MTH O gauge catalog 2010, volume 1 and 2 overview

Part of the reason why I want to go into MTH's 2010's catalogs so much is because this was the last decade they were fully active. Yes I know MTH is still around, but they don't make catalogs like they used to, and their not up to Lionel's level anymore. 

It's gonna be a bit bitter sweet and also painful as I still do wish we'd get a proper competitor to Lionel (in O scale/gauge.) 

Volume 1: 

Before getting into the Trains themselves, I wanna briefly go over the "30 Years of Innovation and Fun" section, highlighting most of MTH's history from their beginnings in owner Mike Wolf's house to introducing one gauge and HO scale to the line. 

When we do get to the trains we're greeted by a 4-6-6-4 Imperial Challenger in RailKing scale. 

I don't mean to obsess over MTH's ability to make big trains run on 31 curves too much, but I do find it impressive. Obviously I wouldn't recommend having some of these trains run on two pieces of straight track and a curve, but if you had a smaller layout that had 31-36 radius curves, this train could handle it. 

The 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler is anther engine I have to tip my hat to MTH for including, as I am a sucker for old steam engines from the western era. 

As someone who's both a sucker for candy themed trains, the M&M's EP-4's were nice to see. 

In the fright car section for RailKing is smoking tank cars for NASA and Hawaiian Kona Coffee. Finally, a good reason to use that Coffee smelling smoke fluid. 

MTH also offered a decent amount of 19th century fright cars in this catalog. 

While not a 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler, MTH did offer a good old fashion 4-4-0 American in O scale. 

The Bavarian Class S 3/6 steam engine MTH offered in this catalog looks beautiful, and I really hope those that model European trains in O scale got their hands on this engine. 

The Turbo train made it's debut in this catalog with schemes for Amtrack, Canadian National, and Penn Central. 

Both the AC440CW diesel and Harley Davison ES44AC diesel sets look really great, though I do wish the Harley Davison set wasn't just a bunch of Harley Davison Trailers on flat cars. 

Volume 2: 

The good old PA Railroad K4 starts the Railking section off, featuring two sets for freight and passenger. 

A GP9 BNSF diesel? That's not something you see everyday. 

It is nice to see flatcars with cars on them being offered. I have a soft spot for these things and hope they continue to be made in all gauges for a long, long, long time (or at least offer us a flat car so we can put our own cars on said flat cars.) 

While the Railking section didn't have too much going on, O scale did, starting with a 4-8-2 New York Central Mohawk that also had two fright train sets offered. 

The 4-8-2 Union Pacific Mountain is a favorite of mine. It might not be the most beautiful looking steam engine, but it does look like an engine that will still get up at the crack of dawn and show up for work on time. 

The 4-4-6-4 Pennsylvania Q2 Duplex was offered alongside a specialty freight set. 

MTH really ramped up production for European engines this catalog. Alongside the trains are European freight cars to go along with the trains. 

I know European trains aren't everyone's cup of tea (for those of us in the USA), but I still stand by the idea that it was nice of MTH to offer said trains in O scale, especially since I'd imagine those who wanted European trains in that scale in the USA didn't have many options. 

I know their dummy subway cars, but I still find the idea of MTH selling flat cars with subway trains on them funny. 

Final thoughts: 

Like I said at the beginning of the blog, it is kind of painful to know that we're in the home stretch for catalogs from MTH. I really liked some of the stuff they were doing, and as I stated in the blog them doing European trains in O scale is pretty nice for anyone who wanted those trains in that scale or model European trains. 

It certainly wasn't something Lionel was doing outside of the Hogwarts Express train set. 

Lionel shows off new engine type for battery operated O gauge train set

I know train news isn't something I do often on here (minus the newer train catalogs overview), but I'd figure I'd break some this week has it seem Lionel is really going all in on their O scale battery operated line. 

On Facebook Trainworld.com posted a new mold/tooling that Lionel revealed for their battery operated O scale line. The mold shows an unpainted diesel engine that looks to come from the GP/Dash family of diesel engines. 

