MTH Evolution Hybrid any day now.

I might buy one just to get the accompanying car...then peddle the engine on here!!! 

Ron,

 

The cars are available separately.

 

http://mercerjunction.com/shop...mooth-hi-rail-wheels

 

Dave

Did anyone else order one from Jim's Train Shop?MTH was supposed to let me know when they were here and send it to me,but I haven't heard from them.

Be diligent.  No fault of Jim's, MTH dropped the ball with my Lionel Corp. Tinplate Celebration engine. I had to get it from another dealer.  Again through no fault of Jim's.

 

 

If Lionel makes NS heritage units out of die cast then they will just hand over the sales to MTH. Very few of us can afford the prices of the die cast diesels especially if you would like a few of the paint schemes.

 

Dave

Did anyone else order one from Jim's Train Shop

 

I had one on order through Jims Train Shop and the order was transferd to Jasons Train Shop. Received it today with the GE Engineering car and it runs perfectly, MTH did a terrific job with this guy.

I am having a hard time with my DCS system picking it up and so far have not been able to run mine. I had a tough time getting the foam inserts off the engine as well and a piece of the ladder on the side of the engine broke off. Not too happy.

>>If Lionel makes NS heritage units out of die cast then they will just hand over the sales to MTH. Very few of us can afford the prices of the die cast diesels<<

 

After having the BNSF & the GE EVO ES44's in diecast, its like plastic steamers, there's no turning back.

I'm spoiled big time.

I would rather have one in diecast then ten in plastic.

I'm hoping Lionel will make the only engine I want, the PRR in diecast.

Joe  

I feel spoiled as well with Lionel's Diecast GE Hybrid and BNSF ES44's.  Love them both.  I did order 2 of the GE Engineering Car's.  One to keep untouched and the second to modify and detail.  The graphics are backwards on the MTH model so I recreated the graphics and will apply them correctly on my second piece. I will also attempt to cutting in the other windows that are left out.  I recreated the entire left and right side of the GECX90 car in Illustrator so marking the windows with a hot knife will be fairly easy.  I'll have to give Jason a call at Jason's Train Shop since I haven't heard anything on my shipment yet.  Can't wait to receive them!

Interesting perspective... which only proves what I've ALWAYS said about how nearly impossible it is to get "everyone" to draw the same conclusions -- regardless of the field of interest.  Just human nature I guess.

 

I personally feel 100% die-cast diesel locomotives -- along with the price they command -- are overkill.  Especially when the detail level in ABS locomotives and passenger cars has come so far these days. 

 

I purchased the Lionel UP Veranda many years back... and while it's absolutely a stunning and eye-catching die-cast locomotive, the premium price just isn't worth having an entire roster of locomotives like this.  Not when the ABS alternative get's you 95% of the way toward the goal line.  The comparison to "plastic steamers" is totally inappropriate here, 'cause by and large the plastic steamer analogy draws our minds to "starter set" simplicity with fairly bland detail and quality levels.  And that's just not the case given the state of art level for ABS on our trains today.  Another classic example... even MTH's passenger cars have greatly detailed ABS plastic shells rather than the more expensive aluminum variant.

 

Quite frankly, we ALL get caught up in the oo's and aahh's of Vision Line this... and Vision Line that...  but it's all marketing hype (IMHO) intended to set switches in our brain as we browse the catalog over and over again until we finally succumb to the power of suggestion.

 

Don't get me wrong... there will always be a niche market comprised of the "money is no object" crowd, and the subsequent after-market "frenzy" that's often generated when these short-run items sell-out.  But today's operators can do MUCH better from a price/performance perspective by opting for the highly detailed ABS locomotive or passenger car shells.  And if the product marketing teams have their collective heads screwed on straight, that's how these locomotives will be produced -- both from an economics as well as a pure "operators vs collectors" perspective.

 

David

It doesn't matter if an object is cast in plastic, metal or jello.  It's the quality of work done by the tool and die maker that makes the difference in detail, not the material an object is cast in.

