Reliable/quality model railroad companies

[Anonymous]

Since I've been out of the hobby for many years, I was wondering what companies I can trust for quality and reliability with reasonable prices. Here are some Iv'e thought about.
Life Like( standard and Proto)
Bachman(standard and spectrum)
Model power
IHC
Athearn
I know some of these companies were'nt very reliable a long time ago but it seems they are making better quality trains, at least from what I've seen. Basically, which one's are worth plunking down my money for?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MOJORISEN

Since I've been out of the hobby for many years, I was wondering what companies I can trust for quality and reliability with reasonable prices. Here are some Iv'e thought about.
Life Like( standard and Proto)
Bachman(standard and spectrum)
Model power
IHC
Athearn
I know some of these companies were'nt very reliable a long time ago but it seems they are making better quality trains, at least from what I've seen. Basically, which one's are worth plunking down my money for?

Staying within your list, I would have to say Proto 2000 has the best bang for the buck. Standard Life-like and Bachmann are basicly junk.[V] Bachmanns Plus line is better (slightly) and their Spectrum line steam power is great! Spectrum diesels seem to be hit or miss at best.
Model Power is toy trainset quality at best.
IHC Premier steam seems ok, but is a bit slippery (poor traction).
Finally Athearn. The blue box engines, while a bit thin on detailing, will run and run and run til the cows come home!
The Genesis line is a bit more pricy. More on the lines of offerings from Atlas,Kato,and Stewart. All great engines if you can afford the price tags.
Hope this helps.[:D]

[Anonymous]

Out of those listed, I'd say Athearn, Lifelike Proto, and Bachmann Spectrum are worth looking at, at least in my experience. There are good models in the other lines, though they tend to need a little work to improve them and are often best considered as a base for kit-bashing - for example, I'm considering building a slug from a Model Power Alco switcher (might buy two, modify one to use all the power parts as these only have 1 truck driven? and build a slug from the spares).

The Bachmann Plus F7/F9 is worth a look if you find them cheaply as the chassis is very good - at least in my experience. One thing to watch with Bachmann locos is clearance on Kadee between the rails uncoupler magnets - I had to attack the truck baseplates with a file on my F7 and Dash 8 to avoid them "running aground"!

[cacole]

kbfcsme said it -- avoid the cheap Bachmann, Life Like, and above all, Model Power. You may remember a company called Mantua/Tyco. They are long gone, but Model Power now owns the Mantua name and is re-releasing the Mantua product line. Unlike the original Mantua line, though, Model Power is having the stuff made in China. I have no experience with the new Mantua locomotives, but I have seen one of their box cars. The detail is good, but it is way, way too heavy, being all metal. They seem to be made for display models only, because it would take several locomotives to pull a string of them.

Athearn has probably been around for the longest of any model maker today with the possible exception of Kadee. Kato is top notch, as are Atlas and Proto 2000. The more expensive Athearn ready-to-run seems to be questionable. I have an Athearn flat car with a Coca Cola trailer that rolls like a flat rock. Athearn ready-ro-run stuff, as is practically every other brand today, made in China, and their wheels are really bad.

Kadee metal trucks and wheelsets used to be the preferred replacements, but they don't roll as good as Proto 2000, Kato, and Atlas trucks. I have found that LBF Wheelsets are much better than Kadee, even in Kadee trucks. Kadee couplers have many competitors now because their patent expired. Some of the better Kadee-type couplers are the McHenry scale size, knuckle spring coupler and the Bachmann knuckle spring coupler. Kadees are metal, and all the others are plastic, so it's a case of getting what you pay for. Kadee, too, makes a scale size coupler now.

[Anonymous]

I buy Atlas and Kato. They cost more, but they eliminate a lot of problems and agrivation. Tyco, AHM, Model Power, regular Lifelike and some Bachmans are fine if you want to spend most of your time on your layout as a train mechanic. Economy wise, Athern engines are alright.. However, if one buys their cars, and then one has to buy better wheels and and couplers for them, one could have bought Atlas or Kato cars that already had all of that and the end price being about the same. The difference being is that the Atlas and Katos are ready to go.

So maybe it's a question of what one wants to do, run their railroad or spend their time fixing it. Ever since I went to Atlas and Kato, I've been spending my time doing what I want to do, running my railroad. It's been a lot more fun and relaxing as well.

