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RailKing O Gauge Alco RS-3 Diesel Locomotives Now In Stock

Check It Out In Action In All-New Video

April 15, 2020 - M.T.H. Electric Trains has released its 2019 Volume 2 Alco RS-3 diesel locomotive sets in Jersey Central, Western Maryland, Susquehanna, New Haven, and Conrail liveries. Each of these locomotives is now in-stock and available for immediate delivery.

In addition to the Susquehanna scheme featured in the above image, the other four railroads represented in the 2019 Volume 2 catalog can be found by going HERE.

About the RS-3 Diesel

By the time the first RS-3's rolled off the assembly line in 1950, Alco had refined its road switcher concept to create "a truly universal locomotive which could do anything and go almost anywhere," in the words of author J.W. Swanson in New Haven Power. In contrast with its predecessor, the 1000 hp RS-1, the 1600 hp RS-3 had all the power of a road diesel of its time and could boil along at up to 80 mph.

For awhile in the early 1950s, ALCO looked like a true contender in the burgeoning road switcher market. RS-3's could be found on a majority of class one railroads doing everything from switching and transfer duties to mainline freight and even passenger and commuter service.

Ultimately, however, the RS-3 took a distant second place to Electro-Motive's GP7 and GP9 in sales volume. Perhaps what doomed Alco was EMD's already-commanding lead in the road diesel market - in part because EMD's FT was the only road diesel allowed to be produced during World War II, when diesels began their takeover of American railroads. Other builders were relegated to producing diesel switchers until the conflict ended.

There was also talk that Alcos were less dependable. In hindsight, however, that seems to have been a result of EMD's sales lead. Perhaps shop crews were simply less familiar with Alco's model 244 prime mover and how to service it. In fact, roads with primarily Alco fleets, such as the New Haven, found Alco products to be very reliable when maintained properly. With their power and flexibility, RS-3's proved their worth so successfully that many railroads kept them on active duty after other first-generation diesels had been retired. They survived on class 1 railroads until the Delaware & Hudson retired its last RS-3 in 1986 and remained active in shortline and industrial service for years afterward.

You can see the locomotive in action on video by clicking HERE. Check out all the roadname offerings by going HERE.

These locomotives are still available from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer. They can also be ordered from the M.T.H. online store by clicking on the item number when you go HERE.

To see the entire 2019 Volume 2 RailKing lineup, click here.

Monthly 2019 S Gauge Catalog Product Spotlight

April 15, 2020 - Each month throughout the year, M.T.H. will be spotlighting various items from our 2019-2020 S Gauge Catalog. This week's feature will focus on the S Gauge Extended Vision Caboose in Great Northern livery. Each of these cabooses featured in the 2019-2020 S Gauge Catalog is currently slated to begin delivering in June 2020.



Extended Vision Caboose - Before railroads, "caboose" referred to a small cookhouse on the deck of a sailing ship. Nobody knows for sure, but it was likely the 1850s before the first railroad caboose gave a train crew shelter from the weather. The Civil War-era marked the emergence of boxcar like cabin cars or conductor’s cars with side and perhaps end doors, windows, a heating and cooking stove, bunks, and roof lanterns to mark the end of the train. continue reading

Each of these items is available for order now from any M.T.H. Authorized Retailer or by contacting the M.T.H. Sales Department at 410-381-2580.

To see the entire 2019-2020 S Gauge Catalog lineup, click here.

Check Out The April 13th Facebook Live Video From M.T.H.

Order The Spring 2020 Special TCA York Car Before They Sell Out

The 2020 Spring TCA York Show has been canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but because these cars were produced prior to the York Show cancellation, we'll be offering the cars for sale on a first-come, first-served basis. These extremely limited cars will sell for $40.00 (plus $11.95 for shipping). Current MTHRRC Members can purchase the car for $35.00.

Interested MTHRRC and non-MTHRRC Members can place their orders by calling 410-381-2580 and connecting to the Sales Department.

2020 Ready-to-Run Train Set Catalog Now Online

See It Online.

Order items through any M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.

Hurry Before They're Gone, Just Five Or Fewer Of These Items Remain In Stock

April 15, 2020 - Each week, M.T.H. releases product lists spotlighting quantities of Five Or Fewer items that are remaining in our onhand inventory. In many cases, these items will NOT be re-run in the future and these lists could be your last chance for ordering them before they're GONE FOR GOOD. Don't miss out on these items! Click on the appropriate product line link below and then any item number in the corresponding list to purchase that item from the M.T.H. Online Store or order directly from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.

RailKing One Gauge

M.T.H. HO Scale

Premier O Scale 2-Rail

Premier O Scale 3-Rail

RailKing O Gauge

M.T.H. S Gauge

Tinplate Traditions