need opinions

I have three MTH engines.  All three smoke once they warm up.  One really smokes. 

It seems to be a consensus that MTH engines, for the most part, smoke better than their Lionel counterparts.  That being said, a lot of it depends on the engine itself.  Bot systems are good - I run DCS currently, but will likely add Legacy to the layout at some point.  They can peacefully coexist, so no matter what your choose, you aren't locked in.  

If you prefer MTH engines, then that's probably the way to go at this point in time.  I don't think you'll be disappointed in the smoke output.  Pick up a few bottles of JT's Mega-Steam in your favorite scent and go nuts 

"which engine outputs better smoke ? mth or lionel ?

 which remote system is easier to hook up and set up ? mth or lionel ?"

  I think either system would be easy to learn and either brand would put out enough smoke. I'd look more at what kind of layout scene you want to create and who makes the type of loco you'd need to model it? If possible I'd also go to a train show and check out the possibilities in person as that might help you decide what you really like best......DaveB 

Vic,

   Both control systems are just fantastic but different, no doubt about it the Legacy is very user friendly and easy to install.  DCS is a more complex engineering control system, that is one of the reasons DCS can control Legacy engines, but Legacy can not control DCS engines, except in conventional mode.  If you happen to like P2 & P3 engines, purchase the full DCS, get Barry's Book and the OGR Video guide to DCS, and learn to operate a DCS layout, then add the Legacy to your DCS layout.  I run FasTrack and the one big advantage Legacy holds on DCS is that Legacy runs FasTrack wireless

Command Control switches, which I have come to really appreciate.  No more switch wires with FT CC Switches, so I run both DCS & Legacy on Fastrack and get the best from both operating systems.   It took me a long time to add Legacy to my DCS layouts, however the FT CC switches gave me the engineering reason I need, to make the investment.  It is a lot easier to add Legacy to the DCS than the other way around, and believe me you are going to want both eventually.

PCRR/Dave

To clarify Pine Creek Railroad's statement, DCS can operate Legacy engines by way of sending TMCC-level commands to a Legacy control box through a connecting cable. Advanced functions specific to Legacy locomotives are not accessible.

---PCJ

ok ,,after looking at numerous youtube videos and reading all good opinions here ,,i decided

engines  mth

track lionel ..( looks better)

dcs ,,mth

the only thing that scares me from mth dcs is the many confusing wiring ,,lionel looks much less confusing ,,more "clean" , easier .

Over the last couple of years I have been switching over to all MTH & am very happy with it. I got lots of help here on the forum with minor DCS problems. I still don't use a lot of the DCS capabilities. Talk about smoking!! Those MTH engines will chase you out of the room. "I love it".

Get Barry's book, you won't be sorry.

I have no experience with MTH locos (although I love their buildings) but have 3 Legacy locos. Boston & Albany Berk (poor smoker), the Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751 (good smoker with whistle steam effect) and the newly arrived Polar Express scale Berk (heavy smoker). The new PE has a funnel shaped throat in the stack that apparently delivers the fluid directly to the heat element. And new (to me) with this engine is that the whistle steam effect uses the same reservoir as the stack. And WOWEE! The whistle steam on this loco put out more smoke than the stack does on my B&A Berk! Much more!

I do hope to add some MTH some day. I'm waiting for someone to do a scale New Haven streamlined Hudson. Dream on!

vic2367.  I built my layout using all FasTrack and use DCS and MTH engines and rolling stock.  I used 14 gauge stranded wire I purchased from Home Depot.  I have two loops.  I used all red for the center rail of one loop and orange for the center rail of the other loop.  I used black for the outside rail on booth loops completing one loop before I started on the other.  If I had know how much black wire I needed I would have gone with another dark color for the second loop.  I purchased the crimp on connectors from an electrical supply company.  They had to order them and only took a couple days to get then in.  I used a CMB4/10 Terminal block with jumper for each color wire.  Each terminal block of like colored wires were connected together and hooked to the TIU which in turn was connected to the Z4000.

Make sure you have a good wire stripper.  I bought an automatic one made by Kline Tools.  Same thing with a goodd quality crimper.  I purchased two push button circuit breakers and installed them in line between the TIU and the track feed.  I may have gone overboard on my wire drops, but I put one every third track and I have 10's all the way around my layout which is one scale mile around.

One thing about crimp on connectors.  They are colorcoded.  Red 18-22 AWG , Blue 14-16 AWG and Yellow 10-12 AWG. 

all good info im getting here guys ,,i have an mth z4000 transformer ,,i read on the manual that i can use this transformer on the mth dcs, but would need an adapter ?

Vic,

   Not sure what adaptor you are talking about, unless it's to power the TIU with a different power supply.  Your Z4K with Banana plugs & wires, will plug right into your TIU red & black ports.  Then run your red from the opposite side of the TIU to your track mid rail, and your Black to an outside rail.  Rich does a great job of showing all this in the OGR Video Guide to DCS and Barry explains it in great wording, in his DCS O Gauge Companion Vol #2, pictures included. 

PCRR/Dave

some Lionel steam engines smoke just as well as the mth. imo

On another thread someone said that the smoke units were interchangeable. 

If you like great sound with full range of frequency you cant beat lionel legacy.  Mth sounds thin and the labored chuff is poor while lionels is full bodied. 

That certainly wouldn't be true, the MTH and Lionel smoke units are not compatible mechanically or for the most part, electrically.

MTH has a handful of smoke unit designs, and Lionel has a ton of oddball and unique designs.

For the most part, I can make your Lionel locomotive smoke like an MTH if that's your desire.