Question about MTH Shipping Dates

Since MTH "test runs" every locomotive model at their Columbia Maryland facility, Yor should indeed receive your model VERY soon.

No.

I heard production does not start until after the pre-production item passes testing.

So it depends:

Was the test done on a Pre-Production unit or production units?

IF it was production units I'd say you should have it before Christmas.

I see MTH just updated the website dates, and your engine says Oct 2012, so it looks positive.

My new Imperial Northern date got bumped to next month....

I'm not sure whether or not the test was a pre-production unit of production unit, the facebook page just said,

"The MTH RailKing Imperial O Gauge 4-6-4 Hudson Steam Engine came into the MTH Test Room last week. Feature in the 2012 Volume 2 catalog with Proto-Sound 3.0 and Wirelass Drawbar this RailKing Hudson comes in four road names Lehigh Valley, New Haven, Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac, and New York Central. Here are a few images of the Lehigh Valley RailKing Imperial Hudson. Ask your MTH Dealer about ordering one today."

According to the dealer in which I pre-ordered the item from, he says that it usually means that the item is on its way from overseas. 

Thanks for the responses, time will tell. 

According to MTH, there is one Northern that will be late for release. The other engines are supposed to be in country getting tested for a release of around the 23rd of the month.

I don't know anything about the other engines, sorry.

Frank

On the facebook page, they stated that the engine was approved last week and is going to be sent (which typically takes a month), and will likely be released late November to early December.