[Anonymous]

My top HO scale makers (in order of best) -

Diesel -

1. Atlas Master (best detail and drive)
2. Kato
3. Life-Like Proto 2000 (P2K)
4. Stewart
5. Athearn Genesis
6. Atlas Classic
7. LL Proto 1000 (P1K)
8. Athearn RTR
9. Walthers Trainline (selected models, such as their F40PH)
10. Athearn blue box

I haven't decided where Broadway goes, yet!
AVOID Bachmann diesels, Model Power, Tyco, and Generic Life-like

Steam -

1. Broadway
2. LL Heritage
3. Bachmann Spectrum (esp their 2-8-0)
4. Athearn Genesis

Rolling stock -

1. Atlas (RTR)
2. Kadee (RTR)
3. P2K (RTR and kits)
4. Branchline (kits)
5. Intermountain (RTR and kits)
6. Walthers (AMTRAK Superliners, Express box cars, MHCs, and their Budd cars)
7. Athearn RTR
8. Athearn blue box

AVOID IHC streamline passenger cars!
Roundhouse is very inaccurate for RI - I don't know about other roads.

[CP5415]

In the way of pricing though, no one can beat Athearn's blue box stuff.
The locomotives are durable & relatively inexpensive. The rolling stock is decent
On the downside, the locomotives do tend to have the Athearn Growl.

Just my 2 cents

Gordon

[Wdlgln005]

Two names missing from the list:

Micro Trains (N-Z) scale locomotives & freight cars
Everyone converts to their MTL coupler system. There can be some problem with the old pizza cutter wheels on new Code 55 track, but they do have low profile wheelsets. There's another flamewar over metal or plastic wheels.
Their freight cars are top notch, but they seem to be going in a direction where a railroad only had a few of the cars they produce. Prices are rising to match. Some cars are istant sellouts due to collector interest.
Their new FT has had a lukewarm reception. High price (199 list discount to 167).
In Z scale, MTL is the only american mfr.

ConCor: Seems to be going away. Used to have a complete line of rolling stock & structures. In Nscale, they seem to be resting on 30yr old models. Their PA & Hudsun were state of the art but time is passing them by. Becoming scarcer to find at your LHS. Many of the Heljan kits are now imported by Walthers. You may find them repackaged under a new name.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CP5415

In the way of pricing though, no one can beat Athearn's blue box stuff.
The locomotives are durable & relatively inexpensive. The rolling stock is decent
On the downside, the locomotives do tend to have the Athearn Growl.

Just my 2 cents

Gordon

Also on the downside is the "bonfire in the cab" look instead of directional lighting, being not DCC ready, having poor detail, and in some cases wrong markings (plus wrong locos made for certain roads that never had them - for example the "Rock Island" SW7).

By the time you add details, directional lighting, and correct markings the price is much more!

I'm adding $50 worth of parts to my RI Athearn BB GP38-2, and it still won't be as good as the detail on my new P2K ! And I haven't bought the directional lighting or DCC plug yet !

If I hadn't already have had the Athearn model, I would have bought the second P2K instead.

[Anonymous]

Generally speaking in a nut shell it's whats under the shell that counts.

I think BillB's diesel rating is a reliable guide. Cost is a factor depending upon
what you can afford.

One can also consider the new line of Rivarossi steam locos but because of the Hornby UK tender
offer, warranty service is unpredictable and free exchanges if defective is contingent upon
stock on hand

[Anonymous]

QUOTE:------------------------
The Genesis line is a bit more pricy. More on the lines of offerings from Atlas,Kato,and Stewart. All great engines if you can afford the price tags.
Hope this helps.
------------------------

I love ATHEARN! Yes, the Genesis line is more pricey--but much more detail included. The great thing about Athearn (even the blue box) is the company doesn't want to make a cheap sale and then leave you in the dust.

Its true that their "standard" freight cars could use a good upgrading as far as trucks,wheels and couplers--but many people *like* to modify the boxcars with 3rd party stuff.

However, the standard line stuff is not "ready to run" out of the box, that is for sure--but a great bargain at $5.95 a car! The Athearn ready to run is pricey,too, but very nice.

I have a blue box diesel and several blue box freight cars--I am very happy with these purchases and I plan to purchase more "blue box" stuff soon. I replace the wheels with steel wheelsets and kadee couplers (I don't alter the trucks except for this neat little tool that makes a larger groove in the journal--something my dealer recommended for me , cost $10). I personally find that this is economical; the steel wheelsets I purchase in bulk for very reasonable price and kadee scale couplers seem reasonable for my budget as well.

I consider "quality" and running capabilities the highest priority on my HO layout--HO tracks are sooo tiny so good conductivity, clean rails and wheels are a must. You may pay more for good runners but it will add to your enjoyment in the long run.


