Favorite manufacturer

[boomer5344]

I model in two scales, therefore...

MTH in O and Lifelike in N

[081440]

Atlas is the only way to go. I like their products and enjoy seeing such great detail at an affordabel price. They also offer a lot for the Western Maryland Railway, which I model. [tup]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

Where's Rivarossi?

Sorry 4884. I ran out of room (you can only do 15). I know Rivarossi is on your mind since they make Big Boys.

[Anonymous]

Where's Rivarossi?

[AntonioFP45]

Hello Dougal,

Good post!

For HO locomotives it used to be Athearn but now I'm split between Stewart and Kato.

Detail: Beautiful
Operation: Superbly smooth & quiet running,
Current Draw: Incredibly low. DCC/Sound friendly.

For HO rolling stock: ATHEARN! Great prices and very easy to update & detail. Paint finishes smooth, accurate and realistic. I wi***hey would update some of their 50ft box cars by eliminating the roofwalks. (Then again it's nothing that putty & airbrushing can't solve though).

[Anonymous]

I only own one Kato unit. An HO SD80MAC in NS black. I've only had the opportunity to run it over a very short length of straightaway, but it moves so effortlessly, and seems to have no hesitation.

My other locomotives are all old Athearns, from about 1989 or earlier.

[Anonymous]

I would say the vast majority of my locomotive fleet is Athearn power. I have a few Kato, Proto2000, Spectrum, MDC, and Walthers also. But, I prefer the value I get from Athearn, and it's much easier to swap shells & frames when the time arises. I just received some of the new Rio Grande SD50's from Athearn, and they look GREAT !!!!!

[Anonymous]

Although Athearn has been purchased by Horizon Hobby, I'm leaving them here.

[sparkingbolt]

Used to be Athearn, still probably would be, but the changes they're making made me realize that as I was buying equipment, P2K outnumbers everthing else in freight cars,
Bachman Spectrum leads in deisels, but I like the P2Ks I have better, I think. The only Spectrums I have are the older 44 and 70 tonners with 2 motors Dan.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

KATO!!!!!!!!!!

[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]

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

[csxns]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

[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

[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!

[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.

[Anonymous]

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

[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.

[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.

[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..

[ShaunCN]

ATHEARN

[ClinchValleySD40]

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

[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.

[IRONROOSTER]

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