just bought a usra mth 2-8-8-2

Chris

I bought the Southern USRA 2-8-8-2 a couple months ago.  http://www.mthtrains.com/content/30-1455-1   I believe it is the same tooling as your UP except mine is the Imperial version which offers a few more details.  It is a nice articulated engine.  I like the chuff sound and the whistle sounds good.  The engine is heavy and a good runner. Personally I don't care much for the freight yard sounds.  The dialogue is goofy.  I have looked for 1 for over year before I found a new one on ebay for a reasonable price.  I am glad I got it.

Ken

I had one for a while just like yours, I think.  Don't remember the project number, but it was Railking, PS-2, Union Pacific, and looked like the picture in the link you provided.  It was a great engine - it looked powerful and complicated with all its wheels, etc., but fit nicely and ran well on tighter radii track.  Pulled fairly well if I remember.  I never had any problems with it.  I gave it away to some friends about two years ago when I decided to migrate to mostly scale locos and needed the shelf space.  Haven't heard but I imagine its still doing well.

I've got the Railking Imperial Y6B N&W 2-8-8-2, built on the same platform as the USRA. Great running locomotive. Pulls like an SOB... has the great Imperial line detail. Looks great on tight curves as there is very little overhang for a large locomotive. 

I have an old PS1 version of that RK y6B which I have kept - about the only non-scale loco I maintain on my shelves anymore - it was my first loco when I got back into O gauge and I have a sweet spot for it.  I agree it is a fantastic puller and a great little loco all around.

It ran well with the original proto-1 system, but I upgraded it to TMCC using ERR Co Cruise Commander several years ago. Runs great, although it seems to have "weathered" a bit over the years.   It fits in well with either traditional or scale size rolling stock.

Jim

thanks guys, cant wait to get it.  I got it because I have 031 and 054 track.  sounds like it will be a cool engine and I can pull alot with it.  2 motors?  Also, those who have the upper models or new ones, is there a smoking whistle feature?  think I can upgrade it to work on the usra one?  thanks

Chris

MTH has not made a smoking whistle on any engines that I know of  - YET.

As Russell indicated, MTH has not offered that feature in their O gauge line to date (although I believe they did start adding that on some of their G scale Railking 1 gauge steam engines prior to Legacy coming out).  A company called JDS LTD Productions can do it as an aftermarket mod.  Their website with contact info is here: http://www.jdslimitedproductions.com