I know MTH has the Speed Control with the Proto 2.0 and Lionel has the Odyssey with the Lionmaster line, which one works best in your opinion? I’m looking for a Steam engine with the speed control and good true sound but I want the speed control option as well.
Is the odyssey system on the Lionel only available on their Lionmaster line of engines?
I have never tried the MTH product. I have a Lionel SD-80 with odyssey and really like it. It is available on most of lionels upper end locomotives.Make sure and look for the odyssey icon on a given locomotive in the catalog before buying. It might have TMCC but not odyssey.
George
I use the MTH speed control and it works like a charm. My friends use TMCC and theirs runs good. My opinion is that they all work pretty much the same and speed control shouldn’t be the deciding factor.
To make your decision, I’d advice:
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Checking out the DCS and TMCC controls to see which suits you better.
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Check out the price if strapped for cash
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See which trains you like. I believe there are more trains that come with TMCC than with DCS, since MTH doesn’t license theirs out. Having said that, some folks like the benefits of both systems so they incorporate both.
Just to add to David’s comment, you don’t need DCS to get the MTH speed control to operate. It functions in the conventional mode.
Factory installed MTH is the winner. Lionel really is lacking here.
Secondary market, Train America Studios EOB is the best and is for TMCC.
I have tested several of my MTH (under DSC) and it really does run at 2smph. And as Bob has pointed out, it also works very well in conventional mode.
Marty,
In your opinion, is EOB better than MTH’s speed control?
I’m trying to decide between upgrading some Lionel engines or possibly selling and making a jump to MTH.
Thanks,
Mike
MTH!
I would probably have to agree with Allan that the MTH is probably better only because the whole system was designed with that in mind. EOB had to design for an existing system. I only have one EOB engine and one MTH and both are pretty good a speed control but with DCS’s absolute MPH scale I would give it the edge. I wouldn’t rule out converting your TMCC to EOB though.
Some (all?) of the MTH engines with Loco-Sound also have speed control. But then you only have Loco-Sounds.[:I]
I’ve got one MTH with Locosound and the speed control. The engine can crawl at a very slow speed but I’m very dissappointed i the sound, so I’ve been looking at a Lionel 4-6-4 Hudson Lionmaster edition. It has everything I would want so I may go this route. I’m trying to stay under $400.00 for the engine and tender with all the whistles and bells ( no pun intended). I’ve found one, I’m just curious if there is another one out there comparitively the same for less money in either a Lionel or MTH.
If you do some shoping around, there are many good deals out there.
Last year I pick up this Hudson, MTH with PS2 for $268.00, list was $300.00. Not bad for a full DCS command controled engine.
does your Hudson have the speed control on it as well? How does the sound compare to the Railsounds of the Lionel?
All PS2 engines have speed control and full command control.
I pick up this 2-8-0 last month for $150.00
Don’t have any Railsound 5 to do a comparison.
You have gotten some really good deals. May I ask where you have found these at?