Hello everyone. I am seeking thoughts, info, and opinions on the HO MTH GP35 any discussion about it is welcome, good or bad. My wife takes product surveys and gets mostly clothing household items and such. The other day she ran across a couple of different locomotives by different manufacturers she could choose as rewards for her time taking the surveys. I narrowed my choices down to in between a MTH New York Central GP35 DC and a DCC ready Norfolk and Portsmouth Belt Line Bachmann GP38-2. What they have is what they have, no choices in road names. This was ok to me. As I model Norfolk Southern with a freelance shortline and leasing company and figured it would fit in somewhere with either the older units on either the shortline or lease roster. I plan to repaint or patch the unit to fit my needs. I've had a couple Bachmanns in the past but no experience with MTH. I have mostly Athern, Atlas, and Wathers brand engines with a couple Spectrums still hanging around. It seems the MTH unit has some great detailing that add to my interest in it. The Bachmanns not so much. I've heard mixed reviews on the MTH. Mostly concerning the negative issues some have had with the DCC and DCS version of it. Like I said the one I will be getting is the DC version. My layout is still DC now but I will probably be upgrading it to DCC later on in the future. Any info and opinions would be greatly appreciated. Either way I guess I can't gripe because I'LL be getting one or the other for free with only a slight possibility of even having to pay shipping. Can't beat that. What should I do...what would you do??? Thank you.
Since the issue of price is out of the way, I would go 100% for the MTH. I don’t really have anything against Bachmann, theirs is a good baseline model, but the MTH is a step up. It has separate grab irons, while the Bachmann doesn’t. The detail on the pilot is way better than Bachmann as well. One of the coolest features of the MTH are the working class lights. I don’t know how they will work on DC though.
Thanks I'm leaning towards the MTH. I know it also has remote knuckle couplers. I think that's pretty cool but doubt they will work with DC. Their website says they also come with kaydee couplers. I will probably add those. Can't wait for it to get here. Hopefully more people respond to this thread as I'd like to hear more about its performance from others that have owned one or other MTH products like it. Thanks again.
I totally forgot about the remote couplers. I saw a video or two on them. They seem to work alright, but they are a little bit oversized compared to the Kadee. I was reading on another forum about a MTH GP35 with some gear noise. The other people were saying that MTH has a decent customer service department. Even if it comes faulty, they seem to be able to fix them.
Since you say you will be going DCC, If it were I, I'd go buy the DCC control system first..!! It alone will be such a thrill ! Then buy DCC 'sound on board' locos.. The only thing to worry about will be any (polarity) reverse loops. But if you are now up and running I guess that's been solved anyway.. If you've gapped the rails into blocks in order separate trains on DC, close them up with solder. Then run the 2 wires from the DCC system to the 2 rails and kaboom, you're a DCCer !!! That simp ! I particularly love my NCE PowerCab. They're about $125.00-$150.00. It's sort of like NCE is Coke, and Digitrax is Pepsi..Honestly, this should be your next purchase. Then the fight between DC v DCC will be done with and gone..and you'll never go back !....M, L.A.
It's not the DC or DCC that is giving me problems making up my mind. It's choosing between the two loco that I can get for free. Both have DCC ready plugs so I can get a decoder a when I am ready to make the switch. I was mainly trying to get more info and opinions on the MTH unit. Thanks for the info though. I will keep in mind what you have shared.
