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I have the Railking, not both, but my LHS has both next to each other on the shelf. Appearance and functionally, they are exactly the same. The RK is only an inch or two shorter than the Premier. Both have flashing lights. The RK will run on 0-31, I think the Premier will run on 0-42, maybe 0-54. Of course, the RK is cheaper.

Also of note, the first run of the Premier units came with a matching baggage/engineering laboratory car. The Premier loco/lab car set, to my knowledge, have not been done again. MTH did paint up a standard RK streamlined baggage car as a special, uncataloged product. I was able to find one of the RK baggage/lab cars and run it when I run my RK loco. MTH has also made various freight cars sized for the RK version, including a caboose.

I bought the Premier version when it first was offered, with the extra lab car.  The specs are interesting... the Premier engine runs on O-36, but the lab car is spec'ed at O-42.  I run my Premier on O-36 with absolutely no issues!

We run it a lot on our modular layout and everyone really likes the colors and the charging lights.  I was interested in getting the Railking version at York.  Trainworld had a great deal, but we weren't sure about whether it had the charging lights.. couldn't find 'em on the side of the loco.  Ken let me take it over to the MTH booth and they showed me where they are.  You really have to look close to see the edge of the circuit board where they are mounted! Sold!

If someone is looking for the add on lab car, I have a brand new one from the Premier "set", never run (never opened).  Let me know.....

Ed

SDIV Tim posted:

Railking has the exact same features as the Premier except it is highly detailed and the Railking can navigate smaller curves for about 100-125 dollars cheaper         

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Unless its changed recently, railking 3axle trucks have the horrible flange less wheel on the inside of the truck and 1 pickup roller.....I will not buy  rail king  for these 2 reasons.

Sorry for bring up an old post, but maybe many of you have more information.  I just purchase, but haven't received the MTH Christmas Imperial Rail King 30-20430-1.  I know it is not scale, but I need it to navigate smaller curves and not look too ridiculous.  This is for just under the tree, which basically is all I can do without moving to a new home.  I see that there are 3 previous versions on YouTube/eBay.  The first was a boring beige/cream color and stated Merry Christmas on the side.  Oddly the YT video shows painted side grills on one side, and blacked with a silver trim on the other.  This model also has a window on the front door which is on the wrong side, as in all the Rail King Imperial ES44AC's.  The other is white with a Santa Claus logo and red trucks, no window on the front door, and with the 3 front side vents blackened with silver trim.  The third looks just like this year and is painted red and green with snow flakes, but a Reindeer is on the logo, no window on the door, but has the three side vents blackened with silver trim(haven't seen a video of this one, eBay only).  This year Santa is back on the logo, and the 3 side vents are painted red.  Train World just put out a video, and I "like" the audio files more than the first two. Even though I go see the CP Chistmas...excuse me..."Holiday Train", I got the "Santa Claus Christmas Holiday Express" lighted box cars, due to variation in color and stating Santa Claus and Christmas.  I'm sure the few kids I will have over will enjoy it, and most if not all of the adults could care less about realism or even the train in general.  Any further thoughts to these variations minus production costs?  To see the YouTube videos, it is best to type in MTH ES44AC Christmas, and the Reindeer one is currently on eBay.  If I did more research and could of confirmed that it is the same sound file like the one on Train Worlds YouTube video, I would of purchased that one.

I purchased the Halloween version of this locomotive from Mr Muffins. Mine also has the painted side grills on one side, and blacked with a silver trim on the other. Ran the wheels off of it on a 40x60 oval with 036 curves. Not exactly prototypical, but hey it's a got a Halloween paint job. I am giving serious consideration to buying the Christmas version.

SAM_1378

Great locomotive. If the price is right, I wouldn't hesitate for a second buying another. As for sound files, if you don't like one, download another file from MTH. You could even load the Halloween file if you wanted to. Just to mess with people, I have thought about downloading the file for the Halloween steam engine to load into this ES44AC. 

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Last edited by Gilly@N&W

Sorry, I just thought the vent differences were inconsistencies in the manufacturing of the model.  I assume one side is intake and the other exhaust.  I guess I do not know modern locomotives very well.  The Rail King size and price appeals to me much more for the intended use and fictional livery.

When I purchase steam, I always go Premier.  IMHO, steam needs the detail and the tender spacing on Railking doesn't do it for me.

Diesels are a different story.  I have both Railking and Premier.  Over the last year I've purchased 5 Railking engines; a mix of SD70ACe and ES44AC.  As others have said, functionally they are identical to their Premier counterparts.  For me, the detail and not quite scale size are not an issue.  Also, Railking is not always prototypical.  For example, the Railking First Responders engine I have is an SD70ACe.  The prototype is actually an SD60.  The Premier is also an SD60.  But the first responders paint scheme on the SD70ACe is OK with me.

If you like the finest detail or you intend to build a model railroad as close to scale as possible, Premier.

Otherwise you will save yourself some cash purchasing Railking.

Tony

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