Lionel vs MTH. What's you're opinion?

Throwing a match on dry undergrowth?

hello lionmaster........

 

I would say....... Williams as they have LESS electronics to go bad. Less is MORE.

 

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

Tiffany

Both have their advantages, as does Williams by Bachman, IMO. Do you run your trains conventionally or use a command system?

Murphy's Law :-)

 

As to the question at hand, neither. What is needed in a train depends upon the individual.  Tho soon there will be orange and blue and purple and gold cheer groups to say otherwise.

Get what you enjoy most and what fits your needs. I personally prefer the MTH Railking products as they are in my price range and fit my needs well. I got back into O with MTH and they were making what I liked so I kept buying MTH stuff. After a while, I was well invested in MTH control systems, engines, etc and while Legacy is a fine system and a joy to operate and the Legacy locos run and sound GREAT, Lionel hasn't made what I like or what I don't have in MTH already. Not to mention, Lionel is a bit higher up the price scale for me and at this time, I can't justify spending thousands on a Legacy system and engines. I have been happy with one control system and on my small layout, I have no need for two systems and dozens of engines. Just my $0.02...

 

 

       
       


I currently run in conventional mode, but I want to get command soon. I was just wondering what people's opinion would be. Thanks.

That's a no-brainier IMHO - Lionel, Lionel, Lionel - their Legacy Steamers are wonderful!

Both are good, just look for one that has that "gotta have it on my layout" feeling to it .

I currently run in conventional mode, but I want to get command soon.

 

How much cashola are you willing to part with ?

I run conventional mode.

Use the Z1000 remote with Two Z-4000 transformers.

If I was starting from scratch would probably go with TMCC.

Let's Get Ready To Rumble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really. Bad. Idea.

       
       


I've still gotta save some of that cashola.

Get what you want its all up to you.I would love to have lionel scaleberks.But they are out of my pricerage.So I go with railking look good and sounds good and pulls real good to.But then you have kline.Who has maked some good locomotives to.I have a kline mike that pulled some good sized trains.And although I don,t have any williams.I hear alot of good things about their trains.Atlas has not made many steamers.I know they did a 0-6-0 steam switcher.But again its up to you and what you want.

       
       


MTH sets are pretty good. I do agree with you, though. Lionel should make some Command train sets, but they will be pretty expensive. The C&O Empire Builder set was $2700.

Do you like Fords or Chevys?

 

If you like a Ford, buy Lionel or MTH.

 

If you like Chevy, but MTH or Lionel.

The best value in the hobby is an MTH starter set.

Scott Smith

I think I would go with Lionel, no maybe I would get MTH, but not sure. Maybe Lionel is better, but I'm not sure. Now that I think about it I would go with Williams, but that may not be a good idea. You know, how about Tyco. Maybe thats not a good idea, they don't make O gauge. How about LBG. NAH maybe K-line, but they are out of business. This is my decision, Go with Ives.              

Guys, I just wanted to know you're opinion. If you like Lionel more, or MTH more. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to ask this sort of thing.

Might as well ask which is better...vanilla or chocolate ice cream?  Ask 1000 people, get 1200 answers. 

 

It's as subjective an issue as you possibly could have.  Each have their pluses, each have their minuses.  I know people who laugh at Lionel (yeah...you 2 guys) and I know people who wouldn't buy MTH no matter what.   I agree with the thought that the MTH starter sets are a great way to get into command control but once you go up the price/feature ladder it gets less clear. 

 

Figure out what you want and figure out what you want to spend and then you’ll get some concrete suggestions.  But probably not from me as I’m mostly a Lionel guy except for the MTH stuff I own (then of course there is the K-Line and Williams stuff I have.)

 

I buy both.   Lionel locos run better at low speeds and have much better sound.  MTH locos, at least their European series, are gorgeous to look at and superior to the average quality of anything except high-end brass locos, and they have fantastic whistle sounds. 

look at m t h  & Lionel.  i went with m t h the price right for what i got

It's not that you should be reluctant to ask whatever questions you may have, but when it comes to brand preferences in the world of toy trains you'll invariably end up right back where you started.

 

YOU have to make your own choices.  Of course you can take into account the pronouncements of others, but in doing so you want to be very careful to not fall into the trap of believing that responses on a public forum are any true indication of how things are in the hobby as a whole.  

 

--Lionel fans will tell you Lionel is the way to go.  

 

--MTH fans will tell you the same thing in regard to their favorite manufacturer.  

 

--Ditto for Williams and any of the other manufacturers.  

 

--Many will tell you--with decidedly less bias and far more credibility--that you should make your selections, irrespective of specific manufacturers, based on what interests you the most in terms of road names, era, type of motive power and rolling stock, type of operation (conventional or command control), pricing, availability, and various other considerations.  If you're going to pay attention to any of the aforementioned groups, please go with this latter one.

 

 

I agree with Allan.  You have to make the choice.  I have a variety...Lionel, MTH,

K-Line and Williams.  I like them all.  They all run well and they fit into the scheme and era of my layout.  Matt 

 

       
       


As I said, I just wanted people's opinion on what they thought was better. This isn't a troll post, just asking a question.

I would go with Williams by Bachmann....but what do I know?

Several people have recommended a MTH Starter SET with PS3.  Quite a few choices in models and types and all are good values.  A good relatively inexpensive way to get into command control but can be run conventionally as well.

I echo these suggetsions 

MTH and Lionel both build good products. So does Weaver, Atlas O and 3RD Rail. I buy the locomotive I want, not the brand name. I use TMCC, PS1, PS2, PS3, and Legacy. They all have their strengths and their weaknesses.  I do agree, that this thread has potential for causing riots, perhaps it should be terminated because even an even tempered guy like me had his BP increase at some of the remarks posted so far.

You're not hearing outrage by my reading, you're hearing opinions you apparently don't want to listen to.  You're wanting an answer of MTH or Lionel, and folks are telling you to pick the locomotive you like, not a brand.  Since you operate conventional, it doesn't matter which you pick,  since both manufacturers' locos operate in conventional mode reasonably well and equivalently. 

 

If you bought a command loco, that will require that you buy the corresponding command set Legacy/TMCC for Lionel, DCS for MTH.  So unless you plan to restrict yourself to one manufacturer in the future, it doesn't matter which you pick.  If you pick an MTH PS3 set, you will not have command capability without buying DCS. If you pick a Lionel set, it will be conventional, just like the MTH PS3 set without purchasing DCS.  If you're committed to DCS, then that's fine, but if you buy a Lionel Legacy or TMCC equipped loco (or one from Weaver, 3rd Rail or Atlas) you will not be able to operate it in command mode without purchasing a Legacy command system.  DCS will not operate TMCC/Legacy locos in command mode without a TMCC//Legacy command base.  Likewise, Lionel's TMCC/Legacy equipment cannot operate MTH locomotives equipped with PS2 or PS3 in command mode. Hope this helps. 

My opinion is that you should learn to use apostrophes correctly.  

hello lionmaster.........

 

Let me ask you this, what type of locomotive do you have in mind and road name?  Then maybe we all can help you decide.

 

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

Tiffany