The MTH Baldwin VO1000 switcher has arrived. This Premier line model was announced in mid-April 2022.
It’s a solid locomotive for any size layout with wonderfully detailed features. It’s not uncommon for MTH to put smaller locomotives like the VO1000 in its scale RailKing lineup; however, for this run we get a purple box and all the high expectations that come with it.
MTH Baldwin VO1000
The VO1000 was a diesel-electric switcher engine produced by Baldwin Locomotive Works between 1939-46. The manufacturer built 548 units for the domestic market. More than 50 railroads purchased units, but the United States Navy was the top buyer with 40 locomotives acquired.
Operating on two two-axle trucks, these engines were powered by an eight-cylinder prime mover. They were rated at 1,000 hp and about 60,000 lbs. of tractive effort.
The VO1000s were part of Baldwin’s initial jump into diesel power. The high volume of purchases for the switcher made the future look bright for the producer, which was simultaneously still working with steam technology. However, success in the market began to subside after successors to the VO1000 ultimately failed to capture enough market share. The doors shut for the last time in 1956 at the company’s plant in Eddystone, Pa.
A look at the switcher
Being MTH, this model does have a Digital Command Control/Digital Command System decoder for anyone wanting to convert it to two-rail operation. The system is the latest Protosound 3 with freight sound effects.
This model features a die-cast frame with ABS body. The locomotive features add-on metal grab irons and handrails as well as a metal horn. It has LED lighting in the cab as well as in the front and rear headlights.
There is a fan-driven smoke unit which pushes plumes of smoke out of the small exhaust stacks on the hood. The Reading unit has two stacks; other models have as few as one and as many as four. The heater pumps sleek plumes of exhaust out of each narrow stack as this engine crawls through yard switches.
The openings for these are not much larger in diameter than a needle dropper, so care is needed with adding smoke fluid! At 14½ inches long this switcher, like many, can handle O-31 curves. That said, it does not have fixed pilots.
A heavy engine
Each truck is powered and features two pickup rollers. The wheels closest to the fuel tank have traction tires. The engine weighs 3 pounds 13.8 ounces, more than a pound heavier than the Lionel SW8 from a few years ago. Even so, it’s still a switcher and shouldn’t be expected to pull a long consist of heavy modern freight cars.
As a solid runner and with the deep, distinctive rumble of an eight-cylinder prime mover, this Baldwin is a great addition to any active yard scene or short line. MTH offered four road names with two cab numbers each in this run. There are also several custom-run models available from various hobby stores.
Premier Baldwin VO1000 by MTH Trains
MSRP: $529.95
Roadnames: Pennsylvania (No. 20-21602-1, 20-21603-1); Canton Railroad (20-21604-1, 20-21605-1); Great Northern (20-21606-1, 20-21607-1); Reading (20-21608-1, 20-21609-1).
Custom runs: Long Island (20-21672-1, 20-21673-1) by Nassau Hobby; Copper Range (20-21656-1) by Pat’s Trains; Louisville & Nashville (20-21656-1, 20-21657-1), Lehigh Valley (20-21644-1, 20-21645-1), and Milwaukee Road (20-21654-1, 20-21655-1) by Mr. Muffin’s Trains; Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (20-21676-1, 20-21677-1) by Berwyn’s Toy & Trains; and Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines (20-21668-1, 20-21669-1), Chicago Great Western (20-21674-1, 20-21675-1), and Sierra Railroad (20-21670-1, 20-21671-1) by Public Delivery Track.
Get more O gauge action on the Chris’s Trains & Things channel on YouTube.
There is more here than meets the eye. RDG 2711 was rebuilt by EMD in 1959 from VO 1000 57 (BLW 8-1944). In the rebuild she got a new 12-567C engine, a new hood, new MU controls and brakestand (26L vs 14EL), new end railings with drop steps, and outside railings along the running boards. 2711 retained the generator, motors, trucks and bed plate. The hood did not taper at the cab. A VO 1000 has a longer frame to accommodate the inline 8-cylinder De La Vergne engine. Wheelbase of the VO 1000 and rebuild was 33′ 6″ while a stock EMD shifter (SW1 through SW1500) is 30′ 0″
All of RDG’s 2701-2714 rebuilt VO 1000’s survived into ConRail.
Good info, thanks for sharing!
This is indeed a great little switcher. I picked up two of them, the Reading model shown in this article and the Long Island version, a custom run for Nassau Hobbies. They both run well, sound great and smoke well, too. My only issue is that the number boards are unlighted. I was surprised at this, given that these are Premier models. Other premier engines I own–diesels, steamers and electrics–all have lighted number boards.