MTH vs Lionel opinions for a newbie

kmcsjr May 20, 2008

  1. kmcsjr

    kmcsjr TrainBoard Member

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    This year I found the addictive part of my personality that runs rampant in my family. Thankfully for me it model trains as opposed to something self destructive, and since my 2 younger kids use them with me....

    Anyway, this past christmas, instead of buying the $5 pickup for my old Lionel NKP Berkshire (I didn't know the pickup was missing, it worked until it hit the x in the track and stopped) our local hobby shop convinced us to buy a MTH RTR set with loco sounds. Now the addiction, found e-bay and I'm about a$1000 into MTH track, a second loco, a number of cars, all with the intent of a larger than before 3 line setup from Halloween through New Years... And yes I fixed the berkshire. lionels website was excellent. In under 5 minutes I had a blow up parts diagram for a ~15 year old engine using the road number and wheel ratio.

    Now for the question. Do I buy the Proto 2 updates, install em and go DCS, or do I try some other product? Despite my pickup foolishness, I am mechanically inclined enough to do the updates and look forward to this set-up, but the more I listen, the more I hear good things about Lionel and Atlas.

    Please help confuse me some more.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 20, 2008
  2. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Oddly enough, I resemble that remark!! :tb-wink:
    Except the kid part! Still single! Closest I get to kids is when my 3 nieces
    are over to visit the folks. :tb-smile:

    While I don't have an MTH RTR set, I have many sound equipped locomotives.
    Don't think I could go back to Non sound locomotives either! Too much fun!

    Yeah, Ebay can be addictive. Found a couple OOP MTH locomotives on Ebay several years ago, as well as a few freight cars that I could not find locally.
    Although, with the changes Ebay has made over the last year or so, I have done
    very little buying or selling.

    I'd suggest going DCS/Proto 2.0. I need to update my TIU/remote some day!
    Can easily update the MTH system online, as well as locomotive sounds.
    Just need a computer, test track and required cables/cords to do so.
    Not sure if Lionel system can be updated the same way, if at all, without having to send in for any required update(s).

    Atlas is good. I've not heard too much good about Lionel.
    Although, that was a year or more ago, so I'm not sure if
    they've improved any or not. Last I heard, Lionel quality lacked a bit to be desired.
    Granted, I've heard similar about MTH on occasion too.

    Would strongly suggest looking at Lionel and MTH systems.
    See what's available from both, and take both for a test run, if possible.
    I think what it'll come down to, is what YOU want and how much money you
    are willing to spend.

    Please note, my comments are made based upon MY personal experiences with
    MTH and Lionel equipment and operating systems.
    Again, I have both and am satisfied with both.
     
  3. ctxm

    ctxm TrainBoard Member

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    Ok, here goes. I model in O scale but I do use a lot of the 3 rail cars and convert them to 2 rail usage so I can tell you that all the companies make nice stuff, the quality varies by individual pieces throughout their lines. Atlas is probably the most consistently top quality, followed by MTH and Lionel about equal so go with what you like and mix and match them(don't forget Weaver too, they offer some nice stuff that the others don't).
    Now for your holiday layout, how big will it be? how complicated can it be? Do you want to spend enough to do DCS? If you only have room for a few locos and don't want to spend a lot you might look into the older lionel TMCC stuff. Lionel has a new system out so the TMCC stuff should start selling at a big discount and there's tons of it floating around on the used market and ebay. TMCC is very simple to operate, very rugged, and the sound is excellent. You could probably buy ready to run TMCC locos for the price of proto2 update kits and a TMCC control system can be had for less than $100........dave
     
  4. kmcsjr

    kmcsjr TrainBoard Member

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    Dave
    Thanks
    A ton to think about. I think Imgonna go DCS. MTH keeps improving it and I don't want to buy a discontinued setup. Technology seems to move too fast. I've got 6 monthe til the Halloween rollout of the Christmas setup. It's going from an 11x7 odd shaped figure 8 with turnouts to put cars on to an el with a 9x11 and 3x8 component. Hopefully 2 levels with an evolving village. 3 locos and a trolley. Good thing my wife likes me.
    Marty
     
  5. Jim Wiggin

    Jim Wiggin Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    On my wifes O scale layout we have used DCS since 2006. It allows the trains to creep like what I used to in N scale. Right now we have two MTH Proto 2.0 loco's. Expensive to me any ways at $350.00 each, but I never get tired of them. Atlas locomotives are the best in the scale department if that is what your after. If you want to run typical three rail, MTH and Lionel do a good job, don't forget Williams either, a bargain for the money. We choose DCS because we can run both MTH Proto 2.0 and Lionel TMCC equipped loco's by tying in the TMCC module with the MTH module. Also I like the fact that the MTH is upgradeable by down loading software on-line.

    Our fleet is mainly MTH, Lionel and K-Line engines with Atlas, Lionel, MTH and K-Line cars.

    [​IMG]
     
  6. kmcsjr

    kmcsjr TrainBoard Member

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    Very nice. Lots of Christmas cars! I like the raised look. I wish I hadn't bought so much realtrax on ebay. Lots of better looking stuff out there, but no way I'm replacing it this year. My wife has no idea she's geting 4 or 5 Christmas cars for Christmas this year. I'll also be looking for Halloween cars so I can set up earlier!
     

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