How is the quality of the MTH scale Madison cars ?

I have a few sets and a few singles. They are more detailed than WbB but not as well as GGD. About perfect on the level of detail w/o being fragile. Sounds like a decent deal. 

I have a UP set dating back to the late nineties and I love them. They are heavy and very well made.

Sounds like you made a good deal Tiffany.

Some of us have had a problem with the trucks on the newest MTH heavyweights. These are the cars with figures and sprung trucks. Some of the trucks have been plagued with zinc pest. The previous generation of cars with interiors but no figures don't seem to have this problem. These trucks have simulated springs. Not as detailed but much more reliable.

No idea if MTH has addressed this problem on its newest releases and it won't become apparent until long after the warranty runs out.

Pete

I have never had any issues with MTH's passenger cars and I have a bunch of them. I know that some of the early stuff got hit with the Zinc problem. However MTH now has their own factories and they can control the quality.  I have 22 set of MTH passenger cars and no worries about them.

Scott Smith

MTH heavyweights really live up to their name, particularly the ones with interiors.  They are heavy compared to Lionel heavyweights with window silhouettes.  I have been running combinations of Lionel and MTH heavyweights and my Premier and K Line Scale Hudson's cannot handle more than 7-8 of these cars but the Rail King Erie Triplex and Williams Scale Hudson have no problems at all with 7-8 scale heavyweights.

I have the Santa Fe set. They're heavy, so you need to make sure you oil the trucks before you run them. The baggage car has the Pennsy style doors, but other than that they're not bad. The color is standard Pullman Green which is darker than the ATSF green, but that doesn't matter much. I bought the add-on cars, including the RPO which was from newer tooling. All in all, I think you'll be happy with them.

I have had the Blue Comet set since 1999. Never had an issue.

The older cars do not have the issue. The newer Madison cars, the ones with the detailed buffer around the diaphragm, with passengers inside, and with multi-piece side frames have the problem. You can literally crush the trucks in your hand like a potato chip.

The problem is a combination of many thin cast pieces, zinc rot, and rough assembly technique that does the job.

MTH has been guarded in their responses so far, but MANY people have noticed this problem.

Again, the trucks with one piece side frames are OK. It's the new ones with the multi-piece side frame design that are falling apart.

The lighted interiors can provide a significant current drain if you run 5 or more cars.  I have MTH Premier sets. Some with silhouette windows and some with full lighted interiors.  I intended to replace the interior lights in all my cars with constant intensity LEDs.

In the USA, yes we did. Now, the same lesson has to be re-learned in China.

Here is an example of a failed late model MTH truck. The set was cataloged in 2006. Hopefully the problem has been corrected by now. Of the 5 cars in this set I have had to replace or repair 7 trucks. Two replacements were put to together from broken trucks, one was repaired with CA glue. As Roy says they are very fragile and I am reluctant to run the cars.

Pete

Hello Norton and guys.........

Boy I am GLAD the MTH scale Madison cars I ordered are made in 2004 as you say the 2006 cars have the casting problem.  Sometimes it's better to buy NOS trains.  Its a shame that the Chinese don't LEARN anything when it comes to quality but they are good in Chinese food take outs yummy.  The South Koreans make good brass casting which has zinc in it and seems to do just fine as they aged and not get brittle.  My Sunset 3rd S.F. scale steamer was made in South Korea,2002 and the brass casting are still good. I believe the Sunset 3rd locomotives and cars are now being made in China so it may have casting problems in near future.

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678

Tiffany

Hello AGHRMatt.........

Thank you for your information about the colors of the cars and the Pennsy door windows of the baggage car. I think you're right that I will love the cars as they are my first scale heavyweight cars. If the cars have the wrong shade of green then I will just have to live with it.

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678

Tiffany

The nice thing about the previous generation of MTH heavyweights is its easy detail them like their later counterparts.

The cars below are from ~2002. Figures were added as well as end detail from the current cars. Baggage car doors can be be replaced with ones more correct for your road.

Pete

Pete, What is the MTH part number for the replacement doors?  I have a set of Santa Fe cars with the Pennsy style porthole doors which I would like to replace.

Thanks,

Stuart

Stuart, I actually made my own castings using a door from my ill fated 2006 set. Most of the later cars have the rectangular window doors.

Pete

Hello AGHRMatt............

The cars came today by UPS and you're right that they are HEAVY !!!!!!!!!! and they are a big "WOW" factor for me as they are my first scale heavyweights.  The cars are pretty dark green like you said but that's okay I am very happy with them. 

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678

Tiffany

You shouldn't have to oil the trucks. MTH passenger trucks have molded bearing inserts (not sure what, nylon, Delrin, whatever) that are self-lubricating. There is no metal to metal contact. 

I just bought a 5-car set of the Blue Comet Premier Madison's.... Love them so far.... except.....

The light bulbs - everyone of them has blown out - all in a matter of a week....

I am running DCS w/MTH 750 for power (with TMCC also connected - have the Lionel Legacy Blue Comet)....

I think these Madison's were made in 1998... so wondering if maybe there is too much power to the tracks ?????

I will probably try to replace them with LEDs.... was even thinking of putting in a ambient light sensors to adjust the LED 'output' according to darkness.

Any thoughts or experience ?

TJ

I have an excellent MTH 5-car Madison NYC set, here.

Just what you want!

Alex