Things MTH Should make on the way out.

I think MTH should make a one-time deal with Lionel and do a LCT standard gauge and O gauge  tinplate official Polar Express.  I'd be in for both.

I'd also like to see them finish out the C&O Chessie Cameo boxcar series.  They've done 4 of the 6 so far:

20-93771

20-93623

20-93665

20-93584

These cars are gorgeous, and have appeal to C&O people, people that love Chessie (like me), and cat people (I watched one sale of one of these cars to a person who just loves cats and loved the Chessie image).  The remaining 2 cars could be even sold as a 2-pack, as everyone who wants the complete series will want both.  I'd even bet they could re-run the previous 4 and offer them all together in a six pack.  I've sent this suggestion to MTH on several platforms and to people looking for custom-run ideas, so my hope is that someone will see it and get it done.  I'd hate to see this series go unfinished.

Andy

They never made a purple 500 Series caboose to match all the 500 series club cars they made.

SORRY, but enough already with the Polar Express over-saturation! :-(

I you're dreaming, the tinplate 2816 hoppers they were cataloged and never produced, and the tinplate to lobster claw style transition cars.

https://mthtrains.com/11-70121

https://mthtrains.com/11-70122

https://mthtrains.com/11-70123

But a since rs-3 diesels seem to be an option a Reading company on in solid green with simple lettering would pick my pocket easy.

more 2 rail!

& more 1 gauge SD70ACes!

MTH: make more 1 gauge SD70ACes! | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)

Sorry, had to post.

I think the best thing for all of us is for someone take over MTH Trains.

European steamers and cars...although I have no money left to buy one, lol. But, if they were to make the mighty DRG-Class 44 Kreiglock I would sell some stuff to buy one. That is one of the most awesome steam locomotives ever made in the history of steam!

I'd like to see more operating accessories with sound. The update of the operating water tower is excellent!

Here is my vote - R-15 NYC subway in Maroon colors

it should be easy for them - the molds from previously produced models can be used for the car body (r-17 ends, r-36 sides)  along with the doors from the r-11s

• donation of the rights to the better quality tooling to 3rd Rail.
• A sizeable contribution to Andy Edleman's retirement plan for all the very heavy lifting he has done over the years.
• The source code for DCS in the public domain.

Andy was definitely Mike's right (and left) hand man! Maybe his skills could be useful at another manufacturer?

I was always hoping for a Southern Pacific AC9 with ProtoSound 3.

I always wanted a San Diego County COASTER train.

Since they sold the S gauge line I can not think of any thing I want from MTH

Gunny

How about they solidify what will happen to the replacement electronics of all the existing products?  How about another run of DCS remotes and the existing Rev. L TIU's?

Why do we want new engines when we don't know if we can support them or even keep running the existing stuff?

Aren't they doing another of the remotes? I was hoping they were but may read a rumor instead of an announcement?

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

How about they solidify what will happen to the replacement electronics of all the existing products?  How about another run of DCS remotes and the existing Rev. L TIU's?

Why do we want new engines when we don't know if we can support them or even keep running the existing stuff?

This!!

They already did another run of Tiu rev L and a run of the remotes your  dollar short and a day late for any more ! you missed out by about 2 or 3 months ago !

Alan

A Class 66 (or even a 59) in two-rail. As it is, I will be pre-ordering the Dapol version.

The Premier PRR FF-2 boxcabs...wow, were they neat looking

Man, the thought of the Premier Line of steamers, electrics, and those European trains, never being made again makes me want to take a drink. TGIF.

A PRR A5 0-4-0 switcher; these are impossible to find.

@Alan Mancus posted:

They already did another run of Tiu rev L and a run of the remotes your  dollar short and a day late for any more ! you missed out by about 2 or 3 months ago !

No offense Alan, but that's a pretty stupid statement!  The fact that the TIU's and remotes were all gone in a flash should tell you something about the demand and the fact that we're focusing on the wish list for MTH to make "on their way out".

FWIW, I have a number of DCS remotes and TIU's, and I don't need more of them, no boats were missed.

