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October 26, 2022 - M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing a series of 2023 Premier O Scale J-1e 4-6-4 Hudson Steam Locomotives Announced in three exciting configurations beginning late next Spring. Each of these unique schemes will be available in limited production quantities and is expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in June 2023.

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.

PREMIER O SCALE J-1e LOCOMOTIVE

In Thoroughbreds, Alvin Staufer and Edward May's definitive book on the New York Central Hudsons, Al summarizes the attraction of this engine in a few perhaps-biased but nonetheless eloquent words: "The Hudsons had it all: looks, performance, and timing. … [The] forte of all Hudsons was power at speed…. That [the NYC Hudson] was the first of her wheel arrangement in the United States matters not nearly as much as what she hauled and how she hauled it. The Hudsons were designed to haul the Great Steel Fleet on the Water Level Route [the NYC's raceway from New York to Chicago, home of the 20th Century Limited and the Empire State Express, and the bane of rival Pennsylvania Railroad, whose route lay over the Allegheny Mountains]. The Hudsons were a New York Central phenomenon. They were a special machine for that special road. They were synonymous with the best. They were the best."

Thanks to Joshua Lionel Cowen, the Hudson also holds a special place in the history of 3-rail O gauge. Lionel's 700E scale Hudson, manufactured from 1937 to 1942, set a standard of detail for 3-rail engines that was unmatched for nearly 50 years, until Jerry Williams and Mike Wolf began the trend toward scale detailing that continues today.

Like Lionel in 1937, we believe our model of this engine exemplifies the best in today's O scale locomotives. The legendary J1e returns to the Premier Line in 2023, upgraded with Proto-Sound 3.0’s quillable smoking whistle.

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.


M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing a series of 2023 RailKing O Gauge Heavy Duty Snow Plows in four exciting paint schemes beginning early next Spring. Each of these unique schemes will be available in limited production quantities and is expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in March 2023.

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.


M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing a series of 2023 RailKing O Gauge 40' High Cube Box Cars in four exciting paint schemes beginning early next Spring. Each of these unique schemes will be available in limited production quantities and is expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in April 2023.

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.

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© 2022 M.T.H. Electric Trains
6660 Santa Barbara Road - Suite 20, Elkridge, MD 21075 (410)381-2580
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@MELGAR posted:

The image on the MTH website of Boston & Albany Hudson #606 (20-3583-1) with PS3 delivered in 2015 shows open spaces between the boiler and frame, and the boiler appears to be fully round forward of the driveshaft.

MELGAR

They ain’t got a full round boiler, ….only from about the front mount forward is fully rounded,….the rest is U shape all the way to the cab…….

Pat 1F2799FD-7906-4ED6-AAF4-0A3B4ACE87ED

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Roger-that on the color ~ Google search shows previous dark green in production models not quite as dark as catalog, but it's hard to tell given photography.

Regarding the rounded boiler, it's understandable for a diecast model to have the open parts in the middle, but what really stands out is how the model looks at trackside with the viewers eyes level with the frame and boiler. That's the money shot, IMO. In other words, the "appearance of being cylindrical. Lionel's scale MW S-3 captures this, as does their more recent Reading T1, but most of their diecast models do not, unfortunately. It'd be great to see the Premier J1e in a trackside photo.

Last edited by Paul Kallus
@Paul Kallus posted:

Roger-that on the color ~ Google search shows previous dark green in production models not quite as dark as catalog, but it's hard to tell given photography.

Regarding the rounded boiler, it's understandable for a diecast model to have the open parts in the middle, but what really stands out is how the model looks at trackside with the viewers eyes level with the frame and boiler. That's the money shot, IMO. In other words, the "appearance of being cylindrical. Lionel's scale MW S-3 captures this, as does their more recent Reading T1, but most of their diecast models do not, unfortunately. It'd be great to see the Premier J1e in a trackside photo.

Ask and ye shall receive, ….here’s a Premier J1e I’ve turned into a J1b with only minor tweaks, ….

Pat 72937E88-7525-4D4B-B764-A0E439E466B3

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@Paul Kallus posted:

Roger-that on the color ~ Google search shows previous dark green in production models not quite as dark as catalog, but it's hard to tell given photography.

Regarding the rounded boiler, it's understandable for a diecast model to have the open parts in the middle, but what really stands out is how the model looks at trackside with the viewers eyes level with the frame and boiler. That's the money shot, IMO. In other words, the "appearance of being cylindrical. Lionel's scale MW S-3 captures this, as does their more recent Reading T1, but most of their diecast models do not, unfortunately. It'd be great to see the Premier J1e in a trackside photo.

Paul,

Here are some closeup photos of my MTH Boston & Albany #606 Hudson (20-3583-1) that was delivered in September 2015.

The first photo is the one you mention - with the viewer’s eyes level between the frame and boiler. The next four photos are close-ups of the mid, forward, and aft sections beneath the boiler that show the open spaces. Three of the boiler photos were taken with a white background behind the locomotive to make the details more visible. The last two photos show the model as it appears on my layout – where these details are not readily visible. I applied some editing to increase the brightness and clarity of the photos.

In my opinion, these details make little difference in the appearance of an operating model on a layout, and the MTH Hudson is satisfactory for me. With current technology in motors, compromises in accuracy are necessary to design a model for operation. If absolute fidelity to prototype is a requirement, it can be accomplished in a model that is only for display. I also own a K-Line NYC Hudson.

Nonetheless, I’m posting the best pictures I can take so that you can see how the MTH model looks.

I should also mention that the B&A Hudsons had 76-inch driving wheels instead of 79 inches as on the New York Central. I don't think the MTH model reflects that difference nor does it include the smaller tender that was used on the B&A or the modified sandbox that was applied after delivery from ALCo.

And lastly, my compliments to Harmonyards. I admire his work.

MELGAR

MELGAR_2022_1028_01_MTH_B&A_606_10X5MELGAR_2022_1028_04_MTH_B&A_606_BOILER_MIDMELGAR_2022_1028_05_MTH_B&A_606_BOILER_FWDMELGAR_2022_1028_06_MTH_B&A_606_BOILER_AFTMELGAR_2022_1028_07_MTH_B&A_606_BOILER_OPENMELGAR_2022_1028_02_MTH_B&A_606_10X5MELGAR_2022_1028_03_MTH_B&A_606_10X5

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Last edited by MELGAR

MELGAR, …good point about the 76” drivers, …..believe it or not, the green B&A Hudson has eluded me all these years,…..I saw none at York, although I had to run through the aisles like a banshee, much to the dismay of the arrow cops,….I have the all black cab # 616, but the green one evades capture…..beautiful model,…one of these days I’ll make a more proper J2 for the B&A, with the squared off sand dome and all,…..I’ll have to measure the MTH drivers for accuracy just for S&G’s, and see what the O scale ruler has to say …….

Pat

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