Strangely I'm not a MTH fan but I own 5 ,4 steamers & 1 Sd70ACe they dobhave a tendoncey to go "stupid" & you have to reset the Addy but they sound awesome & pull well
What misinformation? On DC, the MTH locos don't reach full speed until well over the NMRA recommended 12 volts. They are not fully DCC compatible, but you cna access most of the functions, you just can;t program very much. Plain truth, from magazine tests and the manuals that come with the locos.
I don't care for my loco making station announcements, barnyard sounds, or train crashes, so luckily those are on higher DCC functions (all the mainstream systems can access F0-F28, not just MRC). The diesels do have the sound shut off on dirty track, there's little or no keep alive in these things, and it is extremely frustrating to hit F4 to start up the silent one only to have it silence the working one. Pretty much every DCC sound decoder reverts the sound to the point it left off when interrupted, they don't go silent. Or else this is configurable. MTH probably is too - if you have a DCS system. You can't fix it with DCC.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I have both diesels and steam. The diesels can be made to run backwards by changing the CV values like any other DCC item. I have no reason to change a steamer. If one wishes to mix brands in a consist, I would recommend leaving the MTH settings and matching other decoders to them as they are closely matched from the factory--they do have other speed maps available if this can't be done. I would suggest the majority of those responding should read the manuals on the MTH site because of the mis-info seen here. The only disadvantage to not using MRC is one's DCC unit does not have the capability to call up the dozens of specialized sounds available. However, the DCC sounds available are the best of the bunch using buttons 1-27 or less.
I will swear by newer MTH steam engines. I don't have any diesels from MTH to compare though.
The photo you saw was incorrect of the Yellowstone. The boiler will be grey. I have found that mths locomotives are very well detailed and the sound is the best on the market bar none.
I have 9 MTH steam engines and they all run smooth and sound great. The engines are so good that my brass has been retired to the shelf because they can't compare to the smoothness of the drive train, detail, sound and smoke Of MTH steam engines. Yes I will admit I am a fan of MTH locomotives.
There are allot of erroneous info out on the net concerning MTH HO. Check them out before making a decision.
I have no financial nor do I work for MTH, just a satisfied customer.
MTH sets up their engines so that they should all run at the same speed, so can all run together with no problems. Unfortunately, up until the last year or two MTH trains were only available using their own command control system (DCS) that would allow you to run their engines on a DCC system, but not change CVs except I think the engine ID no. and maybe momentum. So, you could speedmatch your other engines to match the speeds of the MTH engines, but not the other way around. MTH now offers engines without decoders so you can add your own, and I think (?) has changed their own decoders so you can adjust CVs.
FWIW I'm curious why MTH's recently announced DMIR Yellowstones have green boilers, when the real ones were gray? MTH engines generally run very well, but sometimes IMHO the detailing and accuracy aren't as good as some other manufacturers.
The only MTH product I have is a shark tank car AKA my railroads collection agency.
Joe Staten Island West
LION runs subway trains only subway trains.
Walthers/Lifelike appears to have bowed out of the market. Foo on Walthers!
MTH is introducing new R-15 to R-21 IRT subway cars similar to the LL product. I have high hopes for them (and have the money in the "bank" (LIONS do not use banks but ewe know what I mean)) but of course I'll not buy them with sound&etc, but just dcc ready. They come in a four car set with power, and a two car add on without power. LION will buy one of each and see what happens.
The W/LL product has very bad motors in them, and LION is now replacing them with NWSL motors. Him hopes that the MTH trains will operate at the same voltages as the NWSL modified W/LL product. LION will have to trainline the consist since all wheels must pick up power to operate with the automation of the LION.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I have a mth bi polar with prot 3 sound. Love the engine and runs very smooth. Only complain is one of the pantograph does not raise or lower automatically very well.
Hi,
I have 9 MTH steam engines and they run and sound even better. Beings I run steam only I can't talk about their diesels consisting together.
But I do run BLI steam also although I don't consist MTH and BLI steam locomotives. Everything runs just fine On the same track if I wish to.
Dave
Hi, assuming your talking about HO, mth trains are very reliable. They run very well with their own models, but it depends specifically which loco your talking about if you want to know whether they run well with BLI.
They do have some programming issues. For newer locos you can only programm certain cvs, like address, cv29, etc. Older locos aren't compatible with DCC.
Newer locos meaning any loco with the -1 at the end of the item number ex. 80-2118-1.
I learned everything above from a "Mike's train house representative"
Hope this helps!
Charles
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
hi can anyone tell me how reliable mth trains are? do they mix with broadway limited locos, i want to run a consist of 2 mth locos just like i do with broadway limited locos, can mth trains be changed to run backwards with my nce power cab, a wile back i read a article that said mth trains have some problems, thanks perry