Santa Fe F units comparison/opinions

Was hoping for some informative replies to this thread. Who has some experience with the Atlas and/or 3rd Rail units that they would like to share please?

Nothing informative.  Except for the track, that is one of the most realistic model RR scenes I have ever seen.

I have the Atlas F7 released last year.  I am NOT a prototype expert, but they look great to me.

I have 3 powered and 1 dummy and they run very well as a train.  The detail level is incredible and I think the SS panels look very convincing.  They couple very closely and I love the fixed pilots.  I really love these engines.  I can't believe I am selling them.  They are on the For Sale Forum right now.  Unfortunately, I have some big train purchases coming in the next month or so and I have to sell them.

I will stay with my 2353 F units.  They actually run just fine.

I have the newer MTH (F3), ATLAS (F7) and  3rd Rail (F7) And the older un-shiny LNL(F3).

Oddly well maybe not oddly the details vary as well as the RED color.  For mere Power the 3rd Rail have the most motors. Also the  3rd Rail B-units have the masthead within the vertical bolting so not broken up. Other than on real close inspection they are very similar.

Because I decided that Bluetooth is a very nice option I may get the newer LNLs.

The fixed pilot option of both the Sunset and Atlas versions will be hard to beat.  While I don't have the ATSF F7s, the Sunset E8 stainless plating is very convincing as that model has less sheen than the first run F7.  It will all come down to the plating quality.  I am certainly biased, but I still prefer the pulling power of the Sunset drive also.

I'd post pictures of the E8s, but due to a recent move my entire train collection is relegated to a 10x10 which doesn't leave me room to get in the room until I go through some boxes and reorganize.

I would have to agree with Dominic, I love my set of 2353's and then the Lionel reissue set from 19+90 and also the MTH set from 2005.

c.sam posted:

 

Would you consider the Legacy Lionel for the Legacy system alone?

I gather from some comments I read last year in the several informative threads that Lionel's 'scale' F3 introduced back in the early 2000s is actually a very good 'model'. The later F7 was cursed with the 'high-water' trucks but both were evidently 'good' scale units.  What say you?

I don't think anything's changed from the comments people made on this subject in the thread a couple months ago. Never seen the Sunset version, but of course they're very expensive, and have less than cutting edge sound. I've seen the Atlas versions. To me the main problem with them is the dull red color, as was talked about in threads after they came out, plus some issues with scratches on the "steel" panels. And the sound system isn't as good as other versions.

Like many, I felt Lionel soon would be coming out with a scale Legacy version of the F-3 Warbonnet, and here it is. Given that Lionel's previous scale Warbonnets were excellent models, and combine that with the addition of Legacy, plus "stainless" panels, and it's rock and roll. 

I'm curious to see the Lionel Legacy F units with stainless panels. Legacy control beats them all for multiple powered unit consists...hands down. 

I have MTH PS2.0, PS3.0, Lionel TMCC, Atlas and 3rd Rail with TMCC. Best out of the box.... Atlas hands down. The red is just fine, that real gloss paint did not last long in real life anyway. Shades of red were all over the place after a few years of dirt, grime, and sun fade.

My Lionel TMCC F3s run the best but they do not have that fine slow speed control. They are passenger engines anyway, track speed baby. 

Sam posted this one already.... Sunset 3rd Rail F7s... HEAVILY modified

Lionel TMCC F3's HEAVILY modified-- my favorite runners

The same F3s weathered as seen at the end of their career

3rd Rail F7s on top, Lionel F7s on the bottom

3rd Rail close coupling -- no they did not come like that out of the box

3rd Rail on top.... Atlas F7s bottom, right out of the box

and yes of course 2353

Awesome work Doug!  You made a great point that I failed to mention in my post about the Atlas F7s...the Atlas units required very little work to get them to look so good.  I used Atlas 2 rail couplers and it was really just an unbolt and replace with new 2 rail coupler job.   Fixing the front pilot was a bit more work but NOT very difficult.  I saw your post in the 3R forum about the time and effort you put on your 3rd Rail engines.  The Atlas did not require near that level of effort!

Laidoffsick posted:

and yes of course 2353

From what I hear, the B unit for the 2353 was actually 2343C, the B unit from the year before.  Nice 2245 and Central units.  What is the 2245 pulling?

I have the Lionel scale set, the Sunset and Atlas sets. I am a warbonnet nut, obviously. I think they are all gorgeous. Lionel set is F3 and the others F7's. Each set has its own particular attraction. I guess I should do some photos with all three. I will when the moment strikes me. Lots of photo setup necessary for good photography. The Atlas set plating and close coupling looks great to me. I don't have any plating issues with the B units. The red is a bit dull compared to the Sunset units. The Sunset red and sheen are my cup of tea. Pulling power is good all around with Sunset and Atlas. I have a very long El Capitan set and the Atlas units breeze right along. I have an ABBA with three powered units. I will install the fixed pilots on the Atlas and Sunset units.

Scrappy

My trains are mostly low budget. MTH Premier F3s with TMCC and rail sounds from Electric Railroad company. Look good, run good, low price.

Doug, your Santa Fe roster is second to none!

These A.T.&S.F. displays 'ain't too shabby' either...

Laidoffsick posted:

Best out of the box.... Atlas hands down. The red is just fine, that real gloss paint did not last long in real life anyway. Shades of red were all over the place after a few years of dirt, grime, and sun fade.

As for me, I'm not in the market to buy pre-weathered engines.   Plus, it looks odd when the front of the engine is weathered and faded, but the rest of the engine looks shiny and brand new. 

They dont look faded, just not high gloss. None of the Lionel Fs are high gloss either!

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Laidoffsick posted:

and yes of course 2353

 

From what I hear, the B unit for the 2353 was actually 2343C, the B unit from the year before.  Nice 2245 and Central units.  What is the 2245 pulling?

The 2245 is pulling a set of 2400 series cars. The 2353 B unit I made from an EBay junker that someone sprayed 2 inches of primer on. I stripped it and painted it to match when I repainted the 2353 AA set. All those belong to my Dad from his childhood days. They just had some TLC from the flanges to the roof.