Monthly 2020 Vol. 1 Catalog Premier Spotlight

May 20, 2020 - Each month throughout the year, M.T.H. will be spotlighting various items from our 2020 O Gauge Volume 1 catalog.  This month's feature will focus on the Premier O Scale Union Pacific Propane Turbine; the EMD E8 Diesel Passenger Sets in Erie Lackawanna, Illinois Central, Boston & Maine, Seaboard, and Baltimore & Ohio liveries; and select Premier Freight Cars including the O Scale Bay Window Caboose; Double Door 50' Boxcar; Funnel Flow Tank Car; and the 2-Bay Center Flow Hopper.  Each of these items is currently slated to begin delivering in July 2020.

U.P. Propane Turbine Set - The GTEL (gas turbine-electric) program was the 1950s manifestation of the Union Pacific’s ongoing fascination with high-horsepower, larger-than-life locomotives. UP No. 57, the only propane turbine the railroad ever ran, was originally one of 10 oil-powered 4500 hp turbines ordered from General Electric in 1951.           continue reading		Erie Lackawanna E8 Passenger Set - In the mid-1930s, as General Motors was trying to interest railroads in diesel passenger power, there was a lot of experimentation in exterior design. EMD’s worm-like yellow and brown Union Pacific M-10000, its gleaming stainless steel Burlington Zephyr, or the boxy, just-plain-ugly early Santa Fe units, it’s apparent that the E8 was a new function looking for its form.           continue reading

Illinois Central E8 Passenger Set - The first generation of road diesels found its form in 1937 when the initial E-units, built for the B&O, inaugurated the classic "covered wagon" cab unit design that would last for two decades on both freight and passenger diesels.           continue reading		Boston & Maine E8 Passenger Set - The earliest E-units were each virtually custom-made, with less than 20 units produced of models EA through E5. The prewar E6 was the first mass-produced passenger diesel and the last to sport the rakish, streamlined EMD nose so characteristic of the 1930s.           continue reading

Seaboard E8 Passenger Set - After the war, the new E7 adopted the "bulldog" nose introduced earlier on the FT freight diesel. With the rollout of the E8 in 1949, the E-unit, America’s most popular passenger diesel, reached its final visual form — just in time for the last hurrah of the American passenger train.           continue reading		B&O E8 Passenger Set - With twin motors to ensure reliability and six-wheel trucks that rode like a Cadillac, the E8 was an engineer’s dream. For hoggers who had not long ago worked in steam locomotives, the clean cab of an E-unit with its lofty, panoramic view of the road ahead was not hard to get used to.           continue reading

Bay Window Caboose - As freight cars grew taller, observing a train from the cupola of a caboose became increasingly difficult. In the wooden car era, another problem with cupola cabooses was sagging roofs. In an effort to solve these problems, the Akron, Canton & Youngstown railroad introduced the bay window caboose in 1923.           continue reading		Double Door 50' Box Car - While usually referred to as an insulated boxcar, the prototype for this car, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR), is technically a bunkerless refrigerator car, class RBL, built by Evans Products Company for shipments that need protection from temperature extremes but not refrigeration.           continue reading

Funnel Flow Tank - Until the 1950s, the typical railroad tank car consisted of a tank strapped to a full underframe, similar to the frames of most other cars. But in the second half of the century, tank cars underwent a fundamental change as the tank itself took on the dual role of carrying the load and supporting the car.           continue reading		2-Bay Centerflow Hopper - MTH Premier O Scale freight cars are the perfect complement to any manufacturer’s scale proportioned O Gauge locomotives. Whether you prefer to purchase cars separately or assemble a unit train, MTH Premier Rolling Stock has the cars for you in a variety of car types and paint schemes.           continue reading

Each of the above Premier Line items can be ordered through any M.T.H. Authorized Retailer. To see the entire 2020 Volume 1 Premier Lineup, click here.

RailKing One Gauge G Scale Dash-8 Diesel Engines Now In-Stock

Check Out The Quick Start Video

May 20, 2020 - In the late 1980s, as General Electric and General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division engaged in heated competition (that continues today) for market share in the high horsepower category, GE announced its Dash 8 line of diesel locomotives.

Although the first demonstrator version had only 3,200 hp, most of the Dash 8s had 4,000 hp when delivered and were therefore designated Dash 8-40. Because GE builds its diesel locomotives in five modules, it was able to customize its Dash 8s for each buyer to an unusual degree.

