MTH 2011 O gauge catalog volume 1 and 2

 Well now that I've explored the world of Piko's G scale trains followed by an HO scale catalog from Lionel with more IP's and fantasy schemes then real schemes (come on man), why don't we go back to old reliable: an MTH O gauge catalog overview. 

Volume 1: 

MTH's O gauge section starts off with Pennsylvania Railroad's 6-8-6 Imperial S-2 Turbine. 

I kind of do like the NW-2 Switchers. I don't quite get the little engine/train they carry behind them, but the schemes MTH offered for it are nice, with my favorite being the good old fashion Santa Fe. 

The Silver Alco PA Union Pacific diesels was a nice call back to the ones Lionel made, but with a little bit more realism and detail. There's also a matching passenger car set that looks nice. 

An O gauge Gas turbine train? Sweet. 

Don't get me wrong MTH, I like the 33K gallon tank cars, but I find it hard to believe they can take 31 curves, and if they do it must look pretty awkward/tight. 

While the Railking section might not have been very exciting, the O scale one starts off with a home run in the form of the Santa Fe Blue Goose. 

I'm a big fan of the Blue Goose. The steam engine looks similar to the J-class Norfolk and Western, and the blue scheme really works. 

MTH also offered a passenger car set, and those look amazing. 

The Milwaukee Road's Hiawatha is anther beautiful steam train that I'm glad to see get made alongside a passenger car set. 

To round things out for steam trains is a Climax Logging steam train, and yes, this too comes with some sets. 

I'm not the biggest fan of logging trains, but I do think their pretty neat, and wouldn't mind trying to model/make a logging train layout one of these days. 

I know I don't really go into accessories when looking into these catalogs, especially since there aren't that many (at least in the building department), but this Harley Davison Diner looks great. 

Volume 2: 

Not to pick on Lionel, but the Big Boy freight and passenger sets that MTH offered for O gauge blow away 95% of Lionel's O gauge sets out of the water. 

As a fan of old fashion steam engines it's nice to see a 4-4-0 general being offered. Bonus points for the U.S Military R.R scheme being offered. 

The Texas Special F3 ABA was offered in this catalog, and man do I love that scheme. 

For the SD 70 Ace diesel, two fright sets were offered for Harley Davison and Caterpillar. 

Rounding out the O gauge trains were some operating hand cars, with the M&M one being something I wish I had and could get. 

In the steam train department MTH has been really coming out swinging with O scale, and this catalog is no different as they offered the Jersey's Central Blue Comet in it's blue and black paint scheme, along with a passenger set. 

The Southern 4-6-2 is anther beauty of a steam train that I'm glad MTH offered in general, let alone with a passenger set. 

Yeah, the O scale section of this catalog seemed to be throwing O scale sets left and right for those who wanted them. The Pennsylvania Railroad's 4-6-2 K-4's Modern got two sets. 

And the Santa Fe 4-6-4 Troop Train is the Troop train set I wish Lionel had released to us for HO scale. 

The McKeen Motor Car is something I need to see get made again in any scale, let alone O. It's such an interesting looking train, and yet (and unless I'm looking in the wrong places), MTH is the only one's to have made it. 

Final Thoughts: 

Again, not to make fun of Lionel, but it's hard for me to not miss MTH when it's clear why they were such a competitor to Lionel. In O gauge especially it's nice to see real train schemes being offered as sets as opposed to "M&M" or "Hershey". 

And yes, I do like those types of train sets, but like I said in my Lionel HO scale catalog overview, I want more real schemes as opposed to fantasy. 

MTH is still hanging in there so who knows, maybe someone will buy the company and bring it back to it's glory days to stand toe to toe with Lionel again... 

Lionel's HO scale spring catalog 2026 overview

 Lionel has released an HO scale catalog for Spring 2026...and it's kind of meh. 

I'm sorry for starting off on a sour note guys, but it bothers me how Lionel's HO scale stuff is 90% IP, Holidays, and fantasy trains and 10% stuff from the real world. 

And before anyone calls me out, yes I am a fan of holiday and fantasy schemes, but I want the option for real stuff to be there too. Lionel doesn't really provide that in this catalog outside of a few cars including the test cars they announced awhile back. 

If it makes you feel better though Lionel, I did see some good stuff in here, starting with the American Berkshire. 

As someone who's a sucker for Patriot schemes, I couldn't help but really like this scheme. It's on my "want to see it be made in real life" list, and at least from the photo provided it provides a decent amount of detail to look at. It also can run on DCC or DC and does smoke. Just try not to look too closely at the price tag. 

Some of the 250 cars win me over as well, such as the president's cars and founding father box cars. 

Alright Lionel, I'll give you a thumbs up on the Halloween passenger cars. Yes their molds of the Polar express passenger cars made to look spooky, but it honestly works here, and any HO Halloween stuff that isn't from a certain subscription company is a win for me. 

Speaking of the Polar Express, I gotta also give a thumbs up to the presents car. I believe Lionel did something like this in O, so seeing them shrink it down a gauge is pretty neat. 

