Mth Burlington California Zephyr vs Lionel Wabash Blue Bird

the mikes will give you more bang for your buck! but I do believe that MTH does make a Wabash bluebird if I am not mistaken. I will get back to you on that. Hope your search goes well.

Josh

It's not really possible to give advice on this without more information. Which sets are you speaking of, exactly? Many times the train manufacturers will make different versions of similar sets, and in different product lines. Some are more expensive than others. Also, they may make the same set in different years, except with different features.

Without some additional identification of the sets you're considering, it's impossible to make any comparison. Confusing, I know, but it's a bit like asking someone to compare a Chevy Malibu and a Ford Taurus. You can't do it without more specific information.

Subway - Only you can decide that.  Look closely at them.  Check to see if the MTH is Premier of Rail King and if the Lionel is Standard O of traditional.  The Standard O and Premier sets are closer to scale, while the other sets are closer to PW Lionel.

MTH did make a Premier Wabash Blue Bird set.  I have one.  They are nearly impossible to find, you might have to wait a long time before one comes up for sale.

If the MTH Burlington set is the RTR set from a few years ago with the really small F3 A unit diesel, I personally would buy that set. I have the same engine that I got from a B&O Freight RTR set from 2004. Bought it new, has Proto 2 and nearly 4,000 scale miles on it and never had one lick of trouble with it. A plus for the Burlington set is that it has a neat operating (flashing) Mars light. Great engine and set.