EDIT and Update: Are you mostly into just one brand of trains?

To give you a different perspective, I am a fan of the Pennsylvania RR.    I don't care what brand the model is.   I do care how well it represents specific PRR prototypes.   I have learned more and more about the RR over the years, and as a result, my interest and taste in models has become more specific and more discriminating.   It is not just the level of detail or paint - what is most important is that the major dimensions and shape are accurate.

 

So just Thought I would throw out a different approach to gathering models.   

 

My favorite brands:

US Hobbies: they run very well and are sturdy

Max Grey:   Not as detailed as USH, but still decent.    Often need to be remotored

Sunset/3RD Rail:  Nice models - mechanicals sometimes vary,  prices reasonable

Atlas O:  Great H21 and X29, Nice Steam era cars

the Carworks:  Great series of PRR cabooses and some nice diesels

P&D Hobbies:   Fantastic EMD F-units in Kit form with lots of customizing parts

 

 

Another good way to look at it . . .

 

I'm 90% Union Pacific and ATSF, so that perspective fits, too.

 

I also would say I am a Lionel Guy. All my engines are Lionel, except for my original American Flyer from when I was a kid. I have been mixing it up with my Rolling Stock. I must say I am fascinated with the swinging bell and whistle smoke.

 

 

Wow Lee!!! 100 Loco's 

I have only Lionel engines. I got into the hobby again about three years ago and bought a Legacy control system with a Lionel Lionmast set, and I have enjoyed thas engines Lionel has offered these past few years.

 

Do I consider myself a single brand person forever? I'd like to think not, but I haven't had the impulse (yet) to venture outside of Lionel's motive power offerings. I probably will at some point, but not right now.

 

I have nothing against the other companies or their products, and I'm not picky about brand of rolling stock. But the answer for me right now is 100% Lionel engines.

 

Bruce

I think it depends on where you are in the spectrum of interests in the hobby. For example, in the tinplate realm, the differences between makes is more pronounced. For example, a Unique Arts Train is closer to Standard gauge while Marx often is close to S Gauge. The detailing is often ( in lithography) a matter of coloration. I have a Prewar Hiawatha that is four color, very appealing. What drives the choices are very different. Sometimes variations and their rarity drive a purchase.

 

For more contemporary trains, I have developed a late appreciation for MPC era boxcars and beyond being colorful, they are very affordable, thats another choice..cost.

 

Lately, I have been running and collecting Lionel, K-Line, Williams (and RMT) Rock Island engines. I swap out the equipment..one week it's tinplate, another more contemporary. Proprietary electronics for me is not a deciding factor, as I run conventional.  What I enjoy most is the variety in O gauge. 

 

Having grown up in the horse and buggy days of the hobby, it seems the focus has changed from engines and cars to how we run the engines and cars. Very different. Kudos to MTH for variety and kudos to Lionel for broadening the hobby for younger folks, or those more attracted to control systems.

It's funny that the first two posts in this thread identify with Lionel and the Pennsylvania RR.

 

That of course is the focus of my collection.  A quick, unoffical count shows about 201 plus diesels, electrics, steamers.  From the 2332 from 1947 to the latest Vision Centipede.  This doesn't include small powered units and some engines in small sets.

Obviously I ran out of Command Control ENG numbers awhile ago.

 

I enjoy the hobby immensly.  I don't know from overhang, third rail, coupler size, scale this and that, detail placement, etc.

 

I take any engine off the wall (usually selected willy-nilly by a Grandchild), put it on the extremely prototypical toy tubular, set a block for Command or Conventional and off it goes pressing either TRN or ENG on the Cab 1 or Cab 2.

 

It's that simple.  You've seen a few of my low grade videos.

 

100% fun.

Lionel engines

 

Atlas, Lionel, MTH rolling stock

 

Cab1, Cab2

 

Doug

Lionel Locos.

Other RR cars and accessories: no brand loyalty

My roster consists of:

> Locomotives are 100% MTH Rail King with PS2 and PS3 electronics;

> El / subway trains are 100% MTH Rail King with PS2 and Locosound;

> Passenger cars are 99.9 % MTH Rail King 027, and one Lionel car;

> Trolley cars are 50% Western Hobbycraft, 33% MTH Rail King with PS1 & PS2, and 17% Lionel;

> Freight and MOW cars are about 80% MTH Rail King, 15% RMT and  5% Lionel.

 

 

 

I prefer Lionel, but I buy locomotives by Lionel, MTH, K-Line and Williams.  MTH offers the modern tinplate and some of the small road that no one else does(for me Ohio Central). Williams offers great value.  My rolling stock is mostly Lionel, followed by MTH and Weaver.

