MTH RTR set quality

Excellent sets.  I have the RTR in UP and CSX (and I use Realtrax). They are very nice.

Quality is the same, excellant. You won't be disappointed.

I've always been fond of the MTH starter sets.  Excellent values and very well made.  I don't use the RealTrax, but usually give it to a friend.  I have enough Z1000 transformers, so usually sell them here on the forum from time to time.

Top notch products. I've purchased many MTH sets over the years. Everything in the set is the exact same product they sell separately out of the "main" O Gauge catalog. I purchased a Husky Stack set, the second run, coming out in November 2010. I got the BNSF version. That set was the first SD70 set done in a few years and only the second time they had offered that engine in a set. FYI Z1K transformers are no longer offered. The Z750 is in the set now with the MTH Remote. 

MTH RTR sets are the best buy for the buck in the O Gauge hobby.

I've had good luck with both Lionel and MTH starter sets until last year, when I had three problems with two MTH sets.  I had two of the MTH hand-held remote systems go wrong: one set's controller and one set's receiver (so between the two sets I still have one working system) and an RTR set steam loco, A PS3 a 4-6-0, died completely within a few minutes of first running. I think the MTH Diesel RTR locos are more robust: I took the 4-6-0 apart and it was the most toy-like loco I have disassembled in years - part quality and etc. all looked fairly cheap, although I had to remind myself that it had been a very inexpensive set to buy (I think I got it for less than $300 at a department store).  Rolling stock is okay - not equal to top-tier models, but good basic stuff - its mixed in with all my other and I probably run some of them every day.

Highest starter set quality; best value in the hobby.

 Scott Smith

Starter sets is the best go  with MTH 

A MTH starter set is a great place to start. You won't be sorry you purchased it. It should give you years of enjoyment. Do you know what's better than a MTH starter set? Two of them. One going westbound and the other going eastbound.

I thought you were retired?!  Once a salesman, always a salesman.

Jeff Davis

I have several sets to date and enjoy them all. They can't be beat for price and value.

Joe

I just bought the Union Pacific husky stack set last month.  I was very impressed with the overall quality of the engine and the rolling stock - especially considering the price.  Great job MTH!

trainman 713,

Yes, I'm retired but I haven't lost it. You take care and have a great day.

MTH R-t-R sets seem to be the same quality as buying individually and, hate to admit it, but my N&W Bantam J actually has better smoke output than my Premier N&W J! 

In terms of how RK stacks up against say Lionel - no contest in my opinion.  We got the N&W Bantam and Polar Express sets around Christmas 2012. 

RK set - loco comes with all the bells and whistles, including PS2 command control.  The passenger cars are all solid and have some weight to them, flexible rubber end-of-car diaphrams, clear windows and nicely detailed interiors (vista car even has spiral staircase!).  

PE set - the same type of conventional loco that's been around for 100 years.  Exact same "whoo whoo" whistle that's on my plastic 1973 Southern Crescent loco.  The passenger cars are incredibly (freakishly) light and flimsy, not much detail and frosted windows. 

Oh, and retail on PE was MORE than on the RK set. But it should be noted that because you get so much more for your money from MTH, there is a lot more that could go wrong with the loco.  The Lionel loco is your basic sledgehammer that will work when your grandkids retire. 

Peter   

Part of that extra cost is probably covering the PE licensing fee from Warner Bros.

Doubt it.  Lionel is generally higher priced across the board.  And the PE MSRP is not at all inconsistent with other Lionel r-t-r set pricing. 

Don't want to come across as anti-Lionel.  I'm not.  Just pointing out some facts.  

I think the RTR sets from both companies are good bargains, particularly if you shop around, and I have bought several of both.  Generally I have had good results with both companies.  I do think the Lionel are more basic as to features but more robust as to basic durability of the locos, etc.  I have four of the RTR 0-8-0s and sounds tenders and one SD70 set they are all bulletproof, having withstood gobs of grandchildren abuse without problem.  The MTH are good value, too, but I've had that one completely dead one loco and a few other minor issues.  Overall, I think the offerings by both companies are comparatively priced for the robustness you get in materials, etc.

Since you run strictly conventional Lee, one of the significant pluses of the MTH sets is somewhat lost on you.

