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...
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