Regarding MTH Steam locos to be "true to scale" MTH takes liberties with their models to get them to operate on 3 rail with wide tires. I have a very nice MTH WM Challenger that I converted to 2 rail several years ago and I use it as a display model when I give a talk on 2 rail conversions. Looking closely at the model you will notice that the piston rods do not go into the center of the cylinder heads but are somewhat outboard so the side rods on the wide 3 rail drivers will clear the crossheads. If you are a purest insisting on P-48 fidelity you may not want an MTH "2 rail" model. I have had many modelers see my Challenger on my table at various shows and think it is a C&LS model. I am quite satisfied with my standard O gauge models and all of the MTH locos I have converted to 2 rail (many) perform smoothly and will probably outlast a brass import in operation. BUT P-48 fidelity? No!
Joe Foehrkolb
Baldwin Forge & Machine
