MTH Railking Imperial

According to the 2014 MTH catalog:  "Imperial series RailKing engines retain traditional proportions and O-31 min curve operation like regular RailKing locomotives but are equipped with a level of detail usually found only on more expensive full-scale engines that require much larger curves." 

 

Imperial mainly means more details like back head gauges, safety chains on tenders, real tender coal loads, builders plates, additional grab iron detail, etc.  

pennsydave nailed it.

I have several Imperial Railking engines.

They are the same size as prior Railking versions of the same engine but look MUCH better.

I like Imperial pre PS3. It seems that with the advent of ps3, the imperial models seem to be lacking in detail compared to proto 2 imperial models. All while the price increases :/

Did all "Imperial" engines come from the older Premier line?

 

here's my RK Imperial 0-6-0:

 

 

Here's some pictures of my Pennsy K4's to show you some of the differences between the early RailKing and the Imperial RailKings of the present. Note the blackened side rods, painted window frames, Identification marks on the front pilots, Brass ornamentations as opposed to the nickel plated bell and handrails, Separate marker lights on this model. However on the Imperial M1 they did not do this. Also the tender has its capacity plate and engine info on the rear. The smoke box has a separate hand rail as opposed to the cast in of the early RailKing. There is also legible builders plates and tender truck chains on this model. Not all Imperials will feature truck chains.

Railking 'Scale' comes from the old Premier tooling, scale size, but less detail than their current Premier stuff.  Railking Imperial is detailed similar to Premier, but a tad bit smaller. Although to me they look some what larger than the Lionel 'traditional' stuff. Like maybe somewhere in between Lionel traditional and scale.

I got the imperial P47 pacific from 2013s catalog. No tender chains, no lettering or add on plates, and to top it off, the paint job on ny boiler and and tender was not finished. The new up northern's don't look very great in my opinion. However, I love all my other imperial engines! I have an Allegheny, n&w j, and a couple of aces that I love. Will try to add pictures later.

"RailKing Scale" refers to diesels, BTW. "Imperial" is reserved for steamers.

 

---PCJ

Thanks guys!

 

"RailKing Scale" refers to diesels, BTW. "Imperial" is reserved for steamers.

 

Did not know that

 

My 0-6-0 has the tender trucks chains.  There's molded-on piping, but the detail is so crisp they almost appear to be separate parts.

 

I'd like to see MTH do all the USRA engines in the Imperial line.

The RK Imperial Triplex (2-8-8-8-2) is a superb loco; it just looks like a scale model

of a smaller Triplex prototype, rather than a sub-scale piece.

 

However, one thing MTH has done on it's RK steamers of late that I totally dislike is that

awful, full-sized, too-tall (even for some Premier pieces) bell. See the 2 PRR K4's above.

The small, plain bell looks much better than that big growth on the newer loco. I've actually removed and replaced the Big Bells on a couple of locos. 

I have no idea about the steamers, don't have any. 

 

However, I do have 4 Railking "Imperial" diesels. Better check the MTH catalogs, I think you will find several. 

 

Sorry but that is incorrect.

 

The RK SD70Aces and coming ES44AC locos are RK Imperial.

I was disappointed with the PS3 iteration of the Santa Fe Northern.  The massive tender had the handrails secured to the deck rather than elevated above the deck as in prior versions.