Your thinking on Lionel vs MTH for sale

I think it's simply because Lionel has been around SO MUCH LONGER.   Most of the time when someone wants to get into trains, they want newer things.  MTH is filling that need more often than Lionel because it's the newer company that has only been around since 1987 or so.   When I got back into trains not too long ago, MTH was the "Cutting Edge" company with more detailed engines and rolling stock.  It wasn't like what I was use to (Lionel and Bachmann).  So I went with MTH.  Another possibility is that people who have been into trains for a LONG time were almost all Lionel.  And when they liquidate their collections due to health or whatever, it floods the market with older Lionel stuff.

Just my thoughts on this.

As Tackindy said above, I think there is a lot more Lionel out there. I also think some folks are devoted Lionel fans and that's all they have in their collections, no MTH or any other brands. I think Lionel also outsells MTH. My LHS says they sell more Lionel than MTH, but it seems like they have a lot more MTH on their shelves?

I have mostly MTH on my layout and not very much Lionel. Lionel seems to make very little in my chosen road name, BNSF. MTH seems to always make more than I can afford to purchase in every catalog.

What is popular and  alot of folks want is quickly listed and sold here..... scale size 3 rail trains, no matter the make, are what sells the fastest these days... like it or not...

Btw..... orange vs purple topics usually don't last long on this forum....

I spend a good part of my forum time on the for sale or trade. Probably 95% of my rolling stock is MTH so that's what I look to buy here. I haven't been here all that long but there seems to be way more Lionel for sale than MTH. What are your thoughts on the reason for this if there is one?

Maybe people tend to hold onto their Lionel and not their MTH.
Reminds me of the days when I looked at the secondary market for Pentax equipment. There just wasn't a lot out there. It seems that most of the people who purchased Pentax held onto it.

When i first got into O scale i was only buying Lionel. Now i buy from all the manf. Lionel,MTH,Atlas.    

I've never been model RR brand loyal...I did have preferences for some things. I use TMCC/Legacy almost entirely, so I bought fewer MTH locos, but I bought them. I preferred MTH rolling stock, generally (feels better/tougher), but liked die-cast of any kind.

I'm not buying any more (90% true) - mostly because I'm full, but partly because the categories of "stuff" I like is no longer being expanded and probably won't be. "New catalog" doesn't have any magic anymore, which is fine.  

Think how much product Lionel produced BEFORE MTH  came to be!!!!!

I am buying more MTH then Lionel now because MTH makes more items in Reading Railroad then Lionel or Williams.

I have more then 60% Lionel rolling stock.

However most people who get into O gauge trains start with Lionel because Lionel has been around for years and that is the name they remember.

Lee Fritz

The best train is the next train. Never thought Would ever have this much stuff. I too buy used here and elsware if the item is good and the price is right. Never realy ben brand loyal. Did narrow down to midwest road names though when it comes to engines. The UP bug has got me now and its a killer. So many great engines made by lionel and mth. Got two used ones just recently. One mth the other lionel. Both were great deals and great models. I also buy new when its a good sale.

Yes, Lionel has been around almost 90 years longer than MTH. But, if it were not for Mike Wolf bringing Lionel into the Scale World, there would probably be no Lionel.  Mike, in my Opinion wins The Most Valuable Player Award in Our Train World as we see it Today.  Look at the 1992, 1993, 1994 Lionel catalogs. After Mike left Lionel, started his company, MTH, the Collecting/Operating of our model trains has never been the same.  Mike brought Realism beyond Imagination to this truly Wonderful World of Model Trains.  Atlas O entered the race and Today, We have The Best of the Best to choose from. I must mention Williams, K Line, Third Rail Sunset Models are extremely important players in today's train Hobby.

To answer your Question, There are lots of older Lionel trains with less technology from the past for Sale, to help in the Purchase of the Newer and better running trains of today.  I prefer Lionel Legacy, others prefer MTH DCS, both are really great.  Conventional operation is also a fun way to enjoy this hobby. I just like the new Bells and Whistles and hand held controllers....Yes, walking with the trains is a real fun way to enjoy the hobby with others...Today, 3 Rail Scale is where the Hobby is heading....Therefore, each to their own, I like the newer trains of Today.

It's the Best of Times in our Hobby, Happy Railroading and enjoy the Friends and Fellowship of The OGR Forum....

I prefer MTH passenger cars over Lionel due mostly to price and when it comes to rolling stock any will do as long as it's nice and the quality is good and the scale fits.