What is MTH today

I am disappointed as well but it is better than oblivion like Weaver and K-Line. There's always hope for the future that maybe some day they will be more like the old MTH.

MTH is smaller but still making some very nice products.  The recently released Premier Pacifics and Mikados are very nice with a whistle effect that I prefer over Lionels.

The world has changed and big catalogs are going the way of Sears and their Wishbook.   The days of Lionel's Big Books are probably numbered.

I have been purchasing mostly MTH model trains since I returned to the hobby in the PS1 era, but these days I'm not finding much that I want to buy, and that goes for Lionel too. MTH seems to have sold the tooling for some of their finest models to Atlas and Lionel, and they aren't producing anything new to replace them. They also haven't been offering special runs of locomotives and rolling stock for my railroads of interest, possibly because there are few dealers in New England to sponsor them. So, I've been buying much less than before. That is probably a good thing. I feel that Lionel now has no strong competition in the marketplace and its prices for Legacy have gotten too high for me.

MELGAR

Well it all cost a lot of money. If you have a few million sitting around, you can always start your own company, and makes what you want

I offered here a few weeks ago that I am an MTH fan but thought some modest investments to update the website and organize the new product into an online catalog would be a sign that they are sticking around.  I say that as someone who has spent a lot of money on their product the last few years.

@Stephen G posted:

What’s has MTH become.  No catalog, nothing but uncatalog rolling stock and diesels every once in a while.  Don’t get me wrong, I still appreciate that they are still producing something.  Just disappointed in the way they are doing it.  Surely not the old MTH.  That’s change for you.  Lionel has hardly any competition.

Would you prefer they went away all together?…….Shouldn't we be praising Rich Foster & the very tiny skeleton crew that are making an attempt to keep it alive??….perhaps YOU can open your wallet and do such a better job!?….beings it’s so disappointing, …….

Pat

At least they took the time and /or money and had Mike Reagan revamp the parts site.

A bunch of parts disappeared from Lionels site weeks ago with no mention why.

Lionels catalog was released the other day. Plenty of folks were still unhappy for one reason or another.

I think you gotta find the good in this niche hobby where you can.

@RickO posted:

At least they took the time and /or money and had Mike Reagan revamp the parts site.

A bunch of parts disappeared from Lionels site weeks ago with no mention why.

Lionels catalog was released the other day. Plenty of folks were still unhappy for one reason or another.

I think you gotta find the good in this niche hobby where you can.

Yeah!…..and the good is the fact MTH is still around!!……it’s literally a skeleton crew!!……I work for Mike, so I know!……Rich Foster is doing a phenomenal job given what he’s got to work with,……..and yet the whiners want more without thinking for one second the position these folks are in,…….I say again, those that think MTH needs to do more,……step up to the plate, open your wallet, instead of your yapper…..😉

Pat

I am still a big MTH fan and supporter. I picked up 3 of the Pacifics, a Z4000 and have 2  diesels  on order. Ordered and received 5 PS3 Steam upgrade kits and have 4 diesel kits on order and any part I have needed has been in stock and  received  with in a couple of days so I think what Rich  and crew have done is great. They also installed the replacement P5a shell on my locomotive.  As long as they produce items I like and want and support the limited product they sell I will stick with them. I have not gotten into Lionel because I do not want to have to invest in a system to run their locomotives and reading about some of the issues folks have had with new Lionel along with the prices I will stand pat on what I have.

To answer the posters question, there are YouTube videos to summarize the company as of today.

On another note: Every day MTH Electric Trains has Special Announcements. I look forward to this. I must wonder, is anyone ordering any of this stuff? I see repeated reminder announcements and new arriving items on ebay by dealers, this kind of supports my question. In addition, how is this affecting competitors sales?

The parts ordering has been outstanding! I even received parts that were not listed by request. Just fantastic. Hats off to M.H. for his continuous support even on a tiny item needed! Lionel is always out of stock on things that I seek like X31 door guides that fall off, missing or broken PS4 ramp parts. No plug doors either.

On offerings announced so far, is I only purchased 3 items since it started. My other concern is they lost a lot of the better diesels and cars to Atlas. Most of the stuff, especially R.K. I have no interest in. But I always look anyway, you never know, there might be something new next time?

As long as MTH keeps producing items I’m interested in, I’ll buy them.  I’ve bought several MTH items over the last few years.  Keep ‘em coming, MTH!

@SIRT posted:

To answer the posters question, there are YouTube videos to summarize the company as of today.

