Menards Betas 2.0 & 3.5 O Gauge Locomotives vs a Lionel Lion Chief Santa Fe? 

THANK YOU for replying with a different viewpoint. I am pinning your comment so others can see it more easily. 1) To your first point, CamelCamelCamel lists the average price on Amazon as $351.73. The price I paid at $209.00 seems like a major outlier which I have never seen before and I try to keep a close eye on Lionel Deals. 2) the track is relatively level. That is, there is no intentional grade I just may not be that great at carpentry. 😁 3) All three locomotives had their original traction tires. The Beta 3.5 and Lionel were brand new with little run time. 4) Please give Menards a shot. My hope is that their products improve over time which is not likely if no one buys them. This may seem contradictory to the message of my video. But someone can be supportive while also being critical/educated about the product. 5) "it would be nice to have a reasonable little engine available at a reasonable price brand new for O gauge" I agree and if anyone is going to do it, it will be Menards. Thank you for such an engaging perspective.

Hey Mr Sam, thank you for your comment. I agree with much of what you're saying. At the end of the day, these beta's were not all that affordable when compared to Lionel. If the Menards engines can be picked up for closer to $100.00 they will truly be in a class of their own. But at nearly $200.00, Menards is competing with Lionel. Right now, you can get Lionel Thomas Engines with a remote and Bluetooth for less money than the Menards loco. Thanks for watching. I hope you find future episodes entertaining.

So true. Lionel is out of hand. They have lost there way.

Menards really needs to take the leap and release locomotives and diesels instead of making them limited to influencers. They already have success in the rolling stock and building market.

Thank you! I’m teaching myself how to use Adobe Premiere. Before that, I used iMovie and Premiere Rush. But Premiere seems to let me do the most. Thanks for watching!

Thanks Jim. I will do my best!

Thanks you. Your videos are great!

@@TheRambles That's high praise indeed coming from Dave!

Thanks guys!

@@dagryffynhobby You're welcome Dave!

Methinks Rambles blew up the GARBAGE PLASTIC GEARS on those Menards engines.

I'm at Hennings all the time! Say hi if you ever run into me.

After watching your test, I will let the Menards F 3 pass me by. I have the lionel lion chief set I give it 5 stars best starter set in the market today.

I totally agree with this point. My question is where is the line for folks? These engines still cost nearly $200. They’re not THAT inexpensive after everything is said and done.

@@TheRambles you made excellent points. I agree that for an additional what $200, you get a much better engine, plus 3 excellent passenger cars. Not to mention track as well. Here is what I see, Menard's is doing what Wal-Mart method is, you are buying cheap and you know it. It's like buying particle board instead of solid wood. Yes solid wood is more durable and will obviously last longer, but people may not be able to afford it and will be using the poorer product at least in the short run.

I think this will be Menards's niche, a cheaper brand than Lionel that still provides good trains, just not quite as fancy. They can pull cars and run on O gauge track.

Welcome aboard! Thank you for the kind words

Lionel buying out the Menards train product line to remove a competitor? Possibly. It's happened before in other businesses. Buying EVERYTHING Menards? No way. Menards is the "Home Depot" and "Lowes" of the Midwest, Lionel couldn't afford THAT.

Menards is first and foremost a hardware store. I don't see Lionel being able to buy them out. I would be more worried about Home Depot or Lowes buying Menards that is if Menards is a publicly traded company. Then Lionel could swoop in and buy up their toy train line that Home Depot or Lowes would not be interested in keeping around.

Thanks for sharing!

Cool! Thanks for the info.

Great idea, I have been emailing with them and they do get back pretty fast!

@@TheRambles Good to know! If they listen to you go ahead and pass my suggestions along to them, you can even say they're yours. I won't mind.

I had the same exact question about the FCC issue. Hopefully, the compliance folks at Menards worked this out.

Matt my understanding with regards to FCC rules is that if your device has a very short range and low power out put,for instance TMCC does not require an FCC license.

I have heard the same but also I have experienced it. It is kind of strange some of their rolling stock is great, some is unusable. On the other hand, they have to start somewhere. There’s always hope.

@@TheRambles very true

Thank you!

@@TheRambles You're welcome Tony! Glad you liked what I had to say!

Happy to have you aboard!

Glad you enjoyed it

Thank you! You are always so supportive. Much appreciation🙏.

Generally, I agree with your comment. Crowbar was a joke.

Someday, he could be a big RU-vidr 😉

It was a very brief special just before Christmas on Amazon. It averages about $360.00 on there now. But, aside from this, I always try to shop my local hobby shop.

You can get Ready to Run sets at…. Wait for it…. Menards! :) Every Christmas when they dig it out there are usually several sets for $199. The Polar Express is a common one, but I’ve also seen Harry Potter and picked up a Pennsylvania set for myself.

Unpainted screens are prototypical on some engines.

@@carlcewinski6245 I have been modeling to Santa Fe Railway since the early 60s on some cheap ready to run train sets table skimp on the painting leave off the yellow stripe and a black stripe. Most prototype F unit on the Santa Fe they were painted. They should emulate the many not the few. It is a glaring error I know it's just a toy train locomotive but at least they could get the paint right. Don't get me wrong we need someone who can provide inexpensive locomotives like Williams used to be.

I stand corrected. You are right on all counts.

@@carlcewinski6245 don't get me wrong I wish Maynard's a lot of success. With the demise of Weaver, K - line, right-of-way, Williams and now Mike's train house. Those were companies I bought lots of trains from because I am not super rich. I saw the Lionel Hogwarts train set and it was such a cheap and poor-quality train set. Lionel thinks it doesn't have to even try anymore. Lionel's high prices and poor-quality reminds me of Harley-Davidson high price and poor quality. You pay for the name on the gas tank or you pay for the name on The Box. I would rather have trains as a motorcycle I do not have to mortgage the farm to get. That's why I wish Maynard lots of luck

@@carlcewinski6245 it seems you were right I saw a video with an f 7 coming out of my car washer and one of my VHS tapes on the Super Chief it had unpainted screen like the one. The Maynard had so it seems some were not painted and I was incorrect I stand corrected you were right

I guess you are! I saw your latest video! But I sure you know that.

You make an excellent point! I can’t wait to see what Menards does next.