What do we like about the train manufacturers?

I like MTH 2/3 rail diesel with fixed pilots and Kadee mount pads.

PS3

I only like the ones who make 3-rail O gauge trains.

Pete

My preferences (prejudices?) are heavily shaped by the following, which you sould consider in determining if they are at all relevant to your needs.  I:

• run only conventionally
• strongly prefer scale locos with lots of "separately applied parts" to provide detailed eye-candy (whether strictly prototypical or not)
• want the best sounding synthesis of steam chuff,  diese rumble, and turbine whine/whoosh, whether strictly true to the prototype or not
• don't care that much about smoke, whistle steam, bell and horn authenticity,  rivet count, or if the sound is in fact true to the prototype's, if the loco looks and sounds good 
• don't mind paying premium price when I get all of the above

I like:

• Lionel is at the top of my list because they consistently deliver all of that in their Legacy and Vision products and Legacy runs smoother, slower, in conventional than anything else (at least with a ZW-L behind it).
• MTH because they offer some locos Lionel does not, their Premier line is usually about 15% less expensive than Legacy and their sound and low speed performance in conventional not that much less, and they make some very good buildings and such.
• WBB/Bachman - I haven't bought any locos or rolling stock recently and don't expect to.  I buy alot of their 'Streets stuff and to me that is what they are.  Great plastic figures and some buildings and accessories, too.
• RMT - a fun line of products tending far more to the "toy" side than "model" supported by great people who care.  I own about 24 BEEPS (only two not heavily bashed as to body and look), 5 BEEFS, 4 BANGS and love 'em all, even though they are not scale and don't have sound.  Fun!
• 3rd Rail - a serious if very limited product range that is far, far, to the "model" side and definitely not "toy," sometimes worth the money entirely because of the detail and look.  In my experience, not great slow speed runners (in conventional) but super detailed and stunning to look at.  I have one I use for display only, will probably buy at least one more.  
• Atlas - I have all Atlas track - the only atlas products I have as far as I know.  superb track - Nothing against them otherwise - I just have no reason to by Atlas locos or rolling stock.
• Woodland Scenics - great buildings, figures, accessories, etc. 

I Like:

• MTH Proto 3-2 scale-wheeled/fixed pilot diesels which I can run on 3-rail track.
• Lionel's LCS WiFi interface
• Atlas Masterline Rolling stock. The detail and weight are great.
• Competition among the manufacturers which has upped the detail and accuracy.
• Lionel FasTrack for its easy setup. Makes setting up a test track quick and easy and supports scale wheels.
• MTH ScaleTrax for its looks. Just wish they made more turnouts.
• Ross Turnouts. Enough said.

Yes

Yes

And

Atlas diesels are the best looking and best operating locos I own

And

ElectricRR for making TMCC upgrade kits easy.

I like MTH wide availability of BNSF loco prototypes in 1:48.  Also love their fixed-pilot 2r/3r six-axle locos.

I like Lionel for having the guts to make the massive 89' autoracks.

I love Atlas track and turnouts.  And their intermodal containers.

I like:

- The fact that we have at least some choice, even though I'm mostly an MTH guy

- Railking - for those of us that don't have a lot of space and can't justify $1000+ for a nicely detailed model

- PS3 for the most part

- DCS - it's what got me back into trains

- Fastrack - it's what made getting back into trains possible

- Visionline - I won't spend the money for them, but man they are nice

Whether all of the manufacturers make exactly what each of us want I am just glad they are all still making trains for us.................Paul

Atlas, for their reefers and other freight car models that do not look like toys or

caricatures....K-Line for their superb passenger cars... Third Rail for their occasional

rendering of a model that is not same old, same old.

I like Lionel because there Legacy system hands down beats everything else on the market. I think they are the leader in developing new and innovative features. The level of detail and quality of the engines for the price is also a big plus for me. I also think they have a fantastic service department. They may not always get it fixed on the first try, but they always make it right in the end. The online parts system is also great for those like me who like to do some repairs on their own.

I stop buying MTH a few years ago because they have no service department and their parts department leaves much to be desired. However, their accessories (firehouse, gas station, loading dock) are great.

I like Atlas for track and switches. I don't think you can beat the look of Atlas track with real ballast. A lot of people complain about their switches. I have 30 of them and really haven't had any problems with mine.

I like the fact that despite ~$200 not having the nearly purchasing power as it did 30+ years ago, Lionel is *STILL* making decent starter sets at the $200+/- price point.

MTH, for their commitment to producing finely detailed model products, and adding some prototypical sound effects to make their engines even more enjoyable.  It was MTH that got me back into this hobby.

