MTH Amherst Show "Update"

I would prefer more interoperability or <gasp> DCC, but I have resigned myself to the notion that as long as I stay in 3-rail I will need at least two command systems.

 

I buy based on prototype, not manufacturer.

  

That's the game and I am willing to play it, though after 5 years in 3R I am starting to think about going back to HO.

 

Rob

I run my doubleheaded Legacy Santa Fe Northerns night after night and wallow in the sounds. When the light is just right, late afternoon golden sun streaming through the windows as the locomotives round the bend by Maia's Corners, I blast the whistle steam which is backlit by the sun streaming through. Seeing the whistle steam shoot upwards right behind the belching stack is just too cool. It doesn't get any better than that.

 

i do have a couple of MTH steamers on the shelf and they look great.

 

Go to YouTube and watch the videos I have made of the Northerns.

 

Scrappy

Buy what you like when you like. People flip flop depending what is available and who has what issues. No big deal.

hello guys and gals..........

 

The more electronics they (MTH ,lionel and others) put in is asking for more trouble. I like to keep it simple that is a horn (diesel) or whistle, bell and chuff (steam). Do you really need more than that ?

 

the woman who loves the S.F. 5011

Tiffany

Vagueness is a common characteristic of marketing and development personnel when asked about future products. In the years I've bought Lionel, MTH and Atlas trains and followed the companies, I haven't seen them tip their hand unless a release is imminent (like the next York show.)

 

I wouldn't read much into the answer from the guy at the MTH booth.

I wish Lionel would add DCC compatibility like MTH has done. I have 3 Lionel engines already converted to 2 rail and I would love to keep the Lionel Railsounds in them. Looks like they are going to do it for S scale so why not O scale too?

 

I agree with Matt. I would think that at some point in time MTH is going to add the features you want. The big question is when.

i beleive mth has their hands full trying to produce too many different trains-o gauge-railking-1 gauge-european trains-ho and now s gauge-i feel right now mth deleives

o gauge is flat market vright now and spending more time on the other scales that are selling.just my take-joe

From the time PS2 was announced (with no backwards compatibility then), I went exclusively with TMCC and added Legacy when it was introduced. Who knows what the future will hold, but right now I feel this was a good decision. Whether or not MTH adds new features, this will probably not influence my future buying decisions.

Well I'm a complete newb to the hobby, and don't have the budget to buy in the Lionel Legacy or MTH Premier lines, but I think the general subject of your thread is interesting PJB.

 

A little over a month ago after I received some MTH passenger cars for Christmas I started to research MTH, because I had never heard of them.  This is one of the stories I came across in the course of finding this forum and trying to learn more about MTH and the hobby...

http://www.inc.com/magazine/20050201/mth.html

To me it's just an interesting read, albeit not a short one

 

I'm guessing it was big news in the train hobby back when the story broke, and hope it's not seen as controversial to share the link here...I just like stories about business strategy.

 

I've read in other threads here where folks suggest Lionel should offer a 'lite' version of their Legacy control system like MTH's DCS Remote Commander (which sounds like a good idea) and make an effort to compete more in the starter set segment.  As those threads seem to suggest, it makes me wonder if MTH and Lionel have reversed roles in a way.  It appears, to my newbish take at least, that when MTH came on the scenes in the mid to late 90's they quickly rose to the top offering a new level in tech and design detail not previously found on the market.  While Lionel seemed to be concentrating more on the 'value' propositions. 

 

Now it makes me wonder if they have switched places as MTH markets heavily their starter sets with a 'lite' version of their advanced features, sounds and tech controls while Lionel appears to have taken the lead in 'perfecting' the high end control and sound system offerings.  Obviously not that MTH doesn't build and market to the high end anymore, but it makes me wonder if they will have the capacity as a smaller firm to really innovate as they did before.  Sorry if the 'business' talk puts any damper on the fun aspect of the hobby, but I do find it interesting.

 

For what it's worth, I'm a big MTH fan...at least starting out.  Mainly I imagine because they seem to make the best products in the price range I can afford.

Robert 

PS One thing for sure if there is more back in forth in innovation roles it seems it can only be good for the hobby

PTC:  That is like saying TMCC had no backwards compatibility when it was introduced.  Both of the command control systems were and are backwards compatible to conventional control.  Maybe I misunderstood your comment.  

pennsydave:

 

I can understand how you misunderstood my comments. Fast forward a few years from the introduction of PS2 and consider what happened with conversion kits. Then I think you will understand my point.

 

Those PS1 engines that had special appeal to me were all converted to TMCC at the time when TAS was still around. So I dealt with the issue in terms of what was the best solution for me at the time. I never looked back and to this day I am happy with my decision.

 

I also agree that MTH has been very good for all of us as when Mike became involved with O-Gauge he set the benchmark for others to meet. This is a classic example of how competition is good for our industry and I hope this never stops. So whatever MTH does in the future to improve their products with new features can only be good for us.

MTG - thanks for posting the hyperlink. I've read many articles and the actual court case decision but it's always fun to see another version of that famous David versus Goliath tale. Agree with your "role reversal" assessment, although it could be that MTH has just spread itself too thin and is simply lagging behind - I hope. The thing is that it could also mean MTH is simply "letting it ride" with regard to O and strategically prioritizing HO and European models. If so, waiting for 2 or more years for MTH to become a leader in O again could be a fool's errand. Full disclosure - I prefer MTH too as I think you get a lot for your money and the product is very high quality. But if we're being honest, the whole draw to MTH was innovation, and Lionel - with it's Vision line - is now eating MTH's breakfast.