Join the discussion on the following article:
Model Power 820 Union Pacific Metal Train Metalset
The train set is a grate beginer set. But the trak I would not recomend. It dose not last long. The loco and frightcars are great I use them on my railroad. I like that it comes with cars , truck , and a ramp.
Union Pacific rules!!!
the train set is goog idea.
If the track in this set has a black roadbed, then Dana has incorrectly identified the rail material as nickel silver. The E-Z Track with the gray roadbed (as found in the Athearn and Bachmann sets reviewed here) is the nickel silver rail. Bachmann’s black roadbed is their steel alloy rail.
Charles is correct. The black roadbed is steel alloy. FYI The grey roadbed with nickle silver rail is much better.
For anyone just starting in model railroading stick with the track that has nickel silver rails. This type will conduct electricity much better and will not corode like the steel rails will.
I have a Metalset metal train set and after several years still impressed by their quality. This was a good presentation of product
In the hobby’s earliest days, steel alloy rail was widely used in starter sets. It was often disappointing. Brass was an improvement, but nickel silver has proven the best by far. It seems odd to this model railroading “old head” that steel rail is returning to the hobby. Listen to experience: spend a little more for NS rail. You will not regret it.
I don’t recomend the power pack
I bought the loc & cars seperatly, and they are very nice. I like the sound of the heavier trains, running on the rails.
I like the locomotive and cars but I do not like the Bachmann power supply and EZ track. It seemed to me that Bachmann tried to copy Kato’s Unitrack, which it much better in my opinion. My kids and now my grandkids have done their darnedest to wreck my Kato Unitrack. The EZ track couldn’t take it. Of course, they don’t get to play with the “real” stuff. That’s Grandpa’s. They can watch and even run a locomotive with the DCC cabs if I am there to watch them.
Folks:
Steel rail is okay. I have a bunch on my model railroad, actually, and it works fine. Some of it is very old Tyco steel, which had corroded in storage, and needed heavy cleaning, but worked great after that.
Treat it with the “Gleam” method (search the Trains.com forums) if you want it to work better.
The biggest improvement you could make to this set is a decent DC power pack, like the cheapest MRC. The train would start much better.