MTH Premier ES44 CSX Safety Train (Now with video)

Beautiful set! I'm a big CSX fan and this is one interesting train. Can we maybe see a video!

PETERBUILTDUDE,

Train looks great.  I have one on order and can't wait to get it.  You'll need to get the two additional tanks cars that they made for it.  I'm just hoping that MTH makes a flat car that the train has, but knowing MTH we'll probably won't see that.

Have fun with it.

Joe Pizza

ES44AC,

Its a great set, I would highly recommend it if you are a CSX fan. It's such a neat train. I may do a video in the near future.

Joe,

It's definitely worth the wait, you will be pleased. I will have to get the extra tank cars, I didn't realize they made those. My local train store will be happy to see me back again to get one. I was looking at the flat car on the real train and you are probably right in that MTH won't make one, but it would be nice. I was thinking about making one, but that's a future project. 

Nice pics, thank you for sharing! This set is definitely  on my "when I'm done school and get a good job, go back and buy" list. I too would like to see a video.

Bill

That looks awesome!!! I was considering pre-ordering one but I only model NS and Amtrak. But now looking at it I might consider getting one. I hope to see a video soon.

Thanks for posting the pics, Peterbuiltdude.  I have one on order, so my credit card will be taking a hit here soon.   I purchased the 8000 gal. matching MTH tank car and an Atlas TTX 62' flat car with high bulkheads, which are close to the prototypes, to go with the set .   I also have an Atlas 25,500 gal. tank car to add that could be used a substitute for STAX 10110. 

Larry

That is one impressive looking train!!! Does it have any safety specific sound files???

Thanks for all the replies everyone!! With so much interest, I went ahead and shot some video of the set. Now, I'm no professional, but I think I got some good shots. Its not the greatest sounds quality as I shot it all on my Go-pro Hero 2; but, it still does the job. I may invest in a new camera in the near future

NSBill- Its a great set, you should definitely consider getting one, I'm in the process of editing the video right now.

SubwayLover- You may want to make an exception for this set, it sounds great and it's definitely something unusual from MTH. As you can see in my video, I dabble in Amtrak as well since I've ridden the Amtrak rails a time or two, they are great looking trains.

Larry- You will not be disappointed at all. I'm really happy I got this set, it will definitely be a conversation piece. I still need to go back to my train store and get the additional tank cars. Which flat car specifically did you order, as I was going to look into that myself.

BigTruckPete- Its a great set, I like more and more each time I run it. I'm bummed to say that it doesn't, it seems to have the generic sounds from all the other ES44s. I thought it would have "safety sounds" like the MTH NASA switcher have NASA specific sounds. But, even knowing that in advance, I still would have purchased this set.

Peterbuiltdude posted:

ES44AC,

I was looking at the flat car on the real train and you are probably right in that MTH won't make one, but it would be nice. I was thinking about making one, but that's a future project. 

Great photos.  Enjoy your set.  I pre-ordered one.  I already have the extra tank cars for it...one being black.   Very excited about this set.

For the flatcar, I purchased a large Atlas O TTX car, added a K-Line IOS tank load and a MTH short container.  Also picked up some tank dome parts to add to the car with styrene tubing.  Should look fine.

Here's what I'm adding to mine...

The CSX Safety Train tank was catalogued with the train.  Black tank is not intended for this train, but I will use it as a stand-in...may remove some lettering.  Catalogued at the same time.

For the flatcar (Dome Car 1), I purchased an Atlas O TTX flat with short bulkheads. The bulkheads remove easily.  This flat is close enough for me.  I have a few tank dome parts and several other items that look dome-like that can be painted.  I'll add some railings to the flat and a door to the container.  A little repainting and I'm good to go.

The real thing...

Atlas O flat...recently purchased from Public Delivery Track...

Here is a shot of the black tank commonly run with the train...

Peterbuiltdude posted:

Thanks for all the replies everyone!!  With so much interest, I went ahead and shot some video of the set.  I'm no professional, but I think I got some good shots.  Its not the greatest sound quality as I shot it all on my Go-pro Hero 2; but, it still does the job.   I may invest in a new camera in the near future

 

Nice set!    These things come & go so quickly in the MTH catalogs, that I kinda forgot it existed.  I notice that Amtrak loco in the background.   How has that treated you?  I've heard there were numerous durability issues with it.   Looks good, though!  

Keith- Great job on the flat car! I will probably go to the train store tomorrow to get the extra tank car. Thanks for the info on the flat car. That's definitely something I can see myself doing. 

RadioRon- I missed myself first time around in the catalog. I saw the NS safety train at first, but I already have the GP38-2 switch hauler set. So when i searched for safety trains, I saw the CSX train with the ES44 and I was sold right there. As for the Amtrak engine, its a Lionel HPP-8. It runs good, but I haven't had it long. It only has command control with no speed control or railsounds. So I'd love to upgrade it someday. 

As I said, with enough interest in this set, I would make a video.

Well, here it is everyone. Hope you enjoy it!!

Let me know if you like the video or if there are any issues.

I was surprised what MTH has done. Love the set 

Thats is a very nice set!

Cool video!  Thanks for posting it.  Can't wait for my set to get here.

Peterbuiltdude,  This is the Atlas 62' flat car I bought.

I believe it's an Atlas Trainman 2001711.  You remove 4 small Phillips screws (2 each end) from the underneath the bulkheads to remove them.

The Atlas 89'4" flat car would probably be a more accurate choice. 

They retail for $114.95 and I don't think they have been released yet.

My plan was to do what Keith did with his.

Larry

Thanks everyone for the comments and info!

I went to my train store got the 8000 gallon tank car and ordered the 33k gallon tank car.

Thank you for the info on the flat car, I will start looking into getting everything for it.

With all the interest, I may start posting some more videos here.

Your welcome!

Looks great with the third tank car added.   My set arrived, but I haven't had time to open it yet.

Nice Coors Silver Bullet set!  I have one...it's so unique, I just had to have it.

Excellent, thanks! Are the PFA announcements anything special?

That is one of the nicest train sets that any manufacturer has done. I anticipate the Norfolk Southern Safety Train to be just as nice.

For the record, if you want to add an Atlas 89' flat car to your train you will need a minimum 72" diameter curve. Even with O-72's there are some restrictions like coupling a car with an extended-length coupler in front of and behind the flat car.  Cars with standard length couplers will derail on O-72's when coupled to an 89' flat car.

Michigan & Ohio Valley Lines posted:

Here's what I'm adding to mine

The real thing...

That is awesome!!! Nice work on a great idea. 

 MTH has offered a CSX Safety Train flat car with a tank container and 20' container in the 2017 Vol. 1 catalog but on a short flat car.  I am curious as to why they decided to use such a short flat car.  It seems to me, the 60' one used for the 3 tank container load also offered in the that catalog, would have been a better choice.    Since I do own the set, I am going to order this car just to get the properly marked and painted containers. 

Larry