I just purchased my first RMT locomotive, the BANG S-4 switcher. It runs really smoothly, has directional lighting and a horn. I really like it. It is a nice addition for 027 trains. The horn isn't real impressive, but the rest of the features clearly makes it worth-while. I plan on purchasing some more road names.
D.M.
From what I've heard RMT is amenable to special runs of locomotives and cars if there's enough in the order to make it worthwhile. So, if you'd like to see an R&N diesel or BM&R cars you might just contact them and get the numbers. If there's a big enough market, who knows?
For those who signed up for the 2011 Conductors Club:
DEC.17-2012: RMT 2011 CONDUCTOR's CLUB AMTRAK BEEP diesel expected to arrive in early 2013 and will begin shipping at that time. Manufacturing and shipping delays have caused the arrival to be pushed back from previously announced dates. Please accept apologies for these circumstances which are beyond the control of RMT.
I've bought a bunch of their ore cars. I wait until I can get them for $15/ea, which is a reasonable price. They're decent cars, certainly worth the $15, but certainly not worth the full list price!
During my off years of running O gauge, I remember first seeing the RMT Beeps at train shows several years ago. I remarked at the good price and (then) availability of local road names like B&M, NH, MEC. I never bought any because at the time my layout wasn't running and I had no idea when I'd be able to set it up again, so I stuck to buying N scale and the occasional G. Fast foward to a few weeks ago at the Brockton, MA show and a very nice gentleman sold me a B&M Beep for $65. Initially I was dissapointed at the slow speed and couple issue (which I guess was common among first generation Beeps but as since been corrected). However, I got used to the slower speed (I really can't run that fast anyway because of the hairpin 027 curves) and found that if it had a heavy car behind it (I first used a KLine UP flat car, then last week I bought a Lionel B&M ice breaker gon at another show from the same nice gentleman), there are no coupler problems and I have come to find it as a nice little locomotive, perfect for my layout. I have a NJT Beep coming as a Xmas gift, and I think I want to get the NH, MEC and Halloween ones, and would love to get the S4 and possibly MP15. I think like all things, forget about the MSRP and look for sales and deals. My dad got the NJT beep from an NJ Hirailers ebay account and they have a few other Beeps for 49.99.
So far after a year of running my NYC Bang still performs like new, it pulls 4 RMT freight cars.
http://readymadetoys.com/bas4diswlo.html
I also run 2 Christmas Beeps pulling 4 Lionel North Pole Central passengers cars each.
I've tried a few of the o gauge cars & they're nothing but trouble, they uncouple & derail all over the place because they're too short & too light, they bind up in the curves & force the other couplers to derail the trucks on the cars next to them. I have the Bethlehem Steel tank/depressed center flat car & the Lackawanna plant coal hopper & I don't trust either of them to hold the rail, they're the only ones in my collection of all different sorts of cars that give me so much trouble. The horn speaker in my son's Beep already burnt out & he barely ever runs it.
SeayakbillRMT is still running their 50% off sale on specific items. The cupboard must be close to empty.
LOL Bill. I doubt the 50% and greater sales have anything to do with clearing out warehouse space. RMT appears to be setting the MSRP at more than twice the actual price point and run "sales" continuously. I don't think there has been a single day in the last six months when RMT hasn't had a 50% sale.
As we discussed elsewhere, they have also run the "Extra 30%" sale where products are 50% off and if you know the "special code" from their email you take another 30% of the discounted price.
To the original poster - never ever ever buy anything from RMT at full price - which is what they are counting on - the occasional guy/gal who will stumble on to their site and pay full list.
Go to their website and sign up for their email and you will get an email everyday announcing a "limiited time offer" of 50% off.
I am glad the RMT people survived Sandy. I see where the 2011 Collectors Club AMTRAK Beeps are going to be mailed soon.
I do look forward to using mine.
I've got six "Beeps", two Jersey Central, two Public Service Electric, and two US Marine Corps, plus the apropriate cabooses. I like 'em all, good runners, and two coupled together will pull just about anything. I WAS impressed with a bit of detail on the Marine "Beeps" that only Marines would know. The engine numbers are 1775 and 1798, the years of the establishment and then re-establishment of the Corps.
Normally I'm a steam freak, but the "Beeps" are so cute I couldn't pass 'em up.
