Lionel or MTH whats your favorite and why

[alexweiihman]

I enjoy both manufactuers because they both have parts of them that appeal to me.

Mth has better sounds but they dont have as nice rolling stock.

Lionel has high prices and Mth has better Deals

[RR Redneck]

I am one hundred percent Lionel. I find that the quality is alot better. Also, it is what I started out with, and even though I model in G and N scales as well, I will always have a (huge) spot in my heart reserved for the king of all trains.

[M1Tanker]

I like both and also like Atlas and K-Line.  My wife also has her favorites but for her its all about the car - and not who manufactures it.

[jimhaleyscomet]

I purchase what ever is a good value.  MTH has much better controls in their started PS2.0 sets.  RMT and K-line (now gone) have low priced affordable stuff.  Lionel has reasonably priced Thomas set and thier conventional control sets are sometimes well priced.  Lionel sets and expansion sets can sometimes be a good value at Hobby Lobby (with 40% off coupon).   I like the Orange boxes and the Lionel name.  I like the MTH  controls. 

 

I guess I have absolutely NO brand loyalty at all.  Each has their advantages and disadvantages!

 

Jim H 

[CSXect]

I like both but like that the PS2 has a lot of sound features in conventional mode that a tmcc is laking.

[laz 57]

Both.

laz57

[darianj]

I like them both but admittedly have more MTH right now.

[RR Redneck]

Right now every (toy) train related item I own is Lionel. I have not one single piece of rolling stock, locomotive, or accessory that is from anyother firm.

[ben10ben]

MTH makes great products. I just absolutely can not stand the way Mike Wolf does business, thus his company doesn't get any of my money.

I own Lionel, K-line, and Atlas. They're all great, even though K-line is no more. 

I also happen to really like TMCC. My main reason for this is that I love being able to tinker with things, and TMCC is much friendlier to do-it-yourself installations and so forth. Also, if something goes bad with one, you can generally just replace a plug-in card rather than the whole board as you would with PS-2 engines. 

[RR Redneck]

I have been meaning to get some Atlas O, but haven't gotten around to it.

[thatboy37]

i started out in n scale and my favorite was kato engines, atlas-kato- cars. then i moved to o scale all my engines are lionel except the dummies mth, rolling stock mostly lionel and few mth. i have my favs but what ever catches my eye i will by.

[ChiefEagles]

Both but I agree with Ben.  Mike W is a spoiled child.  Stopped spending any money with him [except Reatrax and that is because I had so much of it before he strated his ].  As far as sounds, Alex, you need your hearing checked.  MTH is a flat sound and its horns are terrible.  Right now it is Lionel and Atlas for me.  If I was not running command, it would be Williams.

[Frank53]

I have many Lionel trains, however, I am an aggressive and active buyer of any and all MTH Trains made between 1946 and 1958.

oh wait . . .

[Demon09]

This topic is a can of worms waiting to be opened....

 I like both, but I won't say why about each, because I do not ant to add fuel to any fires.....

They are both quality products for their own reasons in each respect......

[Anonymous]

Ah, the brand wars--"my trains are better than your trains"--thing again! Carried right over into the new year!

It's all as ridiculous and juvenile now as it was some 15 years ago when this nonsense first started. 

ALL of the various brands offer a lot of great stuff, and occasionally all of them produce some dogs.  I can understand a collector sticking with one brand or another, or even one type of item within a particular brand--say 6464 boxcars, for example.  But anyone who actually plays with this stuff, and particularly those who have a favorite roadname or era, is simply limiting his options by staying with only one make of train for any of the several stupid reasons usually offered. 

[thor]

Okay, I'll bite!

Lionel is my favorite but it wouldn't prevent me from owning MTH though only rolling stock not locos, I hate the ugly looking tether, I know diesels dont have tethers but I dont like diesels. 

The publicity that all the legal stuff has generated hasn't left me with a good impression of MTH nor has my local hobby shop owner who aggressively pushes MTH even when I ask about Lionel stuff he has, he is always trying to get me to buy MTH instead and that sort of thing puts my back up. 

Mike Wolf needs some PR work big time IMHO, I read as much as I can about both sides and try to form my own opinions based on the evaluation of all that I read about peoples issues with various pros and cons of both companies products and that gives me a pro Lionel bias too.

However, lets be fair, Joshua Lionel Cowen did pretty much the same sort of things as Mike Wolf gets a lot of flack about and he comes out of it smelling like roses!  Also Mike Wolf has done a tremendous job of building his business up from scratch, so on balance I'm not prepared to let the personality issues affect my evaluation of the products.

The only MTH rolling stock I currently own is a flat car with two pickup trucks that Trainland was blowing out for $20!  Its by far the best runner of my goods stock which is a K-Line gondola and a Lionel tipping wagon.

The stuff that MTH makes which pushes my buttons the most is all that gorgeous tinplate I can't afford.   

[BMRR]

I buy LIONEL........I do not own anything made by mth and probably never will. 

Stan.

[Joe Hohmann]

 

 

ALL of the various brands offer a lot of great stuff, and occasionally all of them produce some dogs.  I can understand a collector sticking with one brand or another, or even one type of item within a particular brand--say 6464 boxcars, for example.  But anyone who actually plays with this stuff, and particularly those who have a favorite roadname or era, is simply limiting his options by staying with only one make of train for any of the several stupid reasons usually offered. 

