ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
Hello all,
New to the site and to the hobby. Have been a rail fan for years but not "scale" railroads. Just purchased my son (4yr old) two HO and one N scale Bachmann sets and I have been playing with it more than him! I realize these are very basic sets, but it has me wanting to build a nicer layout for myself (I meant for him ) It has even prompted me to go into my parents attic to get the old set I had as a child. They were Tyco, Bachmann, and Life-Like brands and are not compatible with the newer sets. I have noticed the couplers are different that what I had as a child (mid 80's). What is the quality level from worst to first of the brands? I see so many options out there. Is the Bachmann bottom of the barrel and Althearn a premier brand? I would like to build an average entry level layout and not a award winner.
Thanks in advance!
First of all, welcome aboard. I have a very similar story to yours. My 18 month old son has somehow taken a real interest in trains (especially Thomas). So I just got back into the hobby a month or so And now here I am building my very first N scale layout. Kids are great aren't they?
In my very inexperienced opinion Kato is one of the best. I had Bachman and Kato stuff. Kinda comparing the lower quality to the higher. The Bachman stuff didn't come close to the Kato quality. That was 15 years ago though. I hear Athern is very nice too, but I never owned any of their stuff. Con-Cor makes nice rail cars, as well as Micro-Trains. I think you get what you pay for with most of this stuff. It just depends on how much you want to spend, and what kind of trains you want to run.
Rating based on HO locomotives
Worst -
Model Power
Walther's "Life-Like" brand
Bachmann
-----------------------break off line would not buy any of the above, would consider any of those below
Con Cor
IHC / Mehano
Walther's TrainLine
Walther's "Life-Like" Proto-1000
Athearn Blue Box
Bachmann Spectrum
Athearn Ready to Roll (RTR)
Stewart/Bowser
InterMountain
Athearn Genesis
Broadway Limited/Precision Craft
Walthers "Life Like" Proto-2000 and Proto-Heritage
Atlas
Kato
Best - Trix
Rating for HO Freight cars.
Model Power
Industrial
Bachmann
LifeLike
Mehano
old Tyco
IHC
old AHM/Rivarossi
------------------------break off line would not buy any of the above would consider any of those below
old TrainMinature
Bachmann Spectrum
Bowser
old MDC / Roundhouse
Athearn Blue Box
Atlas Trainman
Accurail
Branchline (Yardmaster)
Red Caboose
Walthers (they actually have several lines) Gold Series, etc.
Branchline (Blueprint)
Athearn RTR
BLI
Athearn Genesis
Intermountain
Westerfield
Bethlehem Car Works
Quality Craft
Exactrail
Fox Valley
Funaro & Camerlengo
Kadee
I am certain I am missing tens of brands from this list. I think I've hit all the majors except for one which purposely remains nameless (as I refuse to do business with them).
You forgot Micro-Trains line of stuff there Mr. Iron Horseman. They make some pretty nice rail cars. Some of my favs actually. But my favorite is my Gloor Craft Models Rail Craft Boxcars. They are a Craftsman kit and very nice. Its a terrible shame they aren't in business any longer.
I know nothing about bachmann's n scale equipment, but I know that they have been maufacturing some good stuff lately. I don't think I would buy their steam switchers (0-6-0) again, but the diesels they are making have at least decent detailing and run smooth and quiet. Pulling power may not be the best out there, but they are decent locomotives for the price you will pay. Bachmann used to be pretty much crap and I have a few of those locos to this day, but the newer stuff is pretty good IMO.
Micro-Trains brand are N-scale and Z-scale. They broke off from Kadee sometime in the early 1980s. Some sort of dispute between the two owners. Kadee took the HO and larger lines - Micro-Trains took the N and smaller. I have a few N-scale cars with the Kadee brand name on them.
I have two matching Bachmann (#63551) GP40 locos. Decent in the detailing and they stay on the track pretty well, but they run differently. They may look nice, but the inconsistency in how they run has given me fits. One is much slower than the other and I'm told they're not easy to convert to DCC.
Not bad for starter sets, especially considering I paid $25 for one and $32 for the other. I just wouldn't depend on anything Bachmann for long term projects.
As for my Kato ($76) and Athearn ($88) locos, I couldn't be happier!
) It has even prompted me to go into my parents attic to get the old set I had as a child. They were Tyco, Bachmann, and Life-Like brands and are not compatible with the newer sets. I have noticed the couplers are different that what I had as a child (mid 80's). What is the quality level from worst to first of the brands? I see so many options out there. Is the Bachmann bottom of the barrel and Althearn a premier brand? I would like to build an average entry level layout and not a award winner.
