I understand and respect your feelings Rusty. I just have a really bad taste in my mouth (and chip on my shoulder) for vertical motored locos that carries over from my O scale days. From my personal experiences (yes, I owned some Atlas GP-9's and still own some beautiful Lionel scale F3's converted to 2R) the final drive gear ratio produced by the "China Drive" is too high to allow really smooth starts or realistic top speeds. I understand for most 3R and many Hi-Rail S operators this isn't a problem, but for someone who likes to switch or enjoys realistic starting and stopping locos.....it is.
I undertand the "China Drive" can be slowed down and jack rabbit starts smoothed out a little with modern electronics or wiring the two motors in parallel, but the correct final drive gear ratio would eliminate the problem completely. If it's physically impossible to change the ratio they should say so, but if its only because they don't want too change it, then I can't support them with my $$$. I doubt if I ever buy any more "China Drive" locos regardless of who imports them.
I've got my fingers crossed that MTH won't compromise the SHS line of locos with vertical motors like Atlas did with Red Caboose and P&D.
But, as you said, we'll have to wait and see.
Butch
