Delivered today was my new MTH NJ Transit ALP-44 dummy engine with a number of SURPRISES:

1. This is from the 2009 V1 catalog and it is November 4th, 2009. Normally, I would have expected a 2010/2011 delivery date. Well done.
2. This is very different from the previously issues AEM-44 (20-5626-3) in a number of ways.
3. The finish is the stainless like on the R-11s. It looks GREAT. Well done.
4. Unlike the AEM-44 dummy, this one lights up out of th ebox. No need for an add on kit, etc.
5. The font/numbers on the sides are a slightly different font. A bit more narrow. Personally, I think this looks better.
6. Initally, it looked like the lighted number boards were gone as they resembled one that did not light up. Again with the more narrow font. These in fact do light up. The number are much more visible when not illuminated than on the past version.

Very nicely done... Per the MTH shipping schedule, the powered version has already shipped. Hopefully it will be not far behind. I am very glad that I ordered one of each road number.


I'm also very eager to see the NJT ALP-46!!

Here's to the start of the holidays and the real train season...

Mike
Tampa, FL

What is the NJ Transit road number on the new MTH locomotive ?

Did anyone compare it with those New Jersey Transit ALP-44 locomotives released by ATLAS about 10 years ago ?

I saw the new MTH ones and I think they look much better than the Atlas ones from years ago. Waiting for the 46. I hope the bilevel cars are done correctly and not the way they were shown in the catalog

The NJ Transit bi-level passenger cars are a unique design in order to fit through the tunnels under the North River (aka HUDSON) because of minimum clearance under the catenary. Therefore, the NJ Transit bi-levels don't resemble those models of midwestern or far western bi-levels .

Remember those tunnels were built in 1910 when the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) was electrified with 600 volt DC third rail (like the present LIRR, PATH and NYTA subways) before 1935 when the PRR re-electrified with 11kV / 25 Hertz catenary along with the New York Connecting Railroad over the Hell Gate Bridge (to be compatible with the New Haven while the NY,NH & H was electrified with 11kV / 25 hertz since 1907 and since went to 25kV / 60 hertz to Boston) .

www.njhirailers.com