unusual

I have not had any operational issues out of the box either with MTH or Lionel.  I have had shipping damage issues though.  I think the mfrs. pack their products too tight in foam so that a shock in shipment is transferred directly to the item.  They need some flexible cushioning in their packing, in my opinion.

.....

Dennis

It's refreshing to see a positive post about a product. Most only post their complaints. You are not alone, thousands of sets perform perfectly out of the box. Enjoy

I tend to agree... Of everything that I had purchased, other than shipping damage from poor packing, they all seem to work as advertised.  I am shooting for all TMCC1/Legacy control, so I've concentrated on Atlas and Lionel (a lot), and have never had an electrical or manufacturing issue.

Thanks,

- Mario

I'm very glad you're having fun.

It's funny but logical that the less expensive, less complex "starter" set level products have far fewer problems than the whoop-de-doo super doo-rang stuff. 

Pete

Nice to hear a happy story for a change of pace. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

I've bought enough stuff I have had a few issues with all manufacturers, but Lionel RTR and LC sets are solid and fun.  Enjoy the holidays!

Glad your new train set is working for you and your family and you are all enjoying it. And it's good to hear a post about a positive experience. I think your experience is probably the case for 99% of all buyers of new trains and train sets. Also, I think most people tend to post only about their problems and not so much about their good experiences. There are many people on this forum. I would guess that probably represents many thousands of trains. Some folks have a LOT of trains. When you think about that, the problem posts are very small compared to the number of trains represented.

I have accumulated quite a few trains in the last few years after re-entering the hobby. Mostly all new purchases and ALL command control with the complex electronics. As I have said here many times before, I have had very few problems. I have not had to return anything to the seller or send anything back to the manufacturer for repair. Needed one part that was bad, called the manufacturer and one was shipped out to me the same day I called. I think we have great products and great service from our LHS's and manufacturers. I have also had no shipping problems with any of the major shippers. The products being offered by the manufacturers are overwhelming. The selections have never been better and it's a great time to be in O gauge! I'm a very happy camper.