Cross-posted: It's All in the Name

[Anonymous]

I was told that I could get greater variety of responses if I posted here. Sorry for the cross-post. Any thoughts to the below question?

I have switched from N scale to O scale after modeling in the former for over twenty years. In the N scale world, the names Kato and Bachmann are reference points for operation and detail. I am familiar with Lionel and MTH, but I am curious what brands in ascending order would be considered low end to the very best? For example how do Weaver and Williams match up, and so forth? Thank you. Alex

[trainbrain]

Lionel and MTH both have high end and low end stuff and even in between.  Williams has good stuff for relatively short $ while kinda reproducing 50's Lionel. Weaver is all scale with lots of detail and also relatively priced.  Atlas produces good, high end stuff now and now owns and produces Industrial Rail which is low end.  K-Line also was low end and some high end and is now produced by Lionel.  Your best bet would be to view these catalogs online and see for yourself.  It's a good place to start.

[Birds]

It's hard to classify the brands in terms of "quality" from high to low.  They all make good products, and there are at times duds.  Rather I would say which company you go with is more a factor of what you are after in terms of features, look, size, etc.

Williams makes reproductions of 1950s era classics.  They don't have remote control features.  They are heavy, well built, and are a wonderful value.  You can add aftermarket TMCC systems to many of the trains.

Lionel and MTH both make expensive scale items with all the bells and whistles, as well as non-scale entry level items, and things in-between.

"3rd Rail" (of Sunset Models) makes detailed scale brass models in limited runs.  You pay for these, and they require large radius curves.

Ready Made Toys (RMT) makes O-27 capable items priced under $100.  They are not to scale or super detailed, but they have a very nice level of detail.

Weaver makes scale models for reasonable prices.

I'm not familiar with Atlas products, but they are a newer player in the market. 

Chris

[jimhaleyscomet]

Very Low Priced - Old K-line product being blown out online and in CTT magazine

Low Priced but high quality NOT scale - RMT (Ready made toys) at about $60 per engine.

Semi-low price - Lionel "convention operation" sets online (Thomas is $130, others about $180). 

Great value - Lionel expansion sets online or when on sale at Hobby Lobby for 40% off. 

Middle Price - MTH locosound sets and Lionel specialty (conventional operation) sets. $200-$300.

Great value with Sounds - PS2.0 sets from MTH ($250 online - $380 retail).

High priced sets - Lionel with TMCC and sounds (about $400 - $500).

High priced and detailed - Atlas O, Lionel and MTH separate purchase engines.   

Jim H 

 

[Joe Hohmann]

I have seen "best to worse lists" posted on "HO/N" forums, and see there is general agreement from other posters. IMO, "O" gauge is a different animal. Many of us are very brand loyal, so we get into Lionel vs MTH debates. On the plus side, you don't have the "junk" starter-set stuff you can find in the smaller scales. Also, ranking "how do they run" vs "how do they look" can get the rankings mixed up (ie. a "scale" person may consider all semi-scale/traditional stuff "junk"). I think it's safe to say that every "O" manufacturer has produced a "dud" or two, but there is no brand to stay away from. Joe

[Anonymous]

Thank you. These insights are very helpful. When you have been in a scale for over twenty years, you see a lot of things, but when you switch scales from N to O, it's like starting over again--exciting but tedious. I studied every nuance of the Kato and Atlas models and saw the rebirth of Atlas and the remake of Lifelike in N scale as well as the cheapening of other companies. I am still sorting through the Lionel and MTH issues and I am very intriqued by the Williams models. Overall, I am curious as to how so many small companies producing quality engines have not faded into the sunset (K-line the exception). The O scale mystique is fascinating to me. The modelers are wonderful characters and very charitable to newcomers for the most part. What is so interesting in this scale is the extended family includes the toy trains folks and the hi-railers, and the very best of this group accepts both as legitimate forms of collecting. I am wondering how many hybrids out there--part toy train collector, part realistic guy. Again, thank you for the responses.  Alex

[phillyreading]

Going from N scale to O scale is a big jump.   Most of the products here in three rail are very good except for Lionel's switches in regular O gauge track, they have been having problems for years with 031 switches.  Fastrac switches seem to be alright. 

