RailKing is King

Excellent choice, Arnold!  I have two of the PS2 version in Western Maryland colors (lack of color is more precise), well I posted them above.  They make a nice looking lashup, just like photographs I have seen of the prototype.  They run well together.  I thought of getting the PS3, but didn't think I needed 3 of them.

Arnold I am so glad you started this MTH RailKing topic! RailKing's passenger cars are the best fit for me. They were the best  affordable product with the detail and size I wanted. My RailKing power is 4 PS2 locomotives ( PRR E8, PRR M1a, NYC Mohawk and NYC SW9 switcher). And 2 PS3 locomotives (NYC E6 passenger diesel and premier Alco RS11....with a non power one.)

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Drum roll, please.

At the moment, I am proud to share with you my RailKing King of Kings: the MTH RailKing Proto 3 NY Central RS3:

Arnold,

Beautiful...one of my favorite engine/paint scheme combos.  I had a Lionel version that came with the New Yorker service station set that was freight/passenger.  Anyway, I gave that engine and some of the cars to my daughter as a gift.

@Fendermain posted:

Arnold,

Beautiful...one of my favorite engine/paint scheme combos.  I had a Lionel version that came with the New Yorker service station set that was freight/passenger.  I wonder if the Put ever ran a mixed train like that?  Anyway, I gifted that engine and some of the cars to my daughter.

John,

I have a couple of excellent books about The Put: The Putnam Division New York Central's Bygone Route Through Westchester County by Daniel R. Gallo and Frederick A. Kramer, and Forgotten Railroads Through Westchester County by Robert A. Bang and three other authors, which includes photos and information about The Put and other railroads.

The Put ran short trains, usually not more than 4 or 5 train cars pulled by 10 Wheeler 4-6-0 steamers and RS3 diesels like the NY Central diesel in my above video.

The Put was known for extra wide freight consists. It had sufficient clearances to accommodate such consists that other railroads could not accommodate.

I believe The Put would run anything where they could make some money, so they probably ran some short mixed freight and passenger trains. I will double check this in the above books.

IMO, such short mixed consists make The Put ideal to model for O Gauge layouts that are small to moderate in size like those of most hobbyists. Also, IMO, The Put has a toy-like quality: a cute little locomotive like a ten wheeler, a Postwar milk operating car and platform, log dump car, ore dump car and caboose would be realistic for The Put. The industries along the Put included dairy farms and Lloyd's Lumber in Northern Westchester County, NY, and the Tilly Foster iron ore mines in Brewster, NY.

Arnold

Arnold - my layout is pretty much all Lionel and I'm especially fond of the newer LionChief items. My one exception is MTH's Docksider. I must explain, I did not buy this little guy, he was given to me by a friend in my European train club - but I sure wouldn't give him back away.

For those of you old enough to remember, this MTH model seems like a pretty good knock-off of Varney's HO version from the 50's.

Hey Don .

That little Docksider sure looks good with the smoke output.

Being such a shorty, does if give any problems on the layout , especially on switches ?

Hi Dallas!

No tracking issues with tubular track. My mainline has a minimum radius of 0-54, but the 022 switches don't present a problem.

Great to hear.   That little docksider must be fun to operate without some of issues I've seen with other ones. 🙄

In what years did the 5 volt boards go out in favor of the 3 volt in the RAILKING lineup ?   Was the 5volt also used in the Scale and Premier line ?

So far I haven't had the issue with my Railking engines. 🙄

I saw some nice RAILKING steamers on the EBay that i like but they might not be the reliable boards .    Is there a way to make them last ? 

@Dallas Joseph posted:

I saw some nice RAILKING steamers on the EBay that i like but they might not be the reliable boards .    Is there a way to make them last ? 

Replace battery with BCR for all MTH Proto 1 and Proto 2.

I had Atlas Connectors designed for HO to turn power on and off on sidings. I replaced those connectors with Atlas Heavy Duty connectirddesigned for O Gauge.

Since doing the sbove, I have not damaged and circuit boards.

I believe there are other things you can do, including installing TVS diodes, which others may recommend.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Yes, George, it does. Sometimes I get in the mood to make my consists as long as possible.

Every now and then, I'll test these limits and end up having a train crash into its tail.

Lol, glad I'm not the only one! There something so entertaining about wondering for that three or four seconds if that last car you just added was a fraction of an inch too long.

Our Outer reverse loops can do 15 scale cars on the outside loops. The inside loops can do about the same in traditional cars.

Great thread, enjoy seeing all the Railking stuff. My very first MTH was the Bantam RTR Southern Pacific GS4 daylight set. In the late 90s, I just got a tinge of nostalgia right after I got married so I bought myself a train set. I was honestly shocked at how much more detailed this set was than the Lionel stuff I had as a kid. Really was very impressed with the purchase (which is VERY rare for me). And that was their "beginner level" set! I  was an MTH guy from that point on.

Just ran it again today testing out some sidings.

By the way, speaking of Bantam: what is the difference between Bantam, Railking and Rugged Rails? I've seen boxes labeled RR, but I don't think I've ever seen MTH boxes labeled "Bantam" even though I've come to understand that's what my RTR set was.