My point is, if there isn't an infrastructure to support the product line, made obvious for the demand for the control systems hardware, that should be a focus rather than some whimsical new product.  If you don't have the control system, what's the incentive to buy some new engine or accessory?

Did you ever wonder why Lionel keeps fixing the Legacy command system on an extended warranty?  Did you ever wonder why Lionel keeps making the Legacy command system, even though it seems apparent they'd like to move to the smart device interface?

BINGO, it's because there's a demand for the Legacy command system, and that demand will sell new high end products!

European steam locomotives.

I have four TIU's and four remotes but I'd still add one of each if they made more.  And I'd definitely go for the European stuff.  I'd buy Premier cab units in midwest road names too.  And matching 18" streamlined passengers cars.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

How about they solidify what will happen to the replacement electronics of all the existing products?  How about another run of DCS remotes and the existing Rev. L TIU's?

Why do we want new engines when we don't know if we can support them or even keep running the existing stuff?

Indeed. Thank you.

Penn Central rs-1's in the white worm scheme and E-8's (premier of course) in Penn Central white worms as well

Right know, I don't care if the make scrub buckets and mops. As long as they stay open.

That shipped sailed. Mr, Wolf is fast headed out. And the building is sold and the rest is all but gone, I appreciate and salute Mike Wolf and his team for all that they have done for this hobby and for all of us. They have all to do with my love of tinplate and standard gauge.  It is a shame that a complete sale couldn’t have been executed that would provide what was the end game goal and preserve these jobs for this wonderful team and all this wonderful rail fun. I’m sure, and hope, that Mr, Wolf is taking care of these valuable people. So many things are probably in play that make most of this thread simply wishful thinking. The HO and S scale tooling I believe I read have been sold. The rest will probably come soon. I do also agree that I hope they release additional electronics supporting parts and more rail but I doubt that will occur. I’m done venting now.

If I knew there were parts and dcs available I would want:

Maryland and Pennsylvania switcher set (there is very little rolling stock or engines for the Ma&Pa)

Chessie Es44ac rail king or premier

Imperial CSX fantasy es44/sd70 with Bright future and earlier liveries

I hope the company or tooling/dcs lives on. The premier es44 that is o42 min curve, imperial es44/sd70, and railking steam/scale are an area of the hobby largely ignored by Lionel

Erie Lackawanna GP35

Anything New Jersey Transit....because after MTH is gone no one will make it

Yeah, there are a lot of things to wish for. What I really wish for is that the toy train market could support an innovative manufacturer who has provided us with the golden age of toy trains. In terms of choices, we never had it so good. In terms of cost, you know what will happen without MTH. I am grateful that I got to enjoy these golden years. I remember the toy train choices we had in the early '90s, and I suspect the next few years will even be worse because there is no Weaver or K-Line. And I don't think I'm normally a "glass is empty" type of guy.

May Mike enjoy his golf and Dolphins! He's earned it.

Gerry

@Bossman284 posted:

Anything New Jersey Transit....because after MTH is gone no one will make it

3rd Rail is offering a scale E60CH in NJT.  I have one on pre-order.  Perfect as they came to NJT within a year of Comet II's arriving.

Another run of DCS Remotes and Rev L TIU's and another run of priemier Blue and Grey Amtrak Genesis.

What hasn't been said in all the posts I've seen on this topic leads me to conclude a sad reality:

IF you WERE making money you would likely find a buyer, as long as the buyer thought the future business was viable.

IF you WERE making money, and you didn't find a buyer, it's hard to believe you wouldn't install a management team and step back and "retire" but retain ownership, and collect some money for a while.

IF you WERE NOT making money, you would likely not find a buyer, at least not for the whole company as-is UNLESS someone thought they could make changes to come into profitability and still have a going concern.  To do that, a prospective buyer would engage in a due diligence process before making an offer to buy the business.  That due diligence would include a careful financial and market review.

IF you weren't making money for some time, you would likely sell off any assets possible to try to make as good an exit as possible.  Hmmmm... auctions, S/HO scale tooling, building, etc.

