Favorite manufacturer

[Anonymous]

[#welcome]If you want to vote a manufacture's premer line(i.e. Proto 2000) choose the manufacture that produces it.

[Anonymous]

Life-Like PROTO 2000 series was a hit with me. I like Walthers too, especially since they now market Rivarossi trains exclusively. The gave Riva's passenger equipment new couplers (say good-bye, horn hook!) which was a nice change.

[CP5415]

I prefer Athearn, Still for the buck, the best buy on the market.

Gordon

[cp1057]

Many of my diesel models are Life-Like Proto 1000/2000. They run well and fit my budget. They are also often available in Canadian National/Canadian Pacific paint schemes. Their steam models are beyond my budget.

I like IHC steam engine models for a balance between price and performance.

I also have a Kato NW2 switcher which is very, very, very nice. Excellent running and nicely detailed.

Charles
Hillsburgh Ontario

[Martin4]

I voted LifeLike because of their detail level and running qualities. But I also have -and love- many locos from Athearn, Atlas and Kato. The price of recent products from Proto 1000 / 2000 (at least 35% increase for the last 2 years here in Canada) might change that preference.

Martin
Québec City

[Anonymous]

Well, you all seem to be talking about locomotives. When I voted, I was thinking rolling stock. However, I love my Life Like P2K Northern Pacific GP-7s! The are superb runners! As far as rolling stock manufacturers are concerned, I love Accurail. They have very crisp molding and provide great detail for the price. In the high detail realm, I love Branchline's Blueprint series.

[AggroJones]

This kind of poll has been done many times before.

I say Proto is tops with quality level of steam and diesel. But for cross between toughness and affordability, Athearn wins.

[Jacktal]

Being in "N" scale,I don't own any Athearn locos wich I believe are very good indeed.I own Kato,Atlas,Life-Like and Bachmann locos and my favorite ones are Kato's no contest.However,I give good points to Life-Like locos as they are very good quality vs price equipment.My Atlas locos are fine locos but a step behind my Kato's.I can't complain about my Bachmann's either

[Hawks05]

most if not all of my rolling stock are Athearn. have 2 P2K locomotives which i really like.

top 3 are:

Athearn
Proto 2000
Atlas

[dehusman]

You left out, Intermountain, Bowser, Red Caboose, Accurail, MDC/Roundhouse and Branchline trains.

Dave H.

[IRONROOSTER]

You also left out S Helpers Showcase line (my favorite) and Americal Models.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

You left out, Intermountain, Bowser, Red Caboose, Accurail, MDC/Roundhouse and Branchline trains.

Dave H.

This vote is mostly HO engines and even though some of these manufactures have engines they mostly sell cars, sorry I didn't explain better. If any of you model any other scale vote other or one of the manufactures that sell trains in that scale also.

[ClinchValleySD40]

Atlas keeps pushing the envelope on development. And they are great runners and quiet.

[ShaunCN]

ATHEARN

[BRAKIE]

Most of my locomotives are from the big 3...Athearn,Atlas and Life Like(P2K)..I have 2 Stewart and 3 Walthers(GP15s) ..75% of my cars are Athearn while 15% are Accurail and 10% other brands..My logic is simple..I find what works for me and stay with those brands..

[dehusman]

Then you left out Stewart, IHC, Model Power, Bowser, Mantua, Broadway Ltd. and MDC/Roundhouse (just to name a few in HO).

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

Athearn all the way. I really love their trains but mostly the genisis series. I have gotten some of their RTR cars and loco's and they are stunning. My favorite loco they produce would have to be the Genisis F7.

[Anonymous]

Bachmann Spectrum. Some of the best steam locos out there.

[Anonymous]

Overall, It's Atlas for me!
The drivelines are the equivalent of Kato or Stewart.
The details are excellent
I have 20 year old units that still will outperform an Athearn unit and now
I can add to the fleet with units that already have decoders installed.[:D]
My S-2's, S-4's, RS3's, GP7's, GP 40's and GP38's have NEVER let me down, sadly, this cannot be said for the P2k units. 6 of the 8 are on the RIP track, awaiting repairs or disposal, pending repair cost analysis.[:(]
Upper management has ceased all P2k purchases pending results of repair costs.

[Wdlgln005]

Atlas N diseasels: Trainmaster, VO-1000
Atlas N steamers announced Will their N scale shay be model of the year??
and a cool website with a great forum

sorry Kato is falling behind IMHO

Too bad Atlas don't make structure kits too!

[joecool1212]

Atlas is King with kato also. I have more athearns than anything but there not consistant same for walthers. Some athearns are smooth and quiet and some I could sware run like an old life like. Joe

[RhB_HJ]

Welllllllllll,

Also missing are BEMO and ROCO, which is a major oversight BEMO makes the best HO narrow gauge stuff in plastic injection molded.
Of course ROCO was in large parts responsible for pushing the envelope back in the 70s on both sides of the Pond.

People easily forget or they probably weren't aware of how things evolved in the first place.
Yep, it's all "ancient" history.[;)][}:)][:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RhB_HJ

Welllllllllll,

Also missing are BEMO and ROCO, which is a major oversight BEMO makes the best HO narrow gauge stuff in plastic injection molded.
Of course ROCO was in large parts responsible for pushing the envelope back in the 70s on both sides of the Pond.

People easily forget or they probably weren't aware of how things evolved in the first place.
Yep, it's all "ancient" history.[;)][}:)][:D]

I'll put Roco up because they just enterd the American locomotive market.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RhB_HJ

Welllllllllll,

Also missing are BEMO and ROCO, which is a major oversight BEMO makes the best HO narrow gauge stuff in plastic injection molded.
Of course ROCO was in large parts responsible for pushing the envelope back in the 70s on both sides of the Pond.

People easily forget or they probably weren't aware of how things evolved in the first place.
Yep, it's all "ancient" history.[;)][}:)][:D]

I'll put Roco up because they just entered the American locomotive market.

[RhB_HJ]

ROCO was the OEM for Atlas and ModelPower for many, many years.
If it said "Made in Austria" chances were pretty good that ROCO was the source. Yes there was also some OEM work from Liliput, put it was a small percentage of what ROCO produced for the NA market.

[csxns]

KATO RULES everything else is just toy trains KATO never let my RR down.

[Anonymous]

Love the Proto 1000/2000 engines. Life Like's marketing stinks, release a new run of locos every 10 years. Really stupid because if you want something chances are you are going to have a hard time getting it. Athearn blue box gondola a good value at $5. Really rotten at $12.95 rtr. Athearn F7 vs. Proto 1000 F3 at the same price. Winner Proto 1000 runs quieter and more reliable + Window glass. Proto 1000 F3 A-B for $50 both powered, Athearn RTR F7 + $5 glass kit installed and dummy B unit, $59.95. I liked my Athearn kits but for $7 I can put them together myself.

I have a Bachman doodlebug that won't get out of it's own way but looks really nice. 2 Atlas units that are rather noisy but look great. A couple of Model Power units I use to haul track cleaners that are great for the dollar. 1 really old Mantua tank engine that runs great.

Proto 2000 E8/9's are hard to beat!


RMax

[Anonymous]

Being a teen that only gets $100+ twice a year (birthdays, my younger brother is also a railfan and model railroader) my favorite manufacture is Athearn because you can upgrade them easily and while they don't run perfect they good enough. I usualy don't go to our local hobby shop and buy a engine there, unstead I'll go to a train show and buy a custom painted and more super detailed than Proto 2000 engine for $65!

[Anonymous]

KATO!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Atlas Master locos and Atlas rolling stock are the best on the market!