MTH 2015 N&W 611?

For what it's worth, I have one of the previous run MTH N&W J Class models (2.0), and it has the correct N&W "deep steamboat" whistle.

Page 73 of the 2015 V1 catalog provides as clear of an answer to that question as one could possibly hope for.

Does MTH have the same detail as Lionel or better? I am trying to be exact to scale as possible.

I have the last offering from MTH (Cab#604). Side by side with a Lionel 611J, I haven't noted a glaring advantage of one over the other.

FWIW, I've gone the same path with a MTH 611J and the GGD cars. Both are on order.

Gilly

I would have to agree with Gilly.

Thanks Gilly I am glad to hear that. Its hard to tell but is the bell going to be on top or by the front pilot truck?

The N&W J Class locomotives had/have the bell mounted just under the skirt, and not on top of the boiler.

Thanks for the replies everyone I think I will go ahead a place an order. I hope the maroon color matches the GGD cars. 

It comes down to personal pref.  but the prototypes didn't always match...sun fade, paint mix's ect...

I would have to say it will be really close. I mean I cant be leave all the company's would be using different paint for the same locos. 

That is partially true. They were built with them on top and ran that way for some time. The earlier J's had the swinging bells and they would spin around above the streamlining. The last 3 were mounted and had a ringer. From what I've read, they were more difficult to hear with the shrouding covering the sides. The bells on all were then moved down sometime in the 50's. 

Yes the bell had been located just forward of the steam dome and the safety pops and behind the sand dome.

The 3rd Rail K2A has the low bell mounting location. Keep in mind that these locomotives also pulled the Powhatan Arrow from time to time. There was a $150 discount is you ordered this engine along with the GGD Powhatan Arrow cars. A great deal in my book. If I didn't already have the K2A, I would have jumped on that deal!

For now, I'm taking advantage of CFO clearance to get a 611. When she asked if I had a 611, I said no; "Get One". Thankfully she doesn't know what the 605 shrouded is and hasn't seen the 604 running on the club layout.

Gilly

I have lucked out on EBay and got a 2005 Lionel TMCC N&W 611 with all seven cars brand new for $920. I will probably sell the Lionel cars in favor of the GGD cars.

Gilly how do you like the K2a I have been thinking about one for that price.

Absolutely beautiful model. Great details and ran smooth as glass right out of the box. Check out the 3rd Rail website. They have a short video, the OGR review and good pictures of this locomotive.

Gilly