MTH continued production

While nothing about the "why" has been announced that I'm aware of.  Obviously though the tent isn't being folded up yet.

I've never had so much fun wondering what will be announced next!

It seems possible that MTH may continue to produce small built-to-order runs of Premier locomotives with the items offered on its website rather than in a catalog. For the owner, that would be a lot less effort and much more like retirement than producing the huge variety of products that were offered twice yearly in MTH catalogs. And it would keep him active in the model train business which I think he loved and succeeded in so well.

MELGAR

I was rather concerned about ordering some of "the last engines"  being produced by MTH regarding quality possibly being compromised but I just received two S-2's from them and they are without flaw.  I hope they keep up their production. 

I was going to start a post on this yesterday - they are essentially issuing a catalog without the hassle of actually issuing one.  I have had a new mth product email everyday for nearly a week!

Any news on the Premier steamers going forward?

Pure speculation on my part, but I would not be surprised if there's an announcement within the next few months from the owner that, because no buyer stepped forward to purchase the entire business operation, different product lines have now been individually sold off to other companies and that MTH will survive and continue as a much more streamlined business model focusing on the  specific production and sale of engines and limited peripheral products.

Sort of like a hybrid business model between the old MTH and 3rd Rail/Sunset.

Just my $ 0.02

To keep selling to people new to MTH products who have no chance of ever finding a TIU to operate them properly?

Or maybe to help the eBay cretins who do find the TIU's and want to make a killing off of them.

John

EDIT:  I stand corrected.  Further down someone explained about the soon to be released WiFi TIU which will do everything.  Great to know.

I posted on another (of the many) MTH speculation threads that I have been told by a person who "should" know that the MTH folks who couldn't/weren't ready/didn't want to retire will continue to operate the company using the portions that haven't been sold off.  Considering that various vendors are offering exclusive runs that won't be delivered for several months (and engines will need a year of warranty after that), I think there's a good chance that my source is correct.

I was wondering about this too.

In his recent live stream, Eric Siegel speculated that MTH will continue operating making small runs. Eric is doing a run of F3's with MTH so I feel like he might know something.

VIDEO @41:03

@Craftech posted:

To keep selling to people new to MTH products who have no chance of ever finding a TIU to operate them properly?

Or maybe to help the eBay cretins who do find the TIU's and want to make a killing off of them.

John

No - I believe one of the off-shoots of MTH will be a group of people/company that will manufacture and sell the electronics, including a TIU in whatever variation they decide.   

@Richie C. posted:

No - I believe one of the off-shoots of MTH will be a group of people/company that will manufacture and sell the electronics, including a TIU in whatever variation they decide.   

The DCS portion is being spun off and is going to keep operating. I suspect that the poster is referring to the fact that going forward they are going to only be supporting (if I heard correctly) wifi access of the TIU, that it won't support the hand held remote (that they no longer make) via this new unit) and that is the complaint, but DCS itself is not going away. The unit if I recall correctly supports a wired remote on it.

@MichRR714 posted:

I've never had so much fun wondering what will be announced next!

Same! I really wish they would have a true catalog of items.

@bigkid posted:

The DCS portion is being spun off and is going to keep operating. I suspect that the poster is referring to the fact that going forward they are going to only be supporting (if I heard correctly) wifi access of the TIU, that it won't support the hand held remote (that they no longer make) via this new unit) and that is the complaint, but DCS itself is not going away. The unit if I recall correctly supports a wired remote on it.

It also won't support subway station announcements either.  You need the elusive TIU for that.

John

EDIT:  I stand corrected.  I wasn't aware of the new WiFi TIU although I should have been.  Sorry.

@Richie C. posted:

No - I believe one of the off-shoots of MTH will be a group of people/company that will manufacture and sell the electronics, including a TIU in whatever variation they decide.   

Let's hope.  There have been several posts from other frustrated MTH late bloomers about the TIU situation.

John

It is a business model; small wonderful runs of limited production. Scott Mann has been doing just that for 45 years.

They are going to continue releasing special runs and Mike is holding on to his tinplate tooling. Slowing down but not going away.

Scott Smith

@scott.smith posted:

They are going to continue releasing special runs and Mike is holding on to his tinplate tooling.

Now that is a special run I would be interested in! 

@bigkid posted:

The DCS portion is being spun off and is going to keep operating. I suspect that the poster is referring to the fact that going forward they are going to only be supporting (if I heard correctly) wifi access of the TIU, that it won't support the hand held remote (that they no longer make) via this new unit) and that is the complaint, but DCS itself is not going away. The unit if I recall correctly supports a wired remote on it.

until it becomes not longer profitable. at which point DCS is gone.

