As a relative noobie in the modern era of 3-rail o-gauge (returning after a 17 year hiatus), with a nice collection of post-war Lionel and a couple of recently purchased Williams by Bachmann diesels, I’m looking to buy some currently produced steamers as well as expand my rolling stock. I’m concerned about the size difference I’ve seen in hobby shops of traditional O compared to scale O. To my eye they actually look like two different gauges even though they run on the same track and fear it would look silly to intermix them. For that reason I’ve found myself looking at the MTH Rail King Imperial line and wondering how they compare to Lionel traditional and WBB equipment. I'm not keen on spending a grand on anyone's engine, so I think I'll stay away from 1:48 O Gauge.
Is there anything in either of the Lionel or WBB lines that compare with RK-Imperial in the quality and level of detail? Also, does MTH rolling stock match up well size-wise to Imperial? I didn't see anything in their catalog that identifies any of their rolling stock as specific to Imperial.
I guess I should also say that I’m running my layout conventionally right now with block control but may consider switching to either DCS or Legacy at some point in the future so equipment that can operate both conventionally as well as with command control is preferred. I understand you can vary the track voltage with either MTH’s or Lionel’s systems and I just wouldn’t be able to operate old and new equipment simultaneously. (I don't have separate loops, I have insulated blocks in a cab-control environment.)
I’ve read some posts referencing the Lionmaster line of trains that seem to compare with Imperial but apparently Lionel has given up on it which leaves me wondering if Lionel can’t make a go of it with Lionmaster maybe MTH is having or will be having the same problem with Imperial.
Thoughts, opinions, criticisms of the respective companies equipment welcome.
