$200 vs $2,000 Model Train!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- This video is all about the Menards and Lionel Legacy Union Pacific F-Unit Diesel Sets.
How do they stack up to one another?
Enjoy!
_About Me_
I have been collecting O Gauge Trains all my life and enjoy sharing the hobby with others. This channel is dedicated to sharing O Gauge Trains and Experiences. I enjoy collecting trains from all eras and learning about the history and influence that model trains have had for generations.
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Menards is very smart. Not everyone can afford a $2,000 engine! At least at $200 more people have a chance at buying trains, that's why I bought the Menards Union Pacific engine.
I'm waiting till Menards comes out with a steam locomotive
I prefer Menards over Lionel here due to pricing. The extra detail and sound that Lionel gives is nice and all… but the cost/value ratio is way off imo.
If Menards can bump the quality just a hair and keep the price under $250, I may never buy a Lionel engine.
Story of my Life when it comes 2 finding a 4014 Big Boy @ a Reasonable Price which will prolly never happen unfortunately 😢
You're right ✅ 👍👍👍. If Menards would bump the details and quality a little but keep it under $300 I would never get the $1000 option. I can't get the $1000 option 😫.
I'm thinking 🤔 you could probably spend a little more $$ and add a different speaker to upgrade the Menards 🤔🤔🤔.
All the best!
Price point is hugely in Menards favor. Sounds, details and features belong to Lionel. They both have their place.
The Menards UP is actually the first train that I bought new; all my other trains are used Lionel. With the price point and features of Menards, I have a hard time spending the cash on a high end Lionel. Plus, Menards has improved their trains dramatically in just a few models; I suspect they'll get even better as time goes by.
Both are great in their own right but if you're on a budget, Menards can't be beat.
There is no comparison but I applaud Menards to have models in an affordable price range.
Dollar for dollar, I think they both deliver what you are paying for. My bet is the Menard's units will last longer and require less maintenance. It's a win/win. I think Menard's is doing a great service to the hobby.
Eh those plastic gears are gonna be the question
Great video Chris! As a person without the space or funds for the layout of my dreams (don’t know who among us does), it’s nice to know I could potentially go pick up some sidewalk salt, puff corn, and a solid train set all at one store without spending 1.5 months of my mortgage.
Love seeing spotlights put on the entry model brands. Sure, they won't ever have the features of fancy modern lionel, but as long as the entry brands exist so to will new people to the hobby and that's honestly the most important thing. Love it!
I like the simplicity of Menards. I would love a Menards in my collection! 😊
Both sets are nice and have different things to offer, the Menards is better priced but is not as detailed, Lionel on the other hand is much more detailed but is a lot more money. I prefer the Lionel version since its more realistic and has more features, but I like both. Lionel took the win in today's horn battle. Great review Chris!
I love Lionel’s train!😄
I know a company that made some of the best $200 dollar trains in the o gauge market! And they are still cheaper than Lionel these days. But Menards also beats them too.
Great video. I have to say I like them both, for very different reasons. I love all the details and features that you get with Lionel engines. But I Love that Menards is offering engines and cars that are more affordable. Great for people just getting into the hobby.
Now I have to say I am not happy with you Chris. I am going to have to start collecting the UP orange and black freight cars.😁
2:00 Lol this is- *The Guy!* I think of when I think ‘Model Trains’ 😄
Love the fast trains!!! F units are my fave!!
As a frequent viewer of your channel, I find it very non-one-sided in which you present the model train hobby in a positive overview of all manufacturers. Your Menards and Lionel overview was great. As your reviews on Weaver engines, and of course, MTH. Again, great review!!!🙂
Thank you! I like the diversity of products in O Gauge. There is something special about each piece.
The Lionel and Menards crewtalk both kill it for me. The Lionel horn is 10/10.
I'll stick with my Williams chassie'd Marx 21's
Those Lionel F-Units are darn sweet, Chris. Thx for posting!
Thanks for the really well done comparison, Chris. I was only surprised that you didn't compare their pulling power using the same consist of cars for each. Still a great idea.
My son instantly recognized the Menards horn as the same one in his Lionchief RS-3.
They pick it up quick, haha! I don't think I would have even noticed that...