I think what command system you prefer has a good deal of influence over what products you buy in terms of engines where Lee has so aptly put we spend the bulk of our train dollars.

 

Most of my collection is centered therefore around one brand for that reason.

I guess i'm a "lionel" guy, but perhaps mostly by default.  What got me back into model(toy) trains a few years ago was retirement affording me the time, and memories of all the enjoyment real trains and toy trains (lionel) gave me as my dad and I pursued an interest we both shared, while I was a youngster living at home.  Then life happened and you probably know the rest. But as I grew older, and steam quickly disappeared, there seemed to be an empty place where the the excitement of trains and railroading used to be.  I addressed that "empty feeling" by stopping at a few local local hobby shops and looking through what was available today in the world of toy trains. It was like I stepped into a time machine and was back in the fifties.    I purchased a couple of lionel starter sets (ONLY! because I was familiar with the name from my childhood) and I was hooked again.  After that I began adding railcars, track (fastrack, since it came in the starter sets - awesome marketing ploy) and a few engines.  It seemed to be all lionel, but mostly because I found so much postwar that matched what I had as a kid.  This has continued into today...... but definately not because I won't buy any other brand, or think lionel is the best.....its just what takes me back to that special time and place.

 

Steam Rules

 

"a country boy can survive!"   (Bocephus, 1981)

I'm not so much a brand guy as I am a RR specific and locomotive type runner/collector. Although I love the GG-1 and have quite a few Pennsy ones in O, HO and N gauges, I'm now collecting and running the tourist shortlines of New Hope & Ivyland and Strasburg Railroad (and Lancaster, Pa environs rolling stock). Though I prefer O-Gauge, I'll purchase engines and rolling stock of these two in any gauge and currently have both maufacturer stock items as well as custom painted and decaled locomotives and rolling stock in O, HO, N and G. I'm also into Polar Express primarily for displaying and running during the holiday season. If anyone has Strasburg or NH&I items they're thinking of selling, e-mail me as I might not have that particular piece and be interested in making a deal with you. 

 

No one particular brand, although I have more MTH than anything else because MTH has produced more in my roadnames of choice.  Also have Lionel, Atlas, Weaver, Williams, RMT, K-Line, Western Hobbycraft, and ETS.  I have no particular favorites and just buy items that coincide with my interests.

I only run Lionel postwar locomotives.  But my rolling stock contains cars that are largely reproductions of the PW originals that I can't find/afford today.  My string of Lionel NYC 027 streamlined passenger cars comes to mind, mainly because I'm looking at them even as I type.

 

I have only one non-Lionel freight car, an MTH hopper that was given to me as a gift.

While the highest percentage of my locomotives are Lionel, I buy what I like, regardless of brand.  My only constraint is budget, and although I try to limit my purchases to one of a few select roads, I like to have representative samples from major roads from around the country.  I have and run rolling stock from all of the major manufacturers, and even a few smaller niche manufacturers.

 

Andy

Lionel and TMCC/Legacy compatible engines. Mike lost a lot of my train money by insisting on having his own command system. Yes I do have a few MTH with BCRs in them.

I have both Lionel and MTH steam engines but right now prefer Lionel legacy or at least RS 5. I also like  modern diesels from Lionel. The sounds are awsome.

Lionel is my primary line but don't think for a second that I wouldn't buy another brand.  I have 'em all and buy what I like but because of Legacy I lean in that direction.  But because I also run DCS, MTH engines are also a fixture on my layout.

Interesting... back when I was a "Model Railroader", I didn't focus on a single brand, I just bought what I wanted as far as prototype/paint scheme.  Now that I have transitioned to a "Collector/Operator", I do concentrate on a single brand (Marx)... not only that, but a locomotive niche of Marx, the windup locomotives.  I find that it helps me use my limited hobby dollars wisely, instead of buying everything that catches my eye (let's face it - if it's on rails, it catches my eye!).  There are very few locomotives in the collection that don't meet the windup Marx criteria, mainly clockworks from other manufacturers that were just too good of a buy to pass up.  As a side note, I like to have some vintage tinplate buildings on my little clockwork layout to complement the trains, but it really doesn't matter what brand they are as long as the building itself fulfills the need.  The majority are Marx, but I have items from Flyer, Bing and others as well... go figure!

I am quiet new in the hobby... in that scale at least. I am an "electric" guy (PRR New Haven) and my locs are MTH, MTH offers the greatest electric models in the hobby. (I run DCS only)

I run everybody's stuff.

Above: WBB, Lionel, MTH, Lionel & MTH.

Locomotives, freight and passenger cars from all the major players, L,M,A,K,W plus RMT Beeps.

