3rd Rail diesels

I have the F3 ABA in NYC on order.  This will be my first 3rdrail diesel also.   I'm sure you will get nothing but glowing reviews.  Best detail, best drive system out there, ERR cruise, the ability to add Kadee couplers with no modifying, fixed pilot.   The only thing that's just ok are the sounds package but 3rdrail is limited on what Lionel will let them use. 

Well.... They rock!

I only have this Budd RDC from 3rd Rail but it is well done and runs quite well:

Great runners ,great detail and a great owner in Scott

I have 7 3rd Rail diesels in 2 rail and they run great and have great detail.   Each release has improvements.    In 2-rail they offer the QSI sound system which to my (not so good) ear sounds really great and has more options than I will ever need.    if you program CV (control variables) directly rather than use a computer system, I think there are over 350 CVs that you could potentially program.     Realistically only about 5-6 are used for basic control and another 20 if you want to put in a speed curve.    There are multiple horns and bells included.     If  you use DecoderPro from JMRI all this is accessed/programmed through windows screens and you don't even need to know what CVs you are working with.

Thanks for all the input so far. I'm running 3 rail with both DCS and legacy. I also looking at the NYC PA, I like it over the new MTH new one, due to the fixed pilots.

Don't forget the GP7/9.    Scott is on the winning streak with these diesels.  Maybe a RS3 would be in the offering someday

If it's external detail you want, fixed pilots and other scale features then these are nice models. As mentioned above, they lack Legacy sound and advanced Legacy/DCS operating features but are very smooth runners.

superwarp1 posted:

Don't forget the GP7/9.    Scott is on the winning streak with these diesels.  Maybe a RS3 would be in the offering someday

I also would like to see 3rd Rail do a Alco RS3 

I ordered two of the Krauss Maffei  ML-4000, those will be my first 3rd Rail ''Diesels''. I have a few of their steam locos and they are wonderful models. As of recently 3rd Rail will be my main vendor for locos because of the quality and detail.  If I want Legacy control/sound I'll custom install it but DCC/sound is way better.

I have 8 of the steamers and 2 diesels.  The latest is an AB set of F7s.  They get an A+ for appearance, an F for customer support and a C for operation.  If I had a do-over I'd go MTH or Atlas.  On 2 of my steamers I gutted them and put in PS2.  That makes for a near perfect engine in my opinion.

I have 1 loco the FL-9 in New Haven colors. I also have to agree with the above somewhat. It looks great but it has been back to 3rd Rail 3 times within the first year or so. It runs ok but sometimes the motor freezes up and I have to take the shell off to free up the flywheel. There is no real customer service and I probably will never buy another loco. I am interested in the NH GP-9. I'm waiting for Lionel to make a Legacy EP-5 and this will be on Ebay.

So electronically, 3^rd, rail is on par with Atlas O. As it’s equipped with ERR Cruise TMCC, & Railsounds.