Some railroads ordered their Dash 8s with conventional cabs, while others opted for the wider North American or comfort cabs, identified by a "W" in the engine name. Some Dash 8s have 4-wheel trucks — denoted with a "B" — while a Dash 8-40C has 6-wheel trucks. This variety meant that these diesels, which were designed for fast freight duty, also found a home in Amtrak passenger service. Despite their many differences, all Dash 8s share microprocessor control. The microprocessor, a small computer, regulates rpm, fuel injection volume, generator excitation, and many other operational features to make the Dash 8s run more efficiently than any diesels before them.

You can see the locomotives in action on video by clicking HERE.

Click HERE to learn more about these latest releases.

These limited production locomotives can be ordered for immediate delivery through any M.T.H. Authorized Retailer or directly from the M.T.H. Online Store.

Monthly 2019 - 2020 S Gauge Catalog Product Spotlight

May 20, 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 F-7 diesel locomotives in Reading livery. Each of these items is currently slated to begin delivering in July 2020.

EMD NW-2 Diesel Switcher - Electro-Motive Division’s F7 was the zenith of the "covered wagon," or carbody-style diesel. With 3,849 units built between 1949 and 1953, the F7 was both the most popular carbody diesel and its last hurrah. By 1954, U.S. railroads had virtually stopped ordering F-units in favor of hood units like EMD’s GP9 and Alco’s RS-3. The side walkways of hood units offered better access for maintenance and better visibility for backup moves, making them truly universal locomotives useful for both mainline runs and road switching.   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.

HO George Bush SD70ACe Diesels Now In Stock

May 20, 2020 - The M.T.H. HO George Bush SD70ACe diesel has arrived and is now shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers. The locomotives are available in limited quantities at your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer or directly from the M.T.H. website.

On October 18, 2005, at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas, the Union Pacific Railroad unveiled locomotive 4141. It was only the sixth time in UP history that a diesel had been decorated in colors other than the road’s signature Armour Yellow paint.

Based on the paint scheme of Air Force One, the brand new EMD SD70ACe engine honored the 41st president and his library, on the occasion of a new exhibit celebrating America’s railroads, Tracks of the Iron Horse. Among the artifacts on display was the original golden spike that had marked the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869.

In the ensuing ceremonies, the former president himself took a turn at the throttle, and 4141 later pulled freight across the UP system. When rail traffic declined in the 2008 financial crisis, 4141 went into storage as part of the UP’s Heritage Fleet.

After George Herbert Walker Bush passed away on November 30, 2018, UP 4141 came out of storage to bring him back to College Station on December 6, assisted by SD70ACe No. 9096. Baggage car Council Bluffs carried his flag-draped casket, with the doors open to allow the thousands at trackside to pay their respects. To allow others to honor the former president, vice-president, congressman, ambassador, CIA director, and naval aviator, engine 4141 later went on a system-wide Union Pacific tour.

These locomotives are still available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer. They can also be ordered directly from M.T.H. by calling the M.T.H. Sales Department at 410-381-2580 or by visiting the M.T.H. website.

O Gauge Items Just Released During The Week Of May 10, 2020

May 20, 2020 - To review last week's list of the O Gauge items M.T.H. Electric Trains released during the week of May 10, 2020 click HERE. You'll find these at your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.

As always, you can stay apprised of the latest shipping dates by checking the M.T.H. Shipping Schedule. Once items have shipped, use the M.T.H. Product Locator to find a retailer reporting the item in stock.

2020 Volume 2 O Gauge Catalog Now Online

See It Online

Order items through any M.T.H. Authorized Retailer or by contacting the M.T.H. Sales Dept. at 410-381-2580.

Check Out The May 18th Facebook Live Video From M.T.H.

2019 - 2020 RailKing One Gauge G Scale Catalog Now Online

See It Online.

Order items through any M.T.H. Authorized Retailer or by contacting the M.T.H. Sales Dept. at 410-381-2580.

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

May 20, 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

2019 - 2020 S Gauge Catalog Now Online

See It Online

Order items through any M.T.H. Authorized Retailer or by contacting the M.T.H. Sales Dept. at 410-381-2580.

It's Easy To Add WiFi To Your DCS Layout

Check Out The Quick Start Video

Click HERE To Learn More About DCS and WiFi Control

2019 - 2020 HO Scale Catalog Now Online

See It Online

Order items through any M.T.H. Authorized Retailer or by contacting the M.T.H. Sales Dept. at 410-381-2580.