Just bought my first MTH HO engine today. (Very long post, sorry)

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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Well, actually I put a rather large deposit on it, and will hopefully pick it up next week. Here’s the thing, I was actually looking for this exact engine in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQyuRJo-9YA&feature=related

I called Trainworld ahead and asked the woman on the phone if they had any BLI class J’s left. She said she had exactly two left. Then I asked her if she knew whether they were the excursion shiny gloss version, or the more prototypical in service kind. She said she honestly had no idea, so I thanked her and decided to drive up to Trainworld in Brooklyn to hopefully find the non-glossed in service version. Unfortunately when I got there, I looked and they only had 2 excursion types in stock. Old runs with oversized marker lights and misplaced piping I think. I picked it up, it had finger prints all over it, and one of the plastic windows of the cab actually fell off when I picked it up. It turns out they were sold out of the one I was looking for, like the one in the video above. [:(]

Then I asked the guy there if he had any MTH HO Class J’s in stock, luckily they did, but man these things are extremely expensive. (I called a hobby shop in Piscataway earlier today and they were sold out of both BLI and MTH class Js)

Well at Trainwold today, I took the MTH version out of the box and held it and the thing is simply beautiful. My first die cast HO engine, I loved the heft, the prototypical class lights, and even the gap between the tender and engine wasn’t all that pronounced. The standing area connected to the engine folds onto the tender anway. Besides this can be remedied later on as others have pointed out. And I love the detailed coal load on the

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The whistle you will hear will be the J type whistle without a doubt. The engine in the video is a test model with GS-4 sound system. I agree this engine is the best i have seen for a J type. I made sure to get number 611. Just had to have that one even though I never got to see it moving.

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Thanks so much! Thats a relief. I was afraid that I would have to buy a DCS system or something to change the whistle. The problem is there is so much MTH bashing on youtube, I can’t separate the facts from the fiction.

Yes, the MTH Class J is indeed a truly exceptional model. I guess all the money was worth it. I can’t wait to run it on DCC at home and hear that whistle in my train room!

I really hope MTH releases the prr Q1 or some other monster PRR engine, maybe thats the compromise thats needed on this forum. MTH can keep going for collectors like me (along with many others who just enjoy running trains), while BLI, Athearn, Bachmann Spectrum can fulfill the rest of model railroading hobbyist’s needs.

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Interesting that the DC running was an issue there. The UP 9000 that I have for club running does not seem to have an issue with DC–although it seems to be a little hungry in the DCvoltage department[:-^] I will say that it does run a lot better in DCC mode.[swg] I just chalk that up to a QC issue that is endemic to the hobby as such—no one is perfect after all.

The detail on that one I will admit—although I’m not too fond of MTH to begin with[:-^]—is amazing and the wireless tether works a charm here for sure[swg] When you finally get your hands on yours I’m almost thinking give it a bit of time to break it in—it might need it[:)]----as for the whistle—that just about does it for ‘Spring’—who has become very wary of anything with horns and whistles

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The following review is by MR in the September issue and is on line if you look it up. The MTH J ran very well on DC and if the model at the store does not run well, that particular model might have a problem.

Using an M.T.H. DCS Commander, I had the model moving in speed step 1 at 1 scale mph. Using an NCE Powercab DCC system, the class J’s slow speed performance is smoother with 128 speed steps than with 28 speed steps. The model crept forward in speed step 1 at less than 1 scale mph.

Realistic effects. On DC, the model’s lights, sounds, and smoke are limited to automatic effects. The sound of four chuffs per wheel revolution is synchronized to the motion of the drivers and the puffs of the smoke unit. Brakes squealed when I rapidly decreased the throttle. At rest, sounds such as the air pump play randomly.

The model has many more user-controlled effects when it’s run on a DCC- or DCS-equipped layout. The deep “steamboat” whistle sounds like recordings that I’ve heard of the prototype no. 611. On a DCS layout you can “quill” the whistle using the controller’s thumbwheel.

The 28 DCC functions include pulling out the coupler slack and a series of passenger announcements specific to the Powhatan Arrow.

The M.T.H. model has 10 configuration variables (CVs), which allows an operator a limited amount of fine-tuning to the engine’s performance. I changed the long address to the locomotive number without any difficulty.

