Are European model makers better than ours?

[Anonymous]

I know, I wish I had bought more in Germany.

[thirdrail1]

Scottydog, Bachmann isn't "ours", it's Chinese and has been for many years. Atlas and Life-Like locomotives are Chinese or Korean as well. The only US manufacturers (in HO) making locomotives in the US are Bowser and Athearn (non Genesis, those are Chinese, too). Stewart makes the bodies here but the mechanisms are Japanese or Korean. Heck, even the Rivarossi and Arnold tooling has gone to China, I am told.

Yes, the German and Austrian locomotives are better quality, but the price shows it!

[thirdrail1]

Scottydog, Bachmann isn't "ours", it's Chinese and has been for many years. Atlas and Life-Like locomotives are Chinese or Korean as well. The only US manufacturers (in HO) making locomotives in the US are Bowser and Athearn (non Genesis, those are Chinese, too). Stewart makes the bodies here but the mechanisms are Japanese or Korean. Heck, even the Rivarossi and Arnold tooling has gone to China, I am told.

Yes, the German and Austrian locomotives are better quality, but the price shows it!

[Anonymous]

I started in this hobby with Marklin in 1953 and even though I model the NYC, I still get a kick out of watching a fine roco or marklin loco run. Euro modeling is differant, and gives me a nice break from American RR. As for quality, most American loco's have Japanese or Euro movements inside. The only exception that I can think of is Athearn, still a great loco and getten better.[:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

I started in this hobby with Marklin in 1953 and even though I model the NYC, I still get a kick out of watching a fine roco or marklin loco run. Euro modeling is differant, and gives me a nice break from American RR. As for quality, most American loco's have Japanese or Euro movements inside. The only exception that I can think of is Athearn, still a great loco and getten better.[:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

I decided while with the Army in Mannheim, Germany that I was finally going to start my model train layout. I bought a few Rocco locomotives and passenger cars. Now I am building my layout, I am surprised by the difference in, for example valve gearing, in German/Austrian models to say, Bachmann. What does everybody think.

[Anonymous]

I decided while with the Army in Mannheim, Germany that I was finally going to start my model train layout. I bought a few Rocco locomotives and passenger cars. Now I am building my layout, I am surprised by the difference in, for example valve gearing, in German/Austrian models to say, Bachmann. What does everybody think.