MTH F3 Diesel Locomotive

Last schedule I saw was August 2015, which we're quickly running out of. 

 

I'm beginning to suspect the 12th of Never. (My optimism is wearing thin...)

 

Rusty

I saw the pre production Santa Fe at the spring York with Andy Edleman.  He won't answer his emails on this and pick up the phone either about this topic.

Now the shipping schedule says September 2015. (Didn't look deep enough on the website earlier...)

 

Rusty

First it was the magic wire couplers pushing them into 2015 (personally I would like to pay less and get them WITHOUT these couplers before 3 yrs come around as I will be using Kadees) and had pre-ordered 2 units in the summer of 2013. So at FALL S fest 2014 I was told that the F3s were to be produced in April of 2015 and MTH then showed them shipping in July 2015.  Yippie I said to myself as I would get something in summer when things are kinda of quiet and dead. Then no word on them as we got into summer so I checked the shipping schedule and saw that it was now going to be Sept. 2015 for shipping.  I have a credit with one of our sponsers that they are going to apply towards these units but now am going to ask that the credit be put back to my credit card as I don't think MTH will get these to us until 2016.  Personally I have given up on MTH and Lionel and am using the bay, the "Fest" shows and Amercian Models to build me roster of engines and rolling stock since I would like to run some trains before I retire/die.  Yes, I am venting here.

On MTH's Facebook page someone had asked, about two days ago, if the September delivery time frame was going to happen.  Facebook MTH guy said probably not, but they hope to see them before the end of the year.  A comment was made about the difficulties of launching a new product line for the first time and it was ended with the old "we wanna give you guys a good product". 

The only red flag is see here, is Bill's post about Andy E not getting back to him. Could be he's on vacation, could be the end of the MTH S gauge world. 

We shal see.

Ben

Hi Bill,

 

     Has anyone besides me noticed on the events at the NASG Convention that MTH Donated a F-3 A&B set to auction off. The winner will receive one of his choice. This to me says MTH is close to shipping. Although today I went to MTH web site and searched for one of the two sets I have had on order 35-20019-1 and found out that the shipping date had changed to January 2016. This saddened me some but if they came in Sept 2015 I would be in dire straits to pull together the money to pay for them with all the other that I have had on order at one time. I will be patient one more time so when I do receive them they will work just as they should. I also have to up grade mu MTH controller for the S gauge control. This was only one of the F-3 AB sets the other still had the Sept 2015 ship date.

 

Don

 

Hi Bill,

 

     I just read on MTH shipping schedule that the release date for the F-3 A-B units has been moved to March 2016. I take it they are still having problems with manufacturing.

I am disappointed but if I want them I will just have to wait. I still have respect of the MTH company because they are making beautiful cars, track and accessories. Making something different then Lionel. This will create competition and maybe reduce prices. HaHa! I sure hope this will be the last postponement before we can have the ones we ordered, to see how they will fit into our own rosters. If it's not I figure they will at least  have a 2016 catalog. So we have something to see the direction they are going with the S Gauge line and we can order more. The F-3 have delayed the catalog to long now. Example is the cars that have just appeared from out of the blue ocean like the second round of the PS2 Hoppers and the TOFC Flats with trailers. they to me just showed up and I had no chance to look them over before I spend more money. Right now I have too much on order and nothing is coming in.

Take care and Happy Railroading!

 

Don 

 

We were told that there would be a 2015/2016 catalog after the F3's (rest of the 2013 catalog items were delivered).  So now we "might" see a 2016/2017 catalog at some point?  Glad I decided to sell my new unused DCS control system soon (went DCC) since it seems I will never have any MTH engines to use it with. Afterall, why buy TIU's, AIU's, and IOU's when there is nothing to control.  Nice jobs guys.  May they will at some point declare their S scale tooling investment a financial failure to offset something else on the accounting books and dump it all.  Like Lionel they sure seem to have a lot of people whom seem to not know what they are doing.  Now I understand why some of you have decided to get out of S gauge.

Andy attended the NMRA convention in Portland, OR. Maybe his email was overloaded or not available on the road.

Wow...