I am for a Conrail in blue ( Three rail no problem for me ).
I’m in for both conrail numbers 1Penn Central & 1 Erie Lackawanna. A big order…. Yes, but I’ve been waiting for years for a re-run of Conrail U25B’s. And Yaye!!! Finally we get Penn Central!
Thank you Beth
They actually have the tooling to do fixed pilots. While this engine is too long to operate with fixed pilots in 3 rail, with a curvature less than about 0-63, I can ask them about making available a kit with 2 rail wheels and the fixed pilot pieces....
beth
That would be the hot ticket. I was able to buy some fixed pilots (front and rear) for a couple of my diesels from the parts site. The scale replacement wheels are on backorder.
I wish that MTH would offer a 2 rail U25 like trainbubs.
If anyone is a stickler for details , here’s a later picture of my SP model. I had not yet added on the small steps earlier. And if you look Carefully, you can see holes where the shorter hand rails would end for the hi-rail model.
This model is just So Nice !!!
Attachments
Images (1)
TrainBub - I saw the holes on the pilot on the N&W U25B of mine on the other thread - it hadn't occurred to me what they were for! Thanks. Figured I had knocked something off in my clumsiness. Oh, and on the Pennsy heritage unit.
Perhaps a dealer, or a few dealers (Public Delivery Track, Mr. Muffin, others?) together, would be able to persuade MTH to offer versions with scale wheels and fixed pilots. My recollection is that, when I first started ordering MTH 2-rail versions, there was a price premium of about $20 for the 2-rail. I'd be willing to pay a little extra - maybe $25, given the overall increase in prices. And if getting 2-rail orders increases the quantity of orders for a specific road to the point it gets built, great.
I'd be down for a Wabash (which Mr. Muffin has floated for 3-rail) and maybe an EL.
David
What do you think Beth? Can we try some Scale Wheel fixed pilot models?
@jonnyspeed posted:What do you think Beth? Can we try some Scale Wheel fixed pilot models?
Beth.
What does MTH have to say about this ??? It Sure Sounds Like There’s Considerable Interest In This !!!! From Both the 2 And 3 Rail Side !!! (3railers will want flanged wheels.)
If I can do fixed pilots & 3R wheels I’ll bite. But if I have to buy 4 kits to convert 2R to 3R, I’ll stick with my swinging pilots. On 072 it doesn’t bother me all that much
@Dj'sOgaugetrains posted:If I can do fixed pilots & 3R wheels I’ll bite. But if I have to buy 4 kits to convert 2R to 3R, I’ll stick with my swinging pilots. On 072 it doesn’t bother me all that much
All you have to buy is a 3 rail wheel set and they are not difficult to swap and it looks oh so good.
I believe what’s offered is 3/2 conversion capable, Comes With hi-rail wheels. Kaydee compatible coupler mounting pads.
What’s needed is the fixed pilot !!!!!!
2 railers will want to buy scale wheels.
@TrainBub posted:I believe what’s offered is 3/2 conversion capable, Comes With hi-rail wheels. Kaydee compatible coupler mounting pads.
What’s needed is the fixed pilot !!!!!!
2 railers will want to buy scale wheels.
I would also want the full-length handrails that come with the 2-rail fixed-pilot models. I just don’t like the look of fixed pilots with short handrails. Of course you can make them yourself, but I’ve done this to a few engines and it’s a lot of work!
@Bessemer643 posted:Fixed pilot kits sound great. Any chance the PRR could have the train phone antennas?
I would be in for the PRR with correct # and Trainphone Antenna!
@Shawn_Chronister posted:All you have to buy is a 3 rail wheel set and they are not difficult to swap and it looks oh so good.
It's not that simple. First you have to find the wheel kits which has been difficult as nobody seems to know if they are even being produced anymore. Second, you have to form your own pilot spacers and paint them to match. Also, if you are installing Kadees you may need to fabricate your own coupler mount/spacer. Lastly, you have to source your own wire and bend it to make the correct length handrails then paint them. Can it be done? Sure. Do I want to do that for each engine I purchase? Absolutely not!
@jonnyspeed posted:It's not that simple. First you have to find the wheel kits which has been difficult as nobody seems to know if they are even being produced anymore. Second, you have to form your own pilot spacers and paint them to match. Also, if you are installing Kadees you may need to fabricate your own coupler mount/spacer. Lastly, you have to source your own wire and bend it to make the correct length handrails then paint them. Can it be done? Sure. Do I want to do that for each engine I purchase? Absolutely not!
They are out there you just have to search.
Great thread !!!
I’ve sent MTH an email about our “Quest” for fixed pilots etc.
Anyone else do this ????????
If not ……EVERYONE Do It !!!!!!! We can talk till we’re blue in the face to no avail. Take it To The Source !!!!
Call them too !!!!
Let them Know !!!!
Cheers 😉
I have some U25C's I'd like to see....
U25c's would be nice cause they are a different car body than the U25b. I dont think anyone has done a U28C either.