I'd probably have RMT passenger cars too if they made some LIRR cars that matched the K-Line "Greenport Scoot".

Subways are dominated by MTH because...well they made more of them than anybody else.

My old paper collection records (since obsoleted by failure to maintain the data) show my collection to represent the industry roughly in proportion to their market presence.

 

Edit: Forgot to add, I run TMCC and DCS. Sometimes simultaneously on the same controller. Even once with one unit from each system hitched together.

---PCJ

When I got back into O Gauge, I did so with an MTH B&O F3 RTR set with PS2 and a Lionel Pennsylvania Flyer RTR set. I continued to purchase MTH products and not Lionel. Why? I have no clue. They made what I liked and still do. 

 

Today, I still have the PRR Flyer but don't run it. The B&O F3 set is still going strong with over 4K scale miles on it. 

 

-All of my locomotives are MTH with PS2 or PS3

-My Layout runs with MTH Z-1000s using DCS

-Out of the dozens freight and passenger cars on my layout, EVERYTHING, with the exception of 3 passenger cars and one caboose, are MTH Railking or Premier products. 

-Most structures on my layout are MTH products. 

 

I do have one K-line speeder used with my trackworkers on a siding, a few Lionel structures, and I use Lionel 0-27 style tubular track and switches, with one Ross switch tossed in. 

 

As you can see, I'm an MTH person and ONLY buy MTH products. They make a good products and I'm lucky not only to be able to buy their products, but have one of the best MTH dealers in the country, Catoctin Mountain Trains in Thurmont, MD, as my primary LHS. Nearby Engine House Hobbies, also heavy on MTH, are good as well. 

Lionel, except for a few rolling stock. Oh, and a few K-Line steam like the Hudson and an 0-6-0 switcher...and a couple Williams with EERR or TAS in them.

I'll buy whatever smokes my shorts, but since I prefer a minimum of electronics so far it's been mostly Lionel and Williams.  I'm also fond of IR and Atlas IR rolling stock.

 

Pete

I identify with Jim 1939 above; while I have an MTH 611-"J" + two BN "Executive scheme" SD70MACs from MTH, I'm just crotchety enough that I wasn't going to buy two different control systems just to access everyone's products. We could have gone the "high route" and made control systems highly compatible (ala DCC in the HO world), but we had to make propriatary systems instead. That said, MTH does make good trains, I just limit myself to TMCC/Legacy compatible purchases; with retirement at the end of the year, my purchases will now be on a "funds available" basis anyway. To boot, I have more than I can run now....

It won't come as a surprise to many, that apart from one WBB locomotive, boxcar,gondola and caboose, I am 100% Lionel.  

Lionel, MTH just doesn't do it for me. Legacy,RS5,vision features on select locomotives, I think anything else would be a step backwards to me personally.

I'm road name loyal first and second I'm TMCC loyal.  That being said WBB has the largest offering of Western Maryland locos and can easily converted to TMCC.  I own only 3 MTH PS1 locos that will be converted to TMCC.  As far a rolling stock I'll buy Western Maryland from everybody.

My answer’s the same the last time this question (or something similar) was posed.

 

Virtually everything I buy these days is modern tinplate so that means Lionel Corporation Tinplate, which is really MTH-produced stuff with the Lionel brand name. 

 

I also got hooked on the Lionel MPC-era about a year ago and have picked up some of the old Service Station Sets, other collector sets, and a handful of rolling stock from that time period.

Ah, childhood memories from the 1950s make me a Lionel guy. Those orange and blue boxes set my heart a thumpin' still (and don't think Lionel doesn't know it). I do have some MTH and RMT and WIlliams -- mostly stuff Lionel just refuses to make.

 

I run all conventional and a lot of postwar and postwar remakes from Lionel. Their heavy emphasis on O scale these days keeps my new purchases pretty few. I did just order the Wabash F-3 AB remake from the new catalog but that was it.

My focus is the New Haven Railroad.  I have Lionel and Weaver steam engines;   Atlas, Lionel and MTH diesels;  MTH and K-Line electrics (EP-3, EP-5); and 3rd Rail RDCs.  My next major purchase will be the 3rd Rail New Haven FL9 when it becomes available.  I also have a few NYC and PRR engines electric engines since the NH shared tracks with those railroads into New York City.

 

I live in the SF Bay Area and I am member of a SP club.  This means I also have a collection of SP, AT&SF, and UP engines and equipment to run at the club.  

 

I also like circus, Christmas, patriotic, and Halloween trains.  These trains are mostly Lionel and K-Line and are only run on special occasions.

 

When I look at what other forum members have, I probably have less equipment than many people have but certainly more equipment than I really need.  I should make the difficult decision to sell some of this stuff.

