Is Anyone Intrested in MTH European Trains?

Hi Nicks Trains,

I have several clients who have taken a shine to the MTH European models.  One is a gentleman who grew up in Switzerland and remembers being with his father guarding the Gotthard Pass during WWII and watching the Crocodile electrics climbing through the spiral tunnels.  Another has traveled in Europe and seen some the engines MTH has modeled in museums and in excursion service.  Others have purchased some of the engines, particularly the French steamers, simply because of the amazing level of detail.

The MTH models, some of which are 1:43.5 and others 1:45, are scaled to match the taste of 0 scale modelers in their respective countries.  In the UK and France 1:43.5 is the preferred scale where as in Germany and several other countries 1:45 is considered the "correct" scale.  Most European prototypes are/were smaller than their American contemporaries.  For instance, the LMS Princess Coronation 4-6-2 engine was just under 74 feet long with tender, where as the PRR K-4 Pacific was 84 feet long.  In 1:43.5 scale that makes the Princess Coronation 20.4in long vs. a 1:48 K-4 at 21in.  The 1:43.5 Princess Coronation "looks" like its about the same size when in real life it was much smaller than a K-4.

Yes, have the Chapelon and the S3/6.  Looking forward to the BR44 freight monster.

I also have a BR 50 and an Austrian engine (can't think of the # now) in G Scale both from KM1.  The detail and smoke system on these engines is fantastic.

Watch this video, run in 240P.  This is a BR23 run from his smart phone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrVQ4Xu9CBI

MTH are great smokers also.

Interesting, but why are they SO expensive? $1,500 is too much money. Do they have to make new tooling or something? It's ridicules.

I Love the Princess series engines. Don't want to pay for it! Are there matching cars for the set? Post a video of the engine, I'd like to hear it.

European prototypes tend to be physically smaller than their US cousins, so the different scales used tend to make eveything look approximately the same.

Yes, MTH had to make new tooling for the European models.  Any new model requires new tooling.

Rusty

The Crocodile is on my to get list at some point.  I also wouldn't mid having a steam powered Orient Express either.

I have a green croc and love it. I'm fascinated by how differently the wheels turn and the horn sound as well. I am a diesel and electric fan, but this past weekend I purchased a Duchess of Montrose LMS steam engine. I've run it little and am still deciding if it's a keeper. I took a leap and want to check it out over the weekend.

I have a few MTH LMS passenger cars in cream/maroon.

And am looking forward to the new style crocs coming out by MTH in a month or so. Looking, but haven't put the $ where the desire is.

Terry

I'll have to make a video of mine! I have yet to get the matching cars. I want the BR red/cream coaches. The other option is the LMS maroon.

Danish model maker Heljan makes really nice models for the European modeler.

Absolutely! There is everything to love about these models. Take a look at the detail on this 241-A. This is a very beautiful train.

SO MUCH DETAIL!!!

Hi Guys,

Rummaging around YouTube I came across a video of a Gauge 1 (Spur 1) BR 44 that MTH promises to bring in O Gauge.  Anyone know when these will be available? These Gauge 1 engines are fantastic!  I wonder if MTH will offer the unique hoppers that are shown in the video?  I really enjoy watching that video at the 2:40 mark. Really outstanding!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXSMsEGZlBo

Steve

I think it is awesome that these are 1:43!  

I don't have the resources right now, but in the future I think I will eventually buy the Chapelon pacific steamer.

They're very nice models, but not my thing.

Here is a video of the princess series engines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTZKOwENj-I

When MTH started producing Euro engines, I new it would just be a matter of time before they produced BR engines.  Patience was rewarded but the cost.  I can't/won't run with the big dogs regarding these engines. MTH, I know you've got cost's and overhead, etc, but $1500.00?  Oh, well.

The MTH BR44 is due to ship this Oct 2014 and has a list price of $1,399.99 but you can order from most hobby shops and get a price below list. I have a couple MTH Euro steam engines and like other post they are very detail and great engines. Even the Euro boxcars have a ton of added detail. 

This will be a very tempting purchase; one of the largest German freight engines if not the largest.

Looks to be very detailed.

