How do the new MTH PS-1 boxcars compare detail-wise to the older Lionel 6-172XX PS-1 boxcars?
Thx, Don
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Pretty well, but they are not the same car.
Lionel is 40’, MTH is 50’
MTH also makes 40' PS-1 boxcars but they generally leave the "PS-1" out of the item description. Here is an example:
https://mthtrains.com/premier/spotlight/03_2017/e
I feel MTH are a bit more detailed if you are going for accuracy to the prototype. For one, they have break hoses on the couplers where as the older Lionel ones don't. The other is they don't have "Made by MTH" on the side like the "Made by Lionel" stamped on the Lionel models.
Personally, I'd buy whichever one costs less but that's just me.
-Greg
Greg, one issue with the brake hoses is they aren't connected to each other, makes for runaway trains! 
When I was heavily into S scale, a fellow forum rivet-counter installed rubber hoses with tiny neodymium magnets on the ends so they would connect,
The Lionel one is my favourite. Clincher - the ribs on the ends blend in to the corner, like old All Nation kits rather than stop short of the corner like the MTH - and incidentally the Weaver PS-1 as well. Haven't had the nerve to redecorate my Rock Island purchase into D&H, such a nice car.
Jason
Jason Dickie posted:The Lionel one is my favourite......... Haven't had the nerve to redecorate my Rock Island purchase into D&H, such a nice car.
Jason
I converted an Air Products Lionel PS1. I chose the AP because it came with the proper width and style doors, and I was able to use the tanks around the layout
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John you devil! Wanna swap? Hope to be at the Chicago meet again in 2 or 3 years!!
Jason
Fb group 'American O-Scale in the UK'
John, that's a beautiful conversion and the diorama is so realistic.
"because it came with the proper width and style doors"
That's an issue that has to be watched for when you're trying to find THE car for a certain RR. Manufacturers for the most part decide on one design and mass produce it, ending up with incorrect doors, roofs, ends. You might find the correct parts you're looking for from a non-OEM vendor, but will they fit that particular manufacturers car?
DeltaPapa posted:John, that's a beautiful conversion and the diorama is so realistic.
DeltaPapa..Thanks. That is on my layout!
Bob Delbridge posted:"because it came with the proper width and style doors"
That's an issue that has to be watched for when you're trying to find THE car for a certain RR. Manufacturers for the most part decide on one design and mass produce it, ending up with incorrect doors, roofs, ends. You might find the correct parts you're looking for from a non-OEM vendor, but will they fit that particular manufacturers car?
Bob
One of the reasons I like the Lionel PS-1 box cars is you can get a variety of doors (Youngstown, Superior) in 6' and 8' widths, and you can even (I think) get varying ends. In this case, they do try to pay some attention to road specific details
Are you talking about the Standard O scale 40' box cars produced by Lionel between 1974-2000 or the new highly detailed LIONEL PS-1 40' boxcars that are being made in CHINA?
Andrew
Andrew, my Lionel reference PS-1 is the 2004-2005 built series.
Andrew, that great scale series includes 53ft gons with drop ends, 2, 3, 4-bay covered hoppers, etc. The catalog numbers gave us the clue early on, haven't studied that recently. Anyway, they're nice enough for this 2-railer in England to buy a few! As nice as AtlasO, nicer than MTH.
Jason
Lionel PS line is the best. The only thing missing on them are the air hoses.
MTH PS1 50' cars are better than Atlas O.
Lionel's old STD O toy cars I threw away in the garbage.
