I didn't want to hijack Peters thread as my topic is similar but maybe we can both learn from both threads. After reading and learning alot here I went to my LHS today and learned some more. I would really like to give them the money as a small business and their prices are in line with online prices but I wanted to bounce a few comments off a wider range of experience here on the board. The RTR set they suggested was the Lionel Santa Fe Flyer ($225) or the MTH Pennsylvania 4-6-0 Steam ($310) The hobby shop guy believes the MTH is the superior locomotive but he suggested throwing away the MTH track and go ahead and buy the Lionel track. Also he didn't like the proprietary DCS ? controller electrics of the MTH and much preferred the standard 80 watt transformer of the Lionel set. He also said the MTH came with metal trucks compared to the Lionel plastic and I would get alot more bells and whistles with the MTH. So I guess my question is the MTH track really that bad and is the power unit locomotive that much better on the MTH? Thanks for the continuing education Bob
Bob, Lionel's track is stamped tin, meaning it's hollow. I prefer the solid nickel silver rail MTH uses for their track. I've used the old Lionel tubular track for my floor layouts for years. About 12 yrs ago I bought the MTH track system for my boys and found it to be just fine. That was before Lionel brought out their track with the plastic road bed. I like the looks of the MTH better also. The MTH engines in the starter sets have the DCS which does give you more bells and whistles. Lionel's proprietary TMCC only comes in the higher end locomotives. Both are good with Lionel’s locomotive sounds a bit better, IMHO. But having said that, I'm disappointed that they didn't go the DCC route. I've also heard a lot of complaints about the Lionel 80 watt transformer. The bigger and more expensive transformers hold up better and allow you to add more engines to the layout or increase the size of the layout without performance issues. Greg
I cannot speak for the drives because I only have one Williams Amtrak set and haven’t really got to run it because it requires very long radius track. I have lots to say about the MTH track. For one, I agree with Greg on the solid rail and I also like the looks better. Lionel Fastrack has a inherit noise problem that I have not noticed on the MTH, but I have my MTH track mounted on rough sawn pine and I have the Fastrack mounted to ¾” plywood with fiber board in between. The Lionel FasTrack is very noisy and I found that by removing the screws and gluing or painting the track in place helps a lot. I DO NOT like how MTH track connects together. You have to be very careful when connecting them because it is just too easy to destroy the contacts. I broke so many that can’t depend on them anymore and you can’t really see it unless you turn it over. I’ve broke so many that now I can feel it. I love the MTH brass, Nicole or whatever connectors because it is really easy to solder to and I have taken to do that about every 4 to 5 foot instead of relying on the spring connectors. All in all I probably like the Realtrax a little better and just wish it went together as easily as Fastrack. I have Three C80 power controllers, two are from the old sires which aren’t any good and I also have one of the newer “Modified” C80 which seem to be working ok, but the problems on the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] ones didn’t show up for about 6-8 months. I have on order the MTH Z1000 Transformer so this year I’ll be able to check that out sometime soon.
I would rather not use the fast track myself, but my layout is large with one circle 375' of track. I use Gar-Grave on all 0 gauge , I love my MTH Z-4000, have not tried any of the smaller ones
