Halloween 400E Coloring (A Tribute to MTH)
As you can see, the Lionel Standard gauge 400E steam locomotive is dressed in a purple and orange paint scheme for Halloween! But it isn't the only purpose of this coloring. The main purpose is to pay a tribute to MTH Electric Trains, the 40-year-old toy train brand founded by Mike Wolf, who will be retiring in June of 2021. Originally named Mike's Train House, the company initially manufactured reproductions of prewar Standard gauge Lionel trains during the 1980's. It also partnered with Lionel Trains Inc. to market those gorgeous replicas between 1987 and 1993. Afterwards, MTH began its own product line of O gauge trains, resulting to the incorporation of the Premier line. Premier products are packed in purple boxes with the company logo representing Mike's favorite engine, the 400E.
However, MTH reintroduced tinplate reproductions in 1996 with the Tinplate Traditions line, which uses the same Premier logo but with a darker tone of purple for its boxes. For a while, the Tinplate Traditions trains were stamped with generic MTH markings instead of the Lionel logos. In 2009, thanks to the Lionel license, MTH could now manufacture more accurate reproductions with the old Lionel markings as well as the American Flyer markings, all part of the new Lionel Corporation Tinplate line. Ten years later, the agreement permanently ended and the product line officially discontinued. This was the year before MTH announced Mike's retirement. Because the founder was 12 years old when he joined the model train industry in 1973, he will turn 60 (five years below a typical retirement age) next year.
It is definitely sad to see MTH fade into history, but I hope somebody will create a digital catalog archive featuring all the products and lots of valuable highlights from the company. With that story being told, purple represents Tinplate Traditions while orange symbolizes Lionel Corporation Tinplate. I realized that they would combine into a Halloween paint scheme before I started coloring this engine. MTH will always be in our hearts and minds forever. Have a safe and happy Halloween, train enthusiasts!
