39 - O Scale Trains Magazine Online

REVIEW: Premier 3-Car Wood-sided Passenger Set, NYC,
P/N 20-6201; MSRP: $249.95
M.T.H. Electric Trains, 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive,
Columbia MD 21046
410-381-2580 • www.mth-railking.com
Reviewed by Joe Giannovario
The Prototype
My contact at MTH told me they did not have plans
for this car but that it was designed from photos of a Long
Island RR prototype. I searched my archives with no luck
and posted a note for help on the Net. Ed Bommer (no
stranger to these pages) came through with the information
that these cars were indeed LIRR and several photos could
be found in a paperback book Steel Rails to the Sunrise by
Ron Zeil and George Foster, published in 1975. The car
was used in commuter service and thus is not typical of
regular long-distance passenger cars of the turn of the century,
specifically the open platform ends.
The Model
The MTH model is made almost entirely of ABS plastic
except for the diecast sprung trucks. The cars are lighted
but do not have a constant intensity circuit installed. The
model under review was painted and lettered for NYC.
Other roads available are the LIRR (the prototype for the
model), PRR, B&O, and NY&NE.
The model only comes with 3-Rail trucks and couplers.
MTH says they will have 2-Rail conversion trucks later this
year. The cars come in three-car sets (all the cars are identical
except for road numbers) or you can buy a single car
for about $90. Buying the set saves a few bucks.
Fidelity
It is difficult, if not impossible, to assess the fidelity of
the model versus the prototype without scale plans. The
best I can say is that the model looks exactly like the photo
of the prototype and its overall dimensions fall within the
limits one expects for an O Scale passenger car.
Compatibility
As delivered, these cars are incompatible with 2-Rail
equipment but can be converted to 2-Rail trucks and couplers
in under an hour. (See the article on Page 9.)
Conclusions
Normally, I would not review a 3-Rail-only model but
these cars are so nice looking and convert so easily that
I broke my own rule. A few guys bought the three-car
set and split up the cars. I plan to use two cars in-service
on the branchline and set one as a yard office. If you are
looking for some turn of the century passenger equipment,
you can spend a bunch of hours building a superb La
Belle kit or you can buy one of these. You pay your money
and take your choice.
52 • O Scale Trains - Jul;y/Aug ’08