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Following on the coat tails of a similar post a little while back, I'm curious what models/prototypes people would like to see "downsized" into the Railking line.  Railking has pretty much kept me in the game with a combination of price and performance.  I'm starting to tire of the "same old" just like everyone else.  While there are still a couple of engines I'd like to have in the recent catalogs, I'm starting to pine for HO, and that's just not good    I realize that not everything compresses well, and you would have to assume new tooling, but there are a couple of things I'd like to see downsized that currently are too large for my curves or too big for my budget:

 

1) PRR J-Series "Texas" - I love these, but my largest curve is O-60.  I would thing if MTH can scale an S2 Turbine and a Challenger down and still make them look good, they could do it with the J.

 

2)  PRR T-1 - This might be a little harder to make look good, but again, they've had success with larger engines

 

3)  PRR Q2 - As you can see, I'm a little Pensy-centric. 

 

Again, we have to assume new tooling, which is probably NOT going to happen, but what YOU like to see selectively compressed??? 

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How about RailKing versions of their European stuff?  That way those of us that don't have the money or space for their full-size O gauge stuff can still access them.  MTH makes trains that are impossible to find even among the European HO companies--namely the Orient Express equipment.

Oh, and I'll third the Pennsy T1 (prototype or as-built, please!)
Aaron
Last edited by GCRailways

If I was MTH I would invest doing some Chop nose GP9's for sure.  Many railroads had them and there are still some operating today.  Another engine but this would require all new tooling are B30-7 and B36-7 which would be great for people who model the 80's and 90's.  For new Freight Car tooling I would do a near scale 89 foot flat car that can get around 0-42 curves. Some near scale European items like small switching locomotives might do well to with people that do not have alot of space for large locomotives. 

Following in the steps of, and at the quality of, the excellent RK Imperial 2-8-8-2 Triplex:

 

The PRR Q1 (not Q2) Duplex in full skirting/shrouding

N&W Jawn Henry

C&O Chessie turbine

Erie 0-8-8-0 Camelback - with working front coupler

 

The RK Imperial steamers are a great way to get a high-quality representation of

Very Large Locos ("VLL" - a new acronym!) that either do not fit your layout,

your budget or your main road interest at Premier price levels. Or your layout esthetics.

Have you ever seen a Premier Chessie Turbine on even an 072 curve? Bizarre.

But I'd love one. I've got 072, but what an overhang!

 

And all that paid-for RK 2-8-8-2 tooling - adaptable easily for MTH, including a front P'coupler - to a smaller Erie (and a bunch of other names...) 0-8-8-0 Angus. 

Heck, I'VE put a functioning Electrocoupler on the front of one.

 

 

Much of the above could apply to Lionmaster, also. 

 

Last edited by D500

Well to get a little off topic: 1) i'd like to see the folks at RK do a better job at selective compression; they seem to be able to shorten the stuff well, but often leave it scale in width and height. Hence a very chunky look results.

AND, 2) how about offering the RK stuff without any electronics but with an optional plug and play reversing unit for those who run conventional, and completely stripped of all electronics for those who either operate on DC, use DCC, or want to convert to TMCC?

 

jackson

I second the RK autorack. If someone could modify one with Superstreets or flextrack inside the carrier, that would be beyond cool. Shorter Superliners and Amfleets, and the reintroduction of the Steelers equipment. Plus, steam engines that you could build to order so those engines would look those of the road to model instead of another road (example, the MTH "Montour" Mikado which looks suspiciously like an M1a).  

I would like to see the Railking/ Railking Imperial line of steam engines have a front coupler.

It does not have to operate just a coupler that if you want to build a lashup you could do it with the Railking engines.

MTH lets you  have the capability of this option with the DCS system, so make it possible.

 

I realize that every steam engines pilot is different but surely they could come up with something.

Even if you had to purchase this item as a add on would be better than nothing at all.

 

I have added front couplers to my Pennsy M1A Railking and Pennsy M1A Imperial

They are a bit large but I overlook that issue.

 

Both engines in a lashup look and sound great working together pulling a freight train.

 

Quallable whistle option would be great too but I have been told that is just for the Premier Line. Oh well !!!!!

 

Mark Strittmatter

TCA # 14-69917

Indiana PA 

I'm in for a 'Veranda' Turbine - although I think they did a UP turbine in three parts that never really worked for me.   A nice VT (I can play the acronym game too...) would be a sure bet if offered - if you can make the ES44AC and the SD70ACE look good, I'm confident a 'Veranda' could be done well.  Can't believe I didn't include it in my list - it is one of my all time favorite locos.  Ditto for the Acela, TGV, or ICE - these are cool, landmark trains that would probably sell well in the US and abroad.   The current modern Euro offerings are a bit lacking/tired as it stands.   

