Best Locomotives

Unfortunately, your asking too broad of a question. Are you looking to control your trains conventionally or Command control type. Are you leaning towards Scale looking or Traditional " Toy like" trains.

Every brand has folks who feel it is the best, like many things in life its a matter of personal taste.

 

My advice would be to test/view the locomotives that interest you in person at your local hobby shop or find them on youtube and draw your own conclusions from there.

There is no "best."

 

Pete

Agree with those who say "there is no best." From experience only: I would pick TMCC/Legacy control over the MTH version.  Admittedly my experience is limited, but in being part of 3 large displays over the past year, I have seen those with MTH command appear to have many more signal problems than those running TMCC/Legacy. They seem to get a lot of "check track" indications and have their trains stop while TMCC equipment keeps on rolling over the same areas.

 

Maybe this is a large display issue and there would be no difference in a home layout.  Folks more knowledgable than I may have better answers.

 

As noted in my initial question..command control is a priority,,,,I am not looking for "toy Trains" but leaning towards the scale end...

 

Unfortunatley, my local hobby shop Is primarily all Lionel and they are all focused on HO...no one there really understands or knows the O gauge products well...They are not familiar with Weaver, think Atlas only sells track and accessories and think of Williams/Bachman as an HO market only....

 

Hence my question....

Since you didn't specify steam, diesel, or electric it is still tough to answer.

 

Personally, my preference for really well detailed SCALE steam locomotive models, is Sunset/3rd Rail. Especially if you desire large locomotives like 4-8-4s, 2-10-4s, and articulateds.

Pretty much an impossible question to respond to with any objectivity.  Virtually everyone here has his/or own personal preferences, and that's about the only thing an answer would reveal.  I would imagine many here haven't even experienced all the various makes that are available today, and those often are the individuals who tend to beat the drum the loudest in support of their personal favorite/choice.

 

Seeing as you want command control, you have two viable choices:  Lionel Legacy or MTH DCS.  I have both, and would recommend that you try out both before you decide to go with one or the other.  Neither is the be-all-and-end-all in command control, but both are very good systems, depending on what you expect from such a system.

 

Your best bet is to simply read as much as you can--here and elsewhere--and determine what might appeal to you.  Then get your hands on the real deal and see if it "fits."

 

And, as others have noted, there is NO "best."

 

If someone tells you XXXX manufacture makes the best locos, but they have never manufactured the loco you are interested in with your preferred roadname, then who cares?

 

Impossible to answer this.  Whatever you go with, in 3r o gauge you WILL be accepting compromises.

A loaded question on this forum. It could run several pages.

If you start with MTH and DCS you will not be able to run any other company's engines in remote without buying TMCC or Legacy, I would start with Legacy and as your interest grows then add DCS. Both systems work but one will run way more engines than the other.

Its all in the eyes of the beholder.  Yours isn't mine and so forth, just have fun with what you like.

laz57

It's a Ford versus Chevy kind of thing. I like Lionel, personally, because I think their sound quality is quite a bit better than MTH and because TMCC is open for other manufacturers to use, so I can buy trains from Weaver, Atlas, and 3rd Rail and they'll all work with my Lionel control system.

Atlas O, Lionel, Weaver I do TMCC/ Legacy only that's just me

My preference is MTH.  I bought my first PS1 engine and was hooked.  I then bought several PS2 engines, a Z4000 and then recently DCS.  DCS is simply an outstanding way to control these trains.  I have very little exposure to Lionel Legacy control and locos, but they appear to be fine models as well.

If you can do it, my suggestion is to purchase both control systems and then buy whichever products peak your interest. No matter the brand.

 

If you can get to a hobby shop that carries a good selection of O scale product have them test run various units from a broad spectrum of manufacturers. Then you will have first hand experience on the different sounds and features.

 

Just getting into the hobby now you can save yourself some hard earned funds by first testing out the brands before going headlong in one direction.

 

Most of all, have some fun!!!

