I bought a Bachman train set for my son a few years back and we enjoyed it while the set lasted. Now we are moving into a bigger house which will have a “train room” (woot!) and want to do bigger and better things. But this time I want to go with higher quality trains.
Which HO train manufacturers do you guys think are the top three?
Thanks for your input…can’t wait to build my (cough) our layout!
Are you talking steam or diesel? Do you have a prototype road and era in mind?
For steam, I’d rate Life like P2K Heritage, Bachmann Spectrum, BLI, and Athearn (out of production, but available) at the top. There are some models better than others within the same manufacturer’s line. Rivarossi and IHC look okay and work pretty well. Some brass is great stuff, some ain’t.
I’m not a diesel guy, but if anyone out there makes anything, on a consistent basis, better than Atlas, I haven’t seen it. Kato, Athearn Genesis, P2K, are also pretty good, and I have seen some beautiful stuff from Overland, but quite pricey.
Overland, Division Point, Sunset
You are barking up the wrong tree, just like a similar question concerning automobiles might be answered: Rolls Royce, Maybach and Bentley; or Lamborghini, Ferrari and Porsche.
Buy models of the prototype you are interested in.
For track, Peco works the best and is most reliable, though Micro Engineering, and some others look better.
For switch motors: Tortise.
Freights cars: Kadee, Red Caboose and InterMountain; but that they do not offer models for everything. I also have Athearn, Atlas, Accurail, Bachmann, Fliecshmann, BLI, and others.
What are you goals for your model railroad, decide that first, then select the models to fit.
For example, my focus is the Norfolk & Western Railway of 1950 to 1955.
OK, this like asking which is better, Ford or Chevy. Depends on who owns what. Also depends on what you want too. General rules are you get what you pay for. I personally like Athearn, Rivarossi, Bachmann, Atlas. Now with that said, I don’t neccsarily buy buy brand. If I want or see an item and Bubba’s Hobo shop makes it, I’ll buy it. Also sometimes I’ll purchase a lower quality piece and up grade it to my standards. I’ve not had any real problems with the Bachmann Spectrum or Athearn Genesis series. Also because I’m on a limited (real limited) budget, I’ve not had experience with some of the higher end models.
Overall by maker: The best of the best of the best in HO is unquestionably Fleischmann HO from Germany. Absolutely magnificent machines. Detail is beyond brass. Cons-Very expensive.No American prototypes. I would rank Marklin/Trix HO tied with HAG of Switzerland second followed closely by KATO whose products I consider a fantastic
bargain. I’m also pretty impressed by the offerings of BLI.
First [#welcome] to the forum.
As it’s been mentioned above, you should decide on an era to model. Then plan it and visit you local hobby store (LBS).
Lastly enjoy the journey and have fun with your son building your empire.
OK OK OK…my eagerness got the best of me. I’m thinking about current diesels (ex:EMDs). And really, it’s just the engines only that I’m concerned about. All accessories, track, etc, I’ll probably pick up most anywhere. I just want good quality engines. Of course the cars are important too. Thanks for any help!
And I might add that I want to prototype Norfolk and Southern and CSX.
Overland, Kato and Atlas.
Mac
Broadway Limited, Rivarossi, Overland (Lionel if they had more models.
I don’t think people are being particularly helpful here. Broadway engines are sound equipped, run best on DCC and priced accordingly- definitely not for just starting out. Overland only makes brass and well the price is just *****. Rivarossi is out of business althought there is still some stuff around . Lionel once again is out of the ho business.Quality is all over the place as people who have been around for years will tell you. Kato and Atlas are both very good, priced ok (better on the Atlas). For value, Athearns are very good, run for years and years. Detail varies depending on when they were made, but they will run forever and are easily repaired, unlike some others. Lifelike Protos are also good but more limited selection.
For rolling stock, the more high priced models are great looking but not nearly as durable on the layout and may cost several times as much as the regular models.
I totally agree with jsoderq
IMHO for NS and CSX.
Atlas
Athearn
Kato
Life Like(P2K)
These are IMHO the top brands unless you want the high dollar Brass locomotives…but,I refuse to pay high prices of brass when I can get all the locomotives I need from the above companies for less then $100.00 at discount prices…
I also agree with jsoderg.
I personally am very loyal to Broadway Limited as I witnessed the ability of these steam models in pulling 15+ cars up 3% grades on a friend’s layout without much fuss" I do try to keep them “serviced” as lack of care will damage these fine models.
Desiels I also have but mainly athearn and bachmann spectrum. I do have a Proto 2000 FA A-B-B-A set that is all powered however they are expensive and I managed to get them for a good price.
