Last week, my locomotive for Switcher Saturday was New Haven Railroad Alco RS-3 #527, an MTH Railking model (30-2897-1, PS2 3-Volt, June 2009, MSRP $299.95) that I purchased at a recent train show near New Haven. I also mentioned that #527 is the third New Haven RS-3 model that I have, along with #531 (Atlas O Trainman 20033012, 2012, MSRP $399.95) and #518 ( K-Line K2449-0518, 2002, MSRP $379.95). And I was asked to post all three. So, I ran them on my 12’-by-8’ layout this week and here’s what I saw.

I run #531 (Atlas O) often and also plan to run #527 (MTH), so I looked at them first. After that, I retrieved #518 (K-Line) from my train cabinet and ran it for the first time in years. Although the Atlas O and MTH models are quite nice, one look at the K-Line model revealed that it is the most detailed of the three.

In order of looks and detail, it’s K-Line, Atlas O and MTH. Perhaps it’s unfair to rank them because K-Line #518 is a top-of-the-line model. Atlas O #531 is a Trainman model and MTH #527 is a Railking model, both of which are one level below their top-of-the-line Master and Premier product lines.

First photo shows the MTH model and the second shows the Atlas O model. Both models are painted in the original green and orange scheme with script herald as delivered to the New Haven Railroad in 1950. The molded-in louvers are much deeper and more realistic on the Atlas O model. It also has added-on grab rails on the nose compared to molded-in grabs on the MTH version. The stanchions that support the side railings look more correct on the Atlas O model which has fully round air tanks compared to half round tanks on the MTH version. The cooling fan grill at the top of the hood is molded-in on the MTH model but is see-through on the Atlas O, which also has a fan beneath the grille. Neither has engineer or fireman figures in the cab.

Third photo shows a similar view of the #518 K-Line model. It’s painted with a black cab and an orange hood – a color scheme that appeared during the latter part of the 1950s with a block-lettered logo. The stanchions that support the side railings are similar to those on the MTH model and the nose grabs are added-on. The K-Line model has see-through louvers on the sides of the hood and a see-through cooling fan grill on top with a fan beneath the grille. There are engineer and fireman figures in the cab and fully round air tanks. The horns are also more elaborate than those on the Atlas O and MTH models. The K-Line model has sun visors above the cab side windows - something that I did not see in photographs of New Haven RS-3s.

In order of operation, it’s MTH, Atlas O and K-Line, but they all ran well under conventional control. I think the MTH model runs and starts more smoothly than the other two but the difference is negligible. I ran the K-Line model at 10-volts AC to keep the sounds operative without a battery, so I didn’t run it at very low speeds. The sounds on all three models can be heard in the two videos.

Although the MTH model has less detail than the others, it's hardly noticeable when running on the layout and, in my opinion, all three are satisfactory as far as looks and operation.

MELGAR

Merry Christmas, everyone.  I want to wish each of you a most joyous holiday season.  Jim

Happy SWSAT.

I showed this engine on the Christmas thread earlier in the week but the consist is  changed up. I was running it as a Santa Claus train. Yesterday I took the engine home to run a Nativity Train. Which would consist of the three MTH flat cars with lighted loads depicting the Nativity. There are additional box cars,  that show religious phrases. Well Murphy showed up. The top of the stable car hit the lift bridge. I decided to bring the engine back along with the Nativity train. Since there aren’t storage tracks I decided to run the Nativiy in front with Santa in the back.

Merry Switcher Saturday Christmas!

I am running my Lionel Christmas Docksider (6-28660) to celebrate the season.

Take Care and Merry Christmas,

Ray

45 Ton Diesel-Electric Switcher Locomotive Built by General Electric in1946 at the Fox Vally Trolly museum.