Question ...Rutland 0-6-0 or 0-8-0 ???

Beth, I’ve done two MTH Premier 0-8-0’s into the Rutland. As many as the prototype had. If the Imperial means it would have the Premier type switching tender. I’d opt for the 0-8-0. I think it would be a closer model.

On the Rutland lettering scheme. Both Lionel and MTH didn’t get it right on their Steam offerings. The Premier Mikado was one of the very first Proto 2’s. The font is off or the letters are to close to one another. The lettering should be silver as far as the numbers and lettering. The running boards and under the cab should have white stripping. You can find O scale decals at Highball Graphics to view.

Thx for the info.  I know the lettering should be silver, and I get as close as I can when it comes to graphics.  MTH already hates me when it comes to graphics, cause i try to get it as correct as possible,

I have no idea what Railking "imperial" really means.   My guess is that it would have the railking tender..but I can look into that.

thx

beth

My understanding is 'Imperial' Railking is more to scale and the tooling used to make them is older Premier tooling.

Brad

This is what was offered about 8 years ago. I don’t believe the engine changed much detail wise from the earliest versions when they introduced the Imperial line. They did come with a Premier tender.

The only thing is. Lionel purchased the tooling for the Premier 0-6-0. Whether they used their own tender or the MTH one came in the purchase. If MTH still has the tooling for the Premier 0-8-0. I can’t believe they would leave themselves without a tender to go with it.

@Dave_C posted:

This is what was offered about 8 years ago. I don’t believe the engine changed much detail wise from the earliest versions when they introduced the Imperial line. They did come with a Premier tender.

The only thing is. Lionel purchased the tooling for the Premier 0-6-0. Whether they used their own tender or the MTH one came in the purchase. If MTH still has the tooling for the Premier 0-8-0. I can’t believe they would leave themselves without a tender to go with it.

This would be terrific for the Rutland 0-8-0!

Beth,

I placed my pre-order on the PDT website earlier today for a Railking Imperial Rutland 0-6-0. As I mentioned two days ago, I will purchase a Rutland 0-6-0 but would prefer a Rutland 0-8-0. I will buy whichever one you have made. Even better for me would be a Premier 0-8-0 but that would be significantly more expensive, so I don't know if you think that's feasible.

Railking "Scale" are full size 1:48 models - as are Premier. Railking "Imperial" models are also full 1:48 size but have additional details similar to the Premier line. On the Railking "Imperial" 0-6-0, the additional advertised features are an etched brass builder's plate, brass bell, brass whistle, engineer and fireman figures, and the coal load in the tender is real coal rather than just cast into the top of the tender. These details make the Imperial model look more like a Premier model.

Railking Scale and Railking Imperial steam engines are the same size as the Premier versions but the castings of the Premier steam engines have more cast-in detail than the Railking and Imperial versions.

MELGAR

I have a railking imperial b6 switcher (0-6-0) from 2017 and it’s one of my favorite little engines. The details are outstanding and it runs exceptionally well.  To offer a line of these in 2023 for under $500 at a price close to what I paid in 2017 is a real inflation defying bargain.  I would think these and the slightly larger 0-8-0s would both sell rather well. However, the smaller b6 might have a slightly greater appeal, satisfying both the smaller and midsized layout market. Good luck Beth!

Rutland, southern Vermont.   There would be a connection, Milk trains, to the big cities. Boston, New York, etc.  Milk trains tended to be higher speed, often associated with mail trains.   IMO  Mike CT.