Modern LCT Tinplate, And Ability To Repair In The Future.

Dennis,

Ive been happy with my one traditional LCT O gauge engine. However, Ive struggled with this SG question as well. I've come to the conclusion, with much input from reputable train dealers, to go with the modern can motors w/ electronics. If the electronics burn out.. you'll never be dead in the water. There will always be some version of command control to replace faulty electronics. Then again, you could put in a bridge rectifier and run it conventionally. Just a thought.

Sunrise

Pappy,

         In my additional post I only stated that I also had a MTH Traditional 9E which had never given me any problems and that I added that post just to give MTH a fair shake since I was so critical of their 381E.  In any event, even though the 9E runs well I have made a conscious decision not to purchase any more traditionally motored modern engines.  My lousy experience with the 381E along with input from other modern era Tinplate enthusiasts with whom I am acquainted as well as the comments posted here on the forum have made me quite skittish about another traditional purchase. 

To repeat what I have posted elsewhere, I have three traditional LCT O gauge tinplate engines/sets and a Super 381 (twin-motor) that have operated very well and continue to do so. I also own a Tinplate Traditions 390E (a somewhat older loco than the LCT stuff) that also runs well with no problems. To extend the line further, I own several Lionel Classics and Prewar Celebration sets that also run smoothly and without problems. A conventional piece of tinplate is more likely to be repairable down the road than the new stuff. Folks may make choices congruent with their desires, of course, but can motors and electronic sounds don't 'speak' tinplate to me.

YMMV 

Bob

My experience with MTH traditional-style Bild-a-Loco motors has been fine, both with my personal collection and the ones belonging to the toy train museum. The heavily used ones at the museum require periodic cleaning and occasional replacement of brushes, but that's about all. Mechanical e-units also have to be cleaned and occasionally rebuilt. I've got plenty of negative things to say about my Super 381, but the motors themselves have been fine.

The one MTH "traditional" motor to avoid at all costs is the one in the monorail. It's a copy of the 1930's original and it is prone to all kinds of problems if it is run very much. It wasn't much of a design in the first place and it hasn't improved a bit in 80 years. If you're buying a monorail, get the modern one. If you don't want the electronics, pull them out and sell them. You can replace them with a bridge rectifier for less than five bucks that will give you one-way operation. There's no reason for a reverse gear anyway.  

OKHIKER,

Please accept my most sincere apology. It was not my intention to misquote you or misrepresent the facts as stated by you .

To avoid any further confusion I chose to delete my post . I do hope that you would do same as well, Thank you! 

Thanks to each of you for the very detailed and thought provoking comments!  One good take away is that although each of you has a preference based on your own personal experiences and the shared experiences of others, you are still able to add new tinplate to your rosters by selecting either the traditional or the modern, electronic versions.

Cordially,

Dennis

Following a review of these helpful posts, I did decide to purchase one of the lower priced electric locos from the 2014 LCT catalog.  I ultimately selected the version equipped with Proto-Sound because of the use of the more simple can motor, and, because of the perceived greater likelihood for future repairability.

For me, it was not a simple choice.  As Bob Bubek properly comments above, there is still a unique charm to the "Traditional" Standard Gauge locos. The view that older toys should be older toys definitely has merit.  I still enjoy my modest postwar Lionel O gauge trains from my youth for just that reason -- bicycle horn in my GG-1 and all!!