Athearn engines are “easy-fix!” and run forever. I wanted to write a essay about how a child may want bigger and better things than a train set but upon reflecton decided that anyone who has tasted Model Railroads know this anyway.
Walthers created the “Trainline” series and Model Power at one time had what was called the “Metal train” series alot of the rolling stock such as Atlas, Athearn and Intermountain can get expensive. Some of the really top dollar RTR rolling stock have details that will break and get damaged if handled wrong.
Here is also a golden oppertunity to decide how you want to equip your rolling stock… Metal Wheels? Kaydee Couplers? possibly specific sets of freight and passenger cars that brings you and your family satisfaction?
Engines have improved greatly over the last 10 years or so. DCC and Sound are the two things that really is causing a “Revolution” within the hobby. I suspect that there is a great demand for all things to create sound as they go down the track however…
For example cattle cars. Broadway Limited has equipped them with sound of livestock which is said to change from contented mooing at rest to frantic mooing if shaken too hard when coupling. I cannot bring myself to pay 100- per car for say… 10 units to have for the layout. They are nice but not that nice.
Sometimes too much sound can drown out converstation in the train room with all the activity going on.
I am sorry if I focused on rolling sto
Steam Proto 2000
Broadway limited
Diesel Atlas
Proto 2000
Genesis
Athearn RTR?
You could spend thousands on brass,or by the best of the best but if you buy junk track and accessories it won’t matter. Atlas,kato,Atheren Gen,
P2k,and if Bli "s new entry sd40-2 performs as well as it’s steamers i think it will get it’s fair share of the market.Kadee cars, intermountain ,atheren Gen ,Red caboose and P2K all make very good rolling stock.If you plan on hauling coal on your modern RR, E&C and i believe LJF make a very good line of Johnstown coal porters.But you will be the judge of what is the best of the best depending on your personel taste ,and what runs the best on your layout.
Railguyho has it right.It’s not going to matter if you have the best of the best motive power if you don’t have a good power system and quality track and turnouts as a foundation.
Your son and you will very quickly get frustrated if and when your motive power keeps stalling or derailing.IT’s like building a house-You have to start with a good foundation.Good luck on your new adventure,keep us posted on your progress and experiences.
I don"t think You’ll find much out there thats not good, A few years ago some lines were pretty bad but those guys are turning out some great stuff . Buy what you like run the heck out of it and most important HAVE FUN!!!
I have over 200 engines including Overland and other brass makers as well as Kato/Atlas/Athearn/Proto, etc… I also have a few steamers too, thanks honey! :>
For diesels my favorites are a tie, Atlas and Kato. The one Kato I would put in the exception category is the SD40-2 and the SD40-2 snoot. The model has serious electrical problems but everything else they sell runs like a fine Swiss watch. I have about 27 Kato units and love them. The detail isn’t as fine as other manufacturers but I’ll take it for the quality motors and gears. Atlas has terrific detail and also great motors and gears. I have had some problems with the 40-50 or so I own. Most have been easy fixes, just run them. ;> On one I had to put a washer between the worm gears so the unit wouldn’t buffet down-hill. Most of the newer stuff is DCC ready on the Kato side and the newer Atlas all has DCC ready/DCC and some sound equipped units too!
My next favorite is Athearn. For overall reliability you can’t beat these things! I have Athearns that are 30+ years old and actually run better than they did when I bought them. If you have kids these are probably the best value. They’ll take a licking and keep ticking. The detail is pretty bare but they can be detailed easily or left alone for the kiddos too. (Non-Genesis units) Their Genesis line of loco’s compare to Atlas and Kato. Their new release SD40-2 (old shell/new motor and drive shaft) runs as well as any Kato or Atlas unit and can be had for under $50.00! Some of their stuff is DCC ready. All of the Genesis stuff is DCC ready. Some of it, the Challenger for example, has a DCC unit and sound. (I have 2 of these babies!) :>
Proto 2000 - Great detail and Athearn quality motors and gears. I like these guys too and have about 40-50 of these too. They are overall pretty good units. Almost all of them, (early runs excluded) are DCC ready. Their most recent releases have sound and dcc. Their newest run of GP9 ph I units are outst
I like Athearn locomotives.The newer units with the hexed flywheels run excellent and mostly quiet.You cant beat Atlas for detail.Kato has the best motor and gearing on the market.Just depends on what you want to accomplish.I am just as happy operating my 25.00 Athearns as I am my 100.00 Katos.Dan