After my major disappointment with the performance and sounds coming from the Lionel FM Trainmaster, I thought I needed to reward myself with testing one of my FAVORITE steamers...my beloved S2. I had a brand new in-the-box S2 from MTH #30-1395-1 just waiting for me in my bedroom closet, so out she came. This incarnation of the S2 is MTH's latest version (released in early 2006). It is a RailKing Imperial...which means LOTS of extra goodies that don't come on normal RailKing locos. And WOW...MTH really outdid themselves with the extras. The loco and tender were nicely packed in seperate foam partitions, wrapped in plastic, and then in foam wrapping. The trucks on the tender and the front and rear pilot and trailing wheels were also cushioned with a sheet of foam to keep them from moving around. Nice pack job MTH! After carefully removing all the packing cushions I placed the tender on the track. HOLY MOLY!!! This thing is HUGE!!!! Not an 8-wheel tender or a 12 wheel tender...a SIXTEEN WHEEL TENDER!!!!The really great news is MTH cleverly designed this tender-loco to work on a turn radius as small as 031. So even the smallest curve can take this beast. There are two holes in the tender connection...one for 031 track, and one for larger 072 track. Pretty slick! Next I unpacked the loco. MAN!!! This thing is HEAVY!!! I don't think it really needs the rubber drive wheels. It's heavy enough to pull a zillion freight cars without traction tires. There is a wire connection between the loco and tender for the Proto 2 goodies. It can only connect one way so no sweat there.
Just looking at this giant on the tracks is impressive. I couldn't wait to see (and hear) it in action. I cranked the Z-4000 up to 18 volts and grabbed the DCS controller. A few quick pushes of the buttons and the DCS recognized the S2. I hit the startup button. The S2 jumped to life. Bright headlights AND tailights!!! VERY COOL! I remember having a prewar Lionel 2671WX tender with those lights back there. But they were nowhere near as bright as these. I heard the engine crew make a comment to the effect 'wonder what they'll have for this experimental loco to haul today'. Clear as a bell. No garble at all.After about 10 seconds I notice a large amount of smoke billowing out of the 4-hole smokestack. DANG! The whole room was clouding up!!! The wife is gonna go nuts when she gets home for lunch!! The sound from an S2 is VERY different from any other steamer. First off...forgetabout the puff-puff chuff-chuff sounds. They aren't there and SHOULDN'T be there. This is a TURBINE. Instead there is a whine similar (but not the same) as an aircraft engine.I eased forward on the thumbwheel. At about 2-3 SMPH she began moving. Something I missed on initial inspection...THERE IS OILER LINKAGE!!! This was an unexpected surprise. In the photos on the MTH website, no oiler linkage is present. COOL! I guess I can suspend my quest for a Lionel 682 (unless I find one in excellent condition for DIRT CHEAP). This baby REALLY has it all. There are also little chains hanging down at each corner of the tender. Not sure what these are for, but they are a nice extra detail.
The S2 can crawl around the track at super slow speeds with no problem. I thumbed the speed control and took her up to 25. The sounds coming out of the S2 were really amazing. She looked GOOD on the 042 curves. Took them with no problemo. I took her up to 40 SMPH and that's as high as I wanted to go. She puffed around the track with ease. No indication that she would fly off at all. I tested the braking sound by quickly thumbing back on the flywheel. Sure enough...a SCREEEEEE that sent my cats running like mad through the house I tested the couplers and they made the typical "clank" when they popped open. Put the train in reverse and the center white light between the two red ones on the tender lit up brightly. There is even a lighted "coal load" inside the engineer area. Detail on the outside is also excellent. Looks more like a Premiere model than a RailKing. I guess that's why it's called an "Imperial". Brunswick green paint. BLack coal load that looks REAL. And nice tuscan accents in the tender.
Bottom line...at a price of $449.95, it's worth every penny. If you can get it for less, you are getting a SUPER DEAL. I guess it would be described as "semi-scale", but it's a LOT bigger than the postwar S2s Lionel put out. Yes...you can get a Williams that is "vaguely similar" to the MTH. But all you get is a whistle and bell. This has SO MUCH MORE that it makes it worth the extra cost. As a matter of fact, I just placed an order for ANOTHER of these locos for my layout. That's how much I like them
Dep
Virginian Railroad
So, Dep, you really weren't that impressed?
Good review. I might have to look at this one after Christmas....
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
AnJ: LOL...did my passion for this monster get through?
