Athearn are durable.
Kato has paint and railing issues but run good.
Atlas are good.
Life-like have mixed reviews.
I am modeling Union Pacific because I can run modern equipment and still run passenger excursion trains so as to have steam (Challenger) and early diesel (E9) in prototypical operation on my layout. I have ordered the Athearn Genesis 4-6-6-4 and I have the Life-Like E8/9 but from here I not sure what brands to choose. I don’t have any old stuff so everything will be new.
If you are running DC, BLI is the living end. If your running DCC, BLI is just the beginning. Either way buy a BLI and find out what you’ve missed.
All of my P2K are great runners and look good. I have a couple of Atlases but I’m not into the “U” boats but the price was right. I have at least one of every Genesis Warbonnet “F” unit and they are probably the best “cheap” loco. I’ve installed DH163AO, or the same Soundtraxx in them.
i have two athearns. they run well enough and have good enough detail for my layout (4 by 8). if you have the money, i been hearing lots of praise for the athearn genisis, BLI, and P2K locomotives. also, if you subscribe to MR, look in the “train world” adds. i saw a genisis SD70 for $60. AGAIN, I SAW LOTS OF P2K LOCOMOTIVES FOR REAL CHEAP (an Alco S1 for $30!!!) IN THE TRAIN WORLD MR ADDS!!! Also, again, subscribe to MR (modelrailroader) if you havn’t-if you are new (<2 years) to the hobby that is.
Athearn are a good locomotive. They now have 3 different types of models available.
Blue Box, which are a bit noisey, not detailed but are a decent hauler! I pulled 20 cars up a 3% curved grade with one SD40-2 on Sunday.
Athearn RTR ( ready to roll ) have the same basic drivetrain as Blue box but are better detailed then the Blue Box version.
I would recommend either of these two.
I haven’t had any personal experieence with Genesis so I can’t commemt on them.
Proto 1000 & 2000 are locomotives that i have a couple of each.
Releatively quiet, great runners, can haul almost anything & are nicely deatiled for the money.
Atlas & Kato models are ones which I don’t own any but have seen some in use on layouts. They’re nice, but not ones I would want around a 3 year old!
Just my thoughts on your question.
I hops this helps
For Nscalers, the Atlas Shay makes it the best
Kato is a very close second.
Lifelike diesels good, but no steamers
Bachmann Connie steamer, no diesel
MDC/Athearn steamers very good, new runs with some detail
improvements, better trucks/couplers.
Model Power ? when released?
MT & IM FT’s good diesels
Athearn diesels: 2nd unit coming out, work in progress?
I wouldn’t go with brand so much as specific models. I can only speak to steam. The BLI Class A and Heavy 2-8-2, the P2K 2-8-8-2, 0-8-0, and 2-8-4 (2nd run on), the Bachmann Spectrum 4-8-2 Heavy and Class J, and the Athearn Genesis 2-8-2 and 4-6-2 all have been excellent for me.
The Athearns do need some weight added, and the Spectrum J needs the drawbar modified, but after that they run beautifully and are priced right.
Athearn- Blue Box. Basic, simple and affordable. Comes with ‘add on metal handrails’. Great to fix up, dress up, modify. I like to take these apart modify them, paint them, add details to them. Good runners.
Life Like P2K- Excellent details, great runners. I have 6 E-units with the Mars light, beautiful to watch. Also a decent price on these units.
Bachmann Spectrum- I have the SP GS-4 Daylight, good runner also. Just needed to paint the wheels and added some details to them.
BLI- I dont have one. But this great salesman at Caboose Hobbies in Denver set one up on a test track. It was a SP E-9 A-B. WOW I WAS IMPRESSED! The Mars light and sound! I can’t really afford one, but it’s on my wish list! goal for the new year!
In N Scale
Atlas- I have a few of them, RS-11’s, GP-40, GP-9. Great runners.
Life Like P2K- Great runners. The SW-8 switcher is excellent!!! I’m impressed with the detail and the slow speed performance!
Kato- Excellent smooth runners. Bottom Line! Their Katos!
