MTH or Lionel

[Anonymous]

I am about to purchase a RTR for my son for Christmas, but am having trouble deciding between the MTH and Lionel. I like the Loco-sound in the MTH. But then Lionel has their RailSound package. I am not overly concerned with long term collector value. Does any one have a preference that they would care to share to help me make this decision?

[Anonymous]

Great to hear of a father passing on the train 'gene' to his son. I had Lionel trains as a kid, but when I got the O Gauge bug a few years ago I started with an MTH train set and am pretty pleased with their products. The remote control is neat, their smoke units are awesome, and I really like RealTrax because it comes with its own 'ballast' which looks less toylike than the Lionel track and also works better if you are setting up a temporary layout on the carpet. I also like the way RealTrax electrical connectors work as opposed to Lionel's old fashioned lock-on. If you want to add cars later on or more track MTH also has quite a few dealers. The big problem with MTH is that they, like Lionel, seem to be targeting the collector and upscale side of the market with very expensive locos once you get past the train set stage. The other thing I have discovered is that no matter which company you see the catalogs are more for'bait' than indicating what is currently available. Quantities are limited or sometimes non-existent and you need to place items on order and wait months for delivery. This takes the fun out of it especially for any age kid that wants his stuff now. I have no real experience with current Lionel products although they appear to be very well made but slightly more expensive than items from MTH or K-Line. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Take your pick. I like the K-Line sets, myself - that long steamer they have is a smooth runner. Any wonder I have four of those locomotives? My advice - go with your gut feeling - go for the one that looks like the most fun. You know what your son likes, so buy accordingly.

[cbq9911a]

Go with whatever you like or whatever is the best price. Lionel, MTH, and K-Line all make nice starter sets of good quality. The only difference among the three brands is that Lionel's starter set locos free wheel, which is nice for a kid. He can power the train by hand when you're not around to supervise.

Buy more track to start with - none of the starter sets have enough track. If you have someone who is going to buy gifts for your son, it's a toss up between a pair of switches and an accessory like a gateman.

[Anonymous]

I have noticed Lionel detail on engines has improved greatly.For the price especially diesels I feel Lionel has surpassed MTH. New MTH remote system requires new transformers and is expensive. Not the case with Lionel.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the input gentlemen. Went with the MTH set. MoI like the realtrax that can be set up anywhere and I liked the heft of the MTH loco. I am pleased, son is delighted and has watched the MTH introductory video several times. He was telling me all about lock ons and transformers and circuit breakers and sprung trucks (and using those words). He's only 4, but I think he's hooked.

[Anonymous]

lionel,k-line,3rd rail,atlas,all will run,with lionel CAB-1,& most have railsounds pickup from lionel,MTH, is by its self,read your hand-book,if 7 WHEN YOU BUY "MTH" HAND CONTROL & have lot and lot of fun>>>>>>>>>>>AKA HUB

[dbaker48]

I am about to purchase a RTR for my son for Christmas, but am having trouble deciding between the MTH and Lionel. I like the Loco-sound in the MTH. But then Lionel has their RailSound package. I am not overly concerned with long term collector value. Does any one have a preference that they would care to share to help me make this decision?

I couldn't resist, the thread regarding the most Bang for the Buck, jarred my curiosity.  I wondered how far back does this question go in the forum.  Notice the date above!

Unquestionably I sure it is a valid question, however, how could a single correct answer be provided.  It is all up to individual desire and taste, the same as it was 5 years ago, and 100 years prior to that.  Only then it was Lionel and Gilbert, or Marx.

[Joe Hohmann]

 The only difference among the three brands is that Lionel's starter set locos free wheel, which is nice for a kid. He can power the train by hand when you're not around to supervise.

.

You make an interesting point. One of my Grandsons, who is 2 1/2, is a "train nut". He runs a simple loop on the floor, and can also run the "basics" with a Cab1 on my layout. However, he also loves pushing a locomotive back and forth on a track, mouthing whistle and bell sounds, while pretending to "drive" it. For this, he uses my postwar 675 or 681. Joe

[Anonymous]

Just my personal opinion: I like the trains and the transformer in MTH starter sets better than their counterparts in most similar Lionel starter sets.  I feel that you get a more solid, better built, and better detailed train in their starter sets, and have found the Z750 and Z1000 transformers to be quite reliable.

However, I also like Lionel's FasTrack better than MTH RealTrax for a variety of reasons.

Although I don't buy many starter sets these days, except in Standard Gauge, I would still most likely go for an MTH set in most cases, and would put the track up for sale as I did in the past.  I have a pretty good stock of Lionel's FasTrack on hand, even though it's stored away for now because I'm using Atlas track on my layout.  And I'll continue buying FasTrack switches and operating sections (like the crossing flashers, which I like very much) from time to time to build-up the inventory because I figure there may very well be another FasTrack layout in my future at some point. 

[phillyreading]

Personally I have had better success with MTH locomotives and passenger or freight cars than with Lionel locomotives and freight cars made in the past 12 years.   Also Lionel's switches in tubular track 031 size (non Fastrac) seem to be lacking quality in the past 15 years.

Can't say about transformers.  Have only bought a Z1000, in the past 3 years, for my new MTH locomotive.

Everything that I have bought from MTH and Williams are still working.

When K-Line was in business(before the Lionel buyout)if you had a problem K-Line was more than willing to repair the item, sometimes even with free shipping both ways.

I may buy a new Williams transformer in the next year or two as it has a brake feature on it, something new in O gauge, seem to be the only company with a brake feature on a transformer.

Lee F.

[dbaker48]

Hey guys, before we start another conversation on this thread.  I went back in the archives and brought this forward from 2002.  I doubt that the originators are still active.   My reason for doing this was to demonstrate who old the subject matter was.

I don't mean to sound like a censor or anything, and not trying to create problems but was trying to make a point. 

[jefelectric]

Don, You are a born agitator. 

Or maybe to much time on your hands, shouldn't you be working on that layout?

[laz 57]

Buy both then choose.  If you can afford it.  One for you and one for the kido.

laz57

[RR Redneck]

I go 100% Lionel every time.

[ChiefEagles]

Trolls come and go [thank God they go].

[Anonymous]

Williams engines are my choice.

They are like the Energizer Rabbit, they keep on running and running and running.

[jimhaleyscomet]

Hi all, lets keep this thread positive as I am adding it to the FAQ index.

I purchase most of my trains in sets excepts for Beeps.  When I want one with command control and great sounds for the lowest price I find a discounted MTH set ($250-$300).  Only older MTH sets come with the IR remote however the remote is still available at Hobby Shops.  When I want the least expensive non command set ($130-$200) then Lionel and old K-line sets float my boat. 

 One other point to consider when purchasing sets is what track do you want.  There is a separate thread for that in the  FAQ index.

Jim H 

[dbaker48]

Jim -

Please don't add this thread to the index, I don't think is speaks very highly for us.

It was originally started in 2002 went for 4 posts then died.  I went back to the early pages, and made a comment to intentionally bring it forward, just to prove a point that this agrument a old and opinionated argument.

The activity that it is receiving now is in my opinion just more opinion, and seems most people are not reading any of the previous posts on this thread, indicating that everyone is just "venting".