Lionel MPC Daylight

I have the Williams daylight GS4, with "tru-blast II" sounds. Runs fine, looks good.

SJC, please explain the problem you had with the MTH engine.  I want to learn.  If I was going to buy another, I would buy the Williams.  I had the MPC Daylight and it was a super dud.  It ran very bad and the sounds were nasty.  The MPC was a looker but that is all it had going.  I know many will jump on me but I had the engine and can make statements from my first hand experience with it.  I would like to hear about the "no cost" issue.

Thanks for the input, especially Marty saying it's a dud. With Marty's experience, if he says its a dud, it must be. 

As for the MTH,(sorry, typo above, now corrected to read "coast") I've pretty well documented here the fact that they don't coast to a stop in conventional like every other MTH engine. They just lock up and skid when using the direction button or even the throttle if not overly careful. I've lost several traction tires due to this issue. I've discussed with Andy Edelman. In short, it is a software issue and with the low number of complaints and few conventional operators, a fix is unlikely BUT MTH is aware of the issue. I've had two locos with this issue and sold both. Could I live with it, yes probably but something in me just can't be happy with an engine that has this issue and I don't really want to keep it. 

Hunting down a low mileage PS2 or even PS1 version may be the best option. Williams is another option and I have the J but prefer the MTH version - looks better in my view. 

Mine runs good. It's on thee J chassis which has always been a good engine. Perhaps the luck of the draw.

I personally don't care for the looks of the MPC Daylight or the Williams clone of it.   They're both streamlined Northern-class steam engines but that's where the similarities end.  Both models are just clones of the postwar N&W J with a different smokebox front and paint job.  There's tons of other visual differences between the J and GS4 prototypes that it's a pretty big stretch to say the two are close enough.

The MTH Railking (non-Bantam) model at least is a much more credible representation of an actual GS4  steam engine.

Lionel did make their later models of the Daylight more close to the prototype, but otherwise did use the same boiler tooling as the N&W J. The two photos below show the 1983 GS-4, and the later 1991 GS-2. I personally prefer the latter as a runner.

Despite being nice toy size engines, times have changed, and so have standards. The engines can be found at bargain prices, but the passenger cars are still quite in demand for the most part.

I have heard the conventional coasting issue on the MTH engines.   I understand the engines talked about do not have the look of their scale counterparts.  They also do not have the same price tag.  It is a chance for folks to get a Daylight for a bit less.   I have run the Williams with the can motor and can say it is a great runner.  I have a friend with one who wants me to convert it to PS-3.  That will be mid summer.  I have been with the real engine and Doyle  and it is one of my favorites.  

Still in my top five of engines.  I would like it even if was just a push toy.

I have all 3 Lionel Traditional Sized Engines. The MPC 8307, the LTI 18007 (I upgraded mine to RS5 and Tmcc) and the Lionel 18071 from the late 90's with RS and TMCC. Mine are all extremely great runners.

All 3 can be obtained for a fair price. The 18071 from the late 90's is a bit harder to find, but they are out there. They also changed the tender on the 18071 to DieCast and it was a little larger then the previous 2 releases.

Go for it!!

Everyone has different standards on what they call a great runner.  Some settle for less and others demand more.  The bottom line is if a person is happy with his/hers engine they should enjoy it.  We have many different choices and that is what keeps people in the hobby.     Fortunately,  I am able to purchase and enjoy what I like and  buy, the same as everyone else can purchase and enjoy what they like.   Some people drive a Ford and others drive a Chevrolet.  We all have choices.  That is what makes the hobby great.

I think I'd have to see one of these things run in person. A LHS nearby often has some older pieces like these, I'll have to ask him to keep an eye out for one.

Thanks to all those that responded, appreciate it.

SJC posted:

I think I'd have to see one of these things run in person. A LHS nearby often has some older pieces like these, I'll have to ask him to keep an eye out for one.

Thanks to all those that responded, appreciate it.

I have the Lionel 18071 GS-4 that is like new in the box if you are interested.