Hi everyone, I’m totally new here and in need of some help. My only experience with model railroading was as a kid playing with my Bachmann HO Empire Builder and Lionel O sets. My 8-year old twin boys have the Lionel Polar Express O-scale set and have become very interested in model trains. Over the weekend, we decided to do a father-son project (I'm handy/mechanically inclined, but not when it comes to electronics) and build an O-scale layout in the basement. I did some research over the weekend (on-line and picking the local hobby shop guy’s brain, who has been model RR’ing for 50 years). From my on-line research, I get the impression that MTH is considered better quality than Lionel. The hobby shop thinks so too, but says MTH is too much maintenance for the casual-to-moderate hobbyist. Before investing any more money, I plan to do a lot more research, but here are my “barney” questions (apologies if already answered elsewhere) – - Is MTH a better quality train than Lionel? Is there a quality difference between MTH and MTH Railking? If so, is Railking or Lionel better quality? - Is MTH recommended/not recommended for the casual-to-moderate hobbyist who may not operate the trains daily or even weekly? -Are MTH and Lionel compatible? i.e. – can both their locomotives/trains run on the same tracks or do they require different track sizes, different voltage, etc.? Can the functional accessories (like crossing gates, draw-bridges, etc.) be mixed and matched between the brands? -Assuming our layout has several accessories, what basic “control device” is recommended to have them all independently functioning (like a crossing gate, a draw-bridge, etc.)? -Not knowing the proper search terms, I can’t seem to find different radius curves (we plan to lay 2 – 4 tracks to run in parallel for some stretches) and we also can’t find track that can be used for inclines and declines (our layout will have uphills/downhills). Are ready-to-use items available? -Finally and most importantly – any recommendations on what I should be reading to get started and educate myself on the basics would be greatly appreciated. The web is great, but it is also information overload for the newbie. Thanks ever so much for any/all help! Peter
The tinplate, three rail or hi-rail O should all run on the same track gauge. There may be a difference in what track radius a specific engine or locomotive can negotiate. As for accessories, at least with Lionel when I was in that, they all came with their own device to activate such as an individual crossing gate, etc.
I recall reading an article a few years back in the magazine "Classic Toy Trains" (forget the name - it is basically a magazine for people whose main interest in model trains is O Scale and S Scale) which discussed compatability between Lionel and MTH control systems. My recollection is that you can run either brand of loco with a transformer/controller from the other vendor, but that the advanced functions might not work (i.e. horns, light control on/off, open the coupler, etc). Here is a web page that introduces some of the terminology and technology available in O guage trains. I have not checked if all its info is correct or up to date for 2011, but it has some info that should help you: http://henrykautz.org/Trains/getting-started.htm Here is another article which discusses compatability between Lionel and MTH systems: http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/53138/673491.aspx I am not an O scale expert, but I hope this info at the links above helps you.
Thanks so much to those that have offered help so far. Seems MTH is a lot more technologically advanced (sounds, volume control, steam loco steam control, remote operation, etc.). But I also seem to recall reading somewhere that the locos have an internal battery that needs to be charged and annually replaced. With all the extras, do they hold up as well as Lionel for the long-haul (no pun intended)? Would still appreciate further inputs on whether MTH is okay for someone not operating the trains daily.
PJ - I am curious as to what type of maintenance your hobby shop friend indicated that the MTH trains would need over the Lionels? ....and along those lines, why would not operating the trains daily increase the level/complexity of maintaining the layout? I am not an O scale expert by any stretch, I model HO - but I can't see where it would be all that different.
