Already popular on terminal railroads and with larger carriers in yards located in areas of significant air pollution, GenSets have even shown up on a tourist railroad. In at least one case, a switcher with a single generator set totaling less than 1,000 hp has been sold. So the GenSet may well change railroading as we know it.
Today, we examine the MTH Premier line 3GS21B GenSet built by National Railway Equipment and in that firm’s demonstrator colors. This is the second O gauge GenSet CTT has reviewed, with the first being Lionel’s GenSet in the February 2011 issue. Lionel’s GenSet has a die-cast metal shell, a single can-style motor, and smoke units that kicked in sequentially, depending on the speed of the locomotive.
MTH’s O gauge model may mirror the same real-world locomotive, but this is not at all the same beast.
Opening the box
Lifting the model from the box, the most obvious difference between this model and the Lionel version, is that the MTH unit’s shell is plastic, not die-cast metal. It is lighter and packs plenty of cool details.
The pilots are beautiful, with air and multiple-unit cables threaded through a short bar, and there are uncoupler arms and ditch lights mounted in the base of the frame.
The steps are smooth, but the decks have cast-in safety tread.
The sides of the shell are a perfect platform to illustrate the texture of some diesel locomotives. There are innumerable detail points, beginning with door, hinge, latch, and seam detail. The latches are cut deeply into the body for a clear, crisp appearance.
I especially like the fact that there are nine see-through screen panels on each side of the engine compartment (six near the top and three at the bottom). The section at the far end of the long hood is held on by magnets and lifts off to reveal controls and a battery charger plug.
Both ends feature hinge and hatch detail, and both have deeply recessed sand caps.
Looking along the top of the long hood, you’ll find three see-through screens (mirroring three generator sets hidden inside), add-on lift rings, and three smokestacks that come affixed to the shell. On the fireman’s side, there are grab irons running from the deck to the top, along with horns over the cab and at the end of the long hood.
The cab features crew members and add-on details, such as simulated rear-view mirrors and a radio antenna and an air-conditioning unit on top of the cab. Headlights and number boards are on the top front of the cab.
There are also an above-average number of bits of nomenclature and, dare I say, National Railway Equipment Co. advertising.
But then this model is a demonstrator, and it helps to point out to the nominally aware that this isn’t an SW1000 or MP15, hence “Powered by NRC N-Force Microprocessor” and “Ultra low emissions diesel engine GenSet.” Paint and all signage are perfectly applied.
On the test track
Motor operation is smooth in all speed ranges, and the model is very responsive to all commands.
The locomotive features coil couplers fore and aft.
Our conventional-mode low-speed average is 3.6 scale miles per hour, while our command-mode low-speed average is 2.7 scale miles per hour. Our high-speed average is 54.5 scale miles per hour. Drawbar pull for the switcher is 1 pound, 9 ounces.
The sounds are great. The horn and bell are attention-getters, and a particular surprise for me is the shutdown sounds. MTH worked a nifty, clattery sound in at the end. This sounds like some ancient Alco at the end of a day’s work. To me, it gives the model some personality.
The model has four power pickup rollers, two on each truck (1½ inches apart), separated by 8 inches between trucks. Each truck has two traction tires.
Unlike the stacks on the Lionel GenSet, those on the MTH model do not sequentially rise or fall.
Smoke output through them is steady and continuous – but you have the option of lifting the stacks open or pressing them closed. This isn’t a big deal for me.
The MTH Premier line 3GS21B GenSet is a solid performer that does a great job of duplicating an increasingly popular real-world diesel type in O gauge, while not breaking the bank. Performance was good and the sound effects were pretty cool.
Features: O-31 operation, two can-style motors, smoke unit, coil couplers, ProtoSound 2.0 command and sound system
I'm glad you fixed the text on the online version, the hardcopy CTT says the Genset has 4 couplers. I couldn't see them, but I wondered how they worked. Spell checker can only do so much.
Hi Bob..Great review I have only one question. Does the MTH Genset have crew talk?