Opinion Needed on F3s

I don't have either but would point out the MTH has 4 motors and the Legacy only 2. Plus the Lionel engine has Liondrive. I have had to repair a few Liondrive units due to extreme wear of the coupling and motor spider. Also Liondrive units tend to sit higher. These were club engines so had lots of hours on them. If you decide on Lionel make sure you grease couplings. Easy as the trucks just twist off.

My only MTH ABA engine has 5V boards plus a slave unit in the second A. Its not as smooth as two MTH units with their own PS2 direct control. I suspect the ones you are looking at has 3V boards and may be a bit smoother. Someone else will have to chime in. 

As usual, just my opinion.

Pete

I have the Lionel CNJ F3's AA's and the powered and dummy B units. So the Lionel's also have 4 motors. They are excellent runners. 

Vic, You are saying you can buy another unit to get 4 motors but the the AAs come one powered, one dummy. Apple$ and orange$.

Pete

I have both. They have their positives and negatives. I'm more into DCS and run an MTH PS2, 3V,  S.P. A-B-B-A set which I favor more. Great EMD 567 sound and excellent pullers.........

The 4 motors aren't really a concern of mine. Most I would be pulling is around 20 cars.   I have the green/cream MTH CNJ F3s & I have noticed the two A units tend to not really sync speed well until over 18-20 smph.  This could be the older board though.

Did you ever think of the Williams units as a third option? I know they are conventional but I'm sure you can upgrade them for a reasonable price. I bought an aba set on sale and they run very well. Just can't find any passenger cars for them.

The only Lionel F3's I have are Post War sold all the others with were MPC, but have several MTH sets both PS2 and PS3 and think you cannot go wrong with the MTH Set and the DCS System. Personally when I have compared any MTH to the Lionel counter part I thought MTH was a better product. 

I've got a legacy set of NYC F7s and CB&Q F3s both are excellent runners and smokers. The CB&Q set has 4 motors with the powered B unit. 

I'm a lionel guy but not fond of the new electronics in either but to me for the money the MTH would probably be your best bet. ( mainly because you have the set-up for it. ) I do have Lionel A-B-A B&O and the power A and the B-unit each have 2 motors in them. But I have nowhere to run trains.