There is np best.  They all have good points and bad points.  For best detail on the scale side of 3 rail I would say Atlas has everybody beat Everything else is best guess.   Whats the best command control is a hornets nest waiting to explode of people here.  Both systems have good points and bad points and all will be based on an individuals experience.  My experience in a large environment would lean toward DCS but I like Legacy also  Just had more problems with that. 

Welcome back to the hobby and congratulations on finding this Forum - You've definitely come to the right place!

 

So much good information posted already Bill.   Just take your time and sift through all the responses you receive and you'll have a lot of good info to go on.

The suggestion of getting both systems is a good one as both are worth having if the budget allows. The MTH starter sets come with a simple DCS system that can get you familiar with some of its features for little investment. Lionel is forthcoming with an abbreviated version of theirs as well.

Keep reading here and have a great time!

Some good suggestions so far. My advice is to get some “hands-on” time running some trains from several different companies. And important to run them via conventional control, as well as the competing control systems out there. You could do this through a local train club, a dealer who has an operating store layout, or maybe even a member of this forum who lives nearby.

 

I know it will involve some legwork, but there’s really no substitute for hands-on operation. I'd strongly suggest this route before you buy anything.

 

 

Thanks everyone for the input....I have no specific brand allegiance at this point and am trying to avoid the "oh crap I bought the wrong thing" position.

 

I have always been of the philosphy of buy cheap buy twice and I want to avoid too many regretted purchases.  I know there will always be a few, just trying to limit them...my focus is on value for the $$$ regardless of the cost.

 

bill

Well, 18 replies and only one with any negative comment. Pretty good for around here 

Now, I agree, Try Lionel Legacy and MTH DCS before you spend a lot of money.

Personally I run MTH products, mostly the non scale Imperial Railking line.

They have good detail while keeping the tighter turn radius capacity.

And the prices are good, at least at my Local Hobby Shop.

 

And B & O Bill;

If a PS2 or 3 engine stops, it's not the command control failing, there is a loss of track power at that point. If you lose DCS signal the engine keeps on doing whatever it was last told to do.  Some of the other engines Stop and flash lights with a command signal loss, not MTH's.

 

PS;

Take a good long look at the various track makes as well.

Gargraves track and Ross Custom switches is a well liked combo.

I'm switching to ScaleTrax and adding a few Ross Custom switches since Scaletrax switch offerings are limited. They also go together well.

Ross has the best quality, service and variety in switches, hands down, and they do it right here in the USA.  Note, they are also a forum sponsor, but that's not why I like the switches. Oh yes, they also have an entire line of track.

For me at this point, the best locomotives are the ones that run when called upon to run with the least amount of fuss. To date, these have been engines with TMCC.

In 3r, AtlasO is the hands down winner when it comes to diesel locomotive fidelity. They do their homework and each model released matches the real locomotive it was modeled after. They do not do fantasy paint schemes. AtlasO uses TMCC, which can be run with a legacy set. You can use DCS to run TMCC, but you will need the TMCC command base.

Atlas also doesn't make anything past 1994.

 

If you are interested in Dash9, ES44DC, ES 44AC, SD70M, SD70M-2 SD70MAC, AC4400, etc then you will be disappointed.

 

MTH is the only one who makes all of those.

Easy!.....EMD Diesels and lots of 'em !   Now the hard part for you is to figure out which ones you like.   Sign me up early for the MTH SW1 RK switcher, plus his SD9, which is actually a "7".  Atlas makes a killer GEEP 7/9 with TMCC aboard too.  It was said that this whole thing is like a salad bar, and that's pretty close!

OK, coming from an almost 100% MTH guy here goes:

 

If you don't want to stick with one brand and yet run command control...3rd Rail, Atlas, Weaver, and Lionel all use Lionels TMCC (old technology) or Legacy (new technology) command systems.  3rd Rail, Atlas, and Weaver use TMCC in their locos, Lionel hasn't offered Legacy to anybody yet.  You can also upgrade older non-command engines with Electric railroads line of kits that work with TMCC.