It seems that MTH could add some variety to their Railking product line buy doing some simple things such as putting scullin disks on their Dreyfuss and Commodore Vanderbilt Hudsons or adding a centipede tender.  Elephant ears could be added to their Mohawk too.

New products I would like to see are a PRR J1 and NYC Niagara. A streamlined RPO car would be nice too.

Originally Posted by trainsbob:

It seems that MTH could add some variety to their Railking product line buy doing some simple things such as putting scullin disks on their Dreyfuss and Commodore Vanderbilt Hudsons or adding a centipede tender.  Elephant ears could be added to their Mohawk too.

New products I would like to see are a PRR J1 and NYC Niagara. A streamlined RPO car would be nice too.

 

I was thinking the J might be tough with the 10 drivers non-articulated, but then I remembered that they do a PRR Decapod, so the basics are pretty much there.  They've got the tender from the Decapod and the M1a.  

 

Oddly enough, my RK Dreyfuss came with Scullin drivers.  I have no idea how or why.  It is PS3 and it was new-in-box from the last run.  Bought it from Pat's in WV.  I can't find a reference to this engine having Scullins in the RK line, but mine does?  I'll take it - I like them 

Originally Posted by thestumper:
Originally Posted by trainsbob:

It seems that MTH could add some variety to their Railking product line buy doing some simple things such as putting scullin disks on their Dreyfuss and Commodore Vanderbilt Hudsons or adding a centipede tender.  Elephant ears could be added to their Mohawk too.

New products I would like to see are a PRR J1 and NYC Niagara. A streamlined RPO car would be nice too.

 

I was thinking the J might be tough with the 10 drivers non-articulated, but then I remembered that they do a PRR Decapod, so the basics are pretty much there.  They've got the tender from the Decapod and the M1a.  

 

Oddly enough, my RK Dreyfuss came with Scullin drivers.  I have no idea how or why.  It is PS3 and it was new-in-box from the last run.  Bought it from Pat's in WV.  I can't find a reference to this engine having Scullins in the RK line, but mine does?  I'll take it - I like them 


Agree with your comments about the J1.  Any chance you can post a picture of the Dreyfuss?  To my knowledge the only Railking with Scullins is the ESE Hudson.

Thanks

I would be concerned about making a J1 from the I1 Decopod Railking.

I have an Early I1 with PS2 and it is about worthless pulling a train on any type of grade.

Even with new traction tires it still pretty much worthless.

I blame it on the very small drivers on this locomotive.

 

I bought a M1A with PS2 just a few months before and it will pull the same train and a longer train as the I1 up the same grade without a problem.

 

Sitting next to my M1A the I1 looks out of place due to the smaller engine shell.

 

Mark Strittmatter

TCA # 14-69917

Indiana PA

I'm happy, MTH cataloged painted B&O Railking streamlined passenger cars. Railking smoothside cars would be nice, but I would rather see MTH spend their tooling money on something else.

There are a number of listed suggestions I could be on board with especially a PRR T-1. I wouldn't mind a Railking Lehigh Valley John Wilks or a NYC Niagara.

 

Originally Posted by thestumper:

Following on the coat tails of a similar post a little while back, I'm curious what models/prototypes people would like to see "downsized" into the Railking line.  Railking has pretty much kept me in the game with a combination of price and performance.  I'm starting to tire of the "same old" just like everyone else.  While there are still a couple of engines I'd like to have in the recent catalogs, I'm starting to pine for HO, and that's just not good    I realize that not everything compresses well, and you would have to assume new tooling, but there are a couple of things I'd like to see downsized that currently are too large for my curves or too big for my budget:

 

1) PRR J-Series "Texas" - I love these, but my largest curve is O-60.  I would thing if MTH can scale an S2 Turbine and a Challenger down and still make them look good, they could do it with the J.

 

2)  PRR T-1 - This might be a little harder to make look good, but again, they've had success with larger engines

 

3)  PRR Q2 - As you can see, I'm a little Pensy-centric. 

 

Again, we have to assume new tooling, which is probably NOT going to happen, but what YOU like to see selectively compressed??? 

X2 on the 


J and the Q2.

Originally Posted by MarkStrittmatter:

I would be concerned about making a J1 from the I1 Decopod Railking.

I have an Early I1 with PS2 and it is about worthless pulling a train on any type of grade.

Even with new traction tires it still pretty much worthless.

I blame it on the very small drivers on this locomotive.

 

I bought a M1A with PS2 just a few months before and it will pull the same train and a longer train as the I1 up the same grade without a problem.

 

Sitting next to my M1A the I1 looks out of place due to the smaller engine shell.

 

Mark Strittmatter

TCA # 14-69917

Indiana PA

as does a Postwas 671 next to a 736, but they're both great.

Mark S.

