How would you rate the the different locomative manufactures, not rolling stock .Using these as guidelines:Performance,durability,detail,sound,DCC,DC…MTH,Proto ,Atlas,Athearn,Con-cor,Mantua,Rivarrosi,Bachman,Bachman Plus,Trix.,Tyco… There are others not included here feel free to add them in in what ever order you feel appropriate. Please rate your top choice #1 with the lesser choice being the higher # And if possible I would appreciate some feedback on why you chose your #1,2,3 order.Thanks.
I’ve not had experience with all of them, but I like Atlas Kato and Broadway. For steam Bachmann Spectrum and Roundhouse produce my era adequately.
I’ve bought a number of engines over the past couple of years. Most of these have been Proto’s, and I’d have to say that I’m very happy with everything about these engines. These range from a pair of discontinued GP-9’s that I got online for $40 each up to an 0-6-0 with DCC and sound that was around $250 at my LHS. I’ve installed decoders in several of the engines, and sound in one of them as well. The sound decoder and speaker ended up costing more than the original online price of the engine.
I’ve also got a BLI Hudson with DCC and sound. This is a very nice engine, and I got a great price on it online as well.
As a side note, MTH makes only one HO-scale locomotive, a K4. I don’t have one, so I can’t really comment on it.
Most of my locos are from Athearn, Proto 2000 and Bachmann. I also have one from Kato and two from Model Power.
I would have to put Proto 2000 and Kato at the top of the list with Athearn running second, bachmann and lastly Model Power, of which the two I have are barely above Tyco quality.
On running properties Proto 2000 gets an A, Maintenance can be difficult as the gear towers can be hard to get to. On durability the drive mechanism is very good. However details are easily damaged.
Running properties I have to give Kato an A, maintenance is easier than with most P2K units. The drive mechanism is solid. However, details can be a devil to apply and brings new life to the phrase ‘the devil is in the details’.
Running properties I have to give Athearn a B+. The drive line tends to be loud sometimes has a lot of vibration. Maintenance is easy and there’s not much detail to worry about breaking. On the MRC[xx(] decoder equipped models my advice is to get the analog version or the DCC ready version and put in your own decoder.
Running properties I have to give Bachmann (standard) a C. Their drive line, while quiet tends to be of highly questionable quality with many problems centering on bad motors and pickups.
On the Spectrum models, the driveline and motor are good and I would have to give them an A-.
Running properties I have to give Model Power a D. While the drive line is good, the motor tends to be of questionable quality. The two I have both have bad motors.
For “affordable plastic” steamers, I would place Broadway Limited Imports (BLI) and the former Life-Like Proto 2000 Heritage Steam series virtually tied for 4 stars out of 5. Both are fairly expensive, all things considered, but only if you pay the initial offering. BLI, especially, can be had for steep discounts, and this applies to their richer, often metal, cousin line, PCM, for some models. BLI’s are noisier as a group, but pull more trainload than the now Walthers P2K Heritage series as they are known. The nod for detailing goes to Walthers Heritage. So, kind of neck and neck for me.
Never had a Spectrum, but I would not hesitate if I felt I wanted, say, their Consolidation 2-8-0 because too many guys come on here and rave about this fine little gem.
I am impressed with Lionel’s UP 4-6-6-4 Challenger but they are hard to come by. Lionel did a face plant shortly after launching this series about five years ago now, so this is an orphan. It pulls very strongly, is a smooth mechanism, rides very well on my tracks, and is generally my go-to model if I want a strong pull. It has the noisy mechanism that BLI seems to have (?), but again 100% reliable. I would give the detailing about 3/5 on this model…they could have improved on the piping and stuff. I like the red painted valve knobs, though…cool.
Trix are, in a word, superb. Their 2-8-2 Mikado is probably still going for 1/3 MSRP at Tony’s Train Exchange. At least, one year ago, the gentleman informed me that the supply didn’t seem to want to dry up, and that I could wait for several months before I bit the bullet and ordered…which I did. For those wanting a nice loco, silent runner, smooth, nicely detailed, and metal, for the price it would be worth a phone call. Think Christmas present this year. [;)]
I mentioned PCM, the richer cousins to Broadway Limited, but really the same organizati
I’ve gone Kato, Atlas and Proto, and they’re all terrific, not a dog in the bunch. I got pretty good deals on them too, so I bought the best and never regretted. They pull great.
Then again, I only do diesel. I’ve never quite understood the fascination with steam, I just think diesels are much more cool. I guess it’s to each his own. [;)]
Seems I have the same cross section as those that have already posted and also have, very closely, the same comments.
In regard to the Bachmann steamers: I have four, a three truck Shay, the small Climax and two Consolidations that are nicely detailed and all run well.
The one exception I see on the thread thus far is mention of the IHC locos. I also have four of the older (ten year old, or so) series, two Moguls and two Mountains. Though not detailed very well (OK, barely detailed)…for the money, I do have to say that they run very well and being my oldest locos, I have not had any trouble with them.
Shawnee…
Am I going to have to come over there…?
[(-D]
I am on a rehabilitate-my-old-Athearns-to-modern-standards kick. I found 3 SD40-2 that are getting a make over! Of course they wont run like Katos, but Ill get close. All will get a full lighting package (Forward/reverse/ditch lights) and sound.
