lionel or mth locomotives give your thought
Oh man, do you really want to go there?
oh yea lets here it
Well, I’m slightly anti-MTH right now, only because my PS-1 loco took a big dump on me–poorly designed circuit boards in that generation. Hoping to find repair parts at the show this weekend to get 'er up and running again, because it’s a really good-looking Dash-8. PS-2 locos are better, but I don’t own one so I can’t comment. In fact, I can’t comment on anything that’s command controlled, as I don’t own or run any of that stuff. I do like my MTH trolley better than my Lionel, though–better runner. I also love my Lionel post-war stuff and even some of the MPC stuff I have. So I think it’s largely a matter of personal taste, what you’re comfortable fixing/maintaining, and what looks good to you. I don’t think there’s a wrong answer to this, unless it’s K-Line! 
Mine are. [;)]
Jack
whats wrong with k line
Jack–that was funny, dude! And as for K-line, well, the stuff I have of theirs seems pretty cheaply made to me…drive rods coming off steam locos (and fairly “young” locos at that, compared to my PW Lionel ones,) cheap, light trucks on the cars, etc. I’d just spend the extra $ and go with Lionel, MTH, or Williams if your looking for good runners.
williams is the best or no
Okay, since we’re doing this, here’s my take. It really does come down to personal running preference I think, I run 99% conventional (one cc engine and no plans for more) I have a 4% grade on my main loop. I own and love some very nice postwar stuff. Not a ton but in nice shape. I don’t buy many “new” engines. Now with all that taken into consideration here’s my opinion. I go for MTH more often than not because I get cruise control for my graded loop. I just purchased a RailKing J steamer starter set loco and bought it for it’s looks and cruise. It runs flawlessly and smokes like crazy. I can’t access PS2 stuff but I don’t care. It works well and I love the cruise. A lionel engine with cruise is much more expensive and I’m not even sure if Lionel has fixed their cruise system. It was bad. I basically get way more bang for the buck with MTH for modern engines. Mike S.
Since you want to go there, here is my OPINION.
Lionel and MTH both make some fine looking pieces. I think Lionel would not have been pushed to the level they are at (at least not as fast) if MTH didn’t give some stiff competition. They are both good for each other and for us. Personally, I am Lionel Legacy/TMCC only in regard to command control. I did wire my layout so DCS could easily be added later. I run my MTH engines without command. I say this so you understand both my bias and the opinion given. A number of MTH’s engines and some of Lionel’s are stump pullers. From what I have seen and heard, Legacy is two steps above the latest Proto 2. For me, it is great, but as mentioned above, I don’t run in DCS. Some folks, like Don Baker run TMCC engines off their DCS system and have great results. Does mean some of the latest Legacy features are not included, but they are quite happy with what they do have. I also like Atlas engines that have TMCC installed. They are very well detailed and have a good track record for running.
All manufacturers have had some issues with quality control and end users having to send product back for warranty. With more advanced bells and whistles, you can expect more issues to face. In the end, I believe both MTH and Lionel are very good. Because of my bias of Legacy/TMCC, I am more inclined to purchase Lionel or compatible engines to TMCC.
Dennis
lionel or mth locomotives give your thought
Wow! You’re asking for it!
This depends on what YOU want your engines to do!
Conventional, TMCC or DCS
No sounds, ok sounds or great sounds
You like old engines or new engines
Do you want disposable engines or engines you will be able to obtain parts for in 5, 10, 50 years
Or do like I have done, a little of each. I have prewar, postwar, PS1 &TMCC!
Postwar Lionel. Especially the 50’s.
IMHO, anything that I put on the track that runs.
Jeff, as others have said, it really depends upon:
-
What you are looking for operationally speaking (conventional, TMCC, DCS control).
-
How much money you want to spend and if you can wait for either sales or used items.
-
What size range you want: full scale, semi-scale, or more towards the 027 side.
Since you have already indicated in a prior post that you use 027 track and have some 027 sized and semi-scale traditionally sized locos, there’s a starting point unless you are going to change everything.
Dollar for dollar, Williams and Williams by Bachmann is a good buy when compared to similiar brand new Lionel items, unless you are seeking Lionel Railsounds and or TMCC. Solid frames, die cast truck sides, fuel tank and couplers. A larger vertically mounted DC can motor, metal gears and with smooth gearing at that… very quiet, smooth runners. They’ll be right at home with your postwar Lionel.
The older MTH stuff under the Railking line has now gone mostly to the Rugged Rails line. I like the Rugged Rails stuff. Problem is MTH has been cancelling most of the Rugged Rails locos that are separate sale cataloged. Some go into train sets, but those confusingly are under the Railking line. The Rugged Rails cars have all been made if they’ve been cataloged. Some Rugged Rails locos are available with horn or whitle only and they are nice locos: Semi-scale (with the RR F-3 leaning towards the 027-side in length), larger vertically mounted DC can motors with die cast couplers, fuel tank and truck sides. The rolling stock is nicely decorated, though the trucks don’t roll as nicely as die cast Lionel, Industrial Rail or K-Line trucks, though they couple very well.
K-Line is a mixed bag as somewhat indicated above. Actually the plastic trucks can be good, but you never know whether you’ll get good ones or ones that don’t open a
Fortunately, a hard-core choice of “one or the other” does NOT have to be made. Just as in children, each one is different, and you DO NOT have to make a choice of one over the other, they can co-exsist.
