MTH RTR vs Railking

Hi Greensreader,

The RS-3's in the starter sets have all the same features as the separate sale engines.  That's part of what makes the MTH R-T-R sets one of the best values in model railroading.

Thanks, Dave!  I couldn't find any confirmation of this.  I think the RTR PRR K-4 set looks attractive.  With your comments that might be the way to go.

By the way, between your OGR article on ScaleTrax and Rich Battista's video, I am in the process of building a 21 x 10,  3 level layout using ScaleTrax.  So far so good!

Cool!  Hope you post photos as you go.  That's a nice size layout you're building.

In your first post you mentioned the RS-3, which is the same in the sets as separate sale.  If you start looking at steam sets you need to more careful.  The steam engines in any Protosound 2 set will have the same speed control and sound features.  However MTH makes more than one version of some engines in Railking.  In some cases the set engine is smaller than the separate sale engines.  These smaller engines are usually designated in the catalog as "bantam" engines.  I believe the K-4 is the same both in the set and separate sale.  Just stay aware as you shop and check in with the forum when in doubt.

Dave

Thank you for the "heads up"!  I think that I learn something new in this hobby everyday.  Maybe that's why I enjoy this forum so much.  As soon as I feel worthy I will post photos, LOL!  Just finished benchwork and beginning to lay track.  Took over a year playing with the RR Track program to come up with something to at least start with.  Sometimes it is not easy being a perfectionist (especially in this hobby)!

If you are interested in the Imperial K4, I highly recommed it. I purchased it in August 2011 after a few months of back and forth no/yes/no/yes....yes won! It was released in seperate sale in 2008(?) and again in the sets (and sepreate sale) last year. I purchased the seperate sale version from my dealer. Great looking & running engine. I think the Imperial engines are some of the best values in the hobby. I have 2 more in addtion to the K4, an 0-6-0 (dead) and an SD70. If you are considering the K4 from the most recent release from last spring, the engine is the same however the passenger set engine has some more fancy pinstripping than the freight/seperate sale engine. The freight and seperate sale engine also has different cab numbers and PFA sounds. My seperate sale is a passenger version.

MTH's RTR sets often contain many of the same engines that are released as seperate items in the catalogs. For example, the SD70 in the RTR set is the same as the seperate engine. The RS3 & GP9s as well. A friend as the RTR RS3 and is the same as a seperate sale engine. All run and look great! Just wish they would offer the 2-8-0 and/or 4-6-0 in sperate sale and/or Imperial versions. Just for the heck of it, my 2004 Railking RTR Set Rugged Rails F3, the stumpy little thing in this years Santa Fe set and other sets over the years, has honestly been the most reliable engine in my collection. It pulls a house down and keeps on going without a problem. My mom purchased it for me new in 2004 as part of the Railking B&O Freight Set.

I can only discuss first hand 2 RK engines. 

A few years ago I wanted the P&LE SW(what, 9 or 15 or something) switcher.  I found it in  a RTR set and also as a stand alone.  I asked Rich Foster about it at York and he promised me that they were the same engines.  At only $35 difference in price it was a no-brainer!

Now, for Dave's warning: The next year I wanted to get a 2nd steamer just like the one that I bought stand alone: the RK PRR S2 6-8-6 turbine.  MTH no longer marketed it as a stand alone but Jim's in Homer City had it in a RTR set.  I bought it thinking that, just like my P&LE engine, it would be a match.  It wasn't!  MTH dropped the set down to the Rugged Rails line and they dropped the quality too!  I took it back because I wasn't happy with it, neither in quality nor performance.  There were many, many discussions here on this board describing how MTH took older, higher rated engines and dropped them into a lower rated line after upgrading the detail and such on the new ones.  Not true for this particular steamer.

- walt

Greensreader and others perhaps with interest:  My MTH Product Reference Guides provide a break down of all engines MTH has made and notes the engines contained in sets.  I've also attempted to describe "bantam" versions, so a buyer can know best what he's looking for.  In the case of the many 6-8-6 PRR Turbine-style engines MTH has made, I've tried noting the differences in size (bantam vs traditional RK) and whether they came with die-cast tender or plastic tender, again attempting provide as much info as I can.

Additionally, I've noted all the RailKing engines that are "Imperial" versions, as this changeover of several styles of engines can/has caused buyer agida on occasion.

The MTH Product Guides are being updated and new editions are soon to be released on the MTH website soon.  The new editions will be current through December 2011 and will be available in editions that feature RK Engines and Sets and an edition for RK Rolling Stock and Accessories.  The same two types will also be available for Premier Line products.

Something I wopuld point out;

If you are looking at an Imperial Railking VS a RTR engine there will be a major difference.  Imperial engines are upgraded with add on stuff similar but less than Premier engines. They are rumored to be old not quite scale Premier molds as well.

I'm not sure about that, because the Imperial Railking Big Boys are a few inches shorter than the Premier ones. Even the oldest Catalog I have shows them at 35" long for Premier and the Imperial Railking is about 29" long.

However, most of the length compression in the engine is in the tender, those long centipede tenders cannot corner tightly.

You have, no doubt, already gotten the gist of your answer. Let me just add that the RS-3 set (number 8841) was my first and still one of my best purchases. Unfortunately the engine came with a loose wire and would not run but that was easily repaired at no cost to me. Been great since then!

Thanks guys!  I do think I have the gist of it.  Steve, I will be picking up a copy of your MTH Product Reference Guide when it comes out.  It is great to access so much knowledge and experience through this  forum!  As I continue plodding along with my layout I know I'll be back to again "pick your brains".  In the meantime I will be here on the sidelines reading and learning as I go. 

Greensreader, thanks for considering them.

Check the MTH website and you can search "Product Reference Guide" and it'll get you to them.  Currently, the older, 2011 editions (current through December 2010) are on the website for purchase.  Hold off and wait until the newer, Engines and Rolling Stock editions are released.  Each is $7.95

Since the idea of RailKing Scale was also brought up, my books also break out this designation as well, so buyers know what engines were released under this banner.

Thanks again for the consideration of buying the book(s) and I'm sure myself and others can keep providing useful info on the MTH product lineup here. 

Enjoy!