Love to hear your thoughts and respected opinions on this subject…I have both and find the Atlas while more expensive to run qiueter and be an all round better piece of equipment. Let the debate begin…Enjoy your layout today and everyday!
Melchoir,
There’s not much to debate. You’ll find that the Proto 2000s will be more comparable to the Atlas than the 1000s.
Tom
I agree with tstage. I don’t think there will be any debate. The Proto 1000 is a great piece of equipment, but when one starts seriously comparing performance, the Atlas is the better unit.
For electronics I don’t even think the Proto-1000 come in DCC & sound at this time, so Atlas wins there.
On the appearance/detail side of the house Atlas wins hands down. One has to go to the new Proto-2000s (like the most recent F units), the Katos, and the Athearn Genesis line to be as good as the Atlas.
The only place a Proto-1000 might win is in value. The quality per dollar might be higher for a Proto-1000. It is the locomotive I recommend to beginners. They get a great running locomotive without having to worry about all the detail that can so easily be broken off.
This isn’t a fair comparison. Its like comparing a Toyota Camry to a Lexus. Both are fine cars, but one is luxury while the other a great family car.
I could be wrong, but isn’t a P1K basically a P2K mechanism with a lower quality (read: less detailed) shell? So the drive mechanisms should be the same, right? I have one of the new F3 A/B sets, and at first glance, the mechanism looks pretty much the same as the one on my P2K SD45.
Dan,
I’ve heard conflicting stories on the Proto 1000 mechanisms. Some say it is the same; some say it isn’t. Even if they aren’t, they’re still good running locomotives.
Tom
That is what I’ve been told from several sources, but cannot tell it by looking. All the one’s I’ve opened and look at, look similar, but looking similar doesn’t mean they are the same. There are some variations even between the various P2K mechanisms and from one run to the next of the same locomotive.
If the loco I want is available from Atlas then I’ll buy Atlas every time. Proto 2000 would be my second choice with Kato and Athearn following and P1K being next. If a loco I want is only available from the P1K line I wouldn’t hesitate to buy it and upgrade as necessary to my liking.
I have a P1K(E8) and several P2K’s(SD60) they seem to run about the same, with the 2’s perhaps a bit smoother but then they are newer.
I’m begining to feel the “need” to get an Atlas engine and run my own tests.
Well, it’s as good an excuse as any…
Tilden
There is one P1K locomotive that gives nothing away to Atlas in detail, and that is the Alco RS11 that they released a while back. Those are beautifully detailed, with good paint as well. The others, I agree, are not a good comparison with Atlas. Atlas is superior. My opinion, for what it’s worth.
This is how Life Like advertised the new line when it came out and I think Atlas is now doing the same thing with His Trainman Line of locomotives.
We could compare P1K and Trainman in all fairness.
Jack W.
If you are talking HO Atlas is better. But now that I am in N-scale I only have Atlas, Intermountain, and Kato. I don’t have any Proto in N-scale so to be honest I don’t know.
To my mind Atlas hands down…There is no real comparision even with Atlas’s Trainman line vs P1K.
Yes, Atlas is more expensive and better.
However, my P1K RS-2 and RSC-2 have outstanding drive mechanics outperforming my Atlas RS-1.
To everyone who took part in my debate on these two brands of lococmotives I say thank you. Your comments as always are pretty much on the mark and really appreciated. … Michael
Comparing an Atlas to a Proto 1000 is like comparing an apple to an orange. The Atlas is much better. A better comparison would be an Atlas and a Proto 2000. Much closer, but the Atlas is still on top in most respects.
It depends on what motor, gearing, and trucks are in any given Life-Like loco. Atlas locos have generally followed Kato designs since the mid-1980s. Life-Like Proto units vary according to model. For example:
Proto 1000 RS-2: Roco-designed Alco switcher motor, Athearn style trucks.
Proto 1000 RS-10, RS-11, RS-18: Kato-designed motor, Athearn style trucks.
Proto 2000 S-1 and S-3: Roco-designed Alco switcher motor, Kato style trucks.
Proto 2000 SW9/1200: Kato-designed motor and trucks.
Proto 2000 GP7, GP9, GP18: Athearn style motor and trucks.
Melchoir, you made a mistake! The proper question is "Which is better, Atlas or Kato?’ Rewording is not allowed for this illumiating subject!
As far as I know LifeLike & Walthers have only used in-house designed & built drives and trucks, they may have been clones of others but were not manufactured by anyone else. On the other hand, Atlas has used Roco and Kato drives for their models and their present drives are essentially Kato clones. So what are we really comparing?
Nope. Not designed by Life-Like or Walthers. Copied, yes, but not designed.