I like RMT, but still await the AMTRAK Beeps ordered last year for the 2011 Collectors Club. I have called several times but the order is still not in! Ye gads it is a year later
Seayakbill The engines run good, but I really doubt I would buy another one, especially at the current price. yep, the listed price for their rolling stock and locos is very high. The sale discounts that RMT has been running for the past 3 months put the product line in a more reasonable price range. I wonder what the dealers think of the factory direct sale promotions. I remember when Williams did the same thing about 15 years ago, did not go over very well with the dealers.
The engines run good, but I really doubt I would buy another one, especially at the current price.
yep, the listed price for their rolling stock and locos is very high. The sale discounts that RMT has been running for the past 3 months put the product line in a more reasonable price range. I wonder what the dealers think of the factory direct sale promotions. I remember when Williams did the same thing about 15 years ago, did not go over very well with the dealers.
Great point. For example there are several dealers on line that sell RMT products and I have seen their price and then looked at the factory direct sales promotion price and decided I would be very irritated if I was dealing RMT products from my INTERNET store or my brick-mortar store.
Lionel, MTH and Williams seem to be the opposite where the dealer networks always have the best prices. Do not know much about Weaver and their prices.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
RMT is good quality and service is excellent. Prices were way too high but have been cut substantially lately. I have several Beeps and like them.
I hope they can keep up the good work at the new, lower price points on into the future and still maintain a sufficient profit, but who knows?
Bill T.
RMT's MSRP is too high for what you get. I have four of their products, but they were purchased years ago before the prices skyrocketed. The engines run good, but I really doubt I would buy another one, especially at the current price. You can find excellent used Lionel, MTH or Williams at many of our train shows for a great price.
I forget to mention I purchased 2 NYC covered hoppers which have excellent detail, even the couplers have brake hoses!
Love 'em
I like RMTproducts and feel they are fairly priced. I have 2 Beeps and 1 Bang. They perform as well as, or better any newer Lionel and in my opinion when I can speak with the owner direct, it is worth the purchase.
I also agree with the above post on bringing back the Marx plastic streamline diesels!
RMT is still running their 50% off sale on specific items. The cupboard must be close to empty.
I've got several Beeps, boppers, cabeese and some Buddy's. Glad I have them all, lots for smaller road names to choose from, plus some odd pieces you don't usually see.
At the current sale prices these are a great deal, I stocked up myself!!
I have an older RMT Beep (pre aristo-craft) and it's great. I got it for about $50 new (prices have gone up a bit since, but they've also upgraded the electronics slightly I think).
This past December it earned it's keep running on the outer loop of my 12x8 christmas display at the Redford Theatre in Detroit. That's a little more than 4.5 hours for every weekend in December and the first weekend in January. It did fine pulling a decent sized train. The only issue was a bad coupler which we "fixed" with a twist tie for the season which worked fine.
If you can get them cheap, go for it. I don't see it being worth much more than what I paid.
I have a Beep and Bang,
I think they have nice detail and features for the 50% off price. Their full blown retail is 50% tooo much.
JMHO,
Kev.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
The current "list" prices at RMT are stupid expensive. However, they've been running lots of e-mail half-off sales that put the prices at more realistic levels. I got a brand-new "Buddy" RDC car off e-bay for less than half of the current retail, and I must say it's a great runner, way cool!
Pete
"You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light." - Edward Abbey -
Speaking of former Marx items, I wish RMT or someone would bring back the Marx plastic E9 diesel from the sixties. I have one of those from when I was a kid. It was well used and pretty tired now.
I bought two of their boxcars and am well pleased. I will go back for more very soon. I got the "sale" price on them and I consider them a good buy. The construction quality is solid and the graphics are very clean and well applied. It looks like RMT will become the new kline. They sent me a catlog with my order and a lot of the items shown are former kline items. They are bringing back kline's "snap track" system wich was quite good I'm told. I geuss we can stay tuned.
George
Welcome to the Forum. I've had a RMT Beep since 2006 and really like the little engine.
That being said:
The initial price was very reasonable. However, within a week after having it, the engine did have a coupler problem. I mailed the engine back to the company and they quickly replaced it with no questions. (If I were to add the return mailing cost, I would adjust my price opinion.)
Do you think the prices of RMT trains is worth the money or can money be better spent on Lionel products?
The catalog list prices for RMT's product line is way over the top, probably why RMT has been running 50% off sales for 3 months. RMT's rolling stock is significantly better than Lionel's traditional rolling stock but the catalog pricing does not justify the improvement. To be fair I think Lionel's catalog pricing for their traditional rolling stock is also priced into the stratosphere and you are paying for the orange & blue box. I have purchased 8 pieces of RMT rolling stock and the Northern Pacific RDC at 50% off and I feel at that reduced price I got my money's worth.
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