I have both several starter sets and I am leaning more to Railking. To me the sounds are better and definitely the smoke is 10 times better. Even with the older railking starter sets you can hookup a remote with the special Lock on as Lionel needs a transformer. I think in Detail Lionel takes the cake on this one. Just wondering what some of your thought are between the 2 starter sets. Thanks, Mark
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Mark,
I think it just depends on what you want. I don't mind having a transformer, but I can see your point of view that the MTH with the Remote is easier. One thing I would say about your question is that if you go with the Lionel set, and you want to expand to any new Lionel Starter Sets, any of new the LionChief engines/sets will work with a transformer instead of the wall power they come with and then you could run two trains if one is LionChief.
So that part is really up to you.
If you go new, I would go with a Lionel set with the LionChief Control Systems. They are much easier to use than the MTH. The other thing that would take me to Lionel is that MTH is closing shop next year. An Lionel does not need a transformer for their LionChief systems. You simply plug into the wall and connect to the track. Even with that, the LionChief engines will still work with a transformer instead of the wall and then you could run two trains if one is LionChief.
But really, it is up to what catches you eye in terms of the set you go with.
MTH - the control system is the same whether you have a starter engine or $1500 steamer.
-Greg
@Greg Houser posted:MTH - the control system is the same whether you have a starter engine or $1500 steamer.
-Greg
Greg,
It depends on what set he has in terms of control. The early MTH sets only had electronic forward/reverse. I don't even know if they put Proto1 in their sets (they may have, but I haven't seen them.
If you are talking about Power, they may work with the big steamer, but the small transformers that came with the old sets would have troubles powering that big engine, especially if there are passenger cars behind it.
I would go with a new Railking starter set. Better quality than a Lionel set. I see more posts about Lionel starter sets or locomotives having to go back to Lionel for repairs or replacement. True MTH is going out of business but you should be able to find a good new MTH set from dealer stock who are trying to clear out their MTH stock.
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