 

Another brand is Williams, or now Williams By Bachmann (WBB).  As of now they're all conventional engines, but they've started coming out with engines with 16-bit polyphonic sound system (lets you hear more than one sound at a time).

 

You can run all of the brands with the MTH DCS command system, but you'll have to either run them in conventional mode or buy DCS AND the Lionel TMCC or Legacy Command Base to run non-MTH engines in command mode.

 

I don't think TMCC or Legacy allows the use of MTH engines in command mode (not sure about conventional mode), because MTH has not licensed DCS to anyone.

 

I've got engines from MTH, Atlas, 3rd Rail, and WBB and like them all.  The only one I haven't had to do anything to, to turn it into a Seaboard Air Line unit, is the 3rd Rail E7.  They recently made one in SAL colors and it's spot on, but it does have TMCC in it and at present I can run it in conventional only.

 

Pick an era, pick diesel or steam, pick 2-rail or 3-rail, pick a certain railroad, and go from there.

 

Do A LOT of research and asking on the forum here before you buy.

 

Next hurdles will be which control system and which track system to use.

First, I run conventional.  It has disadvantages - can't run really really slow, can't control sound, features, etc.  But it has one big advantage: the conventional "control system" runs everything made by Lionel, MTH, Atlas, RMT, WBB, Weaver, etc.  No compatibility issues for me.  And I've been using it for nearly 60 years, so I'm really experienced at using it!!!!!

 

Second, you need to, at the least, specify a price range among other things.  If I tell you that the Vision Hudson and Vision Challenger (somewhere around $1700 each) are the two best locos I have, and that I consider the Legacy Mallet and ATSF Northern and the MTH Euro series 241.A (all around $1200) to be fantastic locos, that will hardly matter if you are more interested in $500 locos (in that case, Lionel conventional Atlantic).

I use my trains as an escape from all the electronics and modernism of todays life.  I prefer my Postwar Lionel's that have served me well over the years.  I had dropped back to just my father's set from 1948, but am not getting back into Lionel now that my garden railway is up and running.  I just bought a nice 1947 Lionel 675 that runs like a fine swiss watch and I have a set of 2343's in layaway at a shop down in Indianapolis.  There are so many routes one can take today, traditional size like Lionel postwar trains and postwar style layouts,  same size but with a more scale like looking layout, same size but using Dept56 and similar ceramic buildings, or what they call hi-rail, scale sized trains running on(usualy)more realistic 3 rail track like Gargraves, AtlasO, Ross or even Lionel's fastrack.  Control can be as simple as a good old Postwar ZW, or the reissue that just came out, or MTH DCS or Lionel TMCC/Legacy system.   Just depends on what you want, and how much your willing or able to spend.  Good Luck!    Mike

Why ?

That is my preference also.

Don't forget there is the issue of fixed pilots vs floating.  MTH makes both.  Lionel has that cool fixed/floating pilot on the GEVO hybrid demonstrator, other manufactures have floating  pilots.

 

Lots to consider here.  I would make a prioritized list and go from there.  Since command control is important to you, you could probably eliminate Williams by Bachmann.

Because for the main lines, my research has led me this way....?????

I'm with you on this! When a bunch of the guys come over for the Run Beer, Drink Trains sessions, we use all three of the command systems at once. Thus we can have multiple trains operating on each main line, while switching is going on in the yard and locomotives are being moved around in the engine terminal. Everybody watches out for everybody also,,,,,,most of the time. Great fun!

Have been back in the hobby for a little over a year. Did a ton of research and decided MTH was hands down the best value. My few Premier steam locos are like Swiss watches. And DCS has worked well. The people at MTH are also very nice, so problems or questions are easily resolved. 

 

I also bought the Lionel R-16 subway set. It too works very well. But when I've called Lionel, the people who answer act like they're all more important than the caller. 