I agree. In my own case, I've limited my engine choices due to the fact that I personally think that TMCC is more "simple", but then, I'm a "electrical dunce". Hence, I don't own any MTH engines, although he has a large selection of good-looking stuff. My passenger cars are all Railking, as are most of my operating freight cars. In my mind, MTH is "cutting edge" in terms of buildings (selection and looks), Lionel in terms of animations. I also feel that FasTrack is more "trouble free", especially for small or floor layouts.

Many/most of us can recognise a poster who is speaking with "blind brand loyalty", but it sure must be confusing to the "new folks". Joe

[Buckeye Riveter]

Many/most of us can recognise a poster who is speaking with "blind brand loyalty", but it sure must be confusing to the "new folks". Joe

AMEN to that Joe.  After spending almost three years on the forum, I have found them fairly easy to spot.  I really enjoy the ones who haven't been there, and haven't done that, then subtly claiming they are an expert by their posting.  Normally they reinforce their lack of knowledge by posting some unsubstaniated whopper of a tale.

[BMRR]

Many/most of us can recognise a poster who is speaking with "blind brand loyalty", but it sure must be confusing to the "new folks". Joe

Joe - I buy more than one brand. I just don't buy mth right now.

Stan.

 

 

[1688torpedo]

 Hello Alex!   As you can see most here enjoy both Lionel & MTH along with the other brands that do exists. There sure is a fine assortment of product out on the market in every price range for us to choose from. I guess it would all depend on what you like (steam or diesel) (prewar,postwar, or modern) for example. I enjoy Lionel as that is what I grew up with & really like it & they also have a history to go with it as well. MTH makes some fine Tinplate & someday maybe I'll buy some of the older conventionels that they made as I like to use a Transformer & not have to rely on Command or DCS control. To me, using a Transformer directly is really part of the fun here & is more hassle free than having to worry about fried electronics or a circuit board that gave up the Ghost. Just my worth. Your mileage will vary, so to speak. Take Care.

[mickey4479]

I like the steam era.  I only have steam locos but might get some older era diesel locos and passenger cars.  An ABBA set of Santa Fe F3s with a set of 7 streamlined passenger cars would be a dream come true.  My preference is Lionel for locos because I decided that I wanted to have one operating system and because Lionel had the particular locos (PRR) I really wanted.  TMCC seemed like the logical choice for me.  However, I really do like the MTH PRR heavyweight passenger cars in O scale for the detail and cost compared to Lionel passenger cars.  For freight, I like Atlas O especially for the steam era series.  The reefers in particular, especially the limited edition, are really well done.  All of the Atlas cars I have look great and the trucks are quite realistic.  I do have one Lionel milk reefer and a K-Line reefer.  Both are excellent cars and well detailed.  I also have a couple of weaver gondolas that were reasonably priced.  I am still waiting for Lionel to produce the PRR Decapod in O scale. 

 

[sanman0516]

I like both lionel & MTH

[Anonymous]

 As far as sound quality -- I don't know where you heard better from protosound ? Ease of use and extremely better reliability the railsounds win hands down ! And you don't have an antiquated battery sytem to go dead with railsounds . When MTH has been around for 50 years and engines still running strong you may be able to compare . I admit as far as realistic detail the older lionels were pitiful . The newer lionels only skyrocketed in detail after they bought out K-Line . With all the severe problems MTH has had in the electronics they need to do alot of reworking to even be considered in comparison . K-Line had the best mix of both worlds but gave too much for the money . MTH rolling stock is great --- also k-line diecast . I'm buying up all the k-line engines and high end cars I can . It comes down to what -- by who -- really but you left out K-Line stock .... you can pick up K-Line engines lower with all the detail and high reliability before it all runs out . Like Jack Webb --- I'm only stating the facts -----

[nblum]

Well,  I grew up wanting but never having Lionel or American Flyer, so I've made up for it in recent decades.  From 1995 through about 2000 I bought quite a bit  of MTH to complement my Lionel purchases, including all their initial operating accessories.  Since then, I've limited my purchases, most of the time to Lionel, Atlas, K-Line, Weaver and 3rd Rail products. My reasons include (1) not wishing to have the complexity of two command systems and (2) a dislike for the approach to the industry and hobby taken by MTH on any number of issues.  The most important objection being my view that they, like others in the business world, often have a predatory approach to competition, and in particular have misused other's intellectual property and the legal system to try to achieve their goals.

[alexweiihman]

If your loyal to one manufacturer that doenst only mean you should only buy there stuff, buy what youm want or like even if it's not made by your favorite manufacturer.

[Frank53]

Normally they reinforce their lack of knowledge by posting some unsubstaniated whopper of a tale.

Gee, yer not kidding. Didja hear the one about Lionel moving back to the U.S.A.?

Hey, now that I think about it - I think I resemble that remark!

[Blueberryhill RR]

Normally they reinforce their lack of knowledge by posting some unsubstaniated whopper of a tale.

Gee, yer not kidding. Didja hear the one about Lionel moving back to the U.S.A.?

Hey, now that I think about it - I think I resemble that remark!

Frank....I just noticed that guy on top of the building. At the top right hand side. What is he doing???  A jumper ?  ( I like your tubular track )

Chuck

 

 

[Reading T-1]

Frank 53 we all know you don't like MTH so just stop reading the threads that have to do with this subject. No one wants to here your one sided remarks. I like both lionel and MTH but I don't feel the need to bash one brand or the other to get my point across.

[Frank53]

Frank....I just noticed that guy on top of the building. At the top right hand side. What is he doing???  A jumper ?  ( I like your tubular track )

Chuck

 

 

He just wandered out to get a better view.

and thanks Chuck - I like my tubular track too!