Photo Comparison - Lionel vs. MTH Heritage SD70

The one on the left is Lionel, the one on the right is MTH.  The difference in cab figures, wheel sidewall depths, and the front simulated MU hoses are the big giveaways to tell them apart.  

Great eyes, John. I picked the one on the right based upon the front coupler and the roof details. I have the MTH GHW Bush 4141 SD70ACE. It's one of my favorites...

Gilly

Also the lionel sits lower, so the gap of the pilot is less.

I prefer the Lionel because it runs and sounds better then the MTH version. It's one of the reasons I bought the Lionel NS heritages units. 

 I am a MTH fan and most here know it.

I always read that Lionel sounds better. I have bought them. Although they maybe louder, and some have more bass, they do not sound better. I should explain. To me they do not sound more realistic than MTH does.

 I put the MTH board thru my sound system. The digitally pure sound recordings are excellent. Usually more faithful to the real sound sets.

 The Lionel horn alone bugs me after a few blasts. It does not sound correct. The rest can sound better thru the engine like engine rumble. Most of the time it just starts getting on my nerves.

 I like Lionel's detailing and pilot gap on their three rail models better. I run two rail. So I close all gaps anyways.

 I have a Lionel Legacy Southern diesel that wobbles down the track. It has other drawbacks but I don't mean to just bash it. It runs pretty good. It sounds OK. I got it cheap.

 I have two favorite steamers I run. One MTH pacific is just plain perfect to me.

The other is a older brass (Weaver?) Pennsy with TMCC. I run it on three rail around the Christmas tree. It has my favorite sound dynamics. The engine cruises when the throttle is turned down a hair. It chuffs harder when advanced. The whistle sounds great.

 I do not have any Legacy Steamers but have heard most of them.

 I would love to own their metal shelled diesel from what I've seen. It just seems too highly priced for me to invest.

Way to easy.  

No need to go further then the gap between the steps and the frame.

Its the giveaway.

Not sure why but the bottom fell out literally on diesels built after the George Bush SD70.  

IMO, MTH has really improved diesel sound but that ugly gap especially between the trucks and frame keeps me buying Lionel

Joe