I just LIKE TRAINS !!
That being said, the majority I have is Lionel, but since I rediscovered the hobby last year, MTH is awesome! I think WE have greatly benefited from the competition, and have available today much greater capability, engine variations, and road names. I also have the new Legacy Big Boy on order, AND the MTH UP SD4000AC on order.
I get extremely frustrated when I am around the extremely opinionated folks which excessively bad mouth either one. They are only demeaning themselves for their apparent lack awareness. Both have some advantages and disadvantages. One of my old favorite LHS if you mention MTH they go into convulsions, and will not allow anything in their shop of that brand. It IS his shop, but he is losing a lot of customers!
One of my favorites is a pair of K-Line diesels that I have, extemely rugged and great runners. (Cotton Belts), got them at a great price cause no one liked the road name?!?
Overall, I do respect other people's opinion, it is their choice. But, at the same time don't insult me for having or enjoying a variety of tastes.
I usually select my purchase based upon the engine type, road name, and availability. Sometimes its really tough to determine which I want to put on the track.
Finally, I do find Lionel more costly than I think it should be, and believe your paying a LOT for the name, and not necessarily getting the features and capabilities as available elsewhere.
I do want to get some William and Atlas as well. I also find when I compare a similiar car in the same price range, Lionel does not usually come up on top. To many other choices, due to competition.
Don
jefelectric wrote: I run both Lionel and MTH, as well as Weaver, Atlas, K-line, Williams & RMT. Probably have more MTH than any of the others, but I buy based more on RR and engine type than Manufacturer. Of all the engines I own, I have never had one DOA. Two have required after purchase service.Reading T-1, We all suffer from foot in mouth disease on occasion, don't let it keep you from posting. BTW I have an MTH T-1 and love it. Also just got an MTH Crusader, has a really neat whistle, not sure if it is authentic, but it sounds great.Active engines on the layout at present include 4 MTH, 1 Lionel, 1 K-line & 1 Weaver.Just my .
I run both Lionel and MTH, as well as Weaver, Atlas, K-line, Williams & RMT. Probably have more MTH than any of the others, but I buy based more on RR and engine type than Manufacturer. Of all the engines I own, I have never had one DOA. Two have required after purchase service.
Reading T-1, We all suffer from foot in mouth disease on occasion, don't let it keep you from posting. BTW I have an MTH T-1 and love it. Also just got an MTH Crusader, has a really neat whistle, not sure if it is authentic, but it sounds great.
Active engines on the layout at present include 4 MTH, 1 Lionel, 1 K-line & 1 Weaver.
Just my .
John said it best for me. I also lean more towards MTH because of the Proto 2 sounds. I think they are way beyond Lionel in that aspect. Now if Marty would just sell me the Century Club S2 and F3 for "dirt cheap", I'd be a happy camper
Dep
Virginian Railroad
This may (or may not) be a good time to inquire as to a related issue. I've shied away from MTH engines generally (though I have their semi-scale GG-1 w/horn and it is the most solid and reliable engine I have) because I do not have DCS.
Is upgrading to DCS a very costly process, or does it only require purchase of a remote/command base set up like TMCC-1, which I do have? And if so, can anyone recommend a place from which to purchase that equipment? Thanks.
Lionel is my sentimental favorite. I have five Lionel engines: My old 8310 from when I was a kid, my dad's 726 berk, a Southern PS-4, a Lehigh Valley 627, and a TMCC Dreyfus Hudson. Still, that GG-1 runs like a swiss watch and I am very impressed with it, so I would like the option of DCS benefits in the MTH context.
The DCS unit (base and handheld) is about $250. Many of the features of PS2.0 engines can be accessed with a series of bell/whistle commands. DCS might be less at Justrains (free shipping), islandtrains or other. The unit will also control conventional locomotives but the minimum voltage is 5V which can make for jack rabbit starts on modern engines. Lionel new ZW or powermaster and TMCC handles conventional better.
Jim H
Given the choice, I like DCS way better than TMCC. I like the screen readout. It let's you know EXACTLY what is going on. I also have the CAB-1 stuff and it's pretty obvious when you use it that it's 1st generation remote control. Like the old button clacking remotes for TV compared to the IR and RF/digital remotes we use nowadays. Looking at TMCC II, I'm not all that impressed with it. And no compatibility with MTH means I probably won't buy it.
I should add that I have taken the DCS plunge and do enjoy it alot. It is much easier to control PS2.0 engines and to access all the sounds. I typically purchase MTH sets with PS2.0 engines and believe they are a good value for a command control train.
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