i am considering getting into the o gauge hobby and i have some very basic questions
first, hopefully i am in the correct forum
lionel was the only product available when i was a kid, but i see an o gauge distributer called mth (less expensive)
do people mix and match - for example if i were to buy a transformer from meh, would it work on lionel products or do you risk losing some of the bells and whistles (literally) - is the rolling stock compatible
another question is am i better served buying through the internet or working through a dealer
would appreciate any comments and suggestions
thank you
jpc
Last question first...
As a new person to the O Gauge hobby, by all means deal with a local hobby shop if at all possible. You may save a couple of bucks buying off the internet, but the LHS can show you the options available to you and anwser questions as they occur.
MTH, Lionel, Williams by Bachmann, Weaver, Atlas O are all compatible at the basic level. They will run on each other's track, couple to each other locomotives and rolling stock and can be controlled "conventionally," meaning a basic transformer ant wo wires going to the track. Lionel and MTH both have transformers that will provide adequet conventional control. What you get fuctionally with conventional is Forward-Neutral-Reverse-Neutral sequence control, along with speed, bell and whistle control.
The slipery slope is command control. There are two main systems in O. Lionel's TMCC/Legacy and MTH's DCS system. Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages. This is where a local dealer comes in handy again.
Either system has a rather large initial investment, although MTH offers a basic DCS system with their starter train sets. Others on this forum are more familiar with the subtilties of these two systems than I.
I would leave command control for a later day when you become a little more familiar with the O Gauge hobby.
Good luck and welcome!
Rusty