@Craftech posted:

To keep selling to people new to MTH products who have no chance of ever finding a TIU to operate them properly?

Or maybe to help the eBay cretins who do find the TIU's and want to make a killing off of them.

John

It would seem that DCS will continue to live on since Atlas licensed DCS from MTH and they've announced a new TIU with integrated Wi-Fi (product 50-1039) that's currently available for pre-order, at least with my local dealer.

https://mrmuffinstrains.com/products/50-1039

Of course, I have no idea when it's actually going to get released.

@Craftech posted:

To keep selling to people new to MTH products who have no chance of ever finding a TIU to operate them properly?

As you are probably well aware, MTH locomotives run very well in conventional mode - not to mention every ProtoSound 3.0 loco made has DCC control as well.

@scott.smith posted:

They are going to continue releasing special runs and Mike is holding on to his tinplate tooling. Slowing down but not going away.

Scott Smith

Awesome! This is great news! It’s definitely better than nothing like when Weaver folded up. I certainly will take it over that. Thank you Scott.

A year or so ago, I wishfully predicted that Mike's retirement would be similar to Walter Matuch's of RMT.  Looks like my wish is coming true.

@David Eisinger posted:

until it becomes not longer profitable. at which point DCS is gone.

Yeah, and everything.

I keep hearing about MTH Premiers and DCS continuing but what about Railking?

I have DCS with a TUI and WiFi unit and have TONS of sound and smoke options with my Ps3 Railking Imperials. I have o31 curves so Premier is out for me except for some switcher options.

I've purchased a couple Lionel lioncheif plus engines and they are nice and sound and smoke is ok but do not hold a candle to the Imperial Railking models(my opinion of course). I still have not experienced Legacy but that is at the MTH Premier level which still requires mostly larger curves.

Any info on the Railking line continuing?

Brad

Craftech, were did you hear about the new TUI with wifi integrated not supporting station stops? I pre-ordered one, wanna make sure I don't spend the money if its not gonna work with my subway sets.

Brad

Legacy is available in many varieties that handle 031 curves.

Steve

@FECRailroaddog posted:

Craftech, were did you hear about the new TUI with wifi integrated not supporting station stops? I pre-ordered one, wanna make sure I don't spend the money if its not gonna work with my subway sets.

It has been mentioned several times on this forum.  Automatic station stops and announcements are a no go with the new (and only thing available) one.  You need a TIU for that and I believe there is some cryptic combination of moves on a conventional transformer you can do to get announcements only.   So it's either Ebay cretins or conventional for that.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...tation-announcements

John

EDIT:  CORRECTION.  I confused the DCS Explorer with the new WiFi TIU to be released which will do everything.

@Craftech posted:

It has been mentioned several times on this forum.  Automatic station stops and announcements are a no go with the new (and only thing available) one.  You need a TIU for that and I believe there is some cryptic combination of moves on a conventional transformer you can do to get announcements only.   So it's either Ebay cretins or conventional for that.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...tation-announcements

John

Craftech, you are referring to the dcs explorer. This is not the new tiu with Wi-Fi built in. The new tiu with Wi-Fi built in supports all features of the previous tiu models, including station stops. It will not be able to remotely communicate with the hand held controller. However, you can connect that to it with a cord and it will work.

@Strap Hanger posted:

Craftech, you are referring to the dcs explorer. This is not the new tiu with Wi-Fi built in. The new tiu with Wi-Fi built in supports all features of the previous tiu models, including station stops. It will not be able to remotely communicate with the hand held controller. However, you can connect that to it with a cord and it will work.

OK, sorry you are right.   I thought the DCS Explorer was the only other option.

Now I am interested in the new tiu with Wi-Fi built in.   I'll look it up with enthusiasm.

I corrected my incorrect information.

Thanks,

John

@B rad posted:

I keep hearing about MTH Premiers and DCS continuing but what about Railking?

I have DCS with a TUI and WiFi unit and have TONS of sound and smoke options with my Ps3 Railking Imperials. I have o31 curves so Premier is out for me except for some switcher options.

I've purchased a couple Lionel lioncheif plus engines and they are nice and sound and smoke is ok but do not hold a candle to the Imperial Railking models(my opinion of course). I still have not experienced Legacy but that is at the MTH Premier level which still requires mostly larger curves.

Any info on the Railking line continuing?

