When I first got back into the swim last year I laid eyes on an Athearn Genesis MT-4 and was immediately impressed with its looks. But beauty sometimes runs only skin deep. There’s certainly lots of the non-skyline units out there by now and apparently a few still available. If you can direct me to some published ones, I’ll be glad to read any reviews. But what I’d really like is personal owner reviews. I’ve heard about a few of the sound and programming issues and some purported concerns regarding non-prototypical location of some details. I’ve even heard that the little stars on the driver axles can pop off (why not simply secure them with a clear coat?). So please feel free to opine on these matters as you may. But especially provide your opionions regarding running characteristics and this Mountain’s pulling capacity. Do they require those kind cheesy replaceable rubber tires? I’m interested in SP so anything relating to that line is also appreciated (i.e., did any of the “skylines” run freight service? I may wait for one of these if they did). Not yet ready for DCC so that’s not the cheif consideration at the moment.
Thanks for your time! John
I too model the SP, but in S scale of which I own a couple of imported MT examples, even I am tempted to purchase the Genesis example! Personally I’d take mine pre streamlined and could overlook such minor issues as loose driving wheel stars, I don’t do DCC, so could care less about that function, although the one I observed sounded good, SP had a variety of whistle tones available so this area is subjective. Some MT’s wore a large barrel headlight that i’ve never seen available, this would only apply to those as they appeared up until the mid-thrities. .
The push for streamline casings began in ernest right before WWII, material shortages delayed the conversions, so yes, they saw plenty of freight service. One MT actually had the casing removed as a result of rebuilding following a derailment, it too had the bell relocated atop the smokebox. front and also sported a non MT tender from a scrapped Berkshire.
Dave
John
You might check the review on this forum. It only pulled about 2.4 oz at the drawbar and that is lighter than most locomotives.
CZ
Fans of Southern Pacific steam locomotives have had a few GS-class 4-8-4s to choose from as ready-to run HO models in recent years, but the Athearn MT-4 marks the first time that an SP 4-8-2 has been available as a ready-to-run plastic model. This Athearn Genesis series locomotive is available detailed for an MT-4 early or late in her career. The model can also be purchased equipped with a SoundTraxx Tsunami sound decoder.
The prototype. In 1923, the Southern Pacific Ry. purchased 10 Mountain-type 4-8-2 locomotives to replace some of its Pacific-type 4-6-2s on mainline passenger routes. These class MT-1 locomotives, as well as the MT-2 class acquired from the El Paso & Southwestern, were the only Alco-built Mountains that the SP owned. The other classes, MT-3, 4, and 5, were built by the railroad’s locomotive shops in Sacramento, Calif.
The MT-4 class locomotives were delivered between 1926 and 1929 and had similar characteristics to the earlier MT-1 and MT-3 locomotives. The Southern Pacific first assigned the MT-4 Mountains to the Coast Division. On that route the engines led the Lark and other first-class trains.
The MT-class Mountains hauled passenger trains until the end of the steam era. During the 1950s, the Mountains even hauled “commute” trains, making frequent stops.
The Athearn Genesis model matches drawings of an SP class MT-4 locomotive and class 120-C-6 tender found in The 4300 4-8-2s: Southern Pacific’s Mt-Class Locomotives (Signature Press).
Thanks, CZ. I wonder if the relatively wimpy pulling power is traceable to power being transferred to the 1,4 and 4 drivers by the side rods rather than by internal gearing.