I applaud Menard's for again introducing a product that is priced and aimed at the entry-level O Scale/gauge modeler, and has some form of handheld control (although I can't find WHAT the Menard's handheld is, exactly). The "other" companies' offerings are similar in price, with handheld control, but (I think) all have small, and only ONE motor.
These Menard's engines should hit a market for parents (and youth) who are tired of the limited pulling power, and (the resulting) motor failures of other "starter set" engines.