First, let me say your videos are excellent! I just came across this one and had to leave a like and comment. Second, your layout is magnificent! I am truly in awe! As for the content, I use to run Lionel trains back in the 70s when I was a kid. The old stuff was very low on detail and eventually, like many other folks back then I switched to HO (my current scale of choice). This new Lionel stuff is amazing! If I didn't have so much time and money invested in HO I would definitely switch! (still don't like the 3rd rail thing though 😐) The Menards unit is admirable and my hats off to them for marketing a more budget oriented product! But there is no doubt the Lionel is tiers above the Menard! Thanks for a great comparison!
Thank you for watching! There is so much more you can do with H O compared to the O Gauge stuff.
The alternative to either of these is move down in Scales so you can buy highly detailed modeled for under $1000.
I can't decide they both seem to be great models
Extraordinary locomotives the lionel horn sounds awesome 👍🏻✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
I have no clue how TH-cam recommended your channel. My last video was Bruce Rivers CLR. Instant sub. What content!
Edit. Figured it out. I looked up the cog trains at Mt Washington and Pikes Peak.
Glad to have you here and welcome!
Im all for supporting buying Mernards trains or even mid grade 027 locos. The age of the high raillayout has brought us some mesmerizing examples of what you can do with model trains. However, a toy train layout can be just as impressive, and in the 50s Lionel championed this idea as building scale models wasnt their priority. Times change, and even in the 50s if anyone was doing fine scale layouts, they were HO. I love owning my scale steam locos, but building a layout for them is something that will have to wait until I retire.
Nice Train set up fun to have
If you're just starting out in this hobby and have a limited budget the Menards units is it good 👍👍
Great video, I am a fan of Menards items and what he has made available to us! on a different topic, how would I locate model train fans who would open their doors to visits to see their layout and trains run, and shoot the fat about this great hobby? As I will be traveling to Rock hill, SC on the 21 Of Oct. 2023, and have 3 hrs. of time to kill between my 2PM and 6PM appointments. I greatly appreciate your assistance with this!
Thanks for watching! Not sure about open house events. Might want to pose that question in the O Gauge Forum. Might be some folks or clubs in that area.
Two different trains for two different groups of people. Each one fills the needs / wants in those markets. Sounds like both are winners.
Would you be willing to compare the lionel lionchief super chief set and the Menards Super chief set??
lol I think to myself, I'm to poor to buy what I want, so I will watch it and suffer hahaha thanks for all the reviews
Great vidio, like that menards engine fur 200. ... love the lionel loco but 1100. Plus shipping plus duty and exchange is about 1750. And thats about a months rent . ... menards is 350. Thanks for the morning coffee...
I’m hoping that Menards will make an SD40-2 and offer it in DM&E blue and yellow.
The lionel sounds many times better on horn, menards reminds you of cheep mpc Era trains. Track sounds there's not much different between track sounds, if menards had better speaker, it would be better, but 2k is steep for F units that can be semi scale on railking and 031 stock.
Lionel won the battle of the horns
Well done!
At 8:11 the logo on the box car changed from “southern pacific lines” to “union pacific”
I don't need the most expensive or extremely detailed train. Model trains to me are about having fun and using my imagination. But that's what I enjoy. We all like them differently.
Well said!
The Menards sound is almost like it's some combination of muffled/echoed/distant, that start up sound alone had me cringing especially in contrast to the Lionel train, that said I kind of like the Menard's horn because I've never heard a train whistle in a yard when it's not moving, but I have heard them from a distance when I'm sitting in my car at a train crossing as it passes through and the Menards train reminds me more of that, while yeah the Lionel horn is definitely a deeper whistle it reminds me more of a horn sound that comes from a semi-truck.
Lionel should make HO trains the same quality as the vision line.
when neal young bought lionel , he shot the price of the aceella so that the ordinary operators and kids couldnt afford model trains any more . young pulled the acella out of a boxed set and ruined it.( i know i will be bashed by neal young lovers . the menards price reminds me of the mpc era where i could by lots of trains .thanks for sharing.
Wish Menards would make S scale equipment. As for the "Battle of the Horns" I would have to say a tie. Not fair to compare 200 to 2000. Menards is giving people a chance to enter the hobby without having to go and get a loan.
