I might have missed it; however, in the past discussions of these two diesels I have not see the MTH and Lionel Katy in the same photo. Here are a couple of photos thanks to Ron of Engine House Hobbies who called me to say the Lionel was in his shop this week. I just had a couple of minutes during runs for my visiting cousins. Quick point and shoot without taking the glass down on the side of the layout and I did not modify the image in photoshop; however, the colors look on my monitor to be correct to the models.

The gap shot is here



Obvious differences between the two are the Fan colors (red and black) and the placement of the horns.



The MTK logo is smaller on the MTH and the paint is flat instead of glossy.



I never thought I would say that the MTH whistle on any engine would be better sounding to me than Lionel's; however, a CSX train went by the crossing next to the store and the MTH whistle sounded just like it. Note the MTH is on the left and the Lionel is on the right in the above photos.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: winrose46,

Just continuing the "conversation"...does the Lionel unit appear a little "taller" than the MTH unit?

The white "GPS device" on the top of the MTH unit is a lot bigger and the air conditioner a slightly different shape...so it appears to me.

I was all hot-to-trot to get one of these...and...I never thought I'd say it...but, overall MTH's model wins out...because of sounds and truck placement. Based on the posted videos...The Lionel sounds seem to be generic Lionel...regardless of how much you can "play" with the horn tones, the diesel sounds sound just like the old Flag Unit SD70M. The trucks are "shortened" or misplaced or something...they just don't look as good as the MTH model.

I guess I am a confirmed MTH diesel fan now...

PS...can you tell "how" Lionel closed that gap? That does look fantastic. Did they put a "pseudo I beam" in there...just to cover the gap...or does the engine actually mount closer to the trucks?

I put it in photoshop and the wheels are on the same level and the white line on the tread seems higher on the MTH as well as roof line below the white box. I did not notice that the MTH unit roof line appears to be slightly higher.

I never have any problems seeing the pictures posted, but this time all I get is the small white square with the red X.

Alex

same here

I am viewing the images by "right clicking" on the box with the X and the "view image" line.

winrose,

Could you repost these pictures? I too am getting the x's with no pix, (even when right clicking show picture).

I really would like to see both companies examples of these units, and reading this forum for quite some time, respect your unbiased views on all things trains.

Thanks,

Mark

Properties, cut and paste URL into search bar at top of page, then use arrors to view all pictures.

http://www.clarityphotos.com/Portolio/KatyLionelAndMTHWeb/pages/DSCF6232.html

drop that line into browser.

Sorry guys, I am running a fever and not feeling well and I pasted the url instead of the picture's properity locataion.

The Lionel model wins. No question about it.



What, me worry?

Pick your poison, it seems. These shots are only of the front of the engines, so you can't see the rest of the engines or other details. And it isn't possible to discern color differences here (too bad Norm wasn't on hand!). But comparing the front of the models with a photo of the real one, it looks like: (a)the silver frame on the Lionel is thicker by a significant margin than the MTH one, and matches the prototype much better, (b)the Lionel has a plow like the prototype - don't see one on the MTH, (c)the front steps on the Lionel seem better executed - the MTH steps seem to stop well below the front porch,(d)the Lionel steps seem a bit too wide, and (e)the Lionel trucks seem a bit too far back from the front.
It really seems that both models are great, and anyone saying one is better is just stating personal opinion. Each engine seems to have its own strong points. Perhaps choice of color variation ends up being the deciding factor for many. I know the shade of yellow on the Lionel Flag engine I'm getting is better than the MTH "dark mustard."

quote:

The Lionel model wins. No question about it.

It seems that the color and paint gloss accuracy, the truck details, and the truck gap all favor the Lionel. I'll chalk the claimed differences in sounds up to "taste'. See:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=46792

My suggestion is enjoy what you have because either is capable of providing much satisfaction.

Bob Bubeck

along with my AtlasO club car UPS also delivered my long awaited Lionel MKT.Wow.I thought it looked good in the photos but as the saying goes"you gotta see it to believe it".It is awesome.Now I'm waiting for the WP.

quote:

Originally posted by winrose46:

By now, the real Katy is probably more like the dull color of the MTH. Both models look great.

quote:

(b)the Lionel has a plow like the prototype - don't see one on the MTH,

The MTH model has the plow. It is in the box.

quote:

does the Lionel unit appear a little "taller" than the MTH unit?

This is the result of the newly released MTH SD70ACes with the smaller gap than the original units, and how MTH corrected this. They in essence did the Mike Pitogo mod, shaved down or eliminated the mounting nubs on top of their trucks, thus lowering the units.

quote:

does the Lionel unit appear a little "taller" than the MTH unit?

The Lionel unit is a little shorter when I drew rectangles in photoshop.

Now that is interesting. I'm going to get one of these and measure.

quote:

Now that is interesting. I'm going to get one of these and measure.

The Central Boulevard System
Go to my Profile and click on my home page to see 0s3R

Ah yes Pete. Tough when those eyes start to go with advancing age.

Larry,

In a few years I'll be OK. I'm living my life in reverse, like Merlin in The Once and Future King.

I finally got to hear the Katy Lionel model and then compared it to the MTH WP which I own.
Lionels model looks great but so does the MTH WP of that same engine.
Even with an exclusive and neat quilling feature that makes me think someone is up there squeezing & choking that horn by its neck. My ears tell me the MTH wersion with near perfect start up and rev up sounds takes top honors as the best in this series.
Folks that have not heard these MTH SD's would be amazed at how good it is.
Joe

This message has been edited. Last edited by: threerailnut,