Photo curtesy of TrainWorld.com's Facebook

As for what set this GP train is going to belong to, that would be a John Deer train set that Lionel is planning to release in October. In fact, going onto the Trainworld website you can find the set available for pre-order, alongside what the new diesel looks like completed. 

Alongside the John Deer set, Lionel is also releasing a Disney Christmas train, and Star Wars train in October. 

Thoughts:

I don't blame Lionel for continuing to go all in on the O gauge battery operated train sets. From what Trainworld said on their post, they seem to be pretty popular, and as I stated in my "What I like about modern day Lionel" blog, I feel these types of sets are needed in the industry. 

Again, I know their not gonna look as good as the electric ones, but their perfect for the kiddos who grew out of Thomas but might not be ready for an electric set, or even a lukewarm train fan who just wants a set to have running around the Christmas village. 

I'm still iffy on the price though. Come on Lionel, I'm glad these battery operated sets have some "magic" to them with water vapor smoke, a remote control, and sound, but do they really have to be $100+ a pop? 

Train sets I'd like to see get remade/released 2

 One of the more popular post on my blog is about train sets that I'd like to see get remade/released again, where I go over train sets that I'd like to see be made again in some way or anther. 

To celebrate this blogs one year anniversary, I'd figure I'd go over anther set of train sets that I'd like to see be remade/release again. 

While there will be some train sets from the catalogs that I've talked about in past blogs in here, I will keep them to a minimum. 

The Spongebob Squarepants train set (MTH): 

And start off with a train set that I didn't even know existed. No folks this is not some very clever photoshop job, the folks over at Mike's train house released a Spongebob train set before, and haven't since. A shame because I really think this train set turned out pretty nice. 

Considering how license happy Lionel is, I'm surprised they haven't approached Nickelodeon about the idea of making anther Spongebob train set. I do low-key like the idea of a Spongebob train set being made, and I think something similar would work well for Lionel's battery O scale line. 

The Keystone (Bachmann): 

Like I stated in the intro, I'm not gonna go overboard with train sets I've already talked about in past blogs when looking at train catalogs, but I wanted to add this one because I feel it's the most likely for Bachmann to do. 

Bachmann still sells K4 Pennsylvania steam engines, and while the baggage cars are MIA, they do have streamline cars that I feel would suit the K4 just as well. At the very least I would like to see Bachmann give PA railroad at least one passenger train set. It's not like you're not on board with releasing bigger and more expensive train sets Bachmann...

M&M's train set (MTH): 

On one hand I'd like to see Lionel lay off the licenses product train sets for O gauge. 

On the other hand, I really do miss M&M train sets and train cars that aren't from Bradford Exchange. I really dig the looked of the M&M train set that MTH released with it having everything it needed to make it look charming and dare I say even cute. 

Honorable mention goes to the MTH G scale M&M F3 which I'd also like to see make a return on the market one day. 

The Jingle Bell Express (Bachmann): 

Part of the reason why I was annoyed at Bachmann for their lack of On30 sets in their 2026 catalog is because Bachmann has had a backlog of decent On30 train sets they could have remade and released again. 

The Jingle Bell Express is one of those sets and I really do wish Bachmann would give us a remake of it at best (or worse if you really wanted to see the set come back.) Everything about the set screams "Run me in your ceramic Christmas village", the colors suit the train well, and mini presents or snow covered trees can easily call dibs in the empty gondola and log car the train carries. 

Toy Story train set (IHC)

Yes I know we've gotten and are probably gonna get more Toy Story train stuff as the 5th movie comes out, but a part of me would like to see Lionel (yes them because their buddy buddy with Disney) remake this set. 

Both the 1 and 2 train set look fun enough to run around the Christmas tree or be gifted to a child for their first train set, and I wouldn't mind seeing Woody and the gang on HO scale cars and trains again. Problem is I'm afraid Lionel is going to give us this set with the same steam engine they've been using for their HO scale sets and same type of cars as well. 

