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Hi Ted! Atlas has two "types", the Atlas Master Series is their top-of-the-line model, with superb detail and a great motor/drive system (I'll just say "motor" from here). It is also about the only loco that comes with a decoder in HO (Broadway says that their new models will, too - AND sound. But that's only limited steam models, so far). MY BN Atlas Master loco is a honey! The "Classic" series has less detail (but still a good motor). Kato (except for their SD40-2) has a better motor and better detail than the "Classic". I think he Atlas Master series has surpassed them, IMHO.The Kato SD40-2 has a poor electrical pickup which causes grief - avoid! My IMRL SD40, however is a great loco !!! Athearn Genesis is rapidly approaching the Atlas Master/Kato level - on par with Life-like P2k - some think their better! Anyhoo, they are MUCH better than the regular "blue box" Athearns (which are still nice locos, and can be "superdetailed" by buying better detailed parts from several makers. Stewart makes a very good loco - great drive, and detail approaching P2K. I have only had one of my Stewarts for about a year, and the others are more recent, so I can't say about how they hold up - but I have heard that Stewart is very good about fixing any problem. P2K has a limited warrenty for life, of course. If you model one particular road, you will wind up buying from all of the above, as no one makes all the models you will want! I model the Rock Island, and so far have (in RI) 6 P2Ks, 3 Atlas (2 Classic and 1 Master), 3 Stewarts, 1 Athearn Genesis, 3 Athearn, and 1 Bachmann. This "mix" has given me a good selection of the locos the RI ran. Is the extra price of the Atlas Master, Katos, P2Ks, Athearn Genesis and Stewarts worth it? Hard to say. It's up to you to decide the level of detail, the quality of the motor system, and if you need a particular model locomotive for your road. As you usually get what you pay for (if you do your homework and buy from a respected maker), for me the answer is "yes". - IMRL 393
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