 

The simple fact is, the greater precision possible with today's tool and die making process due to CNC machines and Cad files allow for the greater detail available today.

 

Rusty

>>>the premium price just isn't worth having an entire roster of locomotives like this.  Not when the ABS alternative get's you 95% of the way toward the goal line.  The comparison to "plastic steamers" is totally inappropriate here

 

I think for some plastic may be a better choice.

Unlike plastic diesels, I appreaciate the appearance of diecast diesels on display as much or more then when they're running on the layout..

For me, its no different with a diesel then a steamer.

Joe   

I myself prefer plastic over the diecast for diesels. I have a Lionel vision line diecast diesel engine and although very nice the cost is just not worth it. The detail level can be much better with plastic IMO. But if you want diecast then by all means buy it, we each have our favorites. With 20 engines to build I think you will see Lionel do them in plastic. I have Lionel's SF AC6000 and it is fantastic and by the way it was done in plastic. 

 

True... but then there's the whole pricing factor that comes into play, my friend.  And the materials cost is not equal across the board.  So my point is simply... why pay the huge premium for a die-cast diesel shell if the same locomotive can be had at a much lower price-point when done in ABS?  Personally, I'd rather triple-head a train with nicely detailed ABS locomotives rather than run one die-cast diesel.  The Veranda was something unique, so I could see Lionel making a statement piece out of it when they did.  I'm not too sure the GE Hybrid -- although unique in concept -- needed to be made with an all die-cast shell... and hence we see the ridiculous price point and after-market frenzy that surrounds it now.  At least the one from Lionel.  10-15 years from now, I assure you... you won't be able to move these at nearly the premium price folks are tripping over themselves paying for today.  Sure... there might be a few $$ premium over the MTH ones, but nothing close to the price differential out their right now.

 

Just my opinions... and I completely respect those who may think differently.  I've owned both styles.  So I'm simply commenting from an economic perspective that since these heritage locomotives seem to have a broad appeal, it's most likely we'll see them produced in ABS -- and I'm sure they'll be finely detailed. (Now let's just hope they don't cut corners from a QA perspective.)

 

David

I have 3 es44s (lionel) and one ac6000 lionel B&O.. I have 2 mth premier dash 9 nyc sd70 Ace  The ac6000 is no better then the mth ones .. The es44s are not on the same playing field.. Look better way more detail run smooth and out pull anything ..That being said i hope the lionel ones are plastic to compete with mth...Wont mather though. Lionel will still be priced higher.. They will be 500 and mth will be 400ish.. No win for lionel in this..

>>>>I have Lionel's SF AC6000 and it is fantastic and by the way it was done in plastic.<<<

 

I have that engine. Very nice indeed.  I run it together with Lionels BNSF ES44.

Still, IMO, no contest by comparison to the diecast brute.    

Joe

 

 

Hard to tell the difference between diecast and plastic when they are running on a layout. I guess, folks state how great the diecast diesels are because they have to justify the significant increase in price.

Wow i hope mth makes plastic Premier steam engines just for you..

Got my Hybrid today and all I can say is wow. It runs smoother then any other proto 3 I have bought, not that they are bad but this one is so much better. Great sounds, detail and the paint was perfect. The engineering car is very nice, not exact to the prototype but very, very nice. Anybody who buys this set will be extremely happy as I am. Now back to running!!!!! 

It doesn't matter if an object is cast in plastic, metal or jello.  It's the quality of work done by the tool and die maker that makes the difference in detail, not the material an object is cast in.

 

The simple fact is, the greater precision possible with today's tool and die making process due to CNC machines and Cad files allow for the greater detail available today.

 

Rusty

 

 

 

I concur 100% If you want weight, slap a bunch of lead in it, you better sound, buy a better speaker. Now if you just want to spend twice as much well go for it.

 

I would like to try the lime jello with lemon pin stripes and Lemon lettering please.

P E N N S Y L V A N I A.

It does not have to have any electronics cause I will eat it there.

