I just got the HO scale MTH NYC empire state express and i also really splurged after selling 4 locos to purchase a BLI Hybrid mohawk. The MTH engine runs great i hope for the same for the Mohawk. I did read some scary posts on poor packaging and bad low speed performance on some of the mohawks. I hope mine comes all in one peice and runs smooth. I figured i need one engine for passengers and one for freight to start. I dont plan to be huge on NYC but i do want them represented in my fleet. The mohawk can do both passenger and freight by what i have researched. I do operate at train shows with the club and notice no one runs NYC out here in Nebraska. I did not get the MTH mohawk because of budget and trainworld’s deal was too good to pass on. This will be my first hybrid loco from BLI. I have many BLIs but no hybrids. I like the locos and the style of the NYC steam fleet. I would like any feedback or suggestions on the hybrid mohawks performance or fine tuning of the CVs please. Most of my radius are 22" or larger but not bigger than 26". I do like the steam era more than most but the NYC just has very stylish locos. I actually like the elephant ears aka wagners aka smoke deflectors. Give the engine a euro look.
Couldn’t agree with you more, Sean! [:D] Great choice in RRs to model! [tup][tup] I’m not surprised that no one runs NYC on your club layout. I would dare to guess that the UP is probably the most modeled RR in your neck of the woods?
Although I did have some initial problems with my BLI Mohawk, they did fix the hesitation issue, which turned out to be too much play in a couple of the drivers. If you notice yours doing the same thing, shimming the slop will take care of it. My Mohawk works much better now.
Also, because my Mohawk didn’t really start to pickup any speed till approx. speed step 030, I boosted my startup voltage (CV2) from “32” (default) to “55”. That helped out quite a bit, too. Other than adding momentum, I haven’t tweak any other CVs.
I have mostly R22" curves on my layout, with a small portion of R18" at one end. The Mohawk navigates through the curves just fine but you can tell there’s some resistance as the locomotive slows down slightly. I would love to go bigger on the curves but that will have to wait for my next layout.
And, you are correct. The NYC Mohawks were dual-service locomotives; pulling both freight and passenger cars. I’m guessing that most of the dual service was during the war when locomotives were really pushed into service.
Sean, since you bought the MTH NYC Empire State Express, will you also be looking at getting the matching cars eventually? That would look very nice. I don’t know when MTH plans on releasing them though.
Nice to hear someone else bitten by the NYC bug. Keep us posted…
Tom
P.S. Sean, aren’t you the guy in the Free-mo group that I met at the Cleveland WGH train show back in March? I think you told me that you had just “retired” from the Air Force and wer
Pretty good choice if you ask me. I just got kind of hung up on the NYC when I first got a Lionel set when I was younger that happened to be New York Central. I started seeing the Hudson in Lionel catalogs, and as soon as I researched into the history of the NYC I was hooked. I like other Eastern roads, like C&O and N&W, plus Southern Pacific is interesting to me as a Western RR, but I really like the very grand and elegant New York Central locomotive power.
My first choice of prototype, back when Truman was president, was NYC. That lasted for a while, but died when the last fires were dropped. My last NYC prototype model purchase was a brass Hudson - in kit form - in 1957. (The 19th century Baldwin 0-6-0t I bought during that visit to Tenshodo’s Ginza shop is still in service, but the Hudson is long gone.)
My decision to subtract the NYC from my roster was caused by the birthday gift I received from the young lady who wouldn’t become my wife until five months later - a Japanese-design 2-6-4T of no known prototype. I shifted gears to 1:80 scale and Japanese prototype and never looked back.
As for the little Baldwin, turns out that it was a 1:80 scale model of a locomotive built by Baldwin for a Japanese railroad. It still runs like a Rolex.
Chuck (Former NYC fan modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Yes, UP is very big in Nebraska and its the largest group in my fleet. Though i also have a good Southern and Norfolk and Western fleets that are really fun. I never knew the N & W engines exsisted until i read the MRR magazine. Everything in Nebraska is Big Boy and Challenger over and over again. I do like them but i want to have railroads that are not common to the midwest so i can learn and share with others. I did order the MTH matching passenger Cars for the Empire State Express loco. They will be here in March 2010 as it is currently listed. They look almost museum grade with the perfect details and lighting in the catalog. I could not resist NYC once i read about the empire state express and the hudsons. I dont even think I may make it to visit New York or Winsconsin for that matter. The worst of it is i am alone in my age group for this hobby. Everyone is either not in the same scale or is 60+ in age. Thats ok to share a club but i cant find sole in their thirtys playing with trains. [C):-)] lone wolf in a club, is it possible?
Congrats on getting the MTH Empire State Express! If I were to buy a 2nd MTH loco, that would be the one! Its simply beautiful, I love those driver lights in the product videos. You are right, it looks like MTH locos are getting better as time goes on.
The MTH locos I have my mind on the most are the one you just purchased, along with the PRR mikado.
At first I didn’t like the MTH Mohawk, but after seeing more videos of it performing, I have changed my mind. I especially like the version with the smoke deflectors removed.
Personally, I’m more of PRR-Norfolk and Western kinda guy, but MTH’s release of the Empire State Express and the Mowhawk have revived my interest in the NYC. You are right about NYC, they really did have some of the most retro looking steam locos out there. Its a nice line to model.
Just a suggestion regarding a “must have” book for New York Central fans. It’s out of print but shows up on ebay from time to time and goes for reasonable prices.
“Rails Along the Hudson”, by the Bergen-Rockland NRHS.
Softback book, 96 pages with loads and loads of nice black and white photographs. Great shots of steamers (including Hudsons), the famous boxcab electrics, and diesels. Good info on NYC action between New York City and Albany.