ATLAS, for their line of "Steam Era Classics" rolling stock, as well as their standard line.  The detail on them is admirable.  I have only owned one Atlas Diesel, and it was also finely detailed, with a sound system that rivaled MTH.

ROSS switches, not only for their dependable performance, but just the fact that the owner of the business listens to us consumers and goes all out to solve any issues with his product line.

GARGRAVES, for consistently reliable track, no matter which production run.

MILLER ENGINEERING, for developing high quality, colorful, electronic signs and other lighting products to brighten up our layouts.

This hobby is blessed with manufacturers who are responsive to their customers and want to make sure the joy we get from their products is maintained.  As they mate the sophisticated digital world of model railroading with the complexities of the mechanical components that bring their products to life, we sometimes don't realize the many hours of engineering that make these toy trains work.  Although the interface between manufacturer and customer sometimes has stumbling blocks, the fact that they make themselves easily accessible for our issues is outstanding.

Mike 

I'm with Pete, I think we should like ALL o guage train manufacturers, considering toy train manufacturing is probably the least lucrative buisness one could have.

In the end "train builders" ultimately do so because they WANT to we should be grateful for the options we have.

MTH for having speed control and proto sounds.

WBB for not having speed control and proto sounds.

They make toys that I like to play with frequently.

MTH RailKing and Premier engines and rolling stock and accessories. IMHO, MTH offers the best 'bang for your buck' available today. Starter sets are a great value also. They also seem to offer more in the main road name I want, BNSF.

Lionel Also has some great products and features. I finally got my 1st Lionel diesel early last fall and can't wait to run it. 1st BNSF diesel they have had that I wanted and could afford since re-joining the hobby. I think they have the best sounds. I also really like Lionel Fastrack, great system, well thought out. I went with Atlas because of noise, but plan on having some Fastrack set up somewhere someday. I think they also have the best power supplies, I am using the Powerhouse 180's and would love to have a ZW-L someday.

Command Control is what got me back into the hobby a couple years ago, started with MTH starter set and DCS system. I have a Legacy system on order, looking forward to getting it and trying it out. I also like all the electronic stuff you can do with your train control and accessories.

Atlas track & switches. Atlas also makes some fine diesels and rolling stock as well as other items. Their signal system is on my 'must get' list. I think they also have nice accessory building kits, etc. Don't have much yet, but they are on the list of things to get in the future.

Added: Forgot Ameri-Town buildings and layout wire from our forum providers, OGR! Also very nice stuff!

To OGR: If anyone from OGR reads this, any chance of getting #18 & #20 - 2 conductor and #18-20-22 - 4 conductor in this same type of wire. (Possibly with a different color outer jacket, if not gray is fine)  I would purchase some as soon as it's available!

Everything else I forgot to mention. I have had very few problems with anything from any of our train or accessory manufacturers. The couple of minor problems I have had were self inflicted, not the fault of the broken piece. 

Lionel, since (for me) their Legacy control system and engines work as designed out of the box, and their ZW-L has been awesome.

Ross turnouts - they work great, and Steve and his crew's customer service is benchmark.

Miller Engineering - very unique, showy products.  Every time you think you have all you need they come out with new ones that you want to have (like 3D Lifesavers).  When visitors come by the layout, these are probably the most noticed and commented on accessories that I have.

Lionel and MTH - for getting into the smartphone / tablet mode of operations. [My 20 minutes one on one with Rudy on LCS at Fall York were priceless.]

Z Stuff - realistic products, great problem resolution and fast response from Dennis when you do encounter an issue. 

I can make the simple. I love the choices offered due to the competition and specialization of the manufactures.

So what is there not to like in any of the manufacturers.

I also like that they are still in business making train stuff.

It has to be a plus to have all of these manufactures. I remember back in the 70's when we hardly had any choice to what we could buy. We have come a long ways from back then, now with all of these manufactures putting out such a way array of products it is like putting a kid in a candy store. With that we now have to make tough choices as to what we want.

Lionel for Legacy engines & system, When I got mine I could not believe how so much fun I had operating 2 trains on just a 3'6" x 8' oval of track with 1 spur. Their customer service is 2nd to none, Vision Line, Fastrack, operating cars and accessories. To me they are leading the way in developing new innovations for model trains. The high level of detail and quality on their products.

MTH for their durable starter sets, for buildings and operating accessories, some great detail on their rolling stock.

Atlas for some great detail on their rolling stock.

Lionel = Tradition, excellent graphics and top electronics.

WBB = Heft, quality, and price.

MTH = Variety.

Atlas = Scale.

Many of the other companies are niche companies, meaning special runs of certain items.

