The exclusive Premier O scale 60' flat cars were never produce in the TRAILER TRAIN schemes for 1960's, 1970's, 1980's era with HTTX and OTTX reporting marks.
Those used to be a more common sight.
The new USA management has to reorganize and have the production plant in China make a run of them in the real, common paint scheme for TRAILER TRAIN.
Andrew
When Mike Wolf's retirement and MTH's closure was announced, I was shocked and heartbroken of the news. Growing up, my first ever MTH train set was the Pennsylvania Steam Turbine Freight Set. This was followed up by the TEXAS and GENERAL 4-4-0s among others. Given the recent announcement, I am concerned about a few things:
1. What will happen to all the replacement parts once the company shuts down?
2. Will there be alternative places to buy or repair your MTH products?
3. Will the remaining MTH products in dealers and hobby stores sell out quickly?
Any feedback or comments would be greatly appreciated.
No one knows but this is a speculative thread so I shall speculate.
1. Certainly, as time goes on, parts won't be as plentiful. If DCS continues, then perhaps DCS parts will still be available new.
2. Since there will be no new products from MTH, then you won't be able to buy anything new unless it's NOS. There are numerous MTH repair techs on this forum and elsewhere so repairs shouldn't be a problem as long as parts are available.
3. Anecdotal evidence suggests that most popular inventory will be gone quickly. I called and spoke with a large MTH dealer (to place an order). He told me that his MTH orders and preorders from 2020 Vol. 2 have been crazy since the closing announcement. Of course, he might just be trying to gin up sales but I tend to believe him.
@MikeH posted:
3. Anecdotal evidence suggests that most popular inventory will be gone quickly. I called and spoke with a large MTH dealer (to place an order). He told me that his MTH orders and preorders from 2020 Vol. 2 have been crazy since the closing announcement. Of course, he might just be trying to gin up sales but I tend to believe him.
Honestly, I find this lemming-like behavior laughable (and sad).
Fifteen, yes fifteen years now K-Line has been gone and their stuff is still around.
George
@G3750 posted:Honestly, I find this lemming-like behavior laughable (and sad).
Fifteen, yes fifteen years now K-Line has been gone and their stuff is still around.
George
Postwar Lionel's been around a lot longer.
Rusty
@G3750 posted:Honestly, I find this lemming-like behavior laughable (and sad).
Fifteen, yes fifteen years now K-Line has been gone and their stuff is still around.
George
What is the lemming behavior, George? Buying MTH after the announcement?
Look at this way: Lo these many years that I've been involved in this hobby (all two of them 
), I have settled on new MTH Premier 18" passenger cars. I like the looks, the size, and I like the price. I only buy new MTH because I want LED lights and don't feel like converting old ones.
As of last month, I was looking forward to acquiring some MTH sets over the next few decades.
Then this announcement happened. I thought it it might be a good time to order/pre-order some sets. I bought 5 sets.
Am I lemming? Or am I just getting while the getting's good? You be the judge. Nothing really to laugh or be sad about though.
I'm sure that MTH products will be floating around on the secondary market for years to come. I'm also sure I won't be in the market because I will already have what I want. 
@MikeH posted:What is the lemming behavior, George? Buying MTH after the announcement?
Look at this way: Lo these many years that I've been involved in this hobby (all two of them
As of last month, I was looking forward to acquiring some MTH sets over the next few decades.
Then this announcement happened. I thought it it might be a good time to order/pre-order some sets. I bought 5 sets.
Am I lemming? Or am I just getting while the getting's good? You be the judge. Nothing really to laugh or be sad about though.
I'm sure that MTH products will be floating around on the secondary market for years to come. I'm also sure I won't be in the market because I will already have what I want.
Mike:
Great choice. While most of my train collection is Lionel, I really like the MTH passenger cars. I have a couple of their streamlined sets on the layout right now and plan to purchase a heavyweight set or two as well.
Pat
@onetrackmind posted:When Mike Wolf's retirement and MTH's closure was announced, I was shocked and heartbroken of the news. Growing up, my first ever MTH train set was the Pennsylvania Steam Turbine Freight Set. This was followed up by the TEXAS and GENERAL 4-4-0s among others. Given the recent announcement, I am concerned about a few things:
1. What will happen to all the replacement parts once the company shuts down?
2. Will there be alternative places to buy or repair your MTH products?
3. Will the remaining MTH products in dealers and hobby stores sell out quickly?
Any feedback or comments would be greatly appreciated.
