MTH, what are you doing to me???

And your point is .... ?

 

Yves

They obviously are selling you a pretty little steamer.....

Now you need passenger cars!

I only wanted diesels! Modern diesels. 2 rail only.

I had too many of them. But, not enough of the big modern ones. So I have to convert the ones I'm after, if I can get them.

Now these darn sewing machines are multiplying....

Well actually, our Leader has a blue goose. I thought I should represent the east coast then.

Yeap..... and there in lies the problem. Too far off track!

And you're expecting sympathy HERE???? Now that I've seen that Dreyfus, I'm thinking it would go nicely with my Blue Goose.

 

2-rail is already too close to the cancellation mark due to insufficient orders already, according to Mike Wolf (I'll get to ask him again about that at the NMRA in August), for expansion.  The money is in European O scale and HO so that is where his investments are made.

Joe and Matt are you getting any of the Tunnel motors due out in August?

Sympathy?

What kind of leader remark is that?

Sometimes I wonder who I'm following.....

( I'm trying to justify my habit...my expanding habit)

I didn't order the tunnel motor. I just got three, ten, a large bunch of older era diesels that will need to be converted to 2 rail. For some reason, the ones that MTH released in 2 rail weren't the ones I was after at that exact time. I should have got them anyways. I'm always making mods to the pilots. I skip the handrails as they don't bother me.

 Right after I designed a shim for the SD45's I got from Barry, Marty Fitz., and Sal Ross, they released more in RTR two rail.

Now you have the right idea. Only 1 diesel out of my 150+ stable. Steamers are so much cooler, and of course 2 rail is the only way to go

Just jerking your chain.

 

I'm waiting for more 2-rail MTH light Mikados. You KNOW you have to get one of those. It's like the Geep pair of the steam era. Looks good with a short or medium freight (or even a mixed train). Hopefully they'll offer hem unlettered.

 

Speaking of Geeps, you need to add a couple (of pairs) to your collection so you can run a couple of short freights (or consist them for a long freight). MTH has done GP35's, GP38-2's, and GP40's in 2-rail. I'm kicking myself over a couple that I ignored that were released prior to my seeing the error of my floating pilot ways.

 

I have to be careful with steam. My probable curve radius won't support Northerns -- the conflict over my 3rd Rail CNW H1 Northern was painful. I actually considered buying a 2-rail version right after I bought the Hi-rail version (how scary is that). The MTH scale-wheeled Hudsons and Mikados will fit into my curve restrictions. Fortunately, the UP Big Boy I ordered (you should get one of those too) will negotiate sharp curves because of its smaller driver wheelbase and 3-rail-compatible articulation.

Joe, your layout needs a tourist train. Good catch, I almost bid on this. FWIW I think only MTH and 3rd Rail have made 1940 cars to match this engine. 

 

Pete

Thanks Pete.

I did get outbid and the site crashed several times. It took some work and more cash.

I do have some Amtrak by MTH and Atlas to run in a pinch. I have one GG C&O that I was going to start a Tourist RR with an Allegheny or two to pull with. I got a Pacific that I enjoy to run so much. It tracks perfectly and is a joy. I have been looking at more options and era's.

Matt, I do need more 4 axle units like GPs. I started looking at earlier diesels like the SD40s and 45s. I considered a few E's and where does it end???? (PA's, F's, Sharks......)

 I thought modern diesels would limit my options until I realized how many are being made.

Did I mention the one grandson now likes CN the best. I only have one of those. There's so many roads.......

Looks like your train buddy has chosen the road for additional acquisitions.

Sounds like a self-inflicted wound resultant from combination of too much money to spend and a lack of self-control//focus.

 

I think they make a pill for the latter that the buying of resolves the former.

I'm on three meds now. I dunno if they'll give me more?

Hey Matt. Where's all the CN??? (Pop's house?)

Fortunately for your train slush fund, MTH hasn't done much CN. Now that I've said that the 2016 V1 catalog will be full of CN diesels.

 

Speaking of train slush fund hits, my replacement MTH Bush 41 SD70ACe arrived today. I had the hi-rail Proto-2 version (they didn't offer a scale-wheeled version) and sold it when the Proto-3 scale-wheeled version was announced. It was definitely worth the wait. Going to put couplers on it tonight and take it down to the club.

Well sir....I'd better not get into my political rant.

I did find some CN stuff recently. Most of it needs conversion. There's one at a great price at a major dealer right now.

 Did you see that new MTH CN ES44! Yeowser! That's a nice.

http://mthtrains.com/22-20500-2

http://mthtrains.com/22-20499-2

and the ACe

http://mthtrains.com/22-20522-2

http://mthtrains.com/22-20523-2

 My MTH remote just got filled, so I need them to make more addresses or I'll have to delete some to make room!

I had a bunch of failed attempts at casting pilots. I learned I could cut out the coupler mounting area, and insert it into a stock metal pilot's opening. I then make a shim to space it down. (bottom of picture)

What you might want to do is backup the remote, clear it, then add only the engines you want to use during a particular session. The only problem is that at some point you'll have multiple engines with the same address. The other option is getting a second remote. You'd still have the duplicate number issue so you'd have to make sure you don't run two engines with the same address at the same time. Supposedly, the new WiFi paid app addresses this issue by allowing for additional addressing, but we won't know for sure until it's released later this year.

 

By the way, I feel your pain about being addicted to certain locomotives. My MTH UP 4141 SD70ACe arrived yesterday. Took it down to the club for a test run (and yes it did find some more bad spots in the track work). It replaced my hi-rail UP4141 (sold it to a friend to offset some of the cost of the new one). The sound is improved, plus they did a much better job on the flag at the tail end of the locomotive. The EMD/Caterpillar demonstrator is the last SD70ACe Outstanding. I'm dreading the 2016v1 catalog for some reason.   BTW, those four locomotives are a major threat to your train slush fund balance. I'm afraid of something like that in the next catalog.

Good Day Matt,

 

Just wondering..............Did the new MTH Bush 41 SD70ACe come with the correct snow plow for 2-rail?

 

Regards,

Frank

There's such nice stuff being made that it is hard to say 'no'!

 

I just received a very nice MTH CA1 caboose and I love it.  Waited over a year since ordering and I'm glad I did.  As a matter of fact, I just ordered the other CA1 color from the latest catalog.  Nice products.

 

Life's good when faced with all of the 'difficult' decisions!

Yes. It's hard to see in the posted photo, but it's in place and fits perfectly with a Kadee 743 short-box/short-shank coupler in place. By the way, the 743's reduced swing isn't really that significant compared to the standard 740's.