Anyone Else Intrigued by the Railking Imperial Triplex?

Nothing against Railking, but as a former owner of the first two releases of the Premier Erie Triplexes (in Russian blue) I can honestly state that this is the most awesome steam locomotive model ever made, IMHO! I use to doublehead them and they were spectacular to watch: 3 sets of drivers and smoke units in the front and back. I was never crazy about MTH's Russian blue, though. I am waiting for the scale Erie (in black) version to be re-released. Lionel should have made their version with Legacy. The Railking version is pretty neat, too, although they've really compromised the engine-tender gap to accomodate tight turns. Another neat fact about the Premier version is that the whole model is only about 28-29" long, making it somewhat squat like the N&W's Y6b, and thus making it look much better on my layout. As opposed to the long articulateds (Big Boy, H7, Allegheny) that are just too long to look neat.

I WANT one......but $$$ may keep me from it. Maybe someone will dump their first issue to get a PS3 version!!

I have the first version and love this engine. It is certainly one of the nicest steamers ever made in O-Gauge.

I have the earlier railking version from a few years back in the Russian Blue.  It is the engine that gets more comments than any other that I have.  I have never had a problem with it and it fact I had to take a break from the hobby for a couple of years so the engine sat in its box for about 5 years.  Took it out again this summer and it fired right up and ran like it did before. 

I like it but am disappointed that MTH didn't add a smoke unit to the rear stack like the Premier. Since the PS-3 boards are smaller there should be room for a small smoke unit like the ones MTH uses in it's Premier S-2 switchers. This is just the same model previously released, but now with PS-3, which is all MTH is willing to do for O Gauge anymore. If I was in the market I'd shop for a good used PS-2 model personally.

If one does not have O72 or larger curves and/or the wallet to support the Premier model it is an acceptable compromise.  But personally the RK does not hold a candle to the scale Premier.

 

Or fact the scale Premier Erie Camelback has a preferred look.

 

Just my two cents, as the Foodlion lion would say.

I realize the Premier version is bigger, etc., but I want the small one. As to the monstrous tender - loco gap, I will be running it mostly on 60 " curves and plan to cut that in half.  

 

BTW: the catalog says it fits on O-42.  Does anyone know if it will or will not run on O-36?

its amazing something like that was built.  a strange looking engine

When you had the premier version the rail king will just not do. 

Nope.  No intrigue whatsoever.  I think RailKing looks good, but I like the size and look of Premier items.  I have no use for "the small one."

I've always wanted one, but sadly only have O36 curves and incompatible transformers.  But one day I'll have a Triplex.

I'm also intrigued by this engine.   For those of us with smaller layouts and pocketbooks this line is the best deal on the market imho.

 

--Greg

I have had one since they were offered.  I love this loco, the Erie colors, operation, reliability, make it a great product.  Barry B helped me pick out the coal drag I pull behind making for one cool running train!

 

I've got them both. Got the Railking first because I had a loop that was 054 that I wanted to run it on. Liked it so much that I got a Premier. Kept them both because I like them both. I am NOT a rivet counter, and I see no reason why you can't enjoy both of them.

This engine is an odd-duck, but I really like it! Were it not for a self imposed "All N&W", "All Steam", "All Scale", "All Command Control" rule I would have to have it. Despite the rules, there have been a few non-compliant engines that have slipped into the roster. I've been brutally culling the roster lately.

 

I pre-ordered the last PS-2 version, but it never arrived from the seller. They got a second chance and just tanked on the second pre-order. That has soured me on pre-ordering anything for now.

 

Gilly

I was going for it till I saw the Big Boy news, got to save the bucks for that baby. maybe I will get the scale version of this one in the future.

I purchased the RK version several years ago from Charlie. As was noted above, this engine gets more comments and is more fun to watch and operate than any other in my fleet. Sure, I wish the back stack smoked but I don't have the room or $ for the Premier version and RK (Now Imperial) is stunning to own and operate. BTW - mine is the Russian Blue.

 

Paul

Why not add your own smoke unit to the back?

Lee, I have to jump in here, as I have bragged on this "little" (it's not) beauty many

times. It is superb, large, hefty and well-detailed. It has 1/4" scale dimensions -

cab, cylinders, boiler girth, and more - as if it were a simply true scale model of a real Triplex that was just smaller than the Erie's. Easily my favorite "compromised" loco, and one of my favorite locos, regardless of box color or manufacturer. I've considered buying another just because.

 

I got mine (PS2) several years ago from Legacy Station, at a good price.

 

Only change I still need to make is shorten that drawbar, as my layout is 072.

 

Also, Lee, you're not the only re-decorator around here: I bought the B&O version, as I intended to do a little badge-engineering anyway. Mine is now Southern Railway; I kept the fake "B&O" number. 

 

This is more reasonable than one might think: the Southern experimented with Duplexes

if not Triplexes, and had several 2-8-2+2-8-0 and 2-10-2+2-6-2 examples - with the

second engine under the tender, like the Triplex third engine. So, I figured, plausible, right?

 

It is a fascinating locomotive. I'm more intrigued by the possibility of what it will look like in Union Pacific two-tone gray if you decide to paint it!

I will eventually have a Rail King Imperial Triplex when I can afford it.

 

For those who asked about 036 curves:

My first issue Railking is rated for 042, but not realizing that I started running it on my layout which includes curves down to 031.

Occasionally the pilot truck would derail on a switch, and found the frame was binding on the steam chest. A couple of inconspicuous notches filed in the pilot truck frame to provide clearance solved the problem.

I also filed the opening for the tender coupler slightly wider to eliminate binding on curves.

After doing this is when I found out the engine is rated for 042 curves!

 

So I would guess it would be good on 036 curves with no mods.

 

Rod

Thank you! This is useful info for me.

Ohs nos, my wife will kill me because I want to start looking for an older one now...