Lionel has the better horn. You should try a MTH locomotive.
Do you have a model of Jupiter? Or UP 119?
They are representing completely different horns. The Menards sounds like a Nathan or Leslie multi-chime horn, perhaps 3-chime. The Lionel sounds like a Wabco E2 or Leslie A-200 single chime horn. I think the single chime is far more likely to be correct. When you see the arrangement of two single horns facing opposite directions, those are single chime horns. So, the Menard's sound doesn't match the horn style installed on top of the locomotive.
Well, that was a fun comparison. The L is superior but spendy. But the M for the price is a nice break into the hobby model. And hey, you did it again! No bell comparison! You skipped the bell when you did your RBP engine review. Oh well, you must just be a horn guy. LOL!
I am so bad about the bells, haha!
You should get a penslvania T1
Love to see the cheaper version. I honestly think a modeler could improve the $200 one.
The menards is an FP 7 and union and only had two.. look at the bottom, and it will have a water tank. I the nose and wind shield is better than the old lionel F units
Love the Lego Modulars 😂😂
Both units seem pretty good value depending on budget. I’d enjoy the Menards just as much
All this coming from an n scale guy who doesn’t care about sound because ALL n scale sounds are meh
If Lionel keeps pushing the price up it’s going to price itself out of the market. However it makes the vintage models more affordable and attractive.
I have a question what state do you live in?
How to get a and a units went to menards to try to order no luck getting union pacific
As long as there are 3 rails, it will never be scale. Thus making it a toy, and I ain't paying $2000 for a toy.
I told you i would be here lol
Lionel all the way.
Okay, the Lionel is the higher quality train. But the Menards is definitely the best bang for your buck. I mean, you can biy 10 Menards for the price of the Lionel? And I live in a Santa fe town and I have never heard a horn like the one on the Lionel. It has the better quality sound but does not sound like a train horn. The Menards sounds like a train horn.
I went to a train show this weekend. I learned Lionel people are very snobby and snooty. A vendor snapped at me because I asked for replacement parts for a Bachmann locomotive. Anyway, your 2,000 dollar train is made in China just like the 200 dollar train. The horse you guys ride on are pretty high up.
It always makes me sad to hear about these types of experiences. I got snapped at a few times at a recent train show as well. Hopefully that does not happen to you again @danshobbies13
It would be more realistic if Lionel could put shorter couplers between the A and B units. But i guess that would cost anout $600 dollars.
LOL! You may be right
why not get some Menards freight cars and a building or two?
No more Menards crap engines for me! I have 4 of the F units. One of them the motors started squealing after about 20 minutes of use. The 2nd one has split plastic gears in the drives. The last one started squealing and here it was the worm loose on the motor armature. I have 2 of the SF units, stripped and painted into Milwaukee Road. Gutted the electronics on one so can run them back to back AA style. Least now I have parts to keep the other 2 running...I hope! I'll go back to MTH PS1 units and upgrade to PS3.
Menards keeps safeguarding the marketing of these engines by calling them "Beta Test" engines. I know some folks got lemons from the batch. This is only my second Menards engine and it was pretty squeaky out of the box. I had to grease it really well to get the smoothness from it. Luckily the gear assemblies have held up thus far. Thanks for watching!
Ii have an MTH New York City subway set on o-scale ... i think i got a fair deal !!
In my opinion, $2,000 is an abysmally high price for a model train. Just because it has lights and sounds and a smoke unit does not mean you should be paying for it with your left kidney. This isn't just a problem with Lionel, but with all model railroad companies across all scales.
Like seriously, how expensive is it to produce those models when you're charging that much for them??
Menards won the Price you now only 200 bucks. But I would say that Lionel has the best and most realistic horn. Menards won again in the “crewtalk battle”. Becaus the specification of the Road number. And then Lionel has the best power and ecalaration. So now its basicle even! (but for people who cant afford a 2000$ train set the it is menards)
When com paring price you also have to look at the reliability. I have Lionel trains from 1953 that run just fine. Most maintenance I can do myself. Currently I have 2 high end lionel engines that the Lionel custom chips have failed and cannot be replaced because once the initial run of replacement chips run out they never make new ones. I have a $1000 3985 Union Pacific Challanger that has been in my Lionel Authorized repair shop for amost a year with no word yet as to if an when a replacement chip will be available. I also have a $550 Lionel American Flyer 9628 PRR Mikado from 2007 that Lionel says is obsolete and that they will never make a repair chip for. Even if they were to provide the chips the cost of teh parts and labor to make the repair runs in the hundreds. I would like to see you do a survey on long term reliability.
