Anyone have the MTH PS2 Premier Niagara (20-3047-1)?

Yes I bought one at a Stout auction. Great locomotive, runs just like a PS2 should. I like it better than my Niagara.

Scott Smith

Lee, here is a video of one that was posted by toytrains1 a number of years ago. He was at one time a member of the forum.

Video

I have seen them in person a few times. Very nice runners, but the early PS2 chuffing is weak compared to Legacy and even later PS2 and now PS3. I have a Premier Dreyfuss Hudson from the same era. I run DCS, so I turn the chuff down very low...nearly silent.

Definitely a winner in the looks department though. That centipede tender is a monster!

Good luck.

 I would have thought that this engine would be more popular? I had hoped for another newer release with scale wheels from MTH. Maybe there's more models out there than I knew of? Did Lionel make a ton of these?

 I just couldn't figure out why MTH hadn't jumped on making a new release sooner?

Thanks everyone.  I've decided to wait for what I hope is the inevitable: Lionel offers a Legacy Niagara.  Given they've made the Niagara in the past (Century Club), I expect they will someday get around to using that tooling again and I'll get one then.   I looked at videos of the MTH and it looks a bit less detailed than I would like and early PS2 sound is, as mentioned, not that good compared to what I am used to now.  I might be able to find a Lionel Century clubone on an auction site, etc., but TMCC doesn't run nearly as well conventionally as the new Legacy - and nothing sounds as good -  so I will just wait.

The Lionel Niagara is comparable in detail to the MTH. While Lionel may offer more detail in a newer release, they haven't shown that tendency yet. Most of their Legacy engines use the same casting as their previous offerings with just updated electronics.

The Lionel CC Niagara has better sound quality but with only two chuffs. You could probably upgrade the MTH engine with a different sound file and speaker replacement.

I was able to do that on an MTH Hudson with a PT tender.

Pete

I bought a MTH Niagara when it was introduced. I also have a two rail Precision Scale Crown Niagara, that is unpainted. Side by side, they are identical. The MTH does have two minor errors

- MTH used an Alco Power reverse and not the Precision power reverse that these engines had.

- there is a spacing error on the tender, between the words "New York", and "Central", not even noticed by most

My MTH is a fine runner. There is much detail to model on this particular engine, and the MTH has what the real engine had. The MTH is big, heavy, and capable, and I am sure a lot less expensive than Lionel offerings.

I purchased that locomotive new and it has always been a great runner.   I run it today and it is as good as it was when new.  Like any other big locomotive investment I maintain it and it is run with a BCR. 

The Lionel version had/has issues; Flaking Paint on the wheels, Cherry Switch for the chuff that needs replaced from time to time and is a bear to get to, Steel rims that pop off from time to time. I got tired of running it and now run the MTH. Keep in mind that when Lionel offered the Century Club engines they said would offer each of the engines one time only. If you want to make me an offer I'll consider selling my Lionel.

Scott Smith

The only thing better than one Niagara is two

I have heard about, and now seen these issues on the club one. I haven't seen too many of the MTH version around for sale. I had been waiting to see an updated scale wheeled version. It seems they went with the Dreyfuss first. Then the Allegheny didn't come with scale wheels for me to get. Oh well I have two already. I probably wouldn't have got another anyways.

What Clem says. So far no issues with my Lionel one but they sound all easily correctable.

Pete

 Nice video Clem!

That sounds like the MTH soundset?
Not sure which pic is from which manu.

I have the Lionel Niagara - it has been a real pain in the whatever electronically AND mechanically (drive shaft), but maybe it's OK now...? Great sound; great runner. Right now.

I bought a used MTH Niagara about a year ago: PS2, Factory Reset...but it will not

run under my Remote Commander (some PS2/3's won't; most will). When running

it conventionally, it surges and stumbles; the PS2 cruise is obviously having 

problems. I have not even looked under the hood, as I really think that this

MTH Niagara has a date with an ERR Cruise Commander, anyway. The detailing

looks a bit below that of the Lionel in quality, but is still quite nice. I bought the

loco used, so I'm not really complaining about it.

But if you want a problem-free Niagara, I'll have to talk about my ERR-upgraded

Samhongsa (Williams) brass one. Nice, and more sure-footed (sprung drivers)

than either L or M. Especially the PT tender - far less prone to derailing than those

from L or M. The detailing is not, of course, up to the standards of the others.

I do not think that I would buy another Lionel Niagara until a new one appears,

and that there is some indication that they are more reliable. Too bad: I just

love the Lionel Niagara air horn; never use the whistle.

Clem - a beautiful train for sure. At the beginning of the clip one of them has a delightful 'bark' for a few moments...

Yes it does Sam I think I pushed the labor button when I start.