I downloaded a copy of MTH’s new 2009 Vol. 2 catalog from their website today. From my point of view, the big attention grabber in the catalog is the new NRE 3GS21B Genset switchers in MTH’s Premier Line of trains. In case you don’t know, the NRE Genset switchers are the new “green” switchers being used by the real railroads. Because the 3GS21B genset switchers are pretty new locomotives, they have not been available as O-Scale models until this year. Lionel was the first to introduce the genset switcher to O-Scale with their Vision Line Union Pacific Genset Switcher….which I have ordered. As soon as I saw Lionel’s genset switcher in the 2009 catalog, I immediately thought, “I bet MTH will put out their own version to compete with this”. MTH delivered and the new 2009 Vol. 2 catalog sports MTH’s take on the 3GS21B in not 1, but 5 railroad liveries. This is a perfect example of why CAPITALISM RULES!!!
While Lionel’s “Vision” release of the genset switcher will no doubt be incredibly cool, I have to say that MTH’s version is a smarter business decision given the current economy. Lionel has priced their genset at nearly $800 ($800 for a switcher?), whereas MTH has priced theirs at a much more reasonable $430.00. Additioanlly, MTH is offering theirs in 5 railroad liveries as compared to Lionel only offering the UP version. Sure, the MTH genset won’t have a die-cast body or the moving exhaust lids that the Lionel version will have, but I think that ultimately people will be willing to live without a few extra features in order to save $370. Yes, Lionel is offering a $100 rebate when you buy their genset, but will people want to go through all that hassle and still end up paying $270 more? I guess time will tell. Don’t get me wrong, I think Lionel’s genset will be amazing. I’m just not sure that Lionel picked the right time to start putting out ultra expensive models. In my opinion, Lionel would have been better off by holding off on the “Vision” line and doing something more constructive, such as working to equip ALL of their engines with Legacy. MTH gives you the most bang for your buck and MTH’s more conservative plan of sticking to what works and keeping prices as low as possible seems to me to be a better plan for weathering this economic storm.
