Anyone else just get the new MTH VO-1000?

What is the product number on this engine?  I've been wanting to get the Seaboard engine, but have other priorities right now.  Wouldn't mind a Seaboard RS11 either!

 

SIRT, I was looking at your website, is the Seaboard "Green Hornet" boxcar you have in the "Weathering 1" album the Atlas car?  I've got one coming to me this week

Steve,

 

What were your 11 issues?

 

Dave

 

One of our club members has one that doesn't seem to put out any smoke no matter whether they add fluid, blow down the stack or what have you. The smoke generator seems to get warm based on the temperature of the cab in this area.

 

This members unit seemed to have working number board lights.

 

It seemed to run quite nicely in conventional mode

 

The one I saw on the dealers shelf seemed to have a bent pilot, perhaps shipping damage.

 

Thought the Long island colors were nice and the body railing was changed to grey which was correct for LIRR.

 

LIRR's lone Baldwin 1000hp switcher was not a VO-1000 but Baldwin model designation DS-4-4-1000. I am not sure of the differences between the two Baldwin Models. It was delivered in 1948 , 2 years after the VO-1000 was discontinued. Its delivery scheme was a PRR Brunswick Green with gold lettering PRR style. The LIRR painted the pilots white and this engine wore these colors into the late 1950's when it was repainted into the Goodfellow Orange and Greys. The LIRR found the 1000hp rating ideal for its road freights so that's how #450 was used on the LIRR. It could be seen quite a bit east of Jamaica in its day. It influenced choice of a small fleet of 1000hp switchers for this purpose but the additional 1000 hp switchers were Alco s-2's also delivered in the PRR style colors.

There are no lighted number board lights on this new batch.

With the placement of the leaking internal smoke fluid delivery module, I dont see how lights would fit.

 

Issues revised now to 15.

 

If your engineers throttle stand inside the cab is leaning and not upright - email me.

I need to verify something.

 

Steve

ontraktwo@yahoo.com

LIRR's lone Baldwin 1000hp switcher was not a VO-1000 but Baldwin model designation DS-4-4-1000. I am not sure of the differences between the two Baldwin Models. 

The main difference is the Vo1000 has a rounded grill on the front while the DS4-4-1000 has a flat "Chicken Wire" screen in the front.

Ok thanks for the clarification on the model designation differrence. The LIRR unit has a flat front grill. The PRR version had the rounded grill and 4 exhaust stacks.

 

Steve I could be mistaken about the number boards as the engine was on the layout

Here's a VO-1000:

 

 

and here's a DS4-4-1000:

 

 

A lot of similarities for sure, but there's no way to tell from these photos if anything has been modified from the original engines.

 

Seaboard had them both

Bob, I think you got you pictures swapped.  Early VO-1000s came with the curved trim like on the LP&N engine.

 

Stuart

DOH!!!  I'll get right on it.  I had a 50-50 chance and blew it

No cab interior light, bad smoke unit, crappy lights, stickers for number boards with not a one illuminated, This is NOT a premier engine! This engine is a grade F! I want my money back!

No cab interior light, bad smoke unit, crappy lights, stickers for number boards with not a one illuminated, This is NOT a premier engine! This engine is a grade F! I want my money back!

So are you suggesting the Weaver Vo1000 is a better deal?

I haven't had a chance to run my PRR version yet.  You all have me spooked!

 

 

What's the issue specifically about the smoke unit?  Does it come out all 4 stacks or just one (or not at all by the sounds of it!) ?

SIRT, are you willing to post your list and photos!  Serious issues abound!

On the Pennsy version smoke comes out of all four stacks.

 

Stuart

Johnshorse,

Good Afternoon Doctor,

Sorry to read your not very happy with your new MTH VO-1000 diesel. You stated you want your money back. Doctor, please be advised I'm sure with all the issues you mentioned your dealer will gladly refund your money.  By the way doctor, which road name did you purchase?

When you compare the features from the MTH Website listing for the Premier VO-1000, it mentions the smoke unit and that seems to be the only difference from the Railking version of the VO-1000. Since MTH has been upgrading Railking versions of its diesels (RS-1, GP-7) to include smoke one might say this is most likely a Railking product but packaged in a Premier box and  at an MSRP at $100 more.

 

There is also a long list of PS-3 control features which mentions control over ditch lights and a cab light which this VO-1000 does not have. Seems disappointing at the least, not considering problems that some purchasers are having.