Both my son's and my nephew's Lionel PE sets(only two PE sets in the family)  had issues. One right out of the box and the other after being packed away for 1 year. Lionel fixed the one out of the box, the other one is now a paper weight.

But Peter is correct, the more "bells and whistles" or extras you have, the more that can go wrong. I would guess the far superior MTH set's have more issues than the very basic Lionel set. I think in my case with the Lionel sets that we were a victim of very bad luck. My guess is most Lionel RTR sets have no problems.

All that being said, I would not keep a Lionel set if one was givin to me. I find them rather boring. I would sell it or give it away. I would keep an MTH RTR set for under the tree.

I've never owned a MTH RTR set, but I have a few Railking locomotives that are quite nice. DCS command controlled locomotives are far superior(performance-wise) to conventionally, "maniac" speed, operated units.

Being able to operate your train(s) at various, controlled, speed settings... is quite enjoyable.

Some Railking products are supposed to be scale sized; I don't know if that's true or not; I never checked...

When I first started, in 2004, I bought a Lionel traditional Pennsylvania Flyer set(die-cast 4-4-2 locomotive - didn't have a flywheel, smoked pretty good, nice whistle; the rolling stock was pretty basic).

Then, I got a Lionel tradition WP U36B; a mostly plastic locomotive(including the trucks). A reliable performer, but very basic...

I also got a Lionel 0-6-0 dockside switcher(Bethlehem Steel); probably, the best $99.00 purchase I've made. Great little die-cast locomotive. Besides, the goofy looking, bug-eyed, engineer, that little steamer looked great; the shrill whistle sucked, but it blew perfect smoke rings.

My last Lionel traditional set was an El Capitan FT diesel set. My first locomotive with a bell feature; except, when I pushed the bell button, the locomotive SLAMMED on the brakes; not what I was looking for...

From there, I went to MTH's Railking locomotives; and there's no comparison. MTH's Railking line is superior to Lionel's... entry level product line.

If you can afford it, I recommend that you try MTH's Premier equipment; especially, if that's the direction you'll be going in...

BTW, MTH's Z1000 transformer is a great power system; mine has been extremely reliable.

Rick

Actually, I ran the three MTh RTR sets - two steamers and a diesel - using the handheld remote that came with them. I realize what is provided is not DCS but a lower cost system.  Still, while worked okay, I was surprised the olcos did not run slower -- they performed about the same as conventional on the ZW-L (in terms of lowest smooth speed, linearity of control) but it is nice to be able to walk around while controlling them.

I was "laying in stock" so to speak for my grandkids, who understand handhelds and nothing else, so I got the three MTH RTR sets and a couple of Lionel remote Thomas. for around the Christmas tree.

Lee, my experience has been that the Legacy locomotives are the low speed champs.  Some of my MTH stuff does better than others at low speeds, but somewhere I saw posted that MTH only warrants that they'll run smoothly at 5 scale MPH or more.  I do have several that will do pretty well at 2 scale MPH, but none that will run without some jerkiness at 1 scale MPH.  OTOH, most of my Legacy stuff will run well at the bottom end.

My experience has been that, Legacy speed control is superb at slow speeds; the best I've seen so far! My opinion is based on the two Lionel Legacy ACe's, I used to own; besides, a few Atlas Master Line units... my collection is all MTH.

Legacy is the superior slow speed system.

Rick

When you really get down to it, while I know a few people who like to start out trains really slow, a scale 5 mph is still a terribly low speed for a toy train.  My recent Legacy locos will run around 10-12 very smoothly in conventional with the ZW-L, noticeably slower than they would with a Z4000 or CW-80, etc.  

Last year, before the ZW-L, I had decided to bite the bullet and go to Legacy control around March of this year, just to get the slow speed running.   But the ZW-L runs Legacy locos at 10-12 in conventional, and MTh at about 15-20.  That is slow enough for me: I like to run trains at 20-25 mph sometimes - just set them chugging at up-mountain-pass speeds and let them orbit the layout while I work on it.  so, for now, I'm avoiding the cost and installation headaches (ground plane/signal issues have plagued several friends) of Legacy.

Thanks guys!

I think I'm going to get the CSX sd70ace with 3 husky stacks. It has ps2 and even comes with a ETD on the last car. I already have a layout (Realtrax), so I will keep the track for future projects. I will also keep the transformer because I need one to power some accessories.