MTH Erie Triplex - x 3 (Garden Railroad) - Video 7

[nscalefun]

Excellent.

[IllinoisTrains1]

i have on of these locomotives (erie with the blue boiler jacket) and i love it

[rayman4449]

They are a great engine. If you see my website under the mods page or go to the MTH website and lookup the engine via their product search, there is an updated sound file available with a louder whistle and chuff volume. Sounds much better. Also have info on a few mods if you're interested in trying them.

[IllinoisTrains1]

sure what are they of

[rayman4449]

Sorry, I meant they are documented on my website. replacing the speaker with a better one, sharing power pickups between the tender and engine, etc.

[IllinoisTrains1]

I added your site to my favorites list and may try changing the sound on one of my MTH hudsons. I'm thinking of the northern sound.

[rayman4449]

I actually did the same thing. I replaced the sound file in my Hudson to go with a different whistle.

[StrikersLG]

@rayman4449-i have a question for you whats the name of the train that looks like its going backwards and is powered by oil of diesel or some liquid?

[rayman4449]

@StrikersLG Hi there, that is a Southern Pacific 'Cab Forward' and it was powered by oil.

[StrikersLG]

@rayman4449-cool thank you very much.

[rayman4449]

@StrikersLG Sure thing : )

[GayBoyRunning]

@IllinoisTrains1 Same here.. =)

[kiddnormal]

Seriously awesome! I hobby in "O" gauge and have been planning (mostly saving) for the MTH Triplex (Virginian) for 4 months now. It will cost roughly 1,400 which is steep but totally worth it. Especially after seeing your video. VERY NICE!

[rayman4449]

Thanks and glad you liked! They are a really cool locomotive to watch run. If you like, do a google search for Jim's Electric Train works and see what he's selling them for. He had the best price (and service) around on these One Gauge ones that I got and bought from him. Hope you can get yours soon and check back when you do.

[darktalon2gnt]

Are all 3 sets of wheels powered on those? I was going to buy the HO version before being swayed into G, but only 2 of them were driven, the 3rd in the tender was undriven..so that was a big turnoff... Great looking place you've got, I'm jealous! i'm stuck using mostly small narrow gauge due to area!

[rayman4449]

yes, all 3 engine sets on each engine are powered believe it or not. I was very pleased when I heard the tender engine set was going to be powered. Thanks on that. I hope you will have more options sometime in the future.

[Triplex5014]

I love these Triplexes!!! And nice chuff rhythm

[Jimmyyaesu]

how much do these 1gauge trains cost?

[rayman4449]

Each MTH Triplex cost 1000 dollars. Each coal car was 25 dollars (+5 per car for body mounted Kadee couplers). Each engine already comes with MTH DCS Protosound 2 sound and control. Each engine has a solid die cast metal frame with boiler and tender shells plastic except for brass or die cast metal detailing. Overall it's a good value for what you get.

[Jimmyyaesu]

those are actually really good prices.... they are cheaper than O guage........ i might get back into 1gauge (G guage)

[rayman4449]

It really is when you consider what the other scales cost. This scale is one where you don't pay for the miniaturization that the other smaller scales have. Hard to put a price tag on the WOW factor that this scale has. With the other scales you kinda feel like you're watching models, these just provide a different experience. I'm a convert for life. >: )

[Jimmyyaesu]

how water-proof are these G scale trains anyway?

[rayman4449]

They hold up fine when wet. The electronics are protected inside the boiler and up at the top of the boiler shell so they would never get wet. As far as the rest of the metal, etc I wouldn't worry if they got wet. I've had my 3 Big Boys caught out in a fast torrential downpoar and the only side effect after getting them in was they looked brandnew cause they had just been washed. Overall I do try to avoid running in the rain.

[SmokingSamy]

As usual, great video and a full commitment on your part. Which state are you in (if you do not mind sharing) you are lucky to have enough backyard to do this. I am in the San Jose area and my backyard ain't big enough for a decent layout...Regards!

[rayman4449]

Hi Samy. I'm in Kansas. I agree, I am fortunate to have a flat enough yard to be able to use it all like I do. Do you have a layout setup?

[cooknsmurf]

u must have a lot of money cos u have like 3 of every train immagionable

[snickpickle]

Can you imagine the steam that must have been required to steam one of the real triplexes! Poor fireman! Poor mechanical stokers! Poor anybody associated with those engines!

WHAT A COOL MODEL, though! Thanks for posting this! :-)

[rayman4449]

Hehe, you bet and thanks!

It is interesting isn't it? These were essentially a normal Mallet with lower pressure cylinders split into two driver sets(middle was full pressure and front and tender sets were at exhaust pressure from the front cylinders) So technically they shouldn't have have used more steam than if it was configured in a standard Mallet (2 driver set) setup. The boilers in the end couldn't maintain operating pressures because half the draft normally used to draw air through

[rayman4449]

the boiler was exhausted out the tender stack so the fire in the firebox couldn't generate enough heat to make the steam necessary to run at the originally expected power levels. Despite that, it is a cool engine and model, I agree!

[TommyZTrains]

3rd try ...  WHERES MY COMMENT ???????????

[rayman4449]

Hmmm, not sure. You may be using a character that's causing it not to post. Maybe a certain word too?

[adfgfds]

I have a question. With MTH's HO version of the engines, you have to lube all the drivers and wheels. MTH only pre-lubes the inner stuff as it says in the instruction manual.

Did you have to do the same with yours?

[rayman4449]

Thanks puttrainguy. I tell you this scale of model trains is just really impressive!

[iinlovejameslafferty]

did you notice when you blew the whiste smoke comes out?

[rayman4449]

I was using the whistle button in the video. The smoking whistle only works when you use the quillable whistle feature and you activate the smoking whistle feature.

[iinlovejameslafferty]

so you didn't see?

[DegenerationX07]

Hey Rayman4499 i was just curious as what exactly this model Engine Is? Thanks.

[rayman4449]

Hi there, these are made by MTH and is a One Gauge model. If you go to mth-railking (dot) com and look up product number 70-3022-1 or 70-3023-1

or 70-3024-1 you can find info on them. Let me know if you need any additional information.

[DegenerationX07]

Thanks, I Checked OUt The Site and it came back with no response. how much did you pay for them? j/w. thanks a bunch

[rayman4449]

Try going to ridgeroadstation (dot) com and click trains, then MTH Trains, then MTH engines the Steam engines, you will see them listed there for about 1047 dollars.

[puttrainguy]

A triple, triple but they only let you give it 5 stars....really amazing collection you have.