Great thread Arnold!  RK is king for me too.  Here's some pictures of some of my collection.   First up is the PRR L1.  I added some details from PSC including the whistle shield, whistle, new handrails and stanchions with junction boxes, an extra sander piping, and Pennsy style marker lights on the pilot deck.  The other side features a train control box added to the the running board.  I I repainted it and lettered it with Rail Graphics decals.  This work-a-day, common locomotive has become a favorite for me.  (BTW, that's  Menards HO scale water tower)

Santa was good to me this year and brought this RK NYC ESE Hudson.  MTH did a superb job with this model.  The silver finish is amazing. It also sits slightly lower than the RK Dreyfus Hudson and looks better proportioned than its RK cousin.

Here's a shot of the L1 with a N&W Y6B and a PRR I1.  The last two were recent additions from the MTH closeout auction.  The Y6B is a PS3 model and the I1 is PS2.  The I1 will be next detail project, I already have the parts from PSC.  Can't wait to get started.

Good looking livery Scott.  🤓

The Pennsy L1 is one of my favorites too.

I teally like the Y6B B&O but havent been able to get one yet.

@Dallas Joseph posted:

In what years did the 5 volt boards go out in favor of the 3 volt in the RAILKING lineup ?   Was the 5volt also used in the Scale and Premier line ?

So far I haven't had the issue with my Railking engines. 🙄

The 5v boards were phased out in 2004, you are pretty safe to buy anything 2005 or newer with a 3v board.  In contrast to Arnold, I don't usually install BCR's in my 5v PS2 engines. The board has to fully charge the capacitor which (in my opinion) causes extra stress to the already fragile 5v board. That's just my minor preference, I'm sure that many 5v PS2 board with BCR's will still run for many years...

In the Spirit of the thread, some of my favorite Railking engines:

Good question, Jeff, about "bantam."

I don't think it's an MTH line of merchandise like RailKing or Premier.

My guess is that it may be descriptive adjective of certain locomotives.

I have the MTH Proto 2 Pennsylvania Turbine that is also described as Bantam. I believe, but am not 100% sure, that it is a RailKing engine. A short video of it appears below:

Arnold

@Scott R posted:

Great thread Arnold!  RK is king for me too.  Here's some pictures of some of my collection.   First up is the PRR L1.  I added some details from PSC including the whistle shield, whistle, new handrails and stanchions with junction boxes, an extra sander piping, and Pennsy style marker lights on the pilot deck.  The other side features a train control box added to the the running board.  I I repainted it and lettered it with Rail Graphics decals.  This work-a-day, common locomotive has become a favorite for me.  (BTW, that's  Menards HO scale water tower)

Santa was good to me this year and brought this RK NYC ESE Hudson.  MTH did a superb job with this model.  The silver finish is amazing. It also sits slightly lower than the RK Dreyfus Hudson and looks better proportioned than its RK cousin.

Here's a shot of the L1 with a N&W Y6B and a PRR I1.  The last two were recent additions from the MTH closeout auction.  The Y6B is a PS3 model and the I1 is PS2.  The I1 will be next detail project, I already have the parts from PSC.  Can't wait to get started.

Scott, your Railking Empire State Express Hudson is one gorgeous locomotive.  Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Good question, Jeff, about "bantam."

I don't think it's an MTH line of merchandise like RailKing or Premier.

My guess is that it may be descriptive adjective of certain locomotives.

I have the MTH Proto 2 Pennsylvania Turbine that is also described as Bantam. I believe, but am not 100% sure, that it is a RailKing engine. A short video of it appears below:

Arnold

I think you're right. On my old layout which maxed out at 42" curves, I looked at a Bantam Turbine and Bantam J. They were still Rail King, just further compressed to make them, I believe, 27" curve compatible.

Another great thread Arnold!   IMHO without doubt the RailKing line by MTH has added a deep dimension to the O gauge hobby.   The Docksider  is a wonderful addition to O gauge at an affordable price.  MTH RailKing line also brought us a plethora of small roads, short lines, switching roads,  private company road names,  and major road names not recently modeled in the past by any manufacturer.  I also love the RailKing articulated steamers as well.  Here are pics of some Railking models that I have on my Free State Junction Railway.

B&O Docksider  

Patapsco and Back Rivers VO 1000 a RailKing PS2 model only manufactured by MTH.  

My B&O Docksider after I finished the weathering job shown in first photo.

RailKing Y6b mallet N&W.

Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad SW9.  Only found in the MTH RilKing line.  I'm grateful for this locomotive.  Thanks MTH!!  

MA & PA SW 1 RailKing.  

MA & PA TOFC

Rotary snow plow, part of the RailKing line, with rotating blade and lighting.  Gondolas with junk loads.

Western Maryland passenger coach.

MA & PA boxcar

Railking Scale MA & PA SW 1 locomotive with a matching MA & PA caboose ( Premier )

RailKing Scale B&O SW 9 PS2  ( one of my best and reliable locos )

RailKing work caboose with digital air whistle. rain

A total RaiKing work train that I've weathered.