I agree with your earlier post about the I1 Decapod having a smaller engine shell. i bought one when they were first released over 10 years ago and it looked small compared to the RK K4s and H10; upon measuring, it scaled out to a perfect 1/64 or S scale. It looked even further out of proportion next to the huge "coast to coast" tender. Paid about $425 for it, ran it less than 10 minutes, ended up selling it for $165, and it was the last pre-order i've ever done.

 

jackson

Hello Jackson, I still have this engine and still run it.

I wish I could get a short tender for it and I could use it as a switcher around my coal tipple.

That Coast to Coast tender takes up a lot of room on a siding.

 

I am not sure if the new I1A with PS3 that MTH is offering now are the same as the older ones or not.

To me they still look smaller than the M1A and the L1's.

 

Mark Strittmatter

TCA # 14-69917

Indiana PA.

Mark,

i tried to find out from MTH if the new I1 uses the same tooling as the original; i got better answers talking to my coffee cup. However, several dealers told me they believed (?) it was.

i believe MTH offered a shorter tender with the trademark Pennsy "doghouse", but don't remember if it was RK or Premier. Finding one for separate sale might be tough but maybe finding one to trade for might be easier. After all there are a lot of us who model the Pennsy out there. Another option would be finding a shorter tender from say a junker RK K4s and building a "doghouse" for it.

 

jackson

 

 

Last edited by modeltrainsparts

Jackson, I have a PS1 equipped K4 and mated the tender up to the I1 just to what it would look like.

Some of the early I1 and M1 short tenders did not have a dog house for the brakeman so the tender would still be somewhat prototypical. 

 

The tender from this K4 has a QSI sound system in it with a Pennsy Banshee Whistle. This whistle sounds different than any other Pennsy whistle that I have ever heard in any model.

It really has an eerie kind of sound to it that the Pennsy Banshee whistles were known for.

 

Actually this sound system has many of the sounds and functions that the PS2 equipped engines have.

Having a MTH Z4000 makes scrolling thru the numbered features easy.

Using the throttle handle and horn and bell buttons would get old on any other transformer than a Z4000.

 

I am surprised that MTH did not ask QSI for the rights to use this sound bite in some of their Pennsy Freight Locomotives.

It is pretty cool !!!!

 

Mark Strittmatter

TCA #14-69917

Indiana PA.

I'd love to see an original "Autotrain" passenger set in the White, red and purple. They have the molds for the car carriers, engines and passenger cars but for some reason have not offered these in a complete set. 

 

MTH have offered the car carriers and the RS12 ex Seaboard switcher in the Auto train paint but never the passenger cars and U Boats. Would be a fun set with all the domes and full length domes the train had.

Originally Posted by artyoung:

I'd love to see an "Imperial" Railking B&O 0-4-0 Docksider. Just a little more detail would look great.

 

Guess I need to be schooled here.  What is an "Imperial" Railking B&O 0-4-0 Docksider?  MTH has already made a Railking B&O 0-4-0 Docksider - I have two of them.  What does the term "Imperial" denote?

Originally Posted by Silver Lake:

I'd love to see an original "Autotrain" passenger set in the White, red and purple. They have the molds for the car carriers, engines and passenger cars but for some reason have not offered these in a complete set. 

 

MTH have offered the car carriers and the RS12 ex Seaboard switcher in the Auto train paint but never the passenger cars and U Boats. Would be a fun set with all the domes and full length domes the train had.

The MTH Auto-Train autoracks (ex-CN style bilevels) are Premier models, and being a scale 75' long, might not operate well on layouts limited to RailKing equipment.

 

MTH would get a bigger bang for the buck by designing a RK autorack within the dimensions of a RailKing Superliner. That way it could be a "modern" autorack for RK-limited layouts as well as representing the taller autoracks Amtrak added to its fleet before purchasing the aluminum vehicle carriers.

 

---PCJ

Originally Posted by wild mary:
Originally Posted by artyoung:

I'd love to see an "Imperial" Railking B&O 0-4-0 Docksider. Just a little more detail would look great.

 

Guess I need to be schooled here.  What is an "Imperial" Railking B&O 0-4-0 Docksider?  MTH has already made a Railking B&O 0-4-0 Docksider - I have two of them.  What does the term "Imperial" denote?

OK I found out myself with a little digging - Imperial Version

 

RailKing Imperial Series locomotives retain traditional proportions and O-31 minimum curve operation as 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.

Features typically found on Imperial models include all our RailKing features, plus:

  • Separate marker light housings with individual LED illumination
  • Additional grab iron detail
  • Authentic, legible builderメs plates
  • Cab interior lights
  • Painted steam locomotive backhead gauges
  • Safety chains for tender trucks
  • Real tender coal loads

Knowing this YES!!! I could definitely go for a Imperial" Railking B&O 0-4-0 Docksider.   BTW thanks for the help.

Last edited by wild mary

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