I just bought the Lionel Santa Fe GP35. Here is the forum link to some pictures.
All in all it is a nice unit with a good bit of detail. However, from the thread you can read that some would like more detail so for some the detail level is sufficient and for others it is not.
The MTH and Lionel units are nearly identical in terms of construction. Both MTH and Lionel units follow postwar FM trainmaster construction. They both have plastic cab/body atop a sheet metal chassis equipped with die cast metal fuel tank, trucks, truck side frames, and pilots. They both have all metal gearing. Twin vertically mounted motors drive the wheels.
The Atlas O unit has a hefty die cast metal chassis. With exception of the plastic body, the Atlas unit is all cast metal and is quite a bit heavier than the Lionel or MTH units. In this regard the Atlas units are superior.
MTH, Lionel, and Atlas all have an electronics package. The electronic package is located between the two can motors in all three units. All three share the same construction again in this regard. MTH has DCS system, Lionel the Legacy system, and the Atlas unit has Trainmaster Command Control.
Since I just received my GP35 one would think that your NS GP35 by L would be on its way soon.
