[#welcome]If you want to vote a manufacture’s premer line(i.e. Proto 2000) choose the manufacture that produces it.
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.
I prefer Athearn, Still for the buck, the best buy on the market.
Gordon
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
You left out, Intermountain, Bowser, Red Caboose, Accurail, MDC/Roundhouse and Branchline trains.
Dave H.
You also left out S Helpers Showcase line (my favorite) and Americal Models.
Enjoy
Paul
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.
Atlas keeps pushing the envelope on development. And they are great runners and quiet.
ATHEARN
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…
Then you left out Stewart, IHC, Model Power, Bowser, Mantua, Broadway Ltd. and MDC/Roundhouse (just to name a few in HO).
Dave H.
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.
Bachmann Spectrum. Some of the best steam locos out there.
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.
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!