We had a discussion in the European forum and as usual, it was an education for me.  Now that I'm probably going to stay with this forum and presumably a different bunch of folks, I would be interested in hearing what brands you prefer and why.  I currently have my LGB starter set little green Stanz loco, a new (Santa brought) Aristo Rogers 2-4-2, and a Bachmann 4-6-0.  The little green LGB will out pull both of the others and the big Bachman seems to be the weakest and has traction issues(to be fair, it came out of a barn and was very dirty and not in the best condition).  What kind of load am I pulling you ask?  Approx 11 assorted cars on a flat layout.  I find the typical German quality in the LGB line appealing but their price seems a bit excessive and some of their stuff lacks in scale detail (they claim to build toys not models).  My Bachmann loco is a little "junky" (too much plastic), but I really like my Bachman passenger cars.  My Aristo Rogers is a nice new loco that looks good, plenty of scale detail at a very reasonable price.  On the other hand, the Aristo passenger cars are quite a bit more $$ than the Bachmanns and I'm wondering if they are worth it?  I don't know anything about USA or the other brands and would appreciate any and all enlightenment.

i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/sailbode/Newyears08013.jpg

D

I have a Rogers also...and an LGB SV Switcher,and a Few HLW Mack's...the rest of the stable is Bachmann....our rolling stock is a mix of Bachmann, LGB, USA and HLW.

I want to model NG Steam Fn3 (1:20.3) for me and whatever will take it for the kids.

cale

Over the past year I've become a USAT guy.  My F1A/B are gone along with my RS3 and of course my Pacific was the first to go.  My -9 sits on a shelf and I take it to shows because it's BIG.  Although the SD70 is bigger is it not?

Now I run all GP9's and a pair of SD40-2's and another pair of SW1200's (NW2's)

My rolling stock is a mix but no Bachmann and no LGB.

I think it's simply because USAT builds what I want and it has nothing to do with quality.

Dave

Run and own are different things...

I run about 90% aristo... FAs, FBs, RS3s, 04-0... I have a USA GP38, and a GP7/9 they are great too...

I have a few pieces of USA rolling stock, 1 tank car and a caboose... but the bulk is Aristo... 9 Covered Hoppers, 4 open hoppers, 8 box cars, 1 reefer, 1 tank car, 1 flat car and 2 cabooses...

I also have one LGB 2-4-0 that I like... (custom Western Maryland)

a few Bachmann Passenger cars, 4 or 5 I think...

Most of my Bachmann stuff just sits on a shelf... the era is wrong for what I model... I bought it long ago...

I bought LGB starter sets for my 2 sons... we run them under the tree at Christmas...

looking forward to getting a few Aristo GP40s...

Philip

All MTH operating under DCS and mostly MTH rolling stock with some MDC & Accucraft 1:32 mingled in...

 I have 3 Bachman Annie's, a Bachmann Mogal, and an Aristocraft Mallet. One Annie has been converted to MTH DCS, and the rest will be converted eventualy.

I run mostly USA Trains because I love their detail and quality and their price.  I also have some Aristocraft as well.   At Christmas, I add some Bachmann rolling stock around the tree in the basement, but I only run 1:29 out of doors.

Mostly USA Trains... I like the detail they provide and they run very well.   They also come in road names I prefer.  I also have a Bachmann 4-6-0 Mogul...and an Aristo RDC.  My  rolling stock is a mix of Aristo and USAT depending on the road names and style of car but I like tank cars and hoppers. 

Gary

I run mostly Bachmann since mostly I will be modelling more the old west look, I also have 1 LGB and 1 Hartland. For me I am not into the detail as many are but more in to the running and relaxing, I have not looked at DCC or any other system yet I am still using Track Power. This year I will start my outside layout and am thinking of using Aristo Stainless but welcome comments on what track, other modes, ETC, I am still relativity new to Large Scale and have lots to learn.

I am also getting a lot of slippage on grades and was wondering if there is a way to add traction wheels to a Bachmann 4-6-0.

GlacierBill

What brand do you run?

Whatever I can afford! 

Its an eclectic mix, LGB, Bmann, Aristo, MDC, HLW...I dont play any favorites.

I run primarily Bachmann "Spectrum" locomotives; the Bachmann Climax was my first loco, got me restarted after a 10-year abscence model railroading.  Currently have the Climax, 3 2-truck Shays, 1 3-truck Shay, a Heisler, 1 each "Centennial" 4-4-0 & 2-6-0, 2 "Annie" 4-6-0's, 1 45-ton GE diesel.  Only non-Bachmann electrically powered locos are an LGB rail truck & USA Trains Alco PA diesel in NH colors (want to get a matching passenger train to go with it).  Control is via DCC, although still have a few locos to convert (the Christmas "Annie", the USAT PA, & LGB railtruck).  Rolling stock is a mix, although tending towards 1:20.3 equipment in recent purchases (Accucraft & Bachmann's new Spectrum 1:20.3 cars); older equipment includes some Aristo "Classic" / Delton cars (mostly wood hopper cars or reefers), & some LGB (US-style narrow gauge).  May acquire more 1:29 equipment in the future & run "standard gauge" some days, "narrow gauge" others, but do NOT plan to mix the two!  (1:29 equipment under consideration is more NH prototypes from USAT, an Accucraft-AMS PRR K4s Pacific, maybe Aristo's live-steam mikado).

I also have two 1:20.3 live-steamers (both Accucraft) on the roster; my "workhorse" 3-cylinder Shay (equipped with RC control), & a Ruby 2-4-2 (which desperately NEEDS RC control to deal with my grades! - It's a "wanna-be ACELA" running downgrade without it!).

Track is mostly Aristo "Euro" (narrow-gauge tie style) brass with LGB 16050 or 18050 turnouts.

                                                                                                                                                               Tom

I have also been collecting while getting ready to build the pike (will be basement full perimeter). Have mostly LGB passenger trainsets: five different trains from a Stainz-powered Euro starter set to an RhB Crocodile pulling a full consist of 3 Alpine Classic Pullman Express cars, a baggage car (and a brand new Gourmino Dining Car when it arrives next week from the UK). I like to run short equipment, relatively short trains. In a small space, it makes the most sense. If I had a 1/2 acre backyard with a fence around it, I'd have 40 car US-style trains pulled by MU'd diesel lashups too. But I have to choose what works well and looks reasonably plausible within the small envelope I have for the layout. If one models short lines and/or narrow gauge lines, one really should not have to worry about pulling power - keep train consists short, keep grades below 3% and all should be fine.

I also have Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation with some Jackson Sharp passenger cars and it is a good running set. My single Aristocraft RS-3 pulls a short load (8) of freight cars. I bought a USA SW4 switcher for fun and it too runs smoothy. I have no qualms about any of this equipment-  so far, for the short time I have run it on temporary layouts, it has all performed well. I think quality is close enought that it is more important to choose what you want to model and then select what model locos and cars fit that theme than to worry about brand comparisons. The biggest headache is mismatched couplers across the brands when just out of the box. But that can usually be remedied with a screwdriver...