One thing to mention about is the remote control systems in O gauge, Lionel makes TMCC and MTH makes DCS or PS-2, Lionel has licensed out or contracted out the TMCC system to other manufacturers while DCS is exclusive to MTH and will not operate on TMCC in command mode, also DCS will not operate TMCC in command mode.

Williams has very good quality and is remaking a lot of Lionel trains back to the 1950's, however no command control from the factory on Williams, there may be a horn or whistle.

MTH and Atlas can get a little pricey for the average guy. Lionel's low cost locomotives (under $300.00)won't pull much of anything, need to spend over $300.00 to get a decent loco in Lionel.

There are several brands of track too, Atlas, Lionel, MTH, GarGraves, K-Line and now Williams.  Track with or without roadbed built-in, Fastrac(Lionel) or Realtrack(MTH), than there is tubular or older style track.  Just like with other scales not all track will match up to other track.

Lee F.

[cnw1995]

Welcome! I moved over to O from N scale about seven years ago. Had a nice British outline layout featuring DCC and fantastically detailed scenery. I imported Tomix engines. Sold all of the latter to finance a Lionel train set. It came with 027 track. Then just added track.  I thought hard about my 'givens and druthers' in the hobby before making the leap - I wanted to work with something bigger. I wanted simpler electrics. I wanted sound. I liked the toy-train effect. I like the 'camraderie' of this forum.  I've had good experiences with Lionel, MTH, Williams and Atlas engines and rolling stock.

[Anonymous]

I had almost every engine ever produced in N scale in the CNW colors. But my real passion has always been Minneapolis and St. Louis, and I always wanted the early Lionel engines in MSTL livery. The other thing was that O scalers just seem to have more fun. Our N scale train meets, though rewarding, were always too professional and controling. Everything had to be according to exact specs, which is necessary for prototypical operation, but man, when operators got on each other's case for some minute sub-par realistic performance, I said enough. I am hangin' with the guys with big trains who can go realistic and still remember that in the end it's also a toy. The toughest thing is starting over. Not only are the scales different, but the mindset is different, too. Someone asked why not go HO? To me HO is more like a larger N than a smaller O. The O scale world is really the embodiment of everything I want in the hobby. I am just kicking myself for not switching twenty year ago. Thanks, Doug, for the welcome. Alex 

[traindaddy1]

Hi Alex: I moved from 'HO' to 'O' a short time ago. I had been accustomed to the cost of Rivarossi, Varney and some upper scale Bachmann items but was a little naive when it came to the larger trains. I soon discovered that, not only did I require more space to construct a comparable layout but I had to have more financial resources. It was a BIG move.

I am still learning but I think that I have come to the realization that all the manufacturers offer a product that is designed to meet one's objectives. You just have to "Stop" before you make a snap decision, "Look" at the item closely and "Listen" to the advice from others (like the knowledgeable guys on this forum).

It is a huge step from 'N' to 'O' but I beleive that you will be happy you made the switch. All the best!

[Joe Hohmann]

The other thing was that O scalers just seem to have more fun.

Also, I don't think there are 2 "O" people that think exactly the same, because in the 3-rail world, there are no rules. On my small 5x8 layout, I run semi-scale trains on FasTrack, yet I'm very "into" scenics, and fanatical about the diecast 1950's cars on my layout. Another guy may have only super-detailed scale trains, but is happy running on bare plywood. Everyone is "correct". Joe

[trainbrain]

Just to think about:

I have 3 rail but if I was to start again,  I would strongly consider S-gauge.  There's some good stuff out there now-not just American Flyer.  I like the realistic look (2 rail) and S-gauge offers that in it's track selection and rolling stock.  Lionel(AF), American Models,  S_Helper Service and K_Line are just some of the Mfr's.   Pricewise, it's comparable to O gauge. It would still be the same fun with a little more realism.  Don't get me wrong,  I'm lovin my tube track but if I was starting with nothing..................... Like I said- Something to think about.

[bfskinner]

 

This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.

  --William Shakespeare or Groucho Marx, I can't remember which.

[cnw1995]

You said it, bf. Though I prefer "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers ...." from Henry V