All the sound effects and smoke really bring this excellent-looking model to life. The attention to detail shown on t

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The thing you need to know about TrainWorld is they sell a lot of older run stuff hence the cheaper prices. I have found dealing with them over the phone is an exercise in futility, i It’s usually Hey buddy you want it or not attitude. I know of the train store you speak of in Piscataway and they are by far a much better place to buy from in my O/P. What train store only has a DC test track these days, even the dinkiest little shops have both DC and DCC. If you do have a problem with your engine that you can’t solve good luck dealing with them.

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Well, congratulations. It will be even more exciting when you bring it home, I’m sure.

The poor DC performance could also have been the test track in the store, remember. Hopefully the quality control on these high-end locomotives is there.

I’ve bought several items over the phone from Trainworld, and I’ve had no trouble with the ordering process, the shipping or the product. I know what I want going in, and I understand that the people I’m talking to don’t have the item sitting right in front of them. They will answer questions about availability, roads and road numbers, but they’re not going to be able to tell you if something has Kadee or McHenry couplers on it.

These days, though, I really try to order everything through my LHS. Supporting your shop, particularly in these tough economic times. is more important than ever.

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I just got the New York Empire state express engine and its awesome, the paint is so nice i am afraid to touch it. The whistle is really unique and the engine will crawl real smooth like. I cant wait till the passenger cars arrive. I am going to have the engine pull my military passenger train for now.

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It is true they are something else sometimes to deal with, but today I purchased some more of the Hybrid Mohawks for $225 each. They are on blowout at Trainworld.

CZ

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Update:

Well guys, I just brought the MTH Class J home, and it runs perfectly on DCC! I think the problem at the store was dirty test track as CZ and others have suggested.

Let me just say that this is the BEST ho engine I have yet, I don’t even have the heart to turn the smoke offf it looks so darn realistic! [:D]

The thing is a beast, its very heavy being die cast, highly detailed, and nothing toy like about it whatsoever, I am pleasantly surprised. The sound up close is amazing, thanks to Protosound 3, much better than even watching on the net. Beautiful headlight, back up light, illuminated green class lights just like the prototype.

I think MTH has won me over with this one, I will definately be buying more engines from this company. I have my eye on the Mikado and the Empire State Express.

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I recently traveled to a hobby shop that promised me beforehand that they had all of the MTH HO engines in stock. It was my intention to at least buy one engine, the mikado, and perhaps another one or two if I considered them “must buys”.

When I arrived there were “no” engines in stock at all. I am advised that a shipment was in transit but that did me little good as I wanted to test one of the MTH engines before buying one.

Apparently this hobby shop can not get enough units to satisfy the demand. Inquiries are received every day and are not just local inquiries.

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Well after playing with this engine for a few hours [:-^] I just can’t recommend it enough. [:D]

MTH seems perfect for those, like myself, who are stuck between two worlds. I consider myself a collector and model railroader in HO. However, I just can’t leave behind those fun lionel days.

MTH makes highly detailed, ready to run models, almost for collectors who just like to have fun running these fancy looking retro trains.

At this point, I would encourage MTH to make a variety of products, but to mainly focus on recreating famous engines from the transition period.

Honesetly, I think Broadway should take this opportunity to begin making smaller engines that would meet the needs of the majority of hobbyists. (Although I will definately be buying that Q2 [:D] Thanks BLI!

MTH I think will be successful whichever way they decide to go, but of course I prefer big steam with all the fancy gizmos like marker lamps. For me its about running these engines, the layout is always secondary.

In my opinion, broadway limited should start making those camelbacks, switchers, consolidations, and perhaps they should even venture out into other road names besides the PRR, Union Pacific, NYC, etc.

However if I were to have a wish list for MTH it would go like this:

1)T1 duplex (fully skirted model like the O gauge MTH premier version)

2)An unskirted version like BLI’s would be nice as well, except this time, all die cast, operating marker lamps, ProtoSound 3, and smoke.

3)GG-1 (a quality gg-1 is really hard to come by these days, blue lines are impossible to find)

  1. J1 2-10-4

  2. S1 6-4-4-6 [:-,]

6)Class A 2-6-6-4 (we could really use an eastern articulated in die cast)

7)S

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The train set should be a great selling item for MTH. I have several J’s built by various importers and need a good set of Powhatan arrow cars.

CZ