All 3 are good questions. Unless somebody steps up and buys the company I doubt that parts will be available for more than 5 years.
2. There are guys on this forum that repair MTH trains as long as parts are available.
3. Seems like there is a lot of panic buying.
Everybody that's worried just settle down and relax. No body knows how this will play out.
@feet posted:All 3 are good questions. Unless somebody steps up and buys the company I doubt that parts will be available for more than 5 years.
2. There are guys on this forum that repair MTH trains as long as parts are available.
3. Seems like there is a lot of panic buying.
Everybody that's worried just settle down and relax. No body knows how this will play out.
Thank you for the reply. I hope to hear more good news.
@onetrackmind posted:When Mike Wolf's retirement and MTH's closure was announced, I was shocked and heartbroken of the news. Growing up, my first ever MTH train set was the Pennsylvania Steam Turbine Freight Set. This was followed up by the TEXAS and GENERAL 4-4-0s among others. Given the recent announcement, I am concerned about a few things:
1. What will happen to all the replacement parts once the company shuts down?
2. Will there be alternative places to buy or repair your MTH products?
3. Will the remaining MTH products in dealers and hobby stores sell out quickly?
Any feedback or comments would be greatly appreciated.
O Gauge train stuff on EBay provides a useful glimpse at the real time market for buying and selling used trains. As an EBay buyer (and infrequent seller) over for a long time, I have not seen an uptick or fire sales on MTH products. The quantities and prices are still stable. Rarer, items, however, might be harder to find or bid higher because train guys might fear that they will never be available again from MTH. I, too, still watch for K-Line stuff and those prices remain steady and the availability is still there. So no need to worry or panic.
I am purchasing more new MTH stuff now from hobby shops because I, too, want to make sure I get those before they may not be available factory new.
Must say that this thread has more legs than a bus full of millipedes.
Sooner than expected, controlling trains may come down to RC and batteries in the tenders and B units!
@redjimmy1955 posted:Sooner than expected, controlling trains may come down to RC and batteries in the tenders and B units!
That day can't come soon enough IMO. Long overdue.
I immediately ordered four sets of traction tires for my USRA 0-8-0! I keep tightly close is a plastic bag out of light!
@MikeH posted:That day can't come soon enough IMO. Long overdue.
I have been hearing this for nearly 20 years now. It hasn’t happened. There’s nothing inevitable about it.
@Jim R. posted:I have been hearing this for nearly 20 years now. It hasn’t happened. There’s nothing inevitable about it.
I missed where I predicted its inevitability but thanks for setting me straight! 
@MikeH posted:I missed where I predicted its inevitability but thanks for setting me straight!
Not necessarily against it. I just doubt it will ever happen in O gauge. I’m surprised it’s not the standard in garden railways.
@G3750 posted:Honestly, I find this lemming-like behavior laughable (and sad).
Fifteen, yes fifteen years now K-Line has been gone and their stuff is still around.
George
K-line stuff may still be around, but good luck finding that specific items you wanted from the last two years of production in New in Box condition.
If Mike's announcement was causing people who had no plans to buy MTH products to run out and order piles of them, then I would agree with your assessment. That isn't what I see happening though. Instead what I see is people who would already be in the market for MTH products engaged in thoughtful consideration whether to carry through with their original plans, accelerate them or scale them back.
Another thing that I'm concerned about is when the company is gone, can the MTH products last a while to run.
Did Mr. Mike ever offer MTH for sale and if so what was the asking price? I will have to look at the bank account.
@John Pignatelli JR. posted:Did Mr. Mike ever offer MTH for sale and if so what was the asking price? I will have to look at the bank account.
It's been reported from several sources that Mike Wolf has been shopping around the company for about a year.
As far as the asking price, only Mike and any potentially interested party knows that, they are not talking and it's unlikely they will.
In other words: It's none of our business.
Rusty
@Rusty Traque posted:It's been reported from several sources that Mike Wolf has been shopping around the company for about a year.
As far as the asking price, only Mike and any potentially interested party knows that, they are not talking and it's unlikely they will.
In other words: It's none of our business.
Rusty
It could be your business for the right price. But then again, you don't exactly advertise this on Craigs List "Hobby Train manufacturer for sale, asking $XXXXXXXX"
Buying a business like this and of this size is not first without agreeing to some form of a Non-Disclosure agreement beforehand so that non-interested parties or failed negotiations aren't used to devalue a future sale.
