market segement - even if its not exectly the one I’m in. I guess for the most part, I’m just thrilled that its not one more Big Boy, one more USRA Hopper, one more F Unit… or one more of something we already have too much of already!
I for one, am happy to hear of the MTH HO Scale Triplex.
I wish to learn as much as I can about this model to decide if I want one or not.
I for one am in for this and any other ERIE steam that they may produce. I am especially hoping for a good running ERIE Berk.
Mark