fm trainmasters

It is Train Master!  The title "Trainmaster" was/is the supervisor of Trainmen in the railroad industry (Engineers and Firemen were supervised by the Road Foreman of Engines).

"Best" is extremely subjective and a matter of personal preference.

The Demo units you show were after MPC, btw.  They were from around 8-9 years ago as part of the Century Club 2 offerings.

If you are specifically wanting to focus on MPC, one of the favorites has in the past been the Wabash one that was a JC Penney Christmas Catalog offering (I think 1983, but I might be off by a year or 2). 

This was in the period of transition from Mexico manufacturing back to Michigan, I'm pretty sure some folks have indicated that the Mexico ones may have a higher risk of issues (not specific to this model, but specific to the Mexico quality in general from this period) than ones made in Michigan.

-Dave

Dave info above is generally spot-on. I had most of the MPC Trainmasters and all can be considered good runners as they are direct clones of the Lionel original design. The only issue that can come up is MPC decided to use nylon worm gears on the driven axles is some of the units. I had a set replaced by Chuck Sartor on my #8157 Santa Fe "freight" FM when they dried out and cracked over the years.

The C&NW had only the two motors + headlights  and that was it.  The Virginian blue & yellow re-issue-can't remember if it had the electronic horn as I didn't purchase one when already having a Postwar 2322 version.The 8157 Santa Fe may have added the first electronic horn. The 1983 Penney's Wabash I had was a USA version and had no issues. The Southern FM I received from the factory without any end railings on either end which I managed to get Lionel to provide-it also has nylon axle gears. This was also the first cataloged FM with black painted railings.

All in all, you can't go wrong with any of them as the nylon gears can be replaced and then you essentially have a Postwar piece with better MPC decoration.

Here's a couple of good references for Lionel Train Masters.

http://www.trainz.com/t-fm_diesels.aspx

http://www.postwarlionel.com/diesel.html

The Mexico ones were terrible. I had a good friend waiting and waiting for the SP Black Widow to come out. He had a bunch of us over when he finally got his. When he opened the box and pulled it out one of the truck fell off.

I would go for the K-line FM with all the whistles. They are cheap and run well. Lot's of engine for the money. Don

I also bought, enjoy and endorse the K-Line FM Train Master (that's for spelling teacher Hot Water).  Although, Hot Water (is it Hotwater or Hot Water?) the guy in the pic with the brown sweater vest is a Trainmaster on the B&B RR.  Matt

I have the PRR K-Line one.  It came with TMCC/Railsounds, cruise control and fan driven smoke.  The condition was excellent and the price was very reasonable, and less than many lesser equipped locomotives.

I do like the safety stripes on the Lionel SP Trainmaster, though (as opposed to the plain K-Line version). Nice added touch.

hello guys and gals.......

Did Williams ever made a blue and yellow Santa Fe trainmaster ?

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,623

Tiffany

Not that I'm aware of. Replacement shells are available for $40. I would think your best bet would be a re-paint.

Gilly

Second the motion on the K-Line.  I re-did five of them, and while I do not normally add plastic models to my collection, these were so accurate and inexpensive that I could not resist.

The SP version above is more accurately painted than the Lionel by a bunch. It is too bad the SP never did these in tiger stripe, which is my favorite Diesel paint scheme.

Santa Fe Train Master from MTH 20-2352-1

MTH made a Premier version with Protosound 2 in 2002 (See also the Lionel "clones").  MTH has since issued both RailKing and Premier versions of the Train Master (all new castings).

Other Santa Fe Train Master models were issued in 1996 using a Lionel "clone".

MTH 20-2352-1 shown

 Yes they did.  #972460 FM Trainmaster. It is a blue and yellow warbonnet with large SF kodachrome logo. with silver wire handrails. The paint is so bright you have to wear two pairs of sunglasses to look at it. 

new MTH Train Masters are superb!

If you're looking for conventional with no aound, the Lionel PRR version from 1994(?) is a nice one. The MTH Railking versions are dead ringers for the Lionel Postwar versions, plus you get sound and speed control. If you look hard enough, some of these models can be had new for less than $250.

The layout Tranmaster ordered a Williams 24-66 Train Master as power on a SP Passenger Train controlled by TrainMaster Command Control in Conv. Mode!

Runs like a timex or the pink bunny.

There are so many good choices. More in the modern era, if you can find a set of Demos that Lionel did as part of their Century Club series, you will be delighted. I have this set and love them.

When I was a kid in this hobby, my first engine purchase using money I earned from my paper route was the Lackawanna when it was first released. I have this model as well as a yellow and black Virginian and the Jersey Central. They don't have all the modern features but they are beautiful engines.

What part of Calgary to you live? I have traveled to Calgary many times in the past on business.

I like all the Lionel TMs old and new, The first few MPC issues have no horn so you might want to keep that in mind, but they all run good. I also have a K-Line and an MTH, those run good too.

According to the MTH website, they sell Trainmasters (not
Train Masters)

Same Go's for Williams by Bachmann.. lol

Wow it's a good thing nobody said FMs.

Well that just goes to show you that the folks who write these catalogues make a lot of mistakes. To be blunt, the manufacturer of the REAL diesel electrics named them "Train Masters", and they have been well known throughout the railroad motive power industry for about 60 years now as, "Train Masters"! 

Or MFs !!!

Must agree!  Here are pics of my Pennsy and Southern.  Note Pennsy long hood forward.  Southern short hood forward.  Also the pilot decks for each prototypical correct height.

Early Vintage MTH DL&W Train Master from 1999.  DAP #20-80001D Made in Korea.

This one is a clone of the early Lionel version.  The MTH diesel has Protosound 1. 

MTH 20-2357-1 DL&W Train Master with Protosound 2. Issued in 2002.

Another Lionel "clone"?