On another note: Every day MTH Electric Trains has Special Announcements. I look forward to this. I must wonder, is anyone ordering any of this stuff? I see repeated reminder announcements and new arriving items on ebay by dealers, this kind of supports my question. In addition, how is this affecting competitors sales?

On offerings announced so far, is I only purchased 3 items since it started. My other concern is they lost a lot of the better diesels and cars to Atlas. Most of the stuff, especially R.K. I have no interest in. But I always look anyway, you never know, there might be something new next time?

I've ordered several different reefers that have been announced here by forum sponsors and a PRR Baldwin VO-1000 from Beth. I think they aren't due in for a little while yet.

There's one Swift steel sided reefer I'm still waiting on which I ordered over a year ago and I thought was due last spring but haven't heard if it was delivered. Other than that all the products have been great.

@Ray Lombardo posted:

I offered here a few weeks ago that I am an MTH fan but thought some modest investments to update the website and organize the new product into an online catalog would be a sign that they are sticking around.  I say that as someone who has spent a lot of money on their product the last few years.

There were some definite upgrades to the main MTH site as the product search is vastly faster than it was.

The new MTH parts site is amazing. A huge improvement over what they had previously and better than Lionel's IMHO. Also, MTH parts arrive really fast! Lionel's orders take forever and they've repeatedly gotten orders wrong or sent me parts that didn't work.

This is probably the best part for all the whiners ……the OP didn’t even take the blessed second to even realize, as small as MTH has become, …..THEY STILL ARE A FORUM SPONSOR!!!!!……So!….right next to the complaint, there’s this!…..smooth move fellas!!…..I never understood why some of you cats happily shoot yourselves in the foot!!…..

Pat

I became a big MTH fan in 1998 when I found out that they existed. For all these years they produced trains that were of interest to me. Scale sized quality trains at a fair price. When they were to close it was like a kick in gut to me. I was very upset about it but after all it is a business. So just to explain what I meant in my post when I said I was disappointed: I was disappointed with the fact that Mike couldn't find a buyer or a successor to keep the company as it was. I am very happy that MTH did not go away all together and I am very appreciative of the efforts of the few people who are keeping it going. I wish MTH didn't sell so much tooling. I have bought some of the MTH cars released over this time through Mr.Muffins. Seriously, if my last name was Rockefeller I would have made a generous offer for the entire company.

By selling off some assets, such as tooling, etc., this surely gave the “new to us” MTH the breathing room it needed to keep the lights on……with that said, all is not lost …….no??…….the tools live on, Atlas, Lionel, and some other vendors in other gauges are putting them to work as we speak, I’m sure……it was a bold move, and one that should be commended, not condemned,……there’s another way this could have played out, …..lights out, doors locked, tools sold off for scrap and made into toaster ovens…..😬

Pat

It's an entirely different company than it was as noted. But that's true of Lionel in some ways, and the world in general.  Change is inevitable.  Mike Wolf says he spends one hour a day on the company.  I'm guessing that's about 1/10th of the typical time he spent on the company over the years.  It seems clear that the company is in transition.  To what no one knows.   What happens when Rich Foster decides to retire, for example?  No one knows, including Mike Wolf and Rich Foster, is my suggestion.  For the moment, as folks have stated, be grateful for what you have.  The future ain't guaranteed for anyone.

There is, in the desert, a bird that soars above all the day long, looking for something dead, or dying, upon which it can eat.

There is in that same desert another much smaller bird that flits about among select cacti, alighting, and extracting nectar from the blossom upon which it dines.

Same environment. Same conditions. They both find what they're looking for.

I read the above decades ago and made me realize that if I fall into the trap of looking for the bad in anything, I'll find it every time.

OR, I can look for the good and extract that from it.

I try to do the latter, but sometimes I fall short.

Andre

The absence of a once-or-twice-a-year catalog does not mean there is no business. It simply means that MTH has found that they can produce and market new trains without the expense of printing a big catalog. I see nothing wrong with that.

As well as being relieved of the expense (property taxes, utilities) of a large headquarters and product sitting in a warehouse waiting to be sold. Much reduced costs in a smaller facility that I presume is leased, and the dealer network shoulders the burden of storing until sale/shipment the limited quantities they order/commission, on top of the regular-issue releases that are available to the entire dealer network.

Not to mention their builder, who is able to support smaller MTH runs with AtlasO's production being made in their factory.

Myself, off the top of my head I have pre-orders in for the plated cylindrical hoppers (2 each of Santa Fe and Union Pacific) from Train Loft , one of the B&A cabooses from J&R Junction, and a BNSF AC4400CW from MrMuffin's. I'm also looking at least one of the recently announced RailKing Airslide hoppers, which are only a hair smaller than their Premier counterparts.