>>>>>Got my GE Evolution set on Monday.  I must say its ones the nicest diesel's from MTH I have. It runs very smooth and smokes great just like all MTH engines<<<

 

Not that it matters but prototypically, the EVO is a battery powered hybridthat should not be a great smoker..

It should cycle between sleep mode, charging mode and drive mode, with visble smoke only when the aux diesel power is called upon.

Joe

  

Joe, it is best to look at it as an AUX Battery!  The prime mover is the heart of the beast.  The big thing with the EVO is a 12-cylinder low emission diesel.  If it actully ran on batteries you would need a whole train of them.

 

If you notice the charging lights normally run in the direction of charging NOT providing power.

Oh wow, mine is out for delivery today! Whoo hoo!!! scale wheel hybrid diesel.  Mine was originally through Jim's then transferred to Jason's.  

 

That's exactly correct, it's not a battery powered unit but rather a lower emission unit then previous units. So yes there will be smoke and quite a bit too when running at crusing speed on the main lines, just not as much as non hybrid 16 cylinder units. The energy stored in the batteries will reduce fuel consumption and emissions by as much as 10% compared to most of the modern locomotives in use today.

Did anyone buy it from Trainz? I haven't heard from them. I sent an e mail and they said they were looking into it.

I had preordered another item from Trainz, after 3 months they are still looking for it. They lost my business.

I picked up my EVO Hybrid set from the little choo choo shop in spencer NC very nice place. And every thing on my set is just great!! MTH did a very nice job. I also met an OGR member Ron who go's by PRRronbh, nice meeting you Billy

I picked up my EVO Hybrid today from Vic at Imperial Trains in Pittsburgh.  He took the time to unpack and test the engine for me to make sure it was not DOA.  I am glad to say that everything works perfect.  He also showed me the new PS3 features.  Great customer service really goes a long way.   

 

As for the engine all I can say is WOW!! The paint looks incredible, the sounds are fantastic, and all the lighting effects really make this engine fun to watch.  Currently my engine is at work gathering a crowd of people watching.  My engine is number 245 of 250.  Hope everyone else is enjoying their engine as muchas I am.

 

-Ryan

Is your DCS/DCC switch set to DCS? Silly sounding question, but I have 4 PS3 units so far, and every last one of them had the switch set to DCC out-of-the-box. A number of other posters have reported the same.

 

---PCJ

Yes I switched it over to DCS. It ran in conventional, but I did not waste much time with that. I keep getting an engine error or no engine found. I have moved it to a single test track with still no luck. I will give it a go again tonite with hopes of better luck.

Brain... just got mine, had this problem. Spent 40 minutes on the phone with MTH, even got an RA, and in a last ditch effort, I factory reset my remote and it took it. Its annoying, but it beats the shipping charge back to MTH.

mth has the conrail  prototype  pictures up on facebook

OK... just got mine, Besides the above listed annoyance in adding it, its a pretty nice piece of hardware. I have 2 complaints with it.

First, its not loud enough. It needs to be at least twice as loud as it is.

Second, when you lash it up, unless its the head engine and moving forward, the charge lights shut off. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the charge lights should not turn off in this scenario correct (I'm talking about the real one, not how MTH wired it)? IMO, this is more annoying than the volume problem (which seems to be a PS3 thing, not specific to this model).

I was pleased to see MTH went to longer hoses on the pilot, however they're not flexible enough to fit through the plow.

All in all, its a nice engine. I decided to have some fun (excuse the layout construction mess):

Try softkey SMK for charging chase lights on off.

 

Steve

Steve is correct except the key is : LMK ( Lighted Markers) That will turn on and off the prototypical charging lights. Mike

Opps my bad...did it work.

Mine is coming and to me friday.

Yep works fine, I also have the hybrid and that turns the chase lights on and off. Just be sure to check it's set to DCS before powering up. They all seem to have shipped in DCC mode.

 

Mike

That soft key is not available in a lashup. The problem is that they have the charge lights programmed as a part of the directional lighting package. They should have them set to ON regardless of position and direction. I dont know if its a programming function or the way its wired.