I strongly agree with Virginian that manufactures may not be necessarily an issue as specific models from different manufactures. .The most powerful baseball players that are heavy hitters don’t always hit home runs much like manufacturing. Sometimes even the best will have flaws. Although, most manufactures will provide information on what to do or offer a buy back and or trade in. TRIX BIG BOY which continues to be one of my personal favorites had minor problems that were quickly improved making for one of the best locomotives that the model railroad market has ever saw…And very true KATO, STEWART, Life Like Proto Series, Broadway Limited and so forth are names that make quality items that you can likely trust. However, Trust the reviews on model railroader, rail fans and those who have tried out the product…Asking questions like you did here will always provide comments, thoughts, and shared ideas. Also while your doing a Union Pacific layout, you may consider adding the Marklin Big Boy or Lionel’s released VERANDA to your collection as these have received good reviews too. On the affordable list, LiFe Like Proto 1000 has the F-3A & B power units in the Union Pacific Road name which would be great for enjoyment along with affordability. They may lack minor detail but the price difference allowed me to fini***hem with brass detail pieces at a big savings over the 2000 series. Good Luck on your layout Jon and maybe add in a BNSF “jokenly” in your Union Pacific Collection out there in Las Vegas.
Definitely Stewart, many (most?) of whose locos have Kato drive mechanisms; those that don’t have a Stewart drive (I forget who actually makes it) that’s almost as good.
Kato, altas, and p2k are all smooth and quiet runners. Bachman spectrum steamers are very very nice also, same cant be said for the deisels. Blueboxes are loud but they can haul and last forever, much like the real thing.
I don’t know how to properly answer this question. Everyone has a different opinion of what is important to them. Is it cost, reliability, performance, “trueness to the prototype”, features? There are many very good models and brands available now. Your preferences will surely be different than mine or someone else’s. Really, only you can decide what is important when you purchase a model, and you may change your mind between this purchase and the next. There are plenty of opinions posted above. From your perspective, all of them may be right, or all of them may be wrong. In the end, you will spend your money on what appeals to you and on what you can afford. You will be deciding what you value most when you put your cold, hard cash on the counter. And that’s the right brand for you.
You’ll like the Genesis Challenger, it’s a nice runner and a marvelous hauler! The sound isn’t the greatest (the whistle is downright hilarious) and you’ll need to play around with the enclosed remote controller until you get the hang of it, but it’s quite the locomotive! As to your main question, I’m with most of the other guys on this thread–it’s pretty much the LOCOMOTIVE you want, not the manufacturer. For instance, some of the guys are praising P2K steamers–I’ve got several, and though they’re nicely detailed and smooth runners, I don’t find them nearly as good at HAULING as the BLI’s. I’ve got a little brass Mikado that can haul as much as the P2K 2-8-8-2. But it’s all in what you’re looking for.
Tom
I have three Broadway Limited Steamers. The Heavy Mike to me is the best all around while the M1a Mountain runs very well. The J1 suffers from picky track where a tight curve pinches it but we have decided it was a specific track issue and not the fault of the J1.
I usually reach for either the mike or the M1a when I get ready to run trains. I have great expectations of the upcoming Life Like 2-8-8-2 with the QSI.
I have 2 BLI locos, the heavy Mikado and an E7A and they are both very good-both running and sound quality,. I also have several P2K units (GP9,GP20 and SW9) and they are also quite good-good detail and also easy to upgrade and paint. The neatest
steam loco that I’ve seen lately is the new Spectrum Climax-it’s beautiful, well detailed
and runs wonderfully-slow and steady like the prototype. And it is just cute as the devil.
Genesis, Stewart, Atlas and Kato have or are earning justified excellent reputations.
I think one thing that is allways evident no one produces perfect models.No production run is 100% wothout some issues.For every story of praise for a manf.there will be a horror story also.I like steam also anything with sound,so my favorites are BLI and Life like,as Virginian said earlier the Class A and LL 2-8-8-2 for big steam are absolutely great engines.I don’t think there is another model of a 0-8-0 produced that is as good as Life likes.Atlas is without a dought a leader ,they have allways produced top quality products with better than average support and service when trouble arises,Another life like is the new geep outstanding engine as with the rest of their P2K line.Besides the spectrum 2-8-0 I have never had much luck with Bachmann for those of you who do great For their price they produce some exellent looking models First generation deisel especially the f’s in my opinion Intermountain’s Regal line, stewart, and Athern Genesis are all good choises. I think there are to many variables to consider before any manf could claim the title {Best} I think that when you run your favorite loco you will be as close as its gets to the best for you. Good Luck Terry