Still too early to tell by the numbers but received emails by others are starting to duplicate my findings.

I need more time and data in order decide which direction I need to take.

 

 

 

 

Steve

 

Your 450 looks great but I have to tell you that the two box cars behind it weren't even born when 450 was off the LIRR!! Hope everything works out for you on this one.

I'll be picking up my Lehigh Valley version of this engine on Monday. Am I to believe its smoke unit will put out little or no smoke? I run conventional with a Z-4000.

 

Tony Sincius

TCA# 97-45101

Tony, do yourself a favor don't pick it up!

Sunrise, the Railking model is much nicer than this engine!  It's a dog!

Worried the heck out of mas when I picked up the box and it was light as a feather.  What happened here?

Hey Dr John,

can you email me.

So far, all I have read about the new MTH VO-1000 diesel has been negative. Who of you, that purchased this lcomotive has one that's working fine.

It's not a "working fine" issue, Jimmy.  It is faulty design, poor workmanship and not even in the ball park as a Premier engine.  Steve, can you post your fifteen points and photos.  It's not a "fixable" issue.

I have ordered but not picked up the 20-20175-1 PRR. According the catalog it does have he following features;

Steve, Jim, I just got the LIRR version. Just ran it around a bit, and it seems to produce smoke just fine. Backwards and forwards no problem. Runs at 1 to 2 smph with no issue. 

The grab irons on the front pilot were bent, another grab iron near the cab had fallen off, the long grey grab irons on either side of the cab are loose, as is the horn, and the left side isn't painted in a few small spots. 

 

Andy

 

Unless these rekey-dink Companies get ISO Certified and become serious about Quality, you, the consumer will continue to receive inferior products.

http://www.9000world.com/index.php?app=ccp0&ns=prodshow&ref=9WCLT-14000A&flag=MXSX10000X001

 

If the first unit on the line is wrong, chances are all the others will be too.

I have emails that indicate several design oversights with this model as like the R-40’s.

Attempting to run a Company on a shoe string with just a few people along with rushing to production, yields problems.

So MTH has installed a smoke unit in this railking engine and used a purple box to package it in. They call it premier and charge 100 dollars more.....................MTH also added a smoke unit to the rs-1, still call it railking, and keep the retail at 299 dollars. I have said it in the past and will say it again. The RAILKING RS-1 is the best bang for the buck that MTH produces. I own 8 of them and will probably own a few more. In my opinion the RS-1 could be a premier model!....................Oh CRAP!!!!! Now I've done it! MTH please dont read this. (I dont want you to mess up the RS-1)

 Perhaps MTH should have just added the smoke unit and still called it railking and left it at 299 retail.

MTH publishes a catalog disclaimer that all features should be verified on item box.  Lionel has used this for decades, and it's basically absolving them of any and all responsibility to live up to the catalog description.  If it's printed on the item box, though, that's a different story.

Mark

 

what you say is true!

 

However, this seems to be what is equivalent to a Railking Item in a Premier box and priced at a $100 premium accordingly. Add to that those whose locos have repair and quality issues Those folks I am sure are disappointed! . Even you would be .

Are there any positive reports on this engine out there?

 

Sunrise

I picked up my Lehigh Valley (20-20173-1) VO-1000 from Mt.Lakes Train Station this morning. Didn't get a chance to check it out until a little while ago. Cosmetic inspection was right-on with nice even paint and all hand rails and grab rails secure. Conventional operation worked fine, as described in the manual, with a nice steady stream of smoke. I checked the catalog (2011 vol.2) description of features against the label on the box and both were the same. I personally have no issue with this engine. As a Lehigh Valley collector I like the fact the Rail King model had the old red and grey paint scheme while the Premier is all Cornell red. Different cab numbers too, 136 & 135 respectively. I like this Baldwin unit.

 

Tony Sincius

TCA# 97-45101 

I have my first MTH Premier engine on pre-order, one of the transfer diesels due for delivery in July. I cannot really remember hearing a bad thing about a Premier engine before this thread, sure issues here and there but this has be a little freaked. I thought a Premier engine was always a, "you know what your getting" high quality item.

 

Stickers for number boards is not what I had in mind. I hope this is not what I am getting myself into.

Did you weather it?  Looks good!

SIRT,

 

Love the Mets hat and the Mets sticker on the cab window.   Please keep us posted on MTH's response to your overwhelming issues.

 

Sunrise