Lionel Santa Fe FT starter set or MTH Scale F3 pass set?

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Any one have the new Lionel Santa T F starter set? If so what do you think? Does trainsounds suck???

Second-
How hard will it be to find the MTH Scale Size Santa Fe F3 set. It looks nice with the chrome plated engine and cars. Anythoughts?

2

I have the santa fe ft set. this came with signal sounds, I upgraded it to railsounds every thing just plugs in.real easy to do. the only draw back to this diesel is that their are no fly wheels on the motors, when stopping they stop really fast instead of a slow rolling stop. along with the two car add on pack and the B unit that gets released this year this will be a nice looking set…tony

3

Look at Sunday Photo and see the MTH set.

4

I don’t have this exact set but I do have the previous Santa Fe FT passenger train set with the original tubular track and early 80-watt transformer. The RailSounds are excellent. This engine includes horn (with different pitches), bell, 2 squealing brake sounds, 3 levels of diesel engine motor sounds, and crew announcements. It is very basic but has never broken down for the 3 years I’ve had it.

The train cars’ paint scheme on this new set doesn’t look too good. The ones in the previous set look much better. Although one big advantage is the FasTrack…I really wish I got started with that so I wouldn’t have all this O27 stuff.

But there’s another disadvantage…the price. This new set is $349.99 and I got the older set in 2002 for only $199.99. And really the only differences from the old one is maybe different sound system, yucky paint job on the cars, FasTrack and new transformer.

But I shouldn’t judge this set too much since I don’t have it. It’s been my experience (with MTH, at least) that trains look better when they’re right in front of you than shown in the photos.

5

Go for the MTH set-the detail is better, the sound is excellent, and it will run much better (my opinion).

6

I’m also interested in purchasing this set, if you’re referring to the El Capitan set. I see nothing wrong with the paint job. The new soundsystem might be an issue though. I’ve seen it offered for $289, and am hoping it drops even lower as time goes on.

Jim

7

The ones pictured in the Sunday Photo are the engines separate and the cars were bought later. Those engines are PS2. Lot more than the price quoted above plus the cars.