PRRronbh posted:breezinup posted:stangerdude posted:My understanding on the ditch light issue is that if the real deal prototype exist today such as UP 949 and the NS F7's that are run on tracks for excursion trains etc., they are required to have ditch lights. This is most likely the reason that MTH installed them on these fine locomotives. They (MTH) may be producing these locomotives as they look today in service. I may be wrong and someone correct me if I am but this may be the answer. I recall reading an article about this.
Well, yes, that's what all the discussion has been about. But who knows why MTH did what they did? It certainly wasn't what they had advertised. The pictures of the engines in the 2016 Vol. 1 catalog, where the pictures of the engines are on the cover as well as inside, show NO ditch lights on any of the engines. And while most of the engines ended up with ditch lights, yet the Wabash has none. (!?)
Also, the description of the engines in the catalog says: "The E8 returns to the Premier line for 2016 in paint schemes from the golden age of passenger travel. Protosound 3.0 brings you the authentic sounds of the E8s EMD prime mover and the ability to start your train so gently you won't spill the water in the diner - and then accelerate to scale speeds over 100 mph, just like the prototype."
So does all of this look and sound like they were intending to make modern excursion train versions, and not the prototypical original engines?
Nope.
The 2016 volume 1 MTH catalog cover depicted a replication of the NCTM "Streamliner" Event here with toy train graphics. The Erie 833 had no ditch-lights and the UP 849 had duel headlights and no ditch-lights. On the catalog pages none of the E's had ditch-lights and was NOT clear if the Wabash had duel headlights.
Right after seeing this catalog I emailed one of the MTH VP's suggesting that they make the "Event" units both with and without ditch-lights as appropriate. They had the tooling for both versions (Levin Pennsy E8's had ditch-lights) so no big deal. Received NO reply.
Then here on this forum I expressed that those like myself contact MTH with their own wishes for these units. I know that at least on member who has also posted here did.
Obviously MTH decided to go with ditch-lights as appropriate.?!
I for one would only buy the Southern 6900 as a contemporary unit as it runs here at the NCTM. But believe MTH should have made them both ways.
Here are a couple more images from the "Event."
Wabash with NO ditch-lights.
The UP 849 single headlight.
Ron
ps. I should add Southern (and Pennsy for that matter) had NO,None E8 B-units!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh! these are the Levin units at the "Event.'
The lead unit with ditch-lights attached.
the trailing unit with ditch-lights detached!
Thanks Ron for the clarity in this post! As I said earlier, I believe that MTH was trying to recreate the engines that were at the Streamliner at Spencer event. Why do people on this forum get bent out of shape over ditchlights? It's been proven time and again with pictures that the engines DO exist with ditchlights. My opinion is vote with your wallet. If you don't like the engines with ditchlights attached, don't purchase it...............rogerw.