Brad

Brad , I  too run Imperial RKs in steam and a B6 steam switcher which I  hear is scale and a gp9 scale along with a couple scale swicher diesels .          Most of my diesels are Premier  ( Gp38s  , F7s  Gp30s ) and I don't have any issues .

Of all my switches I have eight of which are O31s.    I have about 170 feet of Realtrax in an articulated over and under figure 8 and a double over and under double outer loop.    About 20 of the track sections are O31. 

Don't be afraid of running SOME  of the Premier diesels . 🙄

Thanks Steve and Dallas, I guess I should have mentioned I have a couple diesels but I am more into steam. I like the fact that I can have a Railking 2-6-6-6 or Big Boy or Challenger etc. If I want. That would not happen with Premier or Legacy and o31 curves. I'm stuck with an 0-4-0 or Camelback etc. I just wish the LC÷ engines were on par with Imperial Railking but my experience is they are not.

Brad

@B rad posted:

Thanks Steve and Dallas, I guess I should have mentioned I have a couple diesels but I am more into steam. I like the fact that I can have a Railking 2-6-6-6 or Big Boy or Challenger etc. If I want. That would not happen with Premier or Legacy and o31 curves. I'm stuck with an 0-4-0 or Camelback etc. I just wish the LC÷ engines were on par with Imperial Railking but my experience is they are not.

While not a Big Boy, you can actually run most MTH Premier Pacifics and Ten Wheelers on O31 curves.

Just a mention to those that might have missed it. The MTH guys discussed some of these issues (new TIU, for example) on the Virtual York Presentation last month hosted by Train World.

It's available for viewing on You Tube.

Edit to include link:

https://youtu.be/ixdIDlB1ZNg

@johnstrains posted:

Just a mention to those that might have missed it. The MTH guys discussed some of these issues (new TIU, for example) on the Virtual York Presentation last month hosted by Train World.

It's available for viewing on You Tube.

Edit to include link:

https://youtu.be/ixdIDlB1ZNg

DCS discussion starts around 1:01.

rplst8 I did not realize that.

@B rad posted:

Thanks Steve and Dallas, I guess I should have mentioned I have a couple diesels but I am more into steam. I like the fact that I can have a Railking 2-6-6-6 or Big Boy or Challenger etc. If I want. That would not happen with Premier or Legacy and o31 curves. I'm stuck with an 0-4-0 or Camelback etc. I just wish the LC÷ engines were on par with Imperial Railking but my experience is they are not.

Brad

A Lionel Lionchief Plus 2.0 Big Boy will run on 0-31 curves and will operate conventionally, BT or with Legacy. It has 4 chuffs per revolution, enhanced lighting and sounds, electro-couplers, firebox flicker, etc. and has good detailing.

The new LC+2.0 Baby K-4's look great.

Shouldni't a 4 cylinder Big Boy have 8 Chuffs per revolution?

@rplst8 posted:

While not a Big Boy, you can actually run most MTH Premier Pacifics and Ten Wheelers on O31 curves.

Anything Railking will run on O-31. My RK Big boy, Challenger, and cab forwards all do without issue. Just be mindful of the overhang needed for track side items to clear on a curve.

@Richie C. posted:

A Lionel Lionchief Plus 2.0 Big Boy will run on 0-31 curves and will operate conventionally, BT or with Legacy. It has 4 chuffs per revolution, enhanced lighting and sounds, electro-couplers, firebox flicker, etc. and has good detailing.

The new LC+2.0 Baby K-4's look great.

This all true but the Lionchief Big Boys cost $300+ more vs. the MTH imperal model. My Imperial Big Boy came with three refer cars and a caboose for $729 back in 2018. I priced a LC2.0 version that was just the loco for $1079.

I was also able to upgrade my Imperial BB with a quillable whistle at no cost.

@H1000 posted:

Anything Railking will run on O-31. My RK Big boy, Challenger, and cab forwards all do without issue. Just be mindful of the overhang needed for track side items to clear on a curve.

Brad and H1000 , the only RK I can remember that had a limit of O42 curves was my ps2 Triplex .

I did  skinny part of the pilot on the engine and after that it was basically an arrangement like the Imperial Mallets which have no problem with my O 31 curves.    The most  needed work was on the tender .   After that was done I had no problem with the O31s.   I could even move the connector bar  to the  "  display only  "  hole with no problem .       There was a post sometime ago dealing with this issue.

H1000 i also had a cab swing very wide on my Imperial  Allegheny  2-6-6-6  that required a few adjustments in the layout.