That would be a fun video idea. I have been spoiled by my friend and fellow O-Gauger, Sid from Sid's Trains. He is able to retrofit modern electronics in the event that a TMCC or First Generation Legacy engine has a failure. Post War trains have always been my "go-to" though. As you mentioned, you can't beat the reliability!
Menards engine at a idle sounds better but the horn and bell is way better in the Lionel engine
MENARDS UNION PACIFIC F7!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
*SAVE BIG MONEY AT MENARDS*
in fact I have the Lionel army train 4520
Not bad model for 200 dollars
Lionel wins the horn battle
2:04
Lionel all the way. But the price is really steep!
Lionel horn
Although it’s almost unfair to compare them, it’s great for someone starting in the hobby to be able to get such a big and nice looking engine at a reasonable price. 🚂 Great vid! Happy railroading friends!
Exactly!
It is great to see that Menards offers entry-level trains at an affordable price. Helps to recruit new model train people.
Agree! Prices in model railroading are tough and Menards has been able to create products with greater reach. Thanks for watching!
Truth!
Chris, as you clearly point out, they’re both the winner. Each pulls their own in the battle and when price point is included, they are an even match. Thanks for the video and keep them coming.
My favorite is Menards because I like that it doesn't go slow and has less detail. It gives me nostalgia for my Lionel Postwar trains.
The dialogue from the Menards engine is definitely closer to railroad communication than the generic lionel crew talk
I feel like Menards is the saving grace for anybody who wants to get into the hobby. Lionel has great stuff, however needs to be affordable. At some point, middle aged people will be gone, and no generation will fill the gap at Lionel prices….
Thankfully there are still some "entry level" offerings these days. I see a lot of people that complain about the price but when you compare the cost of locomotives, at least on the low end, vs inflation and salary averages over the decades they're still as affordable as they ever were. Now myself, I tend to prefer the middle of the road. Either a decent quality DC or even DCC locomotive rather than the entry level stuff but I still do run and enjoy the entry level offerings from companies like Bachmann, etc. because the quality of those compare far more favorably than the same names did 20-30 years ago as far as mechanism reliability. I still have yet to get into the higher end of N or HO scale with something like Scaletrains Rivet counters, fancy brass locomotives, etc. but It's hopefully not too far off on the horizon. I need/want to level up my actual modeling skills before I get into all that. If you've seen the videos on my rescue layout it could definitely use some love in the scenery department. lol.
You can see the improvements that menards made to their UP diesel from the first one they released. Personally the menards diesel is a great locomotive to get into the hobby and we need more things like that.
The Lionel is much better but it is 10x the price...so you get what you pay for...and you don't get what you don't pay for!
The Lionel is spectacular but, in all categories, the Menards is "good enough". I like to run trains and Menards fits the bill at a very reasonable price. I am a bit biased due to my experiences over the last 20 years or so. I have purchased several modern engines and absolutely love the new features in sound, details and control but a couple of them have become bricks due to failures in the electronics. The cost of repairing those electronics is too high and you can't always get the parts, especially as more time goes by. My old post war Lionels, however, will easily outlast me. Now, it will be a much heavier lift for Menards to come out with a steam engine ... Thanks, Chris. You gave us a lot to think about.
Hey 200 vs 2000, you can always repaint the menards locomotives without worrying about losing their value and heck maybe make it go up in value depending on how well you are at painting lol.if I had the money I would repaint them into CSX style F7 locomotives or maybe just give the locomotive the touch up it needs to look better. Ahhh the joy of building model kits, everything looks like it could be a new project with a little paint xD
Exactly, I have seen many add smoke units to these menards engines, and would love to see someone add a smoker and paint one up or weather one.