There are always some subtle benefits in business ownership, such as tax advantages and cash flow for example, but ultimately even those aren't usually enough if you aren't at least nearing break even.

So, I can only conclude that despite how much we all LOVE MTH, the business isn't really viable and perhaps hasn't been for some time.  So SAD!

@Brad Trout posted:

What hasn't been said in all the posts I've seen on this topic leads me to conclude a sad reality:

IF you WERE making money you would likely find a buyer, as long as the buyer thought the future business was viable.

IF you WERE making money, and you didn't find a buyer, it's hard to believe you wouldn't install a management team and step back and "retire" but retain ownership, and collect some money for a while.

IF you WERE NOT making money, you would likely not find a buyer, at least not for the whole company as-is UNLESS someone thought they could make changes to come into profitability and still have a going concern.  To do that, a prospective buyer would engage in a due diligence process before making an offer to buy the business.  That due diligence would include a careful financial and market review.

IF you weren't making money for some time, you would likely sell off any assets possible to try to make as good an exit as possible.  Hmmmm... auctions, S/HO scale tooling, building, etc.

There are always some subtle benefits in business ownership, such as tax advantages and cash flow for example, but ultimately even those aren't usually enough if you aren't at least nearing break even.

So, I can only conclude that despite how much we all LOVE MTH, the business isn't really viable and perhaps hasn't been for some time.  So SAD!

Brad,

Well stated!!  Its too bad we weren't flies on the wall to overhead important Mike Wolf and other MTH nabobs conversations, re: "we're barely keeping afloat because [insert reason]".  I imagine the pandemic was a killer (no pun intended) as far as the well heeled suddenly A) dying (or family member) of Covid, B) handed a pink slip C) toys just getting too expensive D) Finding a new "bright glittery" hobby to spend money on. E) You fill in the blank.

As always, my 2.5 cents

I’m going to add on to the above with one more possibility that might fit given what little I know of Mr, Wolf. He watched Mr Lionel and his heirs watch their name continue on in ways they would not have approved of. I had a grandfather who once sold a business just before WWII and forever regretted selling it for what became of it. His business name continued on but with lesser service and poorly maintained equipment. When retiring from a second successful business in the 1970s he chose to simply liquidate so as to not have his own name (this time his own) once again being diminished by a potential subsequent owner. I believe that pride of one’s professional accomplishment may have outweighed any possible financial gain. I do not understand this perspective, but I can the desire to not harm their own legacy. Like all of you, I have no idea what Mr. Wolf is thinking. But I do know, that I sure appreciate all the joy that his products and vision have provided me,

I would like to see another run of Chicagoland's Metra engines and bi-level cars (early and later versions), CNW bi-level cars, and more of the awesome CTA sets.  Add-on cars for these sets, too.

I purchased a back-up DCS remote and TIU from the final run... just in case.  Call it irrational but it seemed like fairly reasonable insurance to make sure I can run my MTH PS 2 and PS3 engines for a long time.

@WRW posted:

I’m going to add on to the above with one more possibility that might fit given what little I know of Mr, Wolf. He watched Mr Lionel and his heirs watch their name continue on in ways they would not have approved of. I had a grandfather who once sold a business just before WWII and forever regretted selling it for what became of it. His business name continued on but with lesser service and poorly maintained equipment. When retiring from a second successful business in the 1970s he chose to simply liquidate so as to not have his own name (this time his own) once again being diminished by a potential subsequent owner. I believe that pride of one’s professional accomplishment may have outweighed any possible financial gain. I do not understand this perspective, but I can the desire to not harm their own legacy. Like all of you, I have no idea what Mr. Wolf is thinking. But I do know, that I sure appreciate all the joy that his products and vision have provided me,

I certainly agree that considering one's legacy is important.  But I would balance that against Mr. Wolf's business savvy and entrepreneurial spirit.  For him to start up then build a multi-million dollar business over 40 years, I suspect he has lots of both attributes.  If I know entrepreneurs (and I was one), the ability to make money usually trumps most else, all else being relatively equal.