Help with choosing brands/Mfrs for HO model train, locomotive purchases

[jjo]

Bagal, spoken with wisdom....Agree with your logic...As the knowlege increases, so does the discernment and knowing "what to buy"....This forum furnishes a trustworthy source of experienced, knowledgable people who have "been there, done that"..I greatly respect that...Thank you.

[jjo]

Realizing also that our MR magazine is a wonderful, dependable source of picking suppliers...Also the many books I bought recently about the hobby (although they do not mention brand names in most cases)...The next source I cannot use, the hobby train shops as they are generally closed now due to the virus....I continue to learn in my exile.

[jjo]

Getting frustrated...Can't do my "in store" research (see, touch, use) as the hobby shops remain closed....Depending on the books I've purchased and this forum...Thanks to you all.