Hello Everybody,
I'm back in the hobby after being away for years, and I see a lot of new manufacturer names out there. Can someone tell me who's the best and worst of the HO manufactures?
Ones I see at the hobby stores are; Kato, Walthers, Atlas, Athearn, Bachman, IHC, other?
I'm not really interested in buying the best since my budget is limited, but I would like to buy something mid-range that's decent and dependable.
Thanks
Willyg wrote: Hello Everybody,I'm back in the hobby after being away for years, and I see a lot of new manufacturer names out there. Can someone tell me who's the best and worst of the HO manufactures?Ones I see at the hobby stores are; Kato, Walthers, Atlas, Athearn, Bachman, IHC, other?I'm not really interested in buying the best since my budget is limited, but I would like to buy something mid-range that's decent and dependable.Thanks
Interesting Question. This will be debated forever but for overall running quality and price, your list is about correct left to right with left being the best and the lower ones on the right.
Kato and Atlas are probably the top ones but the new Walthers line is upscale also. The Genesis line is very good in Fidelity but lower in running quality.
Cheers
Willyg wrote:Ones I see at the hobby stores are; Kato, Walthers, Atlas, Athearn, Bachman, IHC, other?
Kato and Atlas are the best from that group, are the Walthers Trainline or Proto1000/2000? Proto is as good as Kato and Atlas, IHC you should stay away from... Athearn is good (most run very well) but not very well detailed unless it is their Genises line.
Hi Willy
I have all the engines that you have listed here and I am happy with them all,I run my layout with DC, I find Kato and my Proto's to be the best running and smooth operation of them all,All my Switchers are Proto 2000,except for 2 and I demand smooth running at low voltage in my yard or the switcher is retired real quick and sold at the next show and so far the proto's have worked fantastic, I also have 4 Walthers GP 9M engines and all run smooth these are a lower cost but run well and Consist well, right now I have 3 CN Walthrs GP 9M's on my layout all powered and in a consist pulling a nice freigt train (16 Cars) and they operate smoothly, I find the Atlas engines when new need more break in time as they tend to Jerk for awhile till they get some hours on them, I have 1 Atlas Classic RS-3 CP Pac man colors that is a mainline engine only it's low speed operation in my yard is frustrating to say the least, I am very disappointed in the operation of the Classic line of Atlas they tend to be most problematic engines I have, As far as IHC the Steam Engines from IHC work very well I have 4 of these and they run smoothly and are easily converted over to DCC and run as well as anything else, I am the same as you I have to watch my train budget as well and cannot always end up with all top end stuff, But I keep my eyes open at the train shows and have scored some fantastic engine deals on Proto 2000 and Kato stuff, just make sure you test them on a test track at the show 1st before you buy.
Anyway thats my 2 cents....
Mike..