Well, if they can give Tom and Jerry a box car in HO scale, I'm sure they can do the same for Woody and the gang. Weather or not it will capture the fun spirit of these cars though is anther story... 

Which of these train sets would you like to see get remade or re-released, let me know in the comments below. 

Ranking Lionel's Fantasy schemes (part 1)

 Depending on who you ask, Lionel's fantasy paint for their Legacy engines are either the best thing since sliced bread, or proof that Lionel has lost their way and either need to get it together or get out of Model Railroading. 

As I've mentioned before on this blog, I have a soft spot for model train fantasy schemes. I'm all for realism in model railroading, but there's nothing wrong with there being a good Christmas train set here or a fantasy of a paint scheme there. 

This blog is gonna work similar to my Fantasy paint schemes for Broadway Limited Imports fantasy paint scheme rankings. 5 steam engines, 5 diesels. Said fantasy paint schemes are only going to be those from Lionel's Legacy and Lion Master series, and I'll try to cover ones that are either currently on sale as of this blog, or soon to be. 

Steam engines 

1. Twilight Limited 

Yes I know how cheap it is to start off with a holiday train, but I can't help but give Lionel their flowers. I know Halloween and trains don't go quite as well as Christmas and trains, but Lionel knows how to make some decent Halloween trains. 

I honestly wish the Twilight limited was real. I'd love to see this massive but eerie steam engine rolling down the tracks carrying cars decorated for Halloween. At least on your own personal layout you can make that a reality. 

Rating: A+

2. C&O Legacy Allegheny

I really do like the C&O silver and orange scheme. Orange and silver might seem like an odd pair to have a train be colored as, but I personally like the scheme. 

Rating: A

3: Pennsylvania K4 red scheme 

On one hand I don't mind this scheme, on the other the 611 J-class looks better with the red stripe on the side in my opinion, and this engine doesn't really have much else going for it. 

Rating: B-

4. Southern Pacific Daylight S2 #800

Yes I know it's not the 4449 Southern Pacific, but this also isn't the worst choice of engine to give that scheme to either. I'd at least give this train some Southern Pacific box cars with a caboose to pull around the layout. 

Rating: A-

5: Polar Express Big Boy

Look I'm a fan of the Pere Marquette (the type of train the OG Polar Express was) as much as the next guy, but do you know how much more epic the movie would be if the kid woke up to see a Big Boy coming down his street? 

Also I'm sorry but the Big Boy really does look good in this shade of blue. 

Rating: A+

Diesels 

1. Area 51 ET44

It's really hard for me to hate some of Lionel's fantasy schemes when some of them are just so dang fun. From the Area 51 Railroad on the side of the diesel to the X51 numbering, this engine is just too cool not to try and get into your collection. 

Rating: A+

2. Lionel Lines SD38 

While I don't mind the orange on this train, it does feel kind of bare. Yes Lionel I know Orange is your companies color, but couldn't we add just a tad bit more blue in there? 

Rating: C

3. Lionel Lines (Patriotic scheme)

Now we're talking! Soft spot for patriotic scheme's aside, I just really like how much there is to look at. From the red and white stars on the side of the engine to the USA and American flag on the front, this engine is begging to be run with patriotic cars behind it. 

Rating: A+

4. The Midnight Flyer 

Again, Lionel knows how to make some decent Halloween trains. The Midnight Flyer looks as spooky as it does beautiful with the purple nose and spiderwebs decorating the side of the engine. The train would be more then happy to run in your Halloween village. 

Rating: A+

5. Polar Express E7AA

Yes I know, this and the Big Boy from the steam section are proof that Lionel's milking the Polar Express for all she's worth. 

A: that's been the case for a while now. 

B: I honestly do like the idea of a Polar Express diesel streamline engine, and this one certainly seems to capture the spirit of Christmas and the movie. 

Rating: A

So which fantasy schemes were your favorite and do you have any of the ones mentioned in this blog? Let me know in the comments below.