---PCJ

The lack of a catalog does not bother me at all. Sunset/3rd Rail does not print a catalog. They have continued to make interesting models of good quality and I have bought quite a few of them. What does bother me is too few MTH offerings - either new or remakes - for the railroads that I model. And I'm reluctant to buy the other brand... Lack of effective competition is a problem, in my opinion.

MELGAR

@harmonyards posted:

Would you prefer they went away all together?

Is the current situation "good"?  No.

Is it acceptable for the present time?  Yes, reluctantly.

Pat's correct.  MTH could have gone away altogether; and it still may if sales dry up.

Complain if you must, but keep buying while you're doing it.

Mike

It seems like the new business model is working for them. Newly-released items are already sold out. They can produce and sell trains with the smaller infrastructure, but can they stand behind what they sell? Right now, I have 2 items that have gone back to MTH for warranty work, so time will tell.

My major concern has always been the total lack of factory support after the sale.  I hope they move back to a model that has factory warranty support, that would go a long ways toward easing many folks concerns about long term viability.

My biggest concern is replacement parts availability. MTH seems to have an issue with this. But so does Lionel and Atlas.

How many of us have product that is way out of warranty and only "one derailment away" from those products needing major repair (when was the last time someone was able to buy a PS3 board from MTH?).

I've seen several forums post where owners of broken MTH engines are suggested to convert their engines to ERR/TMCC. That seems to be a sign of the times....aka "the new normal". I also read a thread where an engine owner converted their engine to DCC.

IMHO...buying parts seem to be similar to shopping at a grocery store. You spot something you need at the store. You only need one but you buy 5 because the store may not get that item again any time soon...if at all.

It's all not good....not good at all.

@Junior posted:

My biggest concern is replacement parts availability. MTH seems to have an issue with this. But so does Lionel and Atlas.

How many of us have product that is way out of warranty and only "one derailment away" from those products needing major repair (when was the last time someone was able to buy a PS3 board from MTH?).

I've seen several forums post where owners of broken MTH engines are suggested to convert their engines to ERR/TMCC. That seems to be a sign of the times....aka "the new normal". I also read a thread where an engine owner converted their engine to DCC.

IMHO...buying parts seem to be similar to shopping at a grocery store. You spot something you need at the store. You only need one but you buy 5 because the store may not get that item again any time soon...if at all.

It's all not good....not good at all.

The parts side of the equation is beginning to get into a good rhythm, …..it’s already 1000 times better than it used to be, thanks to Mike Reagan, ……we’re constantly pushing to get all the parts sorted, cataloged, and into your hands,…..a lot has to happen to get parts from a pallet in the warehouse, to your workbench!!….as far as electronics, y’all know nobody is immune to the component shortages, once it gets caught up, things will improve ……

Pat

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

My major concern has always been the total lack of factory support after the sale.  I hope they move back to a model that has factory warranty support, that would go a long ways toward easing many folks concerns about long term viability.

GRJ, that is the single biggest concern I have with buying MTH products-- warranty and support.   MTH did not even return an e-mail I submitted to their web site on an issue I had. Their warranty states they can only do exchanges or refunds, I think.  No service.  Fortunately, for the few small problems I have had, I've resolved them through help on this forum thanks to guys like you.  I've been fortunate.  I can honestly say I have not had many issues with MTH products, and I have been collecting for over 25 years. 

I guess their closing announcement shocked me into jumping all in while I can.  I've bought several engines from their last catalogs, several used mint engines and a few custom run engines.  I, too, open every MTH email with positive enthusiasm and hope they keep going.  It's a build to order system and if that allows them to keep going, count me in.

I do miss their catalogs and am reminded of this every time Lionel releases a new one -- like  just this week. I'm not whining, just reminiscing with warm memories.

Mike

MTH IMO there engines mechanically are superior to Lionel but as others have stated.   No support for a issue that might pop up six months or what ever down the road, is a no to me buying anything other than rolling stock.  

What ever Mike Wolf was think when he decided to retire, he really screwed the pooch.  Turn something into a shell of its former glory.  Am I glad they are still around, **** yes.  I have lots of woodsided cabooses on order.  Hopefully someday they can recapture some of the former glory.

Even though there engines are superior, they to lack support and warranty.  But Lionel is having the same issue’s.

As a repair person I am thrilled to be able to find out if the part is in stock, and if it is that I'm going to receive it the same week!  Previously I couldn't tell a customer if the part was in stock, when it would arrive - and they didn't believe that a phone call / email was a waste of time.  Let's just say I don't miss the person service centers had to go through for those that are in the know.