@Bill N posted:K-line stuff may still be around, but good luck finding that specific items you wanted from the last two years of production in New in Box condition.
If Mike's announcement was causing people who had no plans to buy MTH products to run out and order piles of them, then I would agree with your assessment. That isn't what I see happening though. Instead what I see is people who would already be in the market for MTH products engaged in thoughtful consideration whether to carry through with their original plans, accelerate them or scale them back.
It really hit me hard seeing MTH will cease operations, at least as the business is configured today. All my Engines are MTH and I finally purchased the full DCS system with remote around 3 years ago. I will always have great appreciation for MTH and what they have contributed. That being said I have been jealous of all the members who had both MTH and Lionel control systems. As far as my wife knows MTH is closed as of today and there will be no DCS support going forward so I have no choice but to put the new refrigerator on hold and buy Lionel. ☺️
@onetrackmind posted:Another thing that I'm concerned about is when the company is gone, can the MTH products last a while to run.
Here or gone, makes no difference as to their products lasting to operate.
@Lionelski posted:Here or gone, makes no difference as to their products lasting to operate.
Thank you for your reassurance, I will continue to cherish both my MTH and Lionel Trains.
....or just maybe there's another plan in the works?
Scott Smith
Let's start a Go Fund Me for OGR forum members. We can be the new owners. 
@scott.smith posted:....or just maybe there's another plan in the works?
Scott Smith
Maybe Scott told his wife he was making just ONE MORE train purchase, and she jumped at the thought and gave him the OK.
Scott, when will you break the news the purchase was MTH itself?
Just kidding of course, not really trying to suggest Scott would buy MTH (the company, that is - we all know he certainly has bought one or 2 MTH trains over the years )
-Dave
@Dave45681 posted:Maybe Scott told his wife he was making just ONE MORE train purchase, and she jumped at the thought and gave him the OK.
Scott, when will you break the news the purchase was MTH itself?
Just kidding of course, not really trying to suggest Scott would buy MTH (the company, that is - we all know he certainly has bought one or 2 MTH trains over the years
-Dave
Yes, I have over 100. I would love to have the money to buy MTH; not that I would buy them, just the money to buy them. Actually I wouldn't mind owning the company, but the thought of spending the amount that Mike Wolf spent in China to supervise is a deal breaker.
Scott Smith
And Scott , where would you hide all those boxes?
Brad
@scott.smith posted:....or just maybe there's another plan in the works?
Scott Smith
Ahh nothing like a little innuendo to fan the flames.
Maybe the July 15th Lionel catalog will have some new and special "MTH Corporation" products? 
@Landsteiner posted:Maybe the July 15th Lionel catalog will have some new and special "MTH Corporation" products?
Now you're just being silly.
Just talked to someone in the service department at MTH yesterday. No new public news.
@jhz563 posted:Just talked to someone in the service department at MTH yesterday. No new public news.
Even if they knew, they ain't talking. And if they are, shame on them. Any potential leak could jeopardize a deal in the making.
@MartyE posted:Even if they knew, they ain't talking. And if they are, shame on them. Any potential leak could jeopardize a deal in the making.
But is there any evidence that some kind of deal is in the works? All we have is Mike Wolf's statement and it seems pretty definitive: Next year, MTH will be closed down and will not exist anymore. Anything else appears to be just imagination and wishful thinking.
@Madockawando posted:But is there any evidence that some kind of deal is in the works? All we have is Mike Wolf's statement and it seems pretty definitive: Next year, MTH will be closed down and will not exist anymore. Anything else appears to be just imagination and wishful thinking.
Maybe I should have said any possible deal in the works but frankly until MTH or other entity involved announces something it's really none of our business.
If I were MTH, I would want to keep things as quiet as possible without releasing any evidence of a deal whatsoever; only leadership would know about a possible deal, and even then, only a very few critical individuals.
If there's any hint of new "news," the only hint I've seen is Trainworld's announcement that MTH will be going first in their July 16 virtual train show on Facebook. The fact that they're going first is obvious--this is the big story, and it stands to reason that this topic of "new news" will be discussed. How much MTH can talk about the future beyond what they've already said is the big unknown--perhaps even to MTH leadership as of right now.
Since there is already a team that will continue DCS I’m sure there is a contract. With that being the case, I can’t believe anyone would buy MTH without also getting DCS.
Where's Clyde Coil when you need him to get the inside scoop?
@scott.smith posted:Where's Clyde Coil when you need him to get the inside scoop?
That's a name I haven't heard in a long time!
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