GG-1. . . . to be Lionel or to be MTH

[AlanRail]

I just saw the LIONEL GG1. Great detailing, signage and of course those pant-o-graphs that go up and down smoothly like the pant-ies of some street walkers, depending the direction of a john.

Super graphics with pin-stripping so tapered in the front that it could be used as dental floss for small rodents.

The cab doors open both front and back ( the one I saw the back was stuck) and on the cab sides for use when LIONEL comes out with that Shrinking-ray due next year. We can all shrink down, open the doors and climb aboard.

With Railsounds-5 and top mounted controls that allows you to do what MTH DCS does electronically, whom could ask for anything more??!!

The price was $810 and now comes MTH's GG1 due out next week at a few hundred less; same operating pantographs, except you can alter the operation with the hand control as opposed to just a finger.

Under normal op the pantographs raise and lower depending on running direction like LIONELs. MTH is not coming out with a Shrink-Ray so there is no reason for their GG1's cab doors to open, at least that is what the catalogue says.

WHICH TO CHOOSE??


Alan

[eZAK]

Are they both scale?

I would go with Lionel.

[AlanRail]

I have only seen the one LIONEL, but the other is supposed to be scale too.

Alan

[Anonymous]

I'd go Lionel. Sound will be better.

[spankybird]

Gee Chris - what sound does an electic motor make [?] that would make Lionel's sound beter than MTH. Have you heard both to compare [?]

Let be fair about it. Listen to both first.

[AlanRail]

SB's got a point there;
Seeing the LONEL version; you do ask what "more" could MTH have?
The mechanism that raises and lowers the pantographs is really hard to detect with all the other pantograph strut structure, so they appear to move , dare I say, ... magically.

So in an ordinary flooded market you wait, except that I got a feeling that all the LIONELs will be snapped up BEFORE we see the MTH ones; So that's the risk.

Alan

[Anonymous]

I have not seen either in person yet, but I have the previous iteration of the MTH Premier GG1, so am not in the market for either. Both are out in the stores now, although not yet all over the country.

You probably cannot loose with either one, and I would certainly like to see the two of them together-it was very interesting when MTH and Lionel both released Pennsy S-1's at the same time-I had the opportunity to compare these in person. Both were beautiful, both ran well and sounded great.

All this being said, I am an MTH and would definitely lean towards the MTH version because of what is, in my opinion, better sound and control with PS-2.

I have posted pictures of the new MTH Premier version on an OGR Photo Album:

http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x?a=albumcomments&s=63160042&f=453102703&m=5161088002&r=5161088002#5161088002

[3railguy]

There was something disapointing about the truck articulation in the first MTH models. Not sure if they reworked this or not.

[Anonymous]

John,

What was it about the truck articulation? I have the previous version of the PS-2 GG1, it tracks fine. Any idea what it was?

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

My choice would be lionel. I was disappointed in the MTH Pioneer Zepher with the sound of a modern day diesel engine and horn. Lionel did a super job on the M 10,0000 with a great sounding distilate engine and proper horn. The Zepher should have sounded the same as the UP. Dave.

[Anonymous]

Dave,

Neither Lionel nor MTH got the horn right on the Pioneer Zephyr.

The Lionel Zephyr has only four throttle notches (from a sound standpoint), while the MTH has eight. The sound on both is superb.

Between the MTH Premier Pioneer Zephyr and the Lionel:

The Lionel looks much better
The MTH runs much better.

I have both so comparison is easy.

By the way, the Zephyr and the M10,000 should probably not sound exactly the same. The M10,000 was powered by a distillate engine (as you mentioned) and the Pioneer Zephyr was the first true diesel powered streamlined train. I do not know if there is anyone around who would actually know what the difference in sound should be. I think I read that the distillate engines were actuall spark ignition, but I do not recall for sure.

Besides, I think this is a GG1 thread.

[Anonymous]

Distilate is like a mixture of kerosene and diesel fuel.
Anyway it is a 4 cycle spark plug ignition engine. Got to go look at the diesel train spotter. Iwas positive the two had the same engine as they were produced very close to each other. Anyway the MTH engine is the old 567 block that emd used in there geeps, F's etc.
What horn should the M10,000 have that the lionel one is not correct on?
Dave.
Just looked up the pioneer and it did have Winton 201A 8 cylinder engine that was a 4 cycle diesel. The 567 2 cycle was first used on the cb&q General Pershing Zepher in a 12 cycinder version and is the sound MTH used instead of the 201A,
Ir is interesting to note that the M10,000 was built in2/-34 and the pioner on 4/34
Only two months apart and the Winton diesel went in instead of the 12 cylinder gas engine as is in the M10,000. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Now does that lionel engine pas for a 12 cyinder in line gas engine.
Winton was the major supplier of all the gas electric engines and was the 1st mfg for emd. Also these engines got repowered. If you want to check it out look in page EMD-102 of The Second Diesel Spotters Guide.

[Anonymous]

Don't forget K-Lines.....

[AlanRail]

Just because MTH screwed up this on another model or Lionel missed that on a completly different model is like saying that one sports team can beat another because years ago they did..Despite what the sports-commentators say .it's not the same team from year to year.

I think you have to look anew at each offering with a fresh prospective and free from bias

My dealer called today to say that the MTH version was in; so tomorrow I will take a look.


Alan

[Anonymous]

Alan,

One thing I would really like to do is to be able to see and compare the two GG1's together (and possibly photograph them. That would make an interesting comparison. I know that one of the AGHRS members will have the new MTH GG1 next week. I am hoping another one will get the Lionel.

Both are beatiful from the photgraphs I have seen.

Dave,

Neither Lionel nor MTH got the horn right on the Pioneer Zephyr, I do not know about the M10,000.