And since this whole topic deals with a hobby, why make it more difficult than it need be. The end result is it typically ends up a financial question or at least a question of priority. Since so many facets of interest are available, I dont think having to make a solitary determination of ONE aspect is correct. The person who has shelves of engines, rolling stock and other items, and never runs any of them. But just enjoys admiring his collection, is just as rewarding as the person who has a complex multi-level super duper operating layout. Every person will look at their scope of involvement, and justifiably so, feel theirs is the best. And it is!
From what I have, I have certain pieces that I think are outstanding for one reason or another, but it is a mix of various manufacturers. I can’t say either manufacturer has a distinct advantage over the other. If I HAD to make a choice, it would be the manufacturer of the most recent piece I have purchased, and then only until the “next” item I purchase.
Well guess CTT didn’t like the post I was typing as it just disappeared on me will try again [:D]
Kline you have to remember there really was 3 classes of trains ( talking pre Lionel take over) you had K-line track 19, K-line, and Classic K-line basically cheap-o, Good, and excellent. I have a classic K-line which is basically a scale flatcar with 3 corvettes on it that has good weight to it but you could almost blow down the track it rolls so well. The reg K-Line is basically = to your regular Lionel trains and then your cheapo I don’t know where to class it as its looks and is cheap plastic cars but most did have die cast trucks.
Williams dollar for dollar very good engines and most are super good pullers as there dual motor. Cars no real complaints other than there passenger cars don’t have seats ect in them just silhouettes
Lionel again depends when your looking I like the new TMCC stuff thou only have 2 have some postwar which really like, and have some after that are good.
MTH had one got rid of it ( engine) had proto 1 Cars haven’t had a problem yet but haven’t really run them either do have a very nice rail-king pass set.
Weaver Have an older A&B F-unit and seem good to me even thou it has the drive shaft system and had to send the b-unit to get repaired as it was all jamming up but repair and return shipping cost $35.00 so can’t complain it runs great now plane to put tmcc in them so they run better together as the one does run a little faster than the other ( both are powered) Cars only have one and it seems to be a good car again haven’t run it yet as really don’t have a layout.
atlas might as well bring them in but no comment as don’t have any or have had any maybe someone else will bring t
Lionel in post war and MPC era was good quality mainly. The newer Lionel because it is made in China seems to have quality issues.
The Lionel O gauge switch, 6-23010 & 23011, that has sectional pieces are pure junk to me [2c], I had five of those defective switches! I bought an IC Central GP-7 by Lionel, around 1997 to 2000 and it was a dud as far as pulling anything, single can motor, sold it on ebay and bought my first Williams engine. Recently I just had a short in a(newer Lionel) Lionel caboose’s center rail pick-up, the caboose was on a track that had command control being used.
The Williams engines when it was just Williams(before Bachmann)ran very good and had a horn or whistle installed for the lower priced engines, and the more expensive Williams came with some kind of sound system from QSI. The newer Williams, about two years before Bachmann, had the True Blast 2 horn installed. Williams and Bachmann service departments have been very helpful with issues with Williams engines.
MTH is nice but the biggest drawback is having to keep the batteries charged up, I have three PS-2 engines and one PS-1. No problems with MTH rolling stock. No problems with Atlas rolling stock either.
I have Weaver rolling stock, some freight cars, but from my experiance NO more Weaver!!! No matter what I did they derailed for me when used with Lionel or MTH. My Weaver are now shelf Kings!! In plain English NO More on the track!!
Lee F.
I have to agree with most of the replies for sure … except the downing of K-Line … my K-Line steamer Alleghaney is great … as for the cars … if taranwanderer bought the bottom end cars … which it sounds like that’s what they were maybe there is some issues … but remember … bottom line lionel cars are pure unrealistic looking extremely cheap made also … glow in the dark illuminated ones especially … It all goes back to " you get what you pay for " . I only buy the higher end k-line cars so maybe I’m spoiled . I see he made no mention of any K-Line engines blowing up as did his MTH engine … [2c] I’d rather tighten a nut or bolt … which I never have had to do on K-Line than replace all the electronics … [:-^]
In my opinion, it really depens on what aspects you look at. The scale models themselves are very simular and its hard to pick one over the other just from looks. although there are a few times where I think Lionel has made a better model. In Terms of sound, I think lionel takes the cake. esspecially for steam. but, MTH offers the railking line. if you cant fit wide curves but want all the sounds and smoke of modern era trains, its perfect. One thing I think MTH has over Lionel is the selection. I tend to find alot more liverys available from MTH then from Lionel. also, they’re traditional sized or railking rolling stock is usualyl better quality then Lionel’s and cheaper. but honestly, I think lionel has better locomotives and has much mroe of a history so I would say lionel. but thats only my opinion. I dont have any problems with other brands.
The K-Line set I have is the Yuengling Brewery set with the steam engine, and the engine is junk. Drive rods and connecting rods bending and falling off for no apparent reason, wonky e-unit, and very cheap, “plasticky” looking cars, etc. I’m not sure if Yuengling had the set’s quality in mind and may have went with the lower quality choice, knowing that people were going to buy it regardless of quality because it said Yuengling on the side. But it kind of soured me on K-Line’s stuff from there on out. If K-Line started to make better quality stuff after that, great for them, but I’ll stick with PW Lionel and newer Williams for motive power from here on out. Yes, I’m also quite disappointed with the MTH piece I have as well, but (from what I’ve heard and read) they corrected the circuit board issue on the PS-2 generation. I just don’t need another one, I’ll fix the PS-1 engine with some Williams parts! The Yuengling set is now a shelf sitter/dust collector. No more running.