ToyTrains1's Blog

In 2002, MTH brought out a Premier line model of the 2500 HP transfer diesel that Lima-Hamilton built for the Pennsylvania RR.  Though not a fan of diesels, these were sufficient ugly to appeal to me.    The 22 prototypes were built in 1950-1951, and these boxy center-cab units served for transfer work, which was similar to switching but on a larger scale. Rather than simply moving cars around a yard, these more powerful diesel engines moved cars from one yard to another, covering longer distances and heavier consists that would have been too challenging for many switchers.  In this true HD 1080p video, I show it moving a mixed consist of Pennsy freight cars out on the mainline, probably going from one yard to another.  As you can see in the video, it runs and sounds great and is a great freight hauler.

In late 2000, MTH released their Premier line model of a Pennsylvania RR E6 Atlantic (4-4-2) steam locomotive.  This was, AFAIK, the very first locomotive released with the then-new Protosound 2 electronics.  This incorporated synchronized smoke puffing with the sound of the steam chuffing as well as an impressive panoply of sound and locomotive controls.  It also incorporated DCS remote control, though that system wouldn't appear for quite a time yet.  For a 10 year old model, it still looks quite good, though modern models have somewhat more detail, it runs well, and it sounds good too as you can see in this True HD 1080p video.

In late 2000, MTH brought out a Premier model of the UP F-E-F (which stands for Four-Eight-Four, the wheel arrangement), a large Northern-type steam locomotive.  The prototype is quite famous as it is still running today as part of UP's steam program.  The prototype was one of the last big steamers built in the US and incorporated all of the then-latest features.  The model was one of the first with the then-new Protosound 2 system that includes the synchronized chuffing sound and puffing smoke as well as user-settable chuff rate and DCS remote control.  In this five minute long True HD 1080p video, you see the locomotive leave the ready yard, couple to its very long and heavy train, make a few runbys, and then uncouple from the train and return to its track in the ready yard, all under remote control.  It's a great appearing, great sounding, and great running model locomotive!

In early 2005, MTH brought out a Premier line model of the Reading T-1 Northern (4-8-4) steam locomotive.  These locomotives are very recognizable as they were the stars of the "Reading Rambles" that were run with them well after the railroad switched over to diesel power.  The model is an excellent representation of the prototype — it looks great, it sounds great, and it runs very well as you can see in this True HD 1080p video.  I have it pulling my "pipeline on rails," a string of 40 tank cars.  Unlike the previous Challenger video, here I've used only the longer tank cars and have gone through my collection to use all of the ones that carry railroad names.  See how many you can find!

Here's a train that I don't think I've ever shown in a video — I call this my "pipeline on rails".  Before I collected AtlasO reefers, I collected MTH Premier tank cars.  Here are fifty of them (I have lots more that just won't fit on the track), being hauled by the MTH Premier UP Challenger (4-6-6-4) articulated steam locomotive that came out in 2002.  Although these fifty cars are a heavy load, they are (pardon the pun) no challenge to the Challenger.   It's a great model that looks good, sounds good, and runs very well.  That's the auxiliary tender behind the main tender.

In 2004, MTH released another in their series of die-cast models of Pennsylvania RR electric locomotives.  This was the L5, a prehistoric-appearing steeplecab locomotive that was the last of their experimental jackshaft electrics.  The jackshafts were a breed of locomotive that conbined electric motors with steam locomotive side rods to move the drivers.  The prototype was first built in 1924, and was intended for both passenger and freight operations.  In this True HD 1080p video, I've coupled the L5 to a short Pennsy freight train.  In the final segment, you can see it uncouple from its train and head back to its track in the locomotive ready yard, all under DCS remote control.

This is the MTH Premier Santa Fe Texas-type (2-10-4) steam locomotive that came out in 2001.  In real life, this locomotive was a heavy freight hauler, so I thought it appropriate to give it a heavy load in this True HD 1080p video.  It's pulling a total of FORTY AtlasO reefers which is quite a load, but it does so without protest.  The sound is good, the operation is good, and it's a good model of the real thing.

The engineers on my railroad have been complaining that the number one curve, where I happen to shoot most of my videos, is pretty rough on their locomotives.  Taking no chances, I issued orders for the DC-3 track inspection car to examine the track on that curve.  The film crew happened to be on site and caught the action.  This MTH Premier O-gauge model of the UP DC-3 car came out in 2001 and, in terms of detail, sound, and operation, has held up very well indeed, as you will see in this short True HD 1080p video.  One of the more unusual cars in my collection, it's a fun car to operate and I hope you enjoy the video!

MTH brought out their Premier line model of the Northern Pacific Yellowstone (2-8-8-4) articulated steam locomotive in December of 2003.  It was very much a reissue of the previous PS1 model of the DM&IR Yellowstone in a new paint scheme, but with the PS2 sound and control package in it, that was pretty easily overlooked.  As you can see in this True HD 1080p video, it looks great, sounds great, and runs great too.  It's hauling 28 of the 36' woodsided reefers from AtlasO which is quite a load yet this locomotive has no problem with that at all.  I even got a matching NP caboose for this video!

About ten years ago or so, MTH released their Premier line model of a Climax steam locomotive.  The prototype was a small geared steamer that was used primarily on logging railroads.  As with the Shay, the Climax had the pistons turning a drive shaft that was geared directly to the small drivers, giving this locomotive the ability to climb very steep grades, albeit quite slowly.  Unlike the Shay, the Climax has the pistons on the diagonal rather than vertically and the geared driveshaft is underneath the locomotive, between the drivers, rather than on the outside.  As you'll see in this video, the model, though tiny, is extremely well detailed, looks great, sounds fantastic, and runs very well.  In the final segment of the video, there's a close-up of the drivetrain, which you can compare to that of the Shay.