RailKing Baltimore and Annapolis caboose.  

RailKing scale B&O GP 9 with PS2 and smoke.  

Perfect commentary and photos Pat.     Yep........Arnold sure came up with a great topic.   

What gorgeous RailKing trains you have, Patrick.

As always Pat great photos and I love all the MA&PA equipment

Another great Arnold thread and lots of excellent contributions.  RailKing allowed the traditional size operator some really good choices at reasonable prices.  I started heading toward TMCC and didn't want two systems so I tried to stay away from Proto engines but do have a handful.

I also have Gar Graves O-32 curves on my layout and I am a true fan of MTH Rail King! Below are a few of my engines.

The engine to the right is a Rail King, PRR K-4s.

B&O F-3, 3 unit Diesel by MTH Rail King

MTH Rail King bumper trolley

PRR M-1b

PRR Railking, semi-scale GG-1 leading a train of Rail King , PRR, O-27 heavyweight passenger coaches.

MTH docksider in its "Great Northeastern Railway" livery.

One of 3 Rail King, O-27, heavyweight passenger coaches being repainted and re-decaled for Pennsylavnia-Reading Seashore Lines service.

PRR K-4s

Rail King - Imperial, PRR, 0-6-0, USRA switcher.

Rail King, PRR K-4s again

I am sorry. I went a bit overboard with the pictures.

Arnold: This truly is another one of your GREAT topics!!!!!!!

Nice work on the passenger car Randy.

Not to worry about going overboard on the photos........I never get tired of seeing all these engines and scenes.🤓

Is the B&O F3 set a ps2 5volt ?    By the date on the photo you have had it for quite some time.  They sure look good.

Thanks to Arnold , we are getting to see quite a nice variety of locomotives.

@Dallas Joseph

Thanks for the compliment on the PRSL coach. That is the first of 3. The interior colors are from  prototype interior photo of a P-70 coach. At each end is and actual Pennsylvania Railroad ad poster for Atlantic City and the Jersey seashore that I got off of the internet and reduced. I am installing LED interior lighting.

I got the B&O Diesel from a friend who was converting to full scale trains. It is PS-2. I don't know the BCR voltage.

It is entertaining to run the trains .    Doing a project like those passenger cars is sometimes more entertaining .  I guess it enlivens your creative juices and inventiveness to a point that you just can't wait to get back to it.

Randy, love your passenger car.  Looks like a neat project

Randy's photos,  including the photo of his Railking Pennsy GG1 and his Railking Pennsy K4 steamer, reminded me how excited I was when I acquired those locomotives 20+ years ago.

Here is the GG1:

I will post a photo of the K4 shortly. Arnold

Here is the K4:

Well Arnold, I don't know if that is Yankee Stadium or the Polo Grounds behind the K4, but I see the Pirates sent Jameson Taillon to Yankee Stadium to join Gerrit Cole.  Rebuilding they say.  The Pirates have been rebuilding since '92!  There should be a lot of good baseball in NYC for your passengers to get a glimpse of.  Better start planning for more stadium extras!! 

Another favorite is the RailKing Wabash P-1 4-6-4.

Hello guys and gals

I LOVE MTH Railking engines as i have a 30-2157-1 Southern NW-2 this engine is scale 1/48 size wise and 22 years old and still has its orginal bulbs and ps-1, just installed the BCR 4 years ago.    It has been trouble free engine and no zinc pest either.  My second engine is a MTH Railking Challenger 30-1724-1 which is lovely engine and use lionel postwar size cars and looks right with the Union Pacific Challenger as many of you guys know that some Railking engines are scale and some are not.   The Challenger is 1/55 scale and i believe the lionel postwar and MPC, LTI freight cars are in 1/50 scale like the 6464 boxcars and hoppers so they look good size wise with the Challenger, Y6b, Big boys, USRA 2-8-8-2's and other large Railking engines.  Those 2 are my favorite Railking engines and they will still be the king !!!  Keep the threads going guys !!!

"A patient person is very smart. A person who is easily angered shows that he is a fool." Proverbs 14:29 ERV (easy to read version)

Tiffany, Widowed, Sept, 15, 2019 still heart broken.

Let's not forget the subways, which I believe are also in the RailKing line:

@Scott R posted:

Randy, love your passenger car.  Looks like a neat project

Sclott:

Thank you very much. It has been fun and I learned a great deal in the process

Love this photo of the RailKing Pennsy K4:

This is the D train.

161st Street and Yankee Stadium, please stand clear of the closing doors:

They all look great, Arnold!!

With so much RailKing being of such high quality in every way and with MTH going out of business, I can't help but  think that Railking will go up in value in years to come.

Not that I will ever sell any of it (I love it all too much), but maybe my wife, adult son and daughter or grandchildren will. LOL, Arnold

Railking was the perfect idea for what we need in O gauge.  Cheap enough for a first time entry level train, detailed enough to compete  with the high priced boys, and still have the possibility of remote control via DCS on all 3 platforms, (ps1,2 and 3.)