MTH GE EVOLUTION Premier vs Rail King?

I have the Railking, not both, but my LHS has both next to each other on the shelf. Appearance and functionally, they are exactly the same. The RK is only an inch or two shorter than the Premier. Both have flashing lights. The RK will run on 0-31, I think the Premier will run on 0-42, maybe 0-54. Of course, the RK is cheaper.

Also of note, the first run of the Premier units came with a matching baggage/engineering laboratory car. The Premier loco/lab car set, to my knowledge, have not been done again. MTH did paint up a standard RK streamlined baggage car as a special, uncataloged product. I was able to find one of the RK baggage/lab cars and run it when I run my RK loco. MTH has also made various freight cars sized for the RK version, including a caboose.

Premier if you want something that is scale size and more realistic. 

Railking has the exact same features as the Premier except it is highly detailed and the Railking can navigate smaller curves for about 100-125 dollars cheaper 

If you buy the railking you may be sorry you dint get the premier unless you run on smaller than O54. If you buy the Premier you will never be sorry you got the nicer loco

I bought the imperial version and am quit happy with it. I have a mix of cars so it works well for me. same as the Halloween and Christmas version of this engine

Joe gozzo

I bought the Premier version when it first was offered, with the extra lab car.  The specs are interesting... the Premier engine runs on O-36, but the lab car is spec'ed at O-42.  I run my Premier on O-36 with absolutely no issues!

We run it a lot on our modular layout and everyone really likes the colors and the charging lights.  I was interested in getting the Railking version at York.  Trainworld had a great deal, but we weren't sure about whether it had the charging lights.. couldn't find 'em on the side of the loco.  Ken let me take it over to the MTH booth and they showed me where they are.  You really have to look close to see the edge of the circuit board where they are mounted! Sold!

If someone is looking for the add on lab car, I have a brand new one from the Premier "set", never run (never opened).  Let me know.....

Ed

I have the railking version with very little run time if you would want to buy it. I'm changing to all scale stuff and would like to sale it.

Unless its changed recently, railking 3axle trucks have the horrible flange less wheel on the inside of the truck and 1 pickup roller.....I will not buy  rail king  for these 2 reasons.

I bought the Premier set with scale wheels, plus the extra test car (which I still haven't converted). If you have the minimum required curves, get the Premier. If you have smaller curves, you'll be very happy with the Rail King version. The Premier version can also switch between 3-rail and 2-rail operation and can also be set to run on DCC.

Sorry for bring up an old post, but maybe many of you have more information.  I just purchase, but haven't received the MTH Christmas Imperial Rail King 30-20430-1.  I know it is not scale, but I need it to navigate smaller curves and not look too ridiculous.  This is for just under the tree, which basically is all I can do without moving to a new home.  I see that there are 3 previous versions on YouTube/eBay.  The first was a boring beige/cream color and stated Merry Christmas on the side.  Oddly the YT video shows painted side grills on one side, and blacked with a silver trim on the other.  This model also has a window on the front door which is on the wrong side, as in all the Rail King Imperial ES44AC's.  The other is white with a Santa Claus logo and red trucks, no window on the front door, and with the 3 front side vents blackened with silver trim.  The third looks just like this year and is painted red and green with snow flakes, but a Reindeer is on the logo, no window on the door, but has the three side vents blackened with silver trim(haven't seen a video of this one, eBay only).  This year Santa is back on the logo, and the 3 side vents are painted red.  Train World just put out a video, and I "like" the audio files more than the first two. Even though I go see the CP Chistmas...excuse me..."Holiday Train", I got the "Santa Claus Christmas Holiday Express" lighted box cars, due to variation in color and stating Santa Claus and Christmas.  I'm sure the few kids I will have over will enjoy it, and most if not all of the adults could care less about realism or even the train in general.  Any further thoughts to these variations minus production costs?  To see the YouTube videos, it is best to type in MTH ES44AC Christmas, and the Reindeer one is currently on eBay.  If I did more research and could of confirmed that it is the same sound file like the one on Train Worlds YouTube video, I would of purchased that one.

I purchased the Halloween version of this locomotive from Mr Muffins. Mine also has the painted side grills on one side, and blacked with a silver trim on the other. Ran the wheels off of it on a 40x60 oval with 036 curves. Not exactly prototypical, but hey it's a got a Halloween paint job. I am giving serious consideration to buying the Christmas version.

Great locomotive. If the price is right, I wouldn't hesitate for a second buying another. As for sound files, if you don't like one, download another file from MTH. You could even load the Halloween file if you wanted to. Just to mess with people, I have thought about downloading the file for the Halloween steam engine to load into this ES44AC. 

I have the original issue Premier GE EVO with the lab car. Both operate just fine on Gargraves O42 curves.

The Premier set.

Sorry, I just thought the vent differences were inconsistencies in the manufacturing of the model.  I assume one side is intake and the other exhaust.  I guess I do not know modern locomotives very well.  The Rail King size and price appeals to me much more for the intended use and fictional livery.

It is not a fictional paint scheme. It was built to show customers how eco friendly it was and chase lights along the side the charging capability.

Dave

I'm referring to the Christmas "Santa and Friends" model I ordered.  I love the Evo colors!

I've also learned that these GE locomotives can either have the front door on the right or left with or without a window.  As stated, I'm not any where near an expert, and I must not have an eye for detail to purchase a sub scale model with Santa's mugshot on the side!

I have the MTH Imperial Railking version and I was more than happy with when I first got it. The detail is pretty good and it sounds great in PS3. I have never had the Premier version but if you are looking for something not as expensive but still a very good model I would say the Railking version would be a good call.

When I purchase steam, I always go Premier.  IMHO, steam needs the detail and the tender spacing on Railking doesn't do it for me.

Diesels are a different story.  I have both Railking and Premier.  Over the last year I've purchased 5 Railking engines; a mix of SD70ACe and ES44AC.  As others have said, functionally they are identical to their Premier counterparts.  For me, the detail and not quite scale size are not an issue.  Also, Railking is not always prototypical.  For example, the Railking First Responders engine I have is an SD70ACe.  The prototype is actually an SD60.  The Premier is also an SD60.  But the first responders paint scheme on the SD70ACe is OK with me.

If you like the finest detail or you intend to build a model railroad as close to scale as possible, Premier.

Otherwise you will save yourself some cash purchasing Railking.

Tony

Except for the dash 8's i believe RK GE's significantly shorter than the premiers.for example...ES44ac RK 17 inches..19 1/2 for the ES44ac premier.

I have the Premier version with scale wheels (full length handrails and pilot attached to body).... twist my arm a little and I'll sell it to you for a good price.

willygee posted:

Except for the dash 8's i believe RK GE's significantly shorter than the premiers.for example...ES44ac RK 17 inches..19 1/2 for the ES44ac premier.

That is why one is RK and the other is premier. It is no secrete.