In regards to their steam selection, I do not have much of an opinion/education of them. I do, however, ahve a very VERY experienced experience with their diesels, since they were the affordable thing when I was 16 or 17 and going to the model railroad shows! I am EXTREMELY impressed by their diesels. SD7s run like a dream, on the level of Atlas and Kato, without the utter pulling power. I've only dealt with 3-4 atlas, while I have personally ran about 20 Katos and 10 or so life-like's in my short life span. Though, Kato is far and away the best (I LOVE their mikado's!), Atlas is 2nd because of the pulling power, and LIfe-like is 3rd among non brass units. Lifelike is the best bang for the buck in my opinion, but kato and atlas are better overall. Not sure if this helps a lot, but hopefully it adds incite.