 

Joe

I've got them all - Lionel, MTH, Weaver, 3rd Rail, Atlas, K-Line, ETS, you name it. My first choices are MTH and Weaver. MTH because I like DCS better than TMCC/Legacy, because I've had less trouble than with any other brand, and for their move into European trains, which I am getting to like better and better. Weaver for their superlative and unmatched customer service and responsiveness, their continuing support for the Milwaukee Road, (Hiawathas, Northerns, brass ribside cabooses, and now the ribside boxcars), and last but not least their decision to build the Hiawatha ribside boxcars in the USA. 

 

Mostly I buy Milwaukee Road, and getting what I want overrides brand preference. With steam and electrics, I'll even buy two of the same thing from different manufacturers - i.e. the Weaver and Lionel S3 Northerns, the MTH and Weaver Hiawatha 4-6-4's, and the MTH and Lionel Bi-Polars. Diesels are another story - I am more of a steam guy, I have too many diesels already, and I seldom buy any non-MTH diesel unless it's an absolutely stunning deal. 

 

Every one of the manufacturers has its plus and minus aspects:

 

MTH has made a lot of Milwaukee Road, especially the electrics. DCS has much better ergonomics than Legacy and the scale MPH readout closes the deal for me. I've had less trouble on average with MTH than anything else. MTH offers better value than Lionel - I just compared the new F-unit sets and figuring real prices, not MSRP, Lionel comes out a couple of hundred more expensive - for what? On the down side, MTH doesn't stock much in the way of parts and they are not flawless - I just unpacked a new Euro electric that was missing a hinge pin on one of the pans. No help from MTH; fortunately I was able to make one out of brass wire. The rest of the unit was perfect. 

 

Lionel has made enormous strides in fixing their parts and service, and in introducing advanced features. For me, the problem with Lionel is that they always seem to make something really nice and then mess it up with one or two annoying problems. The S3 Northern is a great model, excellent detail, super value (unusual for Lionel). It shipped out with that annoying little problem with the flashing red light, the cylinder smoke feature not working well on many units because of kinked hoses and other problems, and some units seem to derail on track flaws that other engines will cruise over without a glitch. A lot of diesels were made with too-deep wheel flanges, causing problems navigating switches. And Lionel's pricing has been the subject of plenty of comment, most of it negative. 

 

I see no reason to buy only one brand of locomotives. Both remote control systems will run side by side, and an extra system costs less than another engine. Why restrict yourself?

I like all the train companies, But 95% of my collection is Lionel.

 

Alex

Lee

Very interesting thread. I am enjoying all the posts. After reading each post I took a look myself at my engines and they are all Lionel TMCC/Legacy except 1 Williams AA E7's that will soon be upgraded with ERR. I have Legacy and DCS control systems but have no MTH engines at this time but I would buy them. I run with Southern and NS road name. My rolling stock is 95% Lionel and 4% K-line, 1 set of MTH Southern Passenger cars. So I guess I would fall under the title of Lionel. I just enjoy holding that Orange and Blue box as I come out of the local Hobby Shop.

The criteria I use for purchasing motive power:

(1) Road name (Boston and Maine/Maine Central)

(2) Scale dimensions

(3) Command equipped (PS2/PS3/TMCC/Legacy)

 

Most of my locomotive roster is MTH, followed by Atlas.  I have one 3rd Rail loco, one Weaver, and one Lionel.  The only reason most of my stuff is MTH is that they have produced the most scale B&M/MEC locos over the last few years.  I am NOT loyal to any one locomotive importer.

 

What I have on order at the moment, is a B&M E7 from 3rd Rail, which I am expecting at any time.

 

Neither the recently released MTH catalog nor the Lionel catalog had anything that interested me (I already have the 3rd Rail B&M Berkshire, so I am not interested in the Lionel/K-Line version).

Well, it used to be a lot worse, at least on the Forum. A LOT worse. Disagreements now are far less rancorous than they used to be.

 

I run the Legacy system, so I run Lionel. I suspect choice of operating system governs a lot of the choice of trains, and then people defend the choice they made. No different from anything else, really. I got a PC instead of an Apple because .........  And so I then bought an Apple screen because I had an Apple computer. Etc. etc.

 

I don't want the expense and complication of having two different control systems. And I can't afford even to get all the Lionel stuff I'd like, let alone other stuff.

My sentiments exactly!  I buy based on the trains (roads and era) and have both DCS and Legacy available, as well as conventional.  I couldn't care less about any "brand wars" or such.  Every manufacturer, from the smallest to the largest has produced their share of winners and losers.

Mostly Sam Adams, but occasionally enjoy New Amsterdam Ale and Brooklyn Lager