In terms of the origional post, I would have to put Kato, Atlas, Proto 2000, Stewart and BLI (all-non sound units) at the top. Everything else needs work.
In terms of sound, I install my own. Much cheaper and more satifying in the long run.
David B
Well I will start by rating what I have experence with.
Atlas Silver Series. [^] I have 3 of theese(diesel) and I think they are detailed great, look great, and are quiet and pull a good size train.
Atlas Classic Series. [:D] I have one (diesel) same as above but a little less detail
Proto 2000. [:D]I have one (diesel) same as above. Same detail as the Atlas Silver
Athearn RTR.[:)] One (Diesel) Overall good loco…not as good in the looks and running dept as atlas but still a solid loco.
Athearn Blue Box Kits.[:I] 2 (diesel) I love my Athearns and thats all im gonna say about that.
Bachmann Spectrum. [:)]one STEAM shay loco… Idunno how to rate vs. other steam cause I got no other steam YET… Detailed great…runs nice and slow but growles WORSE than a poor kept Athearn
Bachman Train set Junk.[:-^] 2 of these cause they were my first Trains. Still run loud and pull a decent local.
Tower 55…got one on order seems that I wont be seeing that till spring 08[%-)][B)][:(!]
SO there is my [2c]
J.W,
Oh yea all currently are DC and are durable if handled as they should be. All are dcc ready cept for the bachmanns and athearns
Do you rate Atlas over Kato and Broadway ?
Thanks . Tower 55 I have never heard of this one? Diesal ? Steam ? HO,O,N?
Thanks Dave. I am VERY surprised to find Atlas/Athearn ranking at or near the top of everyone list. Truthfully I thought it would look something like this:
Trix
Kato
MTH
Proto
Athearn
Atlas
…at the bottom
Bachman
Tyco
Tower 55 is the plastic division of Overland Brass. HO
Oh. I know if you put train and brass in the same sentenance it = BIG $. How pricey is the Tower 55 ?
it is dcc and sound equipped and around 300
My top three four would be:
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Trix - Beautifully detailed and has wonderful low-end speed (i.e. it crawls!). There’s some aspects of the Loksound decoder that I really better than the QSI decoder
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Stewart - Probably the smoothest running locomotives I have. The newer Buehler and Canon motor are amazing. Detailing is good. Super-detailing kits make them look very nice.
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Proto 2000 - Like Trix, beautifully detailed and has wonderful low-end speed response. My only gripe might be that Proto wires things up differently than others. The Proto 1000s run well but aren’t as nicely detailed as the 2000 series.
-
BLI - Very nice detailing but doesn’t run as nicely as the other three
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Athearn “Genesis” - Good detailing. Runs very smoothly.
Tom
Tower 55’s are very nice models they run good and their sound works in Dc but only the engine sounds and it dosnt start until the engine is going at a medium high speed. They are pricey and some of the new Gevo’s they have coming out in “Fall 2007” are up to $320
heres a link to there site http://www.tower55products.com/
other wise I would rank them like this for running
Kato
Atlas
BLI Blueline/paragon (get +A for sound)
Proto 2000
Ahtearn
Joe
That is a bigger question than one would first think. There are at least three unquantifiable factors in there: 1. One’s personal limited experience. 2. The chance of getting a single exception product (better or worse than the rest). 3. Over generalization of a certain vendors products. For example how does one rate Athearn Genesis when they have the good F units and the horrible SD70 uints??? With that disclaimer here are my personal experience ratings from my limited personal experience (although I have vast fleet of locomotives ranging over the past 40 years I only own a few of some of these types and many have not been run more than 5-10 hours each):
Diesel Performance:
- Kato - Atlas - Stewart (THE BIG THREE)
- Proto 2000 - Athearn Genesis
- BLI
- Proto 1000
- Athearn RTR & BB
- Front Range
- Hobby Town (noisy but pull more than any of the others)
- GSB (rear truck brake cylinder hits frame on too tight of curves)
- Bachmann Spectrum
- Walthers Train-Line
- Bachmann Plus
- Mantua (40 year old technology)
- Varney
- IHC - Rivarossi - AHM
- Bachmann - Model Power - LifeLike - Tyco
This is ignoring all the brass manufacturers and unknowns to me - Tower 55, Trix, PCM, Intermountain, MRC Royal, etc.
Diesel Detail
- Athearn Genesis (Especially those Fs with the Highliner bodies)
- Kato - Atlas Master
- Intermountain - PCM
- Proto-2000 - BLI
- Atlas Silverline
- Front Range
- Athearn RTR - Stewart - Proto 1000
- GSB
- Bachmann Spectrum - Atlas Classic
- Walthers Train-Line
- Hobby Town (kits, so the builder is a large factor here)
- Bachmann Plus - Athearn BB - old Atlas (yellow box)
- all the rest
Diesel Durability
- Hobby Town
- Proto-2000 (holds world record for continuous run by
Wow Gandy Dancer ! Great post. Enjoyed reading . Have some questions about your post.Under “Steam Performance” there is a statement “MTH which doesnt deserve to be in the HO list” Why do you make this statement ? Just wondering.