The searcher lights are new tooling in this catalog and I like the ones they provide in this catalog for the most part. Maybe it's because I'm looking in the wrong places but I do miss those types of cars in HO scale. 

Well I did say I wanted to see more John Deer HO scale stuff...

OK Lionel you better be getting ready to release an Area 51 Railroad train set soon. I'm all for the Area 51 ET44 getting shrunk down to HO scale and put in a train set. 

Of course, this is assuming Lionel has tooling for an ET44 in HO scale. One can dream alright? 

Like I said, this catalog does not really have that many "stuff you'd see in real life" cars. Just one in a half pages and it's crane cars...

And then the test cars I mentioned before. 

Also while not apart of the catalog, I saw this screaming eagle HO scale train and honestly? Looks pretty good. 

Final Thoughts:

I just wish these catalogs would have more train cars that were realistic as opposed to fantasy. Again, I'm all for the fantasy stuff Lionel, but your competitors in HO scale are providing a wide, wide range of realistic fright cars alongside other types of trains as well. 

This ain't O scale, you don't have an monopoly in HO scale, and I ponder how long you'll even have HO scale when this is what you're putting out there, and for high prices too...

Taking a look at a Piko catalog (2026-2027)

I know MTH and Bachmann with a hint of Tyco have been my bread and butter when it comes to train catalogs, but I wanna shake things up a bit and look at a catalog by Piko. 

Piko is a model train company that releases G, HO, N, and even TT scale trains, and while the company is from Europe, they do have an American branch and do some American trains. 

Since we're in garden railroad season, I'd figure we'd look at their G scale catalog and see what their offering, and if it's worth the time of anyone who wants to get into modeling in the great outdoors, or is doing so already. 

Not to make Piko's train sets out to be the next best thing since sliced bread, but I do appreciate the company for offering G scale train sets that have everything one who'd want to get into the world of G scale (outside or in). 

Alongside the usual track and train, the sets come with a little remote that almost looks like a car key, that can be used to control the trains. The power pack is also weather resistant which is something you'll need if you want to take the trains outside. 

As for the sets themselves, again, nothing too fancy, but the Rio Grande and Christmas train set do butter my toast. 

One other thing I appreciate about the Piko catalog is the explanation of the track and curve radius. Yes model railroaders, I know that bigger curves is going to be a thing in all scales, but it varies from scale to scale. 

In HO, you can go above 22 radius, but most if not all of the big trains will take that curve at the bare minimum. 

In O scale, trains can take up to a 72 radius curve. 

In G, R7 seems to be the largest curve, though I'm sure there are bigger curves then that. 

Point I'm trying to make is that I do appreciate the little guide as it's helpful for those who want to graduate from starter sets to move onto trains that will need bigger radius curves, and there are plenty of those in this catalog. 

Maybe it's because I'm looking in the wrong places, but I do appreciate a good G scale Camelback steam engine, and from CNJ. 

The Union Pacific and Santa Fe Mogul steam engines look great, with a nice painted design on their tanks. 

And yes Halloween steam engine I'm glad to see you. Finally, some more Halloween train products that don't come from Lionel. 

As I've stated before in blogs, I'm more of an American train guy then European. That said, I do like the selection of European trains Piko does have, including the BR 50 steam loco. 

The train might not come with sound, but it does come with a decent amount of detail and looks like it would run nice on an indoor or outdoor G scale layout. 

The Santa Fe NoHab looks more blessed then cursed in my opinion. 

One European train that does have a place in my heart is the Crocodile diesel. The train looks like a hybrid between a diesel and a steam engine, and luckily for other fans of the interesting looking diesel, Piko has some models of it to sell. 

Some of the American passenger cars that Piko sells honestly look really nice and tempting to buy (if I had my own garden railroad.) 

For one thing, I really like the Wood Drover's caboose, which almost looks like a mobile home on wheels. 

For anther, some of the passenger cars are just really nice to look at, such as the yellow and brown Union Pacific passenger cars. 

And yes Christmas passenger cars I am going to give you your flowers. 

The model kits and buildings is what interest me the most. While I'm aware that G scale has accessories like buildings, people, and cars, I've never really taken a close look at what exactly is being offered before as I'm mostly an HO scale guy. 

Piko seems to deliver when it comes to stuff to have on the layout, inside or out. 

The brewery is one of my favorite buildings of Piko. I don't know if the smoke stacks can actually blow smoke out of them, but given that this is a G scale building, I'm sure it's easy to install a custom smoking fan unit, or just use a fog machine to make that effect. 

Other favorites from this catalog are the Rosenbach watermill

bait & tackle shop 

the barns 

and Brad's fishing cabin. 

Also I just have to mention White Knight Hamburgers. Clever nod to white castle there Piko. 

Final thoughts: 

Don't be surprised if I start to cover Piko's G scale stuff from here on out. Soft spot for G scale aside, I really do like what Piko's doing. It's one thing to offer starter sets and tutorials for those who want to get into G scale. 

It's even more commendable to offer a decent selection of trains, track, and everything else needed for those who want to get serious or have the space to make a garden railroad that takes up a decent amount of the backyard (or those who have the space for a G scale layout inside.)