MTH Motive Power

(remember: links to sub-pages at the bottom of this page)

click to jump to the bottom

Overview:

MTH, comes from "Mikes Train House", Mike Wolf owner.

MTH makes various scale locos and the #1 scale 1:32 is the most recent. They have a control system called DCS, which is a somewhat antique carrier based control system that uses DC or AC constant voltage on the rails. The decoders in the locos are called ProtoSound, and there have been 3 versions. The most recent version is SOMEWHAT DCC compatible.

These pages will mostly focus on the PS3 technology, in order to help DCC people understand the capabilities and limitations.

I'm not into 1:32, but the scale, detail, and operating features of these locos is very nice EXCEPT where gross alterations have been made to allow locos to traverse toy-like curves.

I completely understand the philosophy, just like LGB, they feel (and probably rightly) that a lot of their market has very tight curves so the locos can traverse these curves, even their big boy.

Unfortunately, quite often the appearance of the loco is greatly affected, and MTH is not cheap, it is priced similarly to LGB, so I believe this has somewhat stymied their large scale sales.

All that said, if ALL the locomotives were available for sale, one could make a nice stable of 1:32 locomotives. I say it this way beacause production is limited and usually only one or 2 different models are available at any one time, and not all road names.

That all said, the advent of DCC compatibility, albiet somewhat flawed and limited, is a smart move by MTH.

Construction:

Typically, MTH is of rugged, if dated, construction. Certainly their electronics are pretty old school, with a lot of connectors, wires, modules etc. There's even wire nuts used to connect wires, shades of the 1950's!

Some random observations, drivetrain usually pretty robust, still use traction tires, they use pickup skates which are often problematic on turnout frogs (shorting). They use carbon brushes on backsides of drive wheels, proven over time, but require maintenance. Locos are modified to allow tremendous swing on curves to allow toy train curves.

The axle bushings in diesels look very much like USA trains, the square brass/bronze bushing. The gears on the axles are nice and large and look metal, although there is a plastic center with the half axles pushed into the gear assembly, again similar to USA Trains.

DCC CV control / setting documentation

I have a link here by Ulrich Models from 2008, but I'm not sure all the timeline information is accurate. There was no DCC compatibility in PS2 as far as I know, but this article basically says that there was when MTH entered the HO market. According to all official MTH documentation I can find, DCC capability (limited) was introduced in PS3, recently released, but MTH HO was introduced with PS2, again as far as I can tell.

I'll try to further validate this stuff as I find it. Here is the Ulrich Models document: http://www.ulrichmodels.com/prostores/DCC_Topics/MTH_DCS_and_DCC.pdf

Here is a document from MTH itself. This shows troubleshooting, and DCC is only mentioned on PS3  http://mthtrains.com/service-documents/7043 In the MTH page, there is a link to a pdf of functions which is markedly different: http://mthtrains.com/sites/default/files/F%20Function%20Key%20Master%20ListingMar2015.pdf

NCE has pages that imply that there is DCC capability in PS2:  https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201499765-MTH-Protosound-2-CV8-27

And their page on PS3 being different seems to imply this was not a mistake: https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/203794919-MTH-Protosound-3-CV8-27-

My listings of CV's and notes:

The big issue here is that MTH does not support the DCC programming track, also known as service mode. This actually means that MTH CANNOT say they are DCC. To set the loco address, or any CV for that matter, you need to do programming on the main. This is problematic, and if something gets screwed up, you have no way of resetting it because you cannot program the loco. You need to do a full reset from the "DCS" side.

Programming on the main means you must have a functioning locomotive address to get the loco to listen to you. (Also you cannot read back any value to validate the setting).

The procedure to set addresses are then the same as doing it for any loco by programming on the main. The important thing is that there is a default long address: 3333. This allows you to change CV 29 to switch to long addressing, and then change the address via CV17 and CV18 as usual.

 Feature reset: resets smoke, volume and lights

 

My listing of Function key assignments:

 PFA is "Passenger / Freight Announcements"

 

