Andy Edleman and Rich Foster of MTH were present this evening for an open house at Dixie Union Station in Mason, OH. I spoke with Andy and Rich about some issues near and dear to the hearts of fellow Forumites such as steam locomotive production and the 44 ton diesel project. I learned that:
1) Steam locomotive production is not back in shape yet although progress is being made. Rich says to expect "two or three" previously cataloged Premier locomotives to be released in 2012. One of these will be the Santa Fe Blue Goose. Expect "five or six" previously cataloged Rail King steam locomotives to be released in 2012.
2) The 44 tonner is in development but won't be in the next catalog. Engineers are working on the custom PS3 board configuration that will be needed to fit the electronics into this tiny locomotive.
3) Much to the dismay of Neal Schorr and other Pennsy fans (myself included), the N5 cabin car (caboose) will not be in the new catalog, either. Andy assured me it is "on the list" for what that is worth.
They had a prototype GE Evolution diesel locomotive running on Dixie Union's layout and a painted body shell for a car that goes with that locomotive. The other prototypes were all HO: GG1 shells in 3 paint schemes and some really nice unlettered passenger cars that Andy said are New York Central prototypes.
Here are photos that I took this evening.
Bob Bartizek
GE Evolution locomotive
Car that goes with the locomotive above
Three paint schemes on HO GG1 body shells
HO passenger car sets
