I collect Missouri-Kansas-Texas, mostly in N Scale. I cross into other scales when I see something MTK that isn't a common item, usually things I've never seen in N Scale. A while back I picked up an inexpensive die cast Lionel steamer on ebay. It was new in cardboard and plastic wrapping, but was taken out of a set... probably a "High Planes Runner" from the early '90s. Its an Atlantic 4-4-2 with the MKT herald on the tender un-prototypically at the front of the tender instead of in the middle, and all in white. (The photo I have seen of the High Planes Runner set at least has the herald in the right position). The road number on this loco is 8628, and there are no other markings other than the Lionel name cast into the shell. I have no documentation on this loco. After I got this loco, I saw a beautiful K-Line MKT Mikado with TrainMaster Command and RailSounds. I was fortunate enough to win the bid on it and I received it today. The documentation says that this loco runs on 7 - 18 volts AC. I had no idea that O Scale had AC locomotives. Here are my questions: 1) Can you tell me if my Atlantic is an AC loco, or if I will need to convert/upgrade it to run on the layout with my Mikado? If I have to upgrade it, what are my options? 2) I believe I read somewhere that MTH makes a controller that is compatible with both DCC and TrainMaster/Railsounds. Is this true and if so, what is the name of the product? If not, what are my command control options, and how do they effect the upgrade options for my Atlantic? 3) I have been looking at MTH Realtrax because my layouts are temporary and the integrated roadbed makes assembly and disassembly much easier (I thank God for Unitrack in N Scale). I also like the blackened center rail. Will using Realtrax give me any problems with these locomotives? 4) If I decide to postpone buying a command control system, what is a good inexpensive AC transformer for small O Scale layouts, and what amperage should it be rated at? Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Wow, that's a tough one! Where did the loco originate? Could it have been made for European markets? I will do some research on this and get back to you, but I'll bet someone here has the answer at their fingertips!
I purchased the Atlantic on ebay from someone in the United States. It looks exactly like one in a photo of a "High Plains Runner" on page 153 of "Classic Toy Trains" by Gerry and Janet Souter (ISBN:0-7603-1367-9), the only difference being the position of the MKT herald on the tender. I'm pretty sure that its from the "High Plains Runner" because I also purchased a still-wrapped tank car that matches the one in the photo from the same individual. Unfortunately someone beat me on the lighted caboose. <sigh> Thank you!
I have seen the model in Classic Toy Trains...looks real nice. Placement of the Herald bothers me a bit though...something is not sitting right with me but I can't put my finger on it.
MKT Heralds were always centered and in the steam era always res with black-outlined white lettering. The photo in "Classic Toy Trains" has the herald in the right position, but the herald is all in white. This was an inexpensive unit, so I guess they weren't going to do multi-color on it. As I said above, my tender has the herald off center towards the forward end... wrong position. If something else comes to you that's wrong with the loco in the photo, please let me know. Thanks