F KeyNorth American Diesel w/o SmokeNorth American Diesel with SmokeNorth American SteamSteam Version 3 (2009 - 2013Steam Version 2 (2008 GS-4/6Steam Version 1 (2006 K4)
0Head/Tail lightHead/Tail lightHead/Tail lightHead/Tail lightHead/Tail lightHead/Tail light
1BellBellBellBellBellBell
2HornHornHornHornHornHorn
3Start-up/Shut-downStart-up/Shut-downStart-up/Shut-downStart-up/Shut-downStart-up/Shut-downStart-up/Shut-down
4PFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFA
5Lights (except head/tail)Lights (except head/tail)Lights (except head/tail)Lights (except head/tail)Lights (except head/tail)Lights (except head/tail)
6Master VolumeMaster VolumeMaster VolumeEngine Sounds On/OffEngine Sounds On/OffEngine Sounds On/Off
7Front CouplerFront CouplerFront CouplerMaster VolumeMaster VolumeMaster Volume
8Rear CouplerRear CouplerRear CouplerSmoke On/OffSmoke On/OffSmoke On/Off
9Forward SignalForward SignalForward SignalForward SignalForward SignalForward Signal
10Reverse SignalReverse SignalReverse SignalReverse SignalReverse SignalReverse Signal
11Grade CrossingGrade CrossingGrade CrossingCoupler SlackCoupler SlackCoupler Slack
12Clickety Clack (On/Off)Smoke On/OffSmoke On/OffGrade CrossingGrade crossingOne Shot Doppler
13Idle Sequence 4Smoke VolumeSmoke VolumeOne Shot DopplerExtended Start-upExtended Start-up
14Idle Sequence 3Idle Sequence 3Idle Sequence 3Extended Start-upExtended Shut-downExtended Shut-down
15Idle Sequence 2Idle Sequence 2Idle Sequence 2Extended Shut-downLabor ChuffLabor Chuff
16Idle Sequence 1Idle Sequence 1Idle Sequence 1Labor ChuffDrift ChuffDrift Chuff
17Extended Start-upExtended Start-upExtended Start-upDrift ChuffSmoke VolumeSmoke Volume
18Extended Shut-downExtended Shut-downExtended Shut-downSmoke VolumeSingle Whistle TootSingle Whistle Toot
19Rev UpRev UpLabor ChuffSingle Whistle TootCoupler CloseCoupler Close
20Rev DownRev DownDrift ChuffCoupler CloseFeature ResetFeature Reset
21One Shot DopplerOne Shot DopplerOne Shot DopplerFeature ResetIdle Sequence 1Idle Sequence 1
22Coupler SlackCoupler SlackCoupler SlackIdle Sequence 1Idle Sequence 2Idle Sequence 2
23Coupler CloseCoupler CloseCoupler CloseIdle Sequence 2Idle Sequence 3Idle Sequence 3
24Single Horn BlastSingle Horn BlastSingle Horn BlastIdle Sequence 3Idle Sequence 4Idle Sequence 4
25Engine SoundsEngine SoundsEngine SoundsIdle Sequence 4Brake Sounds On/OffBrake Sounds On/Off
26Brake SoundsBrake SoundsBrake SoundsBrake Sounds On/OffCab Chatter On/OffCab Chatter On/Off
27Cab ChatterCab ChatterCab ChatterCab Chatter On/OffClickety Clack auto/offClickety Clack auto/off
28Feature ResetFeature ResetFeature ResetClickety Clack auto/offTrain WreckTrain Wreck

 

From actual testing, we believe that this sound file is the North American Steam but seems related to the Dash 8 diesel

PFA = Passenger / Freight Announcements, basically a sequence of sounds and chatter that create "scenarious), and you normally go through scenarios in sequence. There are ways to move ahead, and to skip the upcoming sequence. The PFA can also start and stop the loco.

 

F KeyNorth American Steam with Smoke
0Head/Tail light on/off (front headlight seems to go dim in reverse rear headlight goes out in forward.)
1Bell (toggle)
2Horn (toggle)
3Start-up/Shut-down (press once to startup... from then on you need double presses to change state)
4PFA
5Lights cab and firebox. In addition in forward, marker lights and number boards and in reverse marker lights.
6Master Volume, should be 10 volume levels, and double presses should advance from lower to higher and then go "around" again to lower, in practice does not seem to work consistently
7Front Coupler - sound only
8Rear Coupler - sound only, same as front coupler
9Forward Signal - two toots when on, remember to turn off to use again
10Reverse Signal - three toots, remember only responds to function on command.
11Grade Crossing - cab chatter - need to check if this is a sequence
12Smoke On/Off - works
13Smoke Volume - works, but be sure to wait to stabilize temperature to see what the output is, and the fan does not change with different smoke volumes there are 3 levels
14Idle Sequence 3 - only if not moving, several different sounds and chatter such as check coal load, water, etc
15Idle Sequence 2 - as above
16Idle Sequence 1 - as above
17Extended Start-up - slightly longer sequence than F3 startup, but with chatter
18Extended Shut-down - as above
19Labored Chuff - kicks up chuff and smoke
20Drift chuff - drifting chuff and less smoke (or none?)
21One Shot Doppler - toggle - works with engine sounds too, need to check more, DCS does a one shot, but this is a toggle
22Coupler Slack - press twice (enables and clears function), if you are stopped and enable it, it will sound as train starts moving. If the loco is moving it will play immediately.
23Coupler Close - works as you would think
24Single Horn Blast - nothing
25Engine Sounds - turns prime mover and pumps, etc. on and off, bell and whistle still function
26Brake Sounds - need to be above a certain speed to work, and decelerate quickly. press twice. You have to be going pretty fast to enable this.
27Cab Chatter - press f27 to stifle them. Default is chatter on.
28Feature Reset - resets smoke, volume, and lights

 

Sub-Pages

Click the links below to go "deeper" into details on individual MTH motive power.

  Challenger       

 

 

Weather Underground PWS KCACARLS78