I miss K-Line.

What do we like about the train manufacturers?   They make decent quality and innovative, fun trains.   They compete in an open marketplace with different price-points and different feature levels.   Thanks to all of them, its a great hobby!

That they even exist.

-Lionel, MTH, Weaver, Atlas, K-Line[yeah],Williams, 3RD Rail.

But also:

-Gagraves, Ross, Frank Curtis, IC Controls, Tortoise,Z stuff,Miler Engineering and a ton of Kit, Structure and Craft builders.

-TMCC, DCS[but only with Barry's Book].

-OGR Magazine, Classic Toy Trains Mag..[a "no,no" I just read] .

-The OGR Forum[most days].

-Jim Barrett and his Backshop advice.

-Mike Reagan.

-Woodland Scenics and Scenic Express.

-Pine lumber.

-Elmer's Glue.

-Deck screws.

I like them all because they have truly created the 'Golden Age of Model RRing'

We are definitely IN IT now....

Like Dewey, I like them because they make trains.

Lionel for TMCC, and Old Josh.  Nuff Said.  MTH for Railking, great line

of affordable trains.  Atlas, love their freight line of rolling stock.  WBB

great running trains, price is right.  

Many thanks,

Billy C

i like the fact that most manufacturers take the time to listen to guys like ourselves with our requests, sometimes for impossible items, yet they will virtually always take the time to listen and discuss our comments.  In the cases of Lionel, MTH, Atlas, 3rd Rail, Weaver or Bachman, I have never been "shooed" away at train shows or meets but always have been received with respect and patience.  And several times, the result of my requests have been new products that I have personally purchased.

I appreciate all of them.

Paul Fischer

Lionel - Mike Reagan and the Customer Service Department are top-notch.  Their turnaround time is amazing and they handle emails as expeditiously as possible.  I would like to clone them for all other manufacturers (non-train items) that I purchase from.  Also, their new product videos are very informative.  Keep up the good work, Mike and Co..

Lionel for innovative use of back-drivable worm gears in the Legacy product line, and its robust command control system.  Also for their excellent service department and great parts diagrams on their website.

MTH for putting their top-shelf speed control system in traditionally-sized trains (RailKing steam locos with PS2.)  However for 25 cents more, every loco & tender combination should have at least 3 pickup rollers!

3rd Rail for providing an alternative, and bringing some very unique low-volume offerings to O gauge.

Atlas for introducing their SW switcher, one of the best-running 2-rail locos "out of the box."  Maybe someday they'll put the SW drivetrain in all their locos.

Bachmann-Williams for the new 4-6-0.  Maybe someday they'll redesign their Golden Memories steam locos to run like this one!

Electric RailRoad (ERR) for easy-to-install command and speed control systems.

And as Matt already said, Ross for their excellent track products- outstanding variety and smooth operation.

I'm just glad we have them.  We are lucky they are still around.

Steve, Lady and Tex

What do we like about train manufacturers? Generally speaking they all do a reasonably good job servicing their clients but for my money Scott Mann (Sunset 3rd Rail) is without question the absolute best when it comes to quality 'scale' train products at reasonable prices. Scott Mann's commitment to doing quality stuff at affordable prices is in a league by itself. However, its just my opinion, but some of the 'other' leading train manufacturers tend to overprice their products at the expense to their loyal customers. This way of thinking isn't fair to their customers and certainly not desirable as a long range business model.

Scott is an absolute winner in my book!

They provided my wife and I a job for thirty years.

I like that Atlas O, Lionel, and MTH have made a large amount of Soo Line and Grand Trunk Western Locos and Cars in the past 15 years.

Andrew

Pretty new to this but so far my lionel engines do whatever the remote tells them to d every time luv it!  When the stars align my mth engines have awesome speed and sound  control, pretty fun to play with both!!

I like running trains.

I like that I am fortunate enough to live in a place where I can make enough and play with trains on the side.

I have no issues with any of the manufacturers and like different things about them all.

Personally, I have great respect for the way MTH supports their dealers.... They have been terrific to us Muffin's....

I like the fact that collecting and operating Lionel toy trains has given me a hobby that can occupy my time, challenge my mind, enable me to meet people and make friends and give me joy and gratification in my retirement years.

Repairing and serviceing, from basket cases to family heirlooms, is very enjoyable, and at times, entertaining, and it helps to self-sustain my hobby.

this is now the golden age of toy trains-we never had it so good-big boys-challengers-alleghenys-class a's-4-8-4;s-etc.-sound-tmcc-dcs-z4000;s-beautiful

scale diesels-do I need to say more-joe