@TrainBub posted:I believe what’s offered is 3/2 conversion capable, Comes With hi-rail wheels. Kaydee compatible coupler mounting pads.
What’s needed is the fixed pilot !!!!!!
2 railers will want to buy scale wheels.
So far, each Hi-Rail Premier locomotive I've purchased has been 3/2 capable. Tracking down the wheels is tricky. I did see them listed on the MTH parts site, but they were pricey at $18/axle.
U25c's would be nice cause they are a different car body than the U25b. I dont think anyone has done a U28C either.
MTH's old Premier tooling went into Rail King and they released both a U30C and C30-7 from the same tooling. I'm not sure how close the U30 was to the U25. The problem is that the old Premier tooling didn't have the level of detail that the new Premier tooling has.
Attachments
Images (1)
A week or so ago, I pre-ordered on PDT’s website both of the road #s for their Burlington Route CB&Q U25B models.
I ordered them in 3-rail.
I am fine with and want the swinging pilots, hi-rail wheels, & lobster claw couplers.
The website shows the CB&Q U25B in the Redbird paint scheme with Road #101.
Back in the late 1990’s, Weaver made CB&Q U25B’s for Petersen Supply with a few road #s.
I think that my Weaver-Petersen U25B model is either #103 or #105. It’s in storage now so hopefully I can find it & Post it’s road #.
Hopefully the PDT U25B models will have previously unused prototypical road #s so that no one ends up with duplicated road #s
My understanding is that the six prototypical CB&Q road #s are
100, 101, 102, 103, 104, & 105.
Beth, thanks for offering these CB&Q U25B’s !!!
CB&Q Bill
Well the discussion to get fixed pilots went NOWHERE !!!!! That’s pretty sucko 😮🫢😳☹️😖😖😖😖😖
So…..No orders for me. 🤔
@TrainBub posted:Well the discussion to get fixed pilots went NOWHERE !!!!! That’s pretty sucko 😮🫢😳☹️😖😖😖😖😖
So…..No orders for me. 🤔
Same here. If MTH doesn't want to offer 2R versions with fixed pilots anymore I will just put my entire budget into 2R models from Scott at 3rd Rail. I prefer his models anyway. Better drive, better details, cab interior, and ESU LokSound 5 decoder.
I tried my hardest too talking to all the folks who do special runs with no luck maybe we can talk @sdmann in to some U series diesel's
I would take a hi-rail Maine Central withe the movable pilots.
I would have been on board for a Penn Central if I could have got it in fixed pilots and long handrails. Possibly 2 if another road number would be available.
@TrainBub posted:Well the discussion to get fixed pilots went NOWHERE !!!!! That’s pretty sucko 😮🫢😳☹️😖😖😖😖😖
So…..No orders for me. 🤔
Same… sorry. I need fixed pilots.
Hi Beth, was there any updates with the potential runs?
Hi Beth:
I can no longer find the U25B diesel locomotives on your website.
Are the CB&Q U25B models still a go or have they been cancelled ?
Thanks in advance !!!
CB&Q Bill
Im going to put out a post about whats happening with special runs in general....but to answer your question quickly, none of the the special run U25b's that were were proposing came anywhere near the qty we need to make it a go. Generally the amount of pre-orders we go...with no deposit required...was 4 to 6 units per paint scheme.
FWIW.... The U25b has never been that popular, even when weaver made it years ago, and with later MTH models. Oh well, we tried.
As i said, I dont believe there were any deposits involved, btu if anyone did leave a deposit, it will be refunded.
beth
If MTH would have had 2 rail U25s powered and unpowered I would have gotten 2. I hope they offer 2 rail again.
Hey gang.....
If you havent heard it yet, announcement yesterday teh MTH is going to make more GE U25b's. The road names will be NH, C&O, SP, GN and L:&N Family lines. I'll have them available to pre-order later today
There are a lot more obvious road names that could be done.....So ill be putting up on the web pre-order for potential road names. There will be no deposit required. I need 20 orders of a road name in order to go ahead with a special run project....
Now, to be honest, what usually happens id that I get 6 to 12 ppl interested in a special run, but thats it. Peoples likes are just spread all over the place. So if u want a special run done, please pre-order. It costs u nothing,
Here's the potential special run roads. EL, CR, PC, CB&Q, PRR, NYC, P&LE
Here's the link to the pre-order page for all the U-25b's.....https://www.publicdeliverytrack.com/search.php?search_query=Premier%2BU%2B25b§ion=product
Thanks....beth
Beth, fairly certain that you were our beth from so many years ago who brought all those mth engines to every Greenberg, edison, nj show. Back then my son, Ryan was 5, now in his 20s.. and you are one reason he likes mth so much. We both remember you well. Wishing you the best from NJ. Gary
Beth,
Thank you for the update & the attempt to offer these U25B models.
I enjoy the 5 Atlas O California Zephyr cars that I bought from you last summer.
Especially the D&RGW vista dome car with the incorrect CB&Q owner plaques. I am a die-hard Q fan !!!
CB&Q Bill
