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.