Question on MTH diesel handrails

I agree. I hoped this was fixed when they introduced their latest newly tooled dash 8. I would buy more modern diesels from you if this issue was addressed. Hopefully it will. 

The answer to your question is cost and durability.  To change all our tooling would require a lot of money for tool modifications.  Also the cost of the manufacturing each engine would go up.  Painting and assembling time would go up and cost more. 

I am sure probably some will agree to pay more for this feature.  But it is a risk if we raise our diesel prices for example Lionel's Scale ES-44 is $649.99 and ours is $499.95.  The question we wrestle with all the time is can we afford to make changes and raise prices without loosing customers.  It is an economic fact that you loose customers each time you raise your pricing.  In this case the question is how many do we gain and how many do with loose if we for example change the hand rail's and add one more speaker as Lionel has and raise our price to $649.99.

The hand rail issue does not bother me. I think detail for the money is outstanding. Several of my premier EMD's and GE's also have opening nose and cabin doors with handle latches..WoW..

Fwiw, we purchased a new SD60E (First Responders) for my son for his birthday and he is thrilled with the locomotive.  Beautiful locomotive for what it is and at this price point.   Paint, graphics and running quality (still needs to break in a bit) are all fantastic.

Happy Birthday to your son. Great Present! I sure hope he gets to play with it when your done!

Stephen

Certain things I can live with, MTH handrails is one of them. The Lionel "battering ram" front coupler is not.  Durable handrails are also important. Engines get handled a lot. Improvements like proper truck placement on the new NS SD60E certainly make it up for any handrail short comings. In my opinion MTH makes an outstanding product for the money and I can certainly live with that.  

The way I see it upgrading your tooling is unavoidable if you wanna stay in the game. As modelers become more educated they notice and ask for these improvements. Furthermore, it gives incentive to those customers that have several of your models to add items they already own and were previously produced. Why buy more ES44 since I have 8 or 10 of them already? Oh wait! Upgraded detailing.

Atlas listened and re-tool their F units fuel tanks and introduced passenger pilots, as a result their orders for the latest F7's and F3's have been reported as outstanding.  

You can also cash in from selling them as spare parts, I'm sure Atlas will be selling hundreds of upgraded fuel tanks when they become available. 

I am also one of the hobbyists who is not too bothered by the handrails, not because I like toyish features (as Stephen refers to them). Stephen also has Midwestern Model Works & Division Point who offer the models he is interested in but for me, MTH is the only importer who offers 2-rail, DCC-ready models of modern locomotives like the GE Evolution & so I keep buying MTH locomotives. But I have to warn MTH that this approach to not updating the tooling is not sustainable. I used to buy Weaver & MTH Premier freight cars when I first got into O-Scale & the details & length seemed good-enough to me, at that time. But then I discovered Atlas-O & with Lionel raising the bar on their more recent freight cars, I ended up selling all my MTH models & I have not bought a single MTH freight car in the last 3 years. I must not be the only one who read on these forums when MTH was forced to announce the Norfolk Southern SD60 well before the catalog release date, soon after Lionel came out with their announcement. So if you don’t voluntarily upgrade your models or offer new models, someone else will force you to.

From following discussions on these forums & from visiting hobby shops on my road trips I get the impression that MTH is too occupied with perfecting the DCS Wi-Fi offering & has not made any significant upgrades to their freight cars or diesel-electric locomotives in the last few years.

I am thankful that MTH has updated their models with more separately applied details, LED lighting & DCC-capability in their models in the past but don’t stop upgrading your models. I will have no problems moving to any of your competitors if they offer more realistic 2-rail models.

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

 like willygee , the handrails on mth diesels look fine to me....having over 30 of em ,its not  a problem to nit-pick over,,imo

I applaud MTH on being open and transparent. They recognize that they are differentiating their product based on price. That is a valid business model. The majority of MTH customer (I would guess) appreciate that. With Lionel and more specifically 3rd Rail upping the details, features, and costs MTH is wise to be careful in their choices.

I'm glad MTH makes a line of products that are affordable. A $600.00 (+) engine would severely limit what I could buy. However I can have two perfectly gorgeous RK engines for the same amount of money (+\-) in my livery. Just my thoughts.

From following the responses of the few members who have participated in this topic, I get the impression that all 3-rail hobbyists are satisfied with the level of detail on the MTH locomotives & all, except 1 2-rail hobbyist want better details.

Maybe MTH could introduce yet another product line, positioned price-wise & detail-wise above the current Premier line. It could start with a base Premier model but with handrails ending where they should, fixed pilots, single horizontal motor, even more separately applied, railroad-specific details than the current Premier line, narrower truck side-frames, less gap between truck & frame & other issues I have read hobbyists complain about on these forums. They could offer 1model per catalog similar to what Lionel does for their Vision Line & offer it direct to interested customers like how 3^rd-Rail does, built to confirmed reservations.

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

I just was looking for a F40PH. The upcoming Lionel model looks like it will be great. I shied away because I'm tired of jumping thru hoops trying to modify stuff for 2 rail. I did order a couple of their new cars.

 So I ordered the MTH model. I don't expect it to be perfect for the price they deliver it. The "dummy" Lionel cabbage model sells for nearly as much. I wish Lionel would offer 2 rail versions but I'd have to add the Legacy system just to talk to them. The two systems don't run together in a consist anyways.

 I could wait for Atlas to attempt one. I feel 3rd Rail models are being fined tuned to last longer. I don't wish to look at mine. I want to run a dependable model that won't get broken just putting it on the rails. MTH's engines deliver that in the best value of any others made. I just got a MTH 2 rail GE 8-40C that has very fine handrails made from thin wire. Looks very good to me.

 I would enjoy the handrails attached like Atlas. It doesn't make a deal breaker for me. On my older Atlas 8-40B, I wish it had better grilles like the MTH version. I may try and cut them out.

 I do like a good looking rendition of the models I purchase. I have some 3rd Rail steamers. I have seen the Lionel versions. I'm very happy with most all of my MTH products. I would prefer that they spent the money on new rolling stock molds and designs. At least theirs are easily converted to 2 rail. I too have to look at Atlas first for their rolling stock for better looking models of modern rolling stock. There are some very good MTH versions but they aren't many.

Here's an older MTH that just arrived. I paid a very low price for it. Thanks to Trainworld again.