It's not perfect, but light years better than where MTH was.  Remember there is 40 years of past to work through.

Jim

I started buying MTH with the Dash-8.  However I had been buying Mike's influence since he took over quality control of production at Williams.  I was buying his influence on Brass engine production at Weaver.  I bought his production control on the engines he made for Lionel.  When he announced the Challenger, which unleashed a flood of engine production that we will never see again, I bought those also.

I also was not happy when the word came that the world as we knew it was over.  However, if Mike never comes off the golf course again, he has done more and faster than anyone that came before him in this hobby.  I suggest we cut him some slack and enjoy what we have.

I have 46 MTH Premier 36' reefers on order arriving soon .  I also have several other pieces of MTH rolling stock on pre-order.  Fortunately for me, I have all the engines that I will ever need.  I would be leery of ordering an engine that basically has no support.

@rplst8 posted:

There were some definite upgrades to the main MTH site as the product search is vastly faster than it was.

The new MTH parts site is amazing. A huge improvement over what they had previously and better than Lionel's IMHO. Also, MTH parts arrive really fast! Lionel's orders take forever and they've repeatedly gotten orders wrong or sent me parts that didn't work.

This is a good point.  The parts side is excellent. Not to say the retail side is bad - I appreciate the smaller footprint concept - it just in some respects seems like there are some straightforward loose ends that could be improved.

Well put Bill. Mike Wolf was one of the few owners who sat on stool at York meets year after year listened to customers complements as well as complaints.as well as his other long time employees. Great producer of new and better accessories and operating system. He would be catching helicopter while talking to you. Thanks Mike & crew for the memories .Good luck in future.

There new parts sight is nothing short of beautiful. I have lots of mth engines steam and diesel. I just purchased two new wired tethers for back ups.

all the preimer steam I have run like swiss watches. they were built like tanks in the drive train department along with pittman motors I might add.

the old wired tether may not look that great but it works. one of my engines has one tether where the rubber was cracked exposing the individual wires. I fixed it with shrink wrap.

this promted me it was time to get a few of these on hand for the future. all I can say is mth has parts and there new parts sight thanks to mike is like the old lionel sight. easy to find and you can see the part you need in a picture. this way you know thats the part you need.

I can't say that about lionel at the present. there new parts sight is a downgrade IMO an parts I need are always out of stock. example: my legacy lionmaster challenger needs a new motor. I cant find one that fits 😫  so now its a shelf queen.

as far as new mth products. I have a new gp9 and a new rs1 both are outstanding models and look and sound amazing. I got a new preimer box car and it looks and coupers funtion great also. so mth may not have all the sometimes gimmicky bells and whistles like lionel ,but they just work. they are just solid workhorses and run forever at least for me. so I am glad they are still going.

@harmonyards posted:

Yeah!…..and the good is the fact MTH is still around!!……it’s literally a skeleton crew!!……I work for Mike, so I know!……Rich Foster is doing a phenomenal job given what he’s got to work with,……..and yet the whiners want more without thinking for one second the position these folks are in,…….I say again, those that think MTH needs to do more,……step up to the plate, open your wallet, instead of your yapper…..😉

Pat

I again, want to thank you guys for all the help! I've got parts that I never got before. I got a set of gears that were unobtainium.

I liked the original MTH and I like the new one too. I wish them all great success. I think all of you should too. Hey, what do I know.

Ok, now the replies.....

I agree that MTH still being around to some degree is better than nothing, which I really wish was not the case for K-Line of all companies but even for a while after the announcement I was still hearing people say that MTH has shut down, when that is obviously not what happened. Maybe it's just people getting the news later than others, but personally sometimes I do believe people are being a bit over the top about the state of MTH today.

I have never had an issue with Lionel parts, service and sales. For the most part up u too a few years ago I could say the same for MTH. Have you tried to get a replacement board for a PS3 \ PS2 engine in the last 18 months? Darn near impossible and they know it's an issus. Parts and after sale support rule just talk to any high quality manufacturer. Trains, appliances, cars doesn't matter, support rules my buy.

@PSU1980 posted:

I have never had an issue with Lionel parts, service and sales. For the most part up u too a few years ago I could say the same for MTH. Have you tried to get a replacement board for a PS3 \ PS2 engine in the last 18 months? Darn near impossible and they know it's an issus. Parts and after sale support rule just talk to any high quality manufacturer. Trains, appliances, cars doesn't matter, support rules my buy.

Try getting an R4LC, DCDS, DCDE, RS4, RS5, RS5.5, or RS6 board from Lionel. There one day, gone the next.