Modern FM Trainmaster: Which is best?

[scottn941]

Group - I just love Lionel's FM Trainmaster but I just don't have the budget for a Post War one.  Which brings me to my question: which version of the modern era should I consider for long term, reliable ownership - the MPC one from the late 70s, or the Lionel "Conventional Classic?"  I'm pretty sure the MPC one is a good runner, strong puller, and fairly easy to repair, if needed.  By the same token, my *understanding* is, the "Conventional Classic" made in China is a remake of the Post War unit, and doesn't have a lot of the digital techie garbage that's not only complicated, but will likely go bad over the long range.  But is this Chinese stuff going to hold up in the long run?  The prices are similar, so your feedback would be appreciated as to the best choice.  Thanks, -Scott in St. Louis

[Bob Keller]

You may find the MPC version has plastic gears. We bought a Southern version for a story about 10 years back (got it on eBay) and discovered the gears were really flimsy plastic - and cracked (I'm guessing they were original parts). Took it to Sommerfeld's and they replaced the gears with metal parts.

My Lionel LLC TM (PRR) is a solid runner, though I'm a Williams FM fan, myself.

[rtraincollector]

I have a Williams FM PRR that I added tmcc and trainsounds to that I like it was an older Williams as it has the plastic fuel tank not the die-cast one they did later to add weight to the engine but its a good runner and puller.

[scottn941]

Plastic gears eh?  Even in the higher-end units back then!  Wow.  Anyways, Trainworld is selling from what I understand a pretty basic unit, item #38300 in Virginian paint for a pretty attractive price - $225.  Quality control issues with our friends in China aside (hopefully most have been ironed out by now), it's an attractive deal.  The MPCs I've looked at, mostly on auction sites like eBay, are used to some degree and priced/selling for the same ballpark as the 38300 new.  I'm guessing the 38300, made using Post War specs, would be more rugged and ultimately a better deal than a like-new MPC then?  -Scott