Now I want that Athearn Challenger!!! wow!!

[Roadtrp]

I model 'N' scale, and I understand that the various manufacturer’s lines can vary considerably in quality depending on the scale.

I have been very happy with my standard Life Like locomotives in N scale. They run quietly, smoothly, and have good low speed operation. I run these locomotives for about 30-60 minutes each day, and neither one has given me problems. One is now about 7 months old, the other is about 5 months old.

I would ask those who think standard Life Like is junk:

1) What scale were you in?
2) When did you make your purchase?
3) What locomotive did you purchase?
4) What specifically was the problem you had?

Thanks [:)]

[AggroJones]

You guys may want to re-think your positive opinions about Broadway Limited. I have. Up until a few weeks ago, I believed they were just as good as Proto, Genesis, or Spectrum. But they prove to be more problematic than any other of my steam.

My Husdon doesn't make the correct sounds in neutral, forward. But in neutral, reverse it acts fine. This is even after reprograming back to factory standards. It used to be fine when I got it, but this problem developed recently.

My AC-5 ran fine out of the box and for the first few days in my roster. But one day it mysteriously powered up, then died. It wouldn't give any response. No lights. No sound. No motion. I didn't want to send it back to BLI, cause that would result in more headache. "I'll try to fix it myself" I say. I figured out there was a short circuit in the system somewhere. Turns out, some insulation in the jigger under the monkey deck failed and electrified the running gear of the rear engine. It took me a few hours spead out across 3 days to find this problem. I put a small peice of thin plastic in there and insulated the metals. Presently, she runs okay (for now).

And the most recent of my BLI steam, 3751. Besides the fact someone thought it was funny to sell us a damn GRAY locomotive that is SUPPOSED to be BLACK, it has some mechanical flaws too. [V] It doesn't run "smooth". It surges and won't run consistantly. And when going around 22" radius, sparks come from the tender drawbar.

For the cost of their machines, BLI shouldn't have so many flaws. [:(!]

Hey Broadway! Get it together, baby!

[Anonymous]

Hmmmm....what you say about BLI is not promising.

They seemed like a great value, but I have not
purchased anything yet because I want to hear
whats in the grape vine regarding their quality over long-term. That is something you cannot tell until hobbyists get the product and kick the tires. I cannot say BLI isn't tempting--but they are a brand new company so you just don't know whether to "dive in naked" and purchase something from them.

One company that makes me wary of new firms was CMI (Chicago Models). They came out with many power packs at great prices. Quality control was not their best point. Needless to say, I have dead power and broken sound systems over $320 worth of products, and the company is no longer in the hobby business. Come and go companies you really got to watch out for.

Lets hope BLI can back up their products with great service , timely response to complaints, and really focus on quality control in the future.

I expect that from any model railroad company (I am spoiled because Athearn, Atlas and LGB do this and these are the main firms I buy from).

Regards,

Tom M.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Roadtrp



I have been very happy with my standard Life Like locomotives in N scale.

I would ask those who think standard Life Like is junk:

1) What scale were you in?
2) When did you make your purchase?
3) What locomotive did you purchase?
4) What specifically was the problem you had?

Thanks [:)]

I suspect the author was referring to HO scale. In HO, I have Likelike, P1K & P2K.
The LL,$12.00 diesel is used just for display. Popping the shell tells the story,"what's under the shell is what counts". I own four sets of the F3, A-B powered(eights units)
and it's the best bang for the buck. I often recommend the F3's.

The Atlas forum had segregated scale forums. Sometimes we forget to specify
scale on trains.com

[Fergmiester]

My rating would be:

The new but bankrupt Rivarossi
PK2 by Life Like
Genisis
I have issues with Spectrum as they are a good looking engine but their gear train is cheap
IHC is the best bang for the buck but lacks detail and is very generic

[BRAKIE]

Depending you you hobby dollar cash flow..
1.Atlas
2.Life Like:P1K,P2K
3.Athearn: RTR and Blue Box--Still the best bang for the buck.
4.Athearn/Genesis
5.Kato
6.Stewart
7.Walthers-The GP15 IMHO is the better of the Walthers Train Line units.
8.Bachman Spectrum in their newer steam locomotive line.
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As far as freight cars I have found that you will need cars from all manufacturers in order to have a well rounded out freight car roster.
MY CHOICES: Atlas,Athearn BB and the better RTR cars, Athearn Genesis's,Accurail,Bowser and Walthers..
Note: Even some of the high dollar RTR cars such as Walthers,Athearn,Atlas and P2K will need the couplers changed out to KD couplers..