Disclaimer:
I am under 35 years of age and I know my opinions may differ from those who have been in the hobby who have “(object of your choice here) older than me” (On a sidenote when someone says that to me I HATE IT. Buy some new **** socks, they don’t last that long and if you’re using a sock older than 35 years you’re gross!
Disclaimer over!
As someone who has been in the hobby for less than five years. I am devastated at the closing of MTH . I currently have 7 new/modern engines a mix of steam diesel and electric. Only one is from Lionel, which I purchased on a whim. I was drawn to MTH over Lionel for the following reasons:
1. I put a great deal and effort into researching and studying the different control systems and I personally felt the MTH System was the superior of the two . I work in IT in the system simply spoke to me. As Someone who grew up with computers and smart phones the math systems interface feels modern and makes logical sense to my mind. (I use the phone app, I have no interest in a handheld remote)
In contrast the Lionel system feels extremely dated to me. It’s combination of serial cables and small jumper boxes. These blue Circuit board boxes, That have electric jumper inputs. It just seems like something from the 80s, It feels mechanical almost as if you need a degree in electrical engineering to understand it. Simply put it’s a turn off, it looks complicated, Therefore I will not investigate it further. It looks dated, Therefore I will look for a system that is modern.
An axiom that wraps it all up!
“If you need to explain your user interface, you have already failed!”
2. In five years Lionel Has only released one engine that I have been truly excited about. Something that made me say I am going to pre-order that right now no matter what. The B&O em-1. And because I feel like Lionell is personally trying to insult me. In the catalog where it was Announced, the B&O version was not in center stage, but instead on the fold with a fantastic Scheme enlarged and in center! Total B.S. (but back to my point, that has really ****ed me off for a long time) every MTH catalog had at least 2 or 3 things I just had to have. They seemed to release more interesting things and in a greater Variety of smaller and regional railroads. I don’t recall Lionel doing any thing in Canton, Maryland and Pennsylvania, or other similar lines.
3. Packaging
This is something that in MTH gets so right, and Lionel the granddaddy, the one who has been around the block, the expert in the industry Utterly and completely fails at!
I am going to type a single word: Purple
From that single word you know exactly what I am talking about!
You see a purple box on the table and you KNOW, the item in that box is Beautifully crafted and SCALE. There is no question in your mind what is going to be inside of a yellow box versus a purple box.
By contrast, there is an orange box well who knows!
Why can’t they just print o gauge or scale one the label.
The loss of MTH IS devastating to me, I think the industry is going to stagnate and get well boring, oh goodie another cartoon theme train set, I can’t wait for that Flintstones meet the Jetsons set! Can’t wait for another branded cash grab. Looking at you Scooby-Doo and Star Trek.
Simply put MTH is a model company that makes some toys.
Lionel is a toy company that makes some models.
Lets all light a candle for 3’rd rail.