Lionel IMO has the best sounds but the Menards I has the best cab chatter. Menards might not be prototypical, however the one thing I love about their products is that they don’t go too crazy with their attention to detail. I’ll be keeping my eyes open like a hawk at York this October for a set of those Menards F-units Both engines really sliver around the layout like two slugs. Great video Chris!
Of course there is more detail and better electronics in the Lionel Legacy units, but for those of us out here in the real world, many of us can't afford Legacy anything, so the Menard's units are a very welcome addition to the model train world! And as for the detail, detail parts can be had to bring the Menards units up to par, and from the looks of it, thank God Menard's didn't try to pass off the old Lionel post war shell as some kind of F unit!
Menards is definitely going for more the toy end of the market. And that is perfectly fine. The hobby definitely needs more reasonably priced toy trains that can be sold at department and big box stores. That said I have concerns on whether or not the Menards set can stand up to the rough treatment a kid playing will put it through. I would love the blue warbonnet engine to go with my set of post war Santa Fe blue stripe coaches though.
My max price point is Lionchief Plus 2.0.
I will always consider Lionel the overall winner. That Bernards gave the Legacy a tight win.
Again thanks for your knowledge and sharing the hobby.
Oh let’s compare them. Is there a 1800 dollar difference in price yes. Just shows how much profit lionel making. Ok lionel has some better feature and looks but not 1800 worth. Lionel could sell more if they’re used there over priced engines. Menards will take over this market soon mark my words once they running and moving it accomplish the same thing
If Menards can pick up the quality just a bit (like using metal gears instead of plastic) and keep the prices under $250, I may never buy another Lionel engine. They really do give you a lot for the money… they just need to fine tune a bit.
@@Eyrrll they are working on it. Every release seems to get better. Some there stuff has metal couplers just have to go to store and look on not buy over the internet.Lionel just way over priced to my standards it is after all a toy train
The most I spend is 650 and that's the NS OCS ABA Train from MTH from 2008.
The Big Set Wicht i paid 354 Dollars was the Ho scale polar Express locomotive i live in Germany and i have rox Tracks and gues what. IT fit!! When i Drove the Ho polar Express i was, mind blowing the chuffing the whistle and voice around the Film. That was my Big present and i also this year of my Birthday i got a hot chocolate Car and the next ON Christmas is a normal passenger Car, soo rbp is IT okay that you Drive the polar Express and the acela Express polar Express skin ON your Layout and with some music??
Lionel is certainly the top of the line. Manards is great for someone that doesn't want to spend all their hobby money on one loco set. My grandkids love to run them and at that cost I don't worry about it. I must say, again NO toy (model) train should be run without a caboose! Manards even made one to match the UP set! Great video, and I have been waiting on someone to say something about the light bleed on the nose. I found some silver paint or aluminum foil placed inside would make it not bleed through and look better. Keep em coming Chris, fun stuff!
Thanks for watching Mike!
Hey Chris, in your next video you can make the steam locomotives that are not articulated run?
COOL VIDEO BROTHERMAN!!!! Very informative, keep them coming BRO>>AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA COOL 😃😄😁😮😯😲❤🤟🤘👍👍
I love these comparison videos, really shows that for many casual train hobbyist that the less expensive offerings out there can certainly be just as interesting and entertaining in many ways. I have a modest collection of Lionel trains where most of my pieces are "set grade" from the late 40s to the mid 90s. I love 'em all!
In my opinion, the Lionel A-B-B-A won the battle of the horns. And I like the Lionel one more so Lionel wins... also cool video!
How can you run a train too fast, that makes no sense. If you are not tipping it on one rail going around a turn you ain't going fast enough.
Lot's of people bash the Menards stuff. For the price point they are at, I think they have good features and are a good choice for someone new. I would have to give the horn win to Lionel
Lionel wins the horn battle. Love the video!!
Last Lionel set I bought was the Polar Express in 2008. Old school Lionel, as in the couplers have to be manually operated. The tender has a whistle feature but my cat tinkled on the set and the whistle no longer works.
These newer sets you have are amazing but if I wanted to build the layout you have and collect the trains you have, it would cost more than my house. You rock, Chris!
LIONEL HAS IT ALL BRO!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA COOL MAN COOL!!! 😀😄😁😁😛🤟🤘👍👍