My personal favorite is Athearn. Whats yours?
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ATLAS MASTER - the “brass” of plastic locomotives!
- George (IMRL393)
My personal favorite is yours truly. Yes, my favorite models are those I have scratchbuilt. I have not attempted locomotive mechanisms in N scale, but IMHO, the best running one is the MDC 2-8-0 with tender drive. I’ve rebuilt mine into a PRR H3b, and, yes, the tender is correct for that locomotive after 1918![8D][8D][8D]
Gee,I could only vote once…Athearn,Atlas and P2K rule my roster…I do have 3 lone Walther’s GP15s…
I don’t discriminate. Reputation-creditability-reliability-warranty. Price is last… You get what you pay for.
Don’t have a particular favourite. Athearn used to rule the roster, but P2K and Atlas are making inroads as models I need are produced & finances allow. Walthers are still absent, 'cause I haven’t found a GP15 cheap when I had money to buy it - yet.
I rely on Athearn for certain models such as the GP50, but I’ve started to remotor them and replace teh wheels. I find Athearn the easiest to upgrade, but that may be largely due to the fact that I’ve had more of them.
Although I have samples of all, I jus’ luv Uncle Irv’s products.[:D]
You should have listed Poll by scale…
I vote Kato for “N” Scale
I agree with Mike. This poll should be by scale. I say this because if I were HO, I would definitely vote Proto, but of course we don’t have that choice in N. And many N scale voters will skew the voting to Kato or Atlas as that is the popular stuff out there for us.
Although having said Proto, if Broadway Limited keeps putting out quality stuff like their last engine, I’d throw my lot in with them. Quantity of engine types is why I am pulling my punch on that one.
had to go with broadway limited, because of my hudson, still those proto and bachmann steamers i got are awful nice
[:)]i could only vote for one so i voted kato,but in fact kato ,atlas and a few protoare on my layout. they run the best. granted they are more expensive than athearn, but they do run better.
Personal favourite locomotive manufacturer would have to be Athearn, but if it can move a boxcar, it has a purpose on my layout.[:)]
My favourite freight car manufacturer would have to be Accurail for the fit & finish of an inexpensive kit.[8D]
While I have all makes and feel that each has it’s own merits, my personel favorite is PROTO 1 & 2 K.
Athearn in HO scale. Indestructible, good looking, good runner, good value for money, made in the U.S.A.
K-Line in O scale 3 rail. Knows what the modelers want and keeps the wolf and the lion honest.
I voted Athearn. I also think that Walthers and A-Line (intermodal only) are pretty good. I have not been blessed to aquire a Kato or Proto loco, but from what I read on these forums, I wont be disappointed.
I wish I could vote more than once !
I have many locos from each of these makers and every one has its own appeal. I love that trio of SantaFe GP60s ; for fine detail (with extra parts to be applied by the modeler) and running quality Proto is hard to beat but prices went up dramatically ; I’m not sure I could afford many more…
Kato runs great but my SD90 and Dash9-44s lack the see through grilles and steps others have at a lower price but they pull hard.
Genesis SD75s have the best detail, start easily but sometimes have trouble with sharp turnouts.
Atlas’ have a very low starting voltage and good pulling power ; but like Kato they could have finer detail.
My old Ahearns and my F40PH from Spectrum make a lot of noise and don’t bear much detail but their price forgives that ; add-on parts and a lot of weathering make them look like higher priced units.
My only real deception is from a pair of ConCor SD24s that stall when changing direction ! I tried to limit the motor shaft play with some washers but they still don’t run very good.
Martin
Québec City
I get mine at the Dollar Store. I get the batteries there too. I just wi***hey sold more track for them.
Atlas is easiest to use just take out of the box and go but Kato best detail i have ever seen
I’ve never had a problem with an Atlas unit yet
so they get my vote.
Athearn for locos / freight cars
Walthers for Passenger Cars