I have an G Scale KM1 BR50, Deutsche Bundesbahn, engine, exceptional sound and smoke, even from the front cylinders,  and am awaiting a PIKO G Scale BR 64 ( think they received a Product of the Year award for this engine) with their digital decoder and sound installed from their factory in California.

They are really great looking and the passenger cars are outstanding! But I do not think i am ready for anything other then USA trains at this time. Also the cost is out of my budget!

You know what I like about them? They show us what MTH can do with new tooling if they chose to. The steam especially seems more/better detailed than the rehashed US prototype tooling that we get. And if you look at their passenger cars vs. ours it looks like two different companies made them... they are very nice. Makes me wish I liked European trains.

Jonnyspeed. I couldn"t agree with you more.

MTH is to be applauded for making this range. I wish Lionel would do more than the Potter loco and all it's variations. MTH claim the Chapelon is their biggest ever selling loco, so sales outside of the US are obviously going well. I have bought most of the European and British models produced so far, they are superb and great value for money.

I might have become interested in European 3-Rail when MTH announced the Nohab, but then they cancelled it. Oh well, I guess they just saved me a bunch of money!

Bill in FtL 

I hope they offer the Flying Scottsman. I have seen the restoration work on the Flying Scottsman at York, a very nice loco.Saw a princess class steaming east of London last year, spectactular.

If not, I may have to buy a princess class loco and coaches.

One thing that helps the sales of the locos in Europe is our weak dollar. They are a bargin.

Fred

l had the opportunity to live in the UK for 3 years. Even better yet, my office looked out over a busy maintenance yard and commuter operation north of London. The high speed 'west coast'  passenger line out of London to Glasgow passed through there as well. There was plenty of action of all types - freight, long distance passenger and commuter. I made extensive use of commuter and passenger services for both business and pleasure while I lived there - still do every time I go back.

On weekends in the summer there were plenty of historic excursion options using restored equipment. Museums or displays of old equipment were also quite prevalent. Live steam operations in big and small scales was hugely popular with people of all ages from all walks of life. It wasn't just in England, either. An infatuation by hobbyists and historians with all things steam or railway-related was quite true of much of Europe. 

In Europe trains are much more a part of people's daily lives. I think it is because of this that I found interest in model railroading to be more popular there as well. It was easy to find shops and clubs all over the place. MTH was starting to gain a following, too. I think MTH made a very smart business decision in marketing trains that people across the pond will like (albeit mainly in 2-rail). I honestly don't think we are the ultimate target market for these trains, but the 3-rail option certainly is a benefit for those here that do appreciate them. 

Now if MTH would produce a London Tube set (preferably Metropolitan Line), Eurostar or Virgin Rail, I would happily jump in as well! 

Hello Audi.  I was just getting ready to list my Sunset 3rd Rail "Flying Scotsman" for sale.

It has TMCC, Rail Sounds 4 and syncronized puffing smoke and in in mint condition.

Only test run for about 5 minutes since I purchased it new, directly from 3rd Rail.

if you are interested we can make a deal  .

I tried to use the e-mail in your profile but it cam back as not valid.

Thank you

Bart Zuccala

"daylight" on the forum 

I like the MTH Euro models and have acquired three: 

-- The French 241A with a set of five Orient Express cars

-- A green Krokodil with a few Swiss beer reefers and boxcars

-- A Swiss Cargo electric with a string of tank cars

I'm still on the fence about the new German 2-10-0. Looks fantastic, but very, very expensive. In any case, I think I will wait until they make some cars for it. The selection of cars for the existing freight engines is very limited, and so far there is nothing to go with either the German Decapod or the French Mikado.

The detail is fantastic. However, on the Croc especially the detail is so fragile that I hesitate to take it to the museum open house to run it for the public. Any handling at all puts some of the detail at risk. Several of my freight cars have come from the factory with detail parts broken off, and parts are NOT available.

The other drawback is one common to all MTH electrics - the automatic pantograph mechanism tends to get out of adjustment and stop working. I have about 6 MTH electrics with this feature and on only two of them do both pans work correctly. It's a bear to fix because you can't operate the pan assembly outside the unit to test it so you can't watch the operation to see what's wrong. 

The Orient Express cars are beautiful - some of the best passenger cars I have ever seen. With the gleaming brass boiler bands on the 241A, it's a spectacular train.