Who do you choose?

[TheChestnutLine]

Interesting. I think both roundhouse and Accucraft cater well for low price 'starter' locos and again for the more experienced. However for the continental locos Accucraft have a much wider range but then roundhouse have more models suitable for British outline railways. I do think it's even.

[Sir Clothem Cap]

I've never owned either but if either manufacturer sends me a free sample they will get my vote

[MuzTrem]

Well, I only own one live steamer - a Roundhouse - so I'm probably biased. Nevertheless, Roundhouse's after-sales care is excellent. My Russell had a faulty radio transmitter when first delivered but they dealt with the problem very efficiently. Since then she had run for ten years now with almost no maintainance at all, although I think she has now reached the stage where I need to tighten the regulator.

Conversely, a friend of mine owns an Accucraft Edrig. She runs well, but the paint burned off the smokebox door after a few steamings. Really, you'd expect better than that when you're paying £300+ for an engine.

[taliesin001]

I own one from each. Accucraft earl on manual and roundhouse russell on radio. In terms of running I would say that roundhouse beats accucraft, although my earl runs very well and has done striaght from the box. However I know that other accucraft models aren't like that but all roundhouse models seem to have good reports. I like the added detail on the accucraft model and of course the lower price.

[Pendo Pilot]

I buy whatever loco I want based on looks, power & if I like it or not. Don't care if it's Roundhouse or Accucraft as can be seen as I own two from each company. Roundhouse have been great for parts when my Carrie was shedding bolts & Accucraft were brilliant when My Countess had a burner issue before I picked it up.
As for the Edrig, well wasnt the burnt smokebox only an issue on the early ones? I know mine has been used a lot for the past year & a bit & yet never had an issue with that. For the price as well I think it is a fantastic loco. I spent about the same modifying my mamod & that really does have issues & at least for the small cost of the Edrig I have a loco without slip eccentrics (just not a fan of them).

[Gremlin]

I'm fairly new to live steam locos and have an Edrig and a Millie.
I really like Edrig, it runs very well but the burner is a bit noisy. You get the impression that Millie is better quality when running mainly because of the total lack of burner noise. I'm very happy with both.

I did buy a used Bertie on Thursday but that has had a dodgy araldite repair on the inside of the cylinders around all the steam pipes. It's going back this morning for a refund and the dealer couldn't have been more helpful. Nothing to do with Roundhouse , but a lesson learnt. Might get a Leader instead.

To me, I'm happy with both manufactures from my very limited experience.