MTH LeLand Detroit Monorail

At York last fall that was one of the questions I was going to ask Mike Wolf.  I saw him there alone but couldn't come up with any of the questions I had thought of before.  My head was so dizzy from the show!

 

Considering the interest on this forum (albeit, a limited group), plus the price the previous releases command on auction sites, I would hope MTH would be able to produce another run.

 

As Doc mentioned though, and was brought up before, there is still the lingering agreement with Lionel Coporation and it certainly appears nothing other than  Lionel or American Flyer will be made until this is done.  too bad as I'm looking for a particular Ives engine too.

Frank, I have sent u an email of my leland monorail in operation. I will try to get a pic posted on this site. Let me know if u get the email thank you

I asked Mike at York if there was a possibility of these being made again in the near future. He mentioned that the tooling was lost. (Pause - sigh) I was a bit surprised when I mentioned that they sell for as much as $2000 in the aftermarket.

Sorry, HE was a bit surprised...

The tooling was "LOST"? C'mon now - how can you "LOSE" all those stamps and dies? They ain't small enough to get swept-up with the dirt on the floor.

Here are some pictures of my MTH traditional Leland monorail. Ed, who is a fellow forum member was kind enough to answer my wanted ad and allow me to purchase this. The monorail elicits more comments than my original standard gauge.

 

Eric Hofberg

TCA, LCCA

To frank just wondered if u ever got the video. Any others who r interested in buying an original Leland monorail with extra track and car please get ahold of me. Either on here or at 1 989 600 4065

 

I am seriously considering preordering the new-for-2014 MTH Lionel Lines Tinplate Monorail. It's in the 2014 MTH catalog (MTH 11-6060-1 / Protosound 3.0). I do not understand why MTH isn't offering monorail expansion track. It would have been fantastic if they did...especially for those who already own the MTH Detroit monorail.

 

I see the preorder on the Dash website (Trainz store) for $675 shipped. I need to decide soon before it's too late.

 

Anyone else thinking about getting this new MTH Lionel monorail? It looks great but I would have preferred it to not be tinplate (don't slap me!).

 

I found this video on You Tube. Someone mounted their MTH Leland Detroit Monorail on the ceiling...NICE!

 

http://youtu.be/Pm0BuKdqulY

 

They are offering expansion track.

 

 

 

John.

Expansion track? 

 

Expansion track?

 

For the MTH monorail???

 

Fantastic! I will place the preorder for the MTH Lionel lines tinplate monorail!!!

Have you ever been in a large factory? Especially one in China? There's plenty of places in storerooms, behind mothballed machinery, etc. to lose a couple of crates of dies. I've seen the inside of enough overseas production facilities that I have no trouble at all believing the story about lost tooling. Remember, although MTH actually owns the factory, it's mostly run by local Chinese management who don't know all that much about the product. A production run ends, the dies get crated up, and somebody forgets to put a label on it, or the crate gets stacked on the side where the label is. Bingo, lost tooling. And it was probably found by accident, while cleaning up or looking for something else. 

Terrance, word on the street is MTH will be making the monorail in other colors, to be available at a later date.  I only mention this if you are not fond of the Lionel orange and blue paint scheme and might want to wait before ordering.
MTH will also be offering:
10-4066 4-pack of straight track
10-4067 4-pack of curved track
10-4068 4-pack of risers / bases
10-4077 figure 8 expansion set
I haven't settled on the LCS monorail, but I need to decide soon.  That May 31st deadline is approaching!

Thank you for this information, Frank. I would be interested in other colors/"roadways" for the MTH monorail. Since it only appears in the current Tinplate catalog, other colors would seem likely for 2015 (or beyond), I would speculate.

 

Does it seem unlikely that the MTH monorail will be ever be offered in a non-tinplate version? 

 

I am thrilled that MTH will offer monorail expansion track.

 

They posted a monorail video on there Facebook page and a traditional colored one was running.

Sure hope the Tinplate Traditions offerings are for the original color combo.

 

Steve

 

I'll second that one! Maybe they'll "Cancel" the orange and blue versions if they don't have enough orders.

I thing the orange and blue is good for many, just not my cup of tea. Hope they get enough orders for all of them.

 

Steve

 

I hope everyone get's what they want as well. I could live with orange and blue but if they do make them in the traditional colors I would prefer that.

I hope we get a definitive answer before the preorder deadline, May 31. I also prefer the traditional colors.

 

Bob

Hi, Not to rain on the parade, but I am the sad owner of an MTH Traditional Monorail.

Mine is a piece of crap!!! It has never run well, it over heats and just sits there.

I was was told by MTH that I have a $650 doorstop as parts are not available,and no one knows how to fix them anyway. I run an original when I set up  at a train show.

This has soured me on MTH. Perhaps you may have better luck, but be avised.

AZ TIN