Here's the website with pictures and features. You can see the oiler linkage is NOT shown, although it definitely DOES have it.
http://www.railking1gauge.com/detail.asp?item=30-1395-1
Dep...aka Mr. S2
Bob Nelson
lionelsoni wrote:Well, you know what they say: You can't have too many S2s on your layout. No, wait. You can have too many! There was only one prototype!
Bob: Kinda like that Highlander guy..."There Can Be ONLY ONE". LOL
On a brighter note...I got my Lionel FM Trainmaster working pretty good tonight. Checking the instructions (geez..I HATE reading those things!), I found out what buttons on CAB-1 to push to make the talk stuff work. Unfortunately, I have the early version (I guess) of crewtalk. It's mumbo-jumbo. But the tower talk is crystal clear. Everything else seems to be working fine too. That's a relief. Buyers remorse is vanishing
BTW...total count of S2 Turbine roaming around my layout..
One 671
One 681
One MTH S2 (and another one on the way).
One Lionel 18010
One Lionel 18321
That's probably WAY more than any person should have in one location
Dep, the S2 man
Deputy wrote: lionelsoni wrote:Well, you know what they say: You can't have too many S2s on your layout. No, wait. You can have too many! There was only one prototype!Bob: Kinda like that Highlander guy..."There Can Be ONLY ONE". LOL On a brighter note...I got my Lionel FM Trainmaster working pretty good tonight. Checking the instructions (geez..I HATE reading those things!), I found out what buttons on CAB-1 to push to make the talk stuff work. Unfortunately, I have the early version (I guess) of crewtalk. It's mumbo-jumbo. But the tower talk is crystal clear. Everything else seems to be working fine too. That's a relief. Buyers remorse is vanishing BTW...total count of S2 Turbine roaming around my layout..One 671One 681One MTH S2 (and another one on the way).One Lionel 18010One Lionel 18321That's probably WAY more than any person should have in one location Dep, the S2 man
"I'm in disguise...""Heh. I recognized you."------"Forgive me sister for I have sinned.""I have something to say! IT'S BETTER TO BURN OUT... THAN TO FADE AWAY!!!! THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!"... Kurgan (a.k.a. Clancey Brown)
Hey Deputy,
Is this the 1395 MTH S-2 that Ready to Roll has in this months O Guage Magazine?
If it is, is $395 a good deal?
anjdevil2 wrote: Hey Deputy,Is this the 1395 MTH S-2 that Ready to Roll has in this months O Guage Magazine?If it is, is $395 a good deal?
Let me go check Anj...stand by
Yep...that's the one. List is $450, so that price isn't too bad. Just Trains shows it for $375. Not sure if they have it in stock though.
http://www.justrains.com/MTH%20RailKIng%20Instock.htm
These babies used to be fairly common, but are starting to get harder to find. You might do a search for MTH 30-1395-1 on Yahoo or Google and see if you can find any cheaper prices. But those two are pretty good.
Now that I've learned to post pics...Note that no oiler linkage is shown in this picture. It is of an earlier version of the MTH S2.
I ran my buddies on my layout, his was an earlier one from about 1999 and it ran great no problems at all great smoker.
laz57
Just a Hobo wrote: There's one on ebay at $77.00 right now ! http://cgi.ebay.com/MTH-30-1149-1-Pennsylvania-6-8-6-S2-Turbine-Steam-Loco_W0QQitemZ280062087825QQihZ018QQcategoryZ4730QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Oops....look carefully at the part number for this one on E-Bay (MTH-30-1149-1). This is an EARLIER version of the S2 Turbine from MTH WITHOUT the oiler linkage. The one I reviewed (MTH-30-1395-1) HAS the oiler linkage. Just so you know before you bid
laz 57 wrote: I ran my buddies on my layout, his was an earlier one from about 1999 and it ran great no problems at all great smoker.laz57
Laz: Yep...she's known for producing large volumes of smoke. The one in the E-Bay ad is from 1999. The newer one I reviewed is from the 2006 catalog.
Anj: Think I'd pass on that GG-1. Be advised that Williams sold some "kit" versions that were unpainted. This may be one that the owner painted himself. $75 is a bit steep. Should be able to get a nice one for a tad more than that. New they retail at $250. Most places sell them for much less than that. And they are all painted
Hobo: It's more than just the oiler linkage. The one on E-Bay is Proto1 sounds. They aren't as good as Proto 2 and have some qwerks with batteries going dead. It's a good price but just not for me
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