Any news concerning the eventual production or cancellation of the MTH Premier GE 44Ton Diesel?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
It's still listed as May 2016 Shipping Date.
That would be a SERIOUS foPA if mth cancelled that model, esp that Wbb has theirs out in the marketplace for over a year!
I saw Mike's presentation at the TCA museum. I believe he said its on track for May delivery.
At York, an MTH executive advised that the boards (the so-called S-gauge board) are now in production and they are getting ready to start applying the paint to the shells. He predicted summer, defined as 6/20-9/20. No mention of any cancellation. They had a prototype at York, without a board.
When I asked the exec at the DCS meeting Wed night if I'd have it in my hands before my Medicare eligibility expired
, he said I'd have it in my hands the next day. He was right: I held the prototype. I can say it is unexpectedly heavy for its size, which is good.
I'm in for a pair of the B&M versions when they show up in a couple of years (sigh).
MTH had one in the Orange Hall at York. Can't wait to get mine!
Attachments
Images (1)
Does it have flywheels? Or a new form of cruise control?
Love to order one,could not find it in the 2016 catalog. Any information were to order one would be appreciated.
pete posted:Love to order one,could not find it in the 2016 catalog. Any information were to order one would be appreciated.
You might try Mr Muffins, he's great to do business with.
I have one on order from Mercer Junction.
CTR, it has DCS, which requires a flywheel for the tach tape and provides coasting electronically. 2 motors.
RJR posted:At York, an MTH executive advised that the boards (the so-called S-gauge board) are now in production and they are getting ready to start applying the paint to the shells. He predicted summer, defined as 6/20-9/20. No mention of any cancellation. They had a prototype at York, without a board.
How big is it? I hope about 1/2 the size of the Lionel version.
Gregg, it is advertised as scale. It is a Premier loco. If you check on line the length of the prototype, and apply O scale, you'll see it matches.
Details: http://mthtrains.com/premier/spotlight/06_2015/a
I do not believe it has smoke. There is a paucity of space.
To smoke or not to smoke? MTH description has it as a smoker. But here someones says nay. If no smoke I would gladly settle for the Williams.
I definitely have one of these MTH babies on my list..... sound, smoke, and most important proto couplers. I can't have a switcher that cannot uncouple/couple from any point on the layout.... this is why I did not jump at the WbB version ( which looks great btw ). I like switchers do do their job of switching and coupling onto a string of cars and uncoupling the cars at another point on the layout .... without having to rely on a remote control track section. I'm sure the MTH version will be well worth the wait.
There is no smoke on the engine. It is just way too small.
Ok, the engine will be out in July or Andy Edelman has to get me a six pack of Sam Adams!
Charlie, if he had to buy you a truckload of Sam Adams if he loses the bet, then I'd believe the July timeframe. 
UnclePeteRR posted:... If no smoke I would gladly settle for the Williams.
Its a diesel. Just tell visitors you keep it running well.
Besides, I think this is really a command vs non-command issue. I bought the WbB 44T to upgrade (TMCC or DCS) but after reading posts on the difficulty in upgrading it, particularly the couplers which you need for a switcher, I'm now looking at selling it and getting MTH's. I'm waiting to see how it works before making a decision, assuming the MTH is really delivered someday.
Yep, I can wait to see the real thing, I have my Williams that I added command, sound, and electrocouplers to, so it's not like I need another one desperately. 
gunrunnerjohn posted:Yep, I can wait to see the real thing, I have my Williams that I added command, sound, and electrocouplers to, so it's not like I need another one desperately.
John,
You ready to try another WbB 44T?
I think I bagged my limit of the WBB 44T upgrades. I'd do it, other than the electrocouplers. I spent more time on those than all the rest of the conversion, the oddball mount for those precludes any standard mounting.
Having seen full-size GE 44- and 45-tonners, and MTH smoke units, I can safely say that for MTH to install smoke units would result in an unprotypical volume of smoke. Remember, these were not Alco or EMD engines, but truck engines: Most 44-tonners were built with a pair of Caterpillar D17000 V8 180 HP, but 9 used Hercules DFXD engines, 10 used Buda 6DH1742 200 HP, & 4 had Caterpillar D342 engines. 45-tonners used Cummins 6-cylinder HBI-600.
There were also GE 23- and 25-ton switchers.
If MTH made one in a road name that I like I may buy one. Wife says I have too many engine right now.
Also I have a pair of RMT beep engines, so I might have to wait on a 44 tonner.
Lee Fritz
I saw it. It's nice and scale-sized. Fixing the pilots probably would not be that difficult. I might get one down the road.
Really mth using the SAME number as the wbb unit? Couldn't do a little more research and use a different number? Like #9325, 9342, 9999, etc...
Maybe they both went to the Walkersville SOuthern and checked CSX Fan's 2 44-tonners in PRR paint. As for the WM models, there wasn't much of a choice.
I want one in CNR green. If I'm lucky, it will happen within the next 5 years.
You will see it. Mike has many orders.
Oman posted:I want one in CNR green. If I'm lucky, it will happen within the next 5 years.
Yeah me too, was a price shown? I think this one will be a big hit.
Attaching the pilots to the frame may not be a problem but those steps may interfere with truck movement in curves. 
Looking at the posted photo, does this have the correct truck length ?
Clem,
How does it compare to photos of the prototype loco?
Old Goat........Its hard to tell, in the posted photo, they look long? Nice looking locomotive, I would like to have one.
I seem to remember that same unit on display at the MTH booth last April. For those of you in the New York City metro area who were Imus in the morning fans in the 70's this reminds me of "Rex the Wonder Dog" The act that was "coming soon" but never arrived. I am more than a bit tired of the promised deliveries that may not arrive in my lifetime. WBB beat them to market with a functional affordable alternative, that works for me.
The delaying factor in bringing this loco to market was that MTH had to design and produce a smaller DCS board in order to provide command functions, without which this loco would not be as attractive for many of us.
Here are the links to these models on our website. I still have them at pre-order pricing of $404.96 with free shipping:
I had heard that MTH was to record sound for this model from a prototypy 44 tonner owned by Jaimie Haislip. His loco is at the Walkersville Railroad. The recording was to be done this week, in fact it may have been done today. I think this model will be very popular.
Paul
They have recorded the sound sets. I assume it is coming out soon. I looked at the unit at York and thought the model was very nicely done, well proportioned unit in O scale.
Jamie