 

Thing is, I'm somewhat disappointed with MTH at this point.  I used to see it as an innovator.  But in terms of advanced features, it has fallen well behind with no promise of even catching up anytime soon (let alone becoming a leader again).  Seems like its focus is somewhere other than American O.  If you want features like steaming whistle, blowdown effects, glowing ash pan, functional bell, etc. look to Lionel, as MTH offers none of this.  With that said, MTH's smoke units are better designed and better smoke producers than Lionel's.  But I agree that Lionel sound is currently better (although this is supposed to change with PS3 soon). 

 

The disparity in features weighs heavily in my buying decisions, as high end steam locos are pricey. I don't plan on getting rid of my MTH stuff just yet, as I really enjoy it. But I also don't plan on buying any new MTH steam locos at this point either.  And, I plan on getting Legacy and Visionline or other Legacy locomotives that offer the more realistic features described above.  Frankly, I hope MTH steps it up, as I like the company and competition always makes for better product.  But if MTH doesn't step up it's game soon, you might end up seeing my MTH stuff on eBay.

 

Just some candid thoughts from a guy that hasn't drank the cool-aid of either maunfacturer.

 

 

I like the Rail King line of MTH, best cost to performance of them all. DCS is great.

I ran conventional for years. Took a 25 year break. Got back into hobby. I still run conventional for kicks but for the real fun and realism you just can't say no to command. It's like having a restored 48 Ford Coupe....loads of fun. But then you buy a 2013 brand new car and don't use the cruise control or ABS or sound system or FM radio...the list goes on...just because the 48 Ford didn't have those features.

No problem if all you want to run is conventional, to each hs own. However, I see no reason to not enjoy the latest and greatest. Running 8 trains at once by yourself at varying speeds and switches going and stops being made and working the yard is just too much fun for me to pass up.

My experience with MTH in the late '90's early 2000's was not successful due to my lack knowledge and/or luck. I gave my Z-4000, which seemed to work for only a short time and not very well for me then, to a close friend as copper scrap.

 

My limited knowledge works well with TMCC. If I can't have Command Control, I just as soon not deal with O-gauge. So, for loco's and switches, it's Lionel or nothing.

I too escape use my model trains as an escape from electronics and computers, so I run only conventional.

 

On the other hand, my experience with the Z4000 has been superb: one of the best things I have bought, going on five plus years use now.  But recently I've had poor luck with MTH, but that could just be a run of bad luck, nothing more.  Generally I prefer MTh buildings and Lionel locos though, along with Atlas track: every company has good products and bad, and every one has product quality issues with their overseas suppliers.

 I'd have to agree with this. I do like almost all brands. I've bought most of them all. I prefer MTH's value.

 I just got a premier pacific. I don't really do much steam. I have some and use them mainly for guests. Running this pacific for some reason brought back memories of my youth. Maybe better since it actually runs without any troubles unlike my days of childhood with toys. It captures my attention better than any single engine I own. Love the sound and smoke.

 I get excited running large trains with a lot of cars. It keeps me on my toes. For some reason this one engine captures that just watching it run around. I would have bought the new railking  steamer from the 2013 catalog. I saw this used and grabbed it. Single best move I've made.

 I hope you find your engine, like this one is for me.

I do not understand why when someone states so clearly that "command control is a priority", so many people decide they need to challenge his desires and try to convince him that conventional is the only way to go.

 

I have respect for all trains and whichever way a modeler desires to run his layout, I would hope others would respect their decision.

 

With regard to the original question, I run both Legacy and DCS and find wiring a layout is much simpler for Legacy than DCS.  That being said, if you are in the hobby long enough, you will find that not all engines you are interested in will be available in both command systems. 

 

I choose engines from a manufacturer based on the specific engine.  As an example, MTH's Railking RS 1's at under $300 may be one of the best looking and detailed engines available at any price whereas their Railking RS 3 is one is one of the least detailed engines available but is the same price.

 

My suggestion would be to find an engine you are truly interested in and ask opinions from those who have already purchased it.  You can rest assured that someone on this forum already owns one and has an opinion.

 

Goods luck on your decision and happy railroading,

Don