MTH HO gauge News

As stated in the introduction MTH has for decades been known primarily for it's various types of O gauge railroad equipment and is the most firmly established brand in north america. More recently they introduced their line of 1/32 scale gauge 1 equipment and now they are expanding their range of HO products. A particular feature of the MTH ho locomotives is the 3rd generation Protosound control system which allow the model to be operated under traditional (analog) controller or either DCS or DCC digital control systems. Even with an old fashioned transformer/controller you will get the benefits of the very best sound and smoke systems available plus directional lighting but with many extra facilities like remote decoupling on diesel locomotives and a quillable whistle on steam (yes literally all the bells and whilstles that the prototype had) readily operated under MTH's digital system. The locomotives will move when powered by a 12 volt controller but for maximum speed and power require 16 volts. The Protosound 3 electronics are capable of taking a maximum of 24 volts. Please note that, unlike the Protosound 2 controllers used in gauges 1 and O, the Ho locomotives should not be fed with an ac supply.

Just in case it needed answering I can order up the "club cars" as well as the rarer "dealer limited promotional models" (up to the limit that a dealer may order). I am perfectly happy to ship these back across the atlantic if your local U.S. dealer has already ordered up to their limit.

For 2009 MTH are to be congratulated for announcing the UP 9000 series, the first time this has been available other than at an oriental brass price (and then without smoke or sound ~ save in the case of motor overload).

News Update November 2009

The Continental Modeller 4-12-2 Union Pacific type review is now out.

October 2009

With deliveries of HO locomotives keeping much more closely to the original MTH schedule Mikados, Mohawks and now the Union Pacific are available off the shelf. Continental Modeller has just reviewed the Mikado and they have been sent other sample locomotives which I hope will feature in future reviews.

June 2009

MTH certainly seem to have woken up on the HO front, their 2009 v2 catalog(ue) lists Challengers (UP black, grey/yellow and grey/silver, DRGW and Clinchfield schemes), NYC 20th Century and Empire State streamlined Hudsons, sets of coaches for both these locomotives (and with both paint schemes in the case of the 20th Century), Powhatan Arrow passenger stock for the previously announced N&W J, sets of UP reefers and sets of twin bay hoppers in 8 road names. The illustrations that I have seen, which I take to be of pre-production models, suggest that they exceed the standard of Rivarossi for external detail and will better the current G1 and O gauge models in terms of a hidden electronic connection at the drawbar and dual DCS/DCC compatibility in addition to traditional analog dc operation. I do not know whether this means that Gauge 1 production projects will slow down but if HO makes MTH a faster growing company then I'm all in favor. Further to the models shown in the catalogue the website also mentions the Nickel Plate Berkshire (either Nickel Plate Road or Pere Marquette lettering) with a re-run of the 4449 SP Daylight (should you have missed that one).

February 2009

If you have visited the railking.co.uk site prior to 2009 then you will be aware that the Ho and O gauge versions are based on the same format and pages as those for gauge 1. At the end of 2008 it was becoming obvious that the interest in MTH O gauge and Ho warranted sections of their own rather than just a supplementary page on the original site. It is possible that these new pages may either incorrectly refer to gauge 1 within the text or alternatively link to the corresponding page for a different scale. If so then mea culpa, please use your common sense, if you wish to point out the errors that I have made then by all means let me know and I will add them on to the list of corrections that are needed.

July 2008

The Erie triplex has now beem reviewed by Continental Modeller.

If you have an interest in other gauges

MTH O gauge (famous for their Railking, Premier and Tinplate ranges)

MTH (and other) Gauge 1 Yes Gauge 1 is stocked.

Phone: 44 (0)1534 485916 
Fax: 44 (0)1534 742046 

or of course you can always try