i talk to alot of people who are pretty down on the LGB/USAT and now, MTH,power pick-up slider ‘shoes’…i just wanted to know what the problem is…i, myself, very rarly, if ever, get down to eye-rail level,and if i do, it is’nt the sliders i am watching…truth be told, ‘sliders’ are the most dependable loco to rail connection you can have…low speed operations especially…wheels may get dirty, but instead of having to stop operations to clean your stuttering locos wheels, you can keep on hi-balling…aristo, being the only manufactuer i know of that makes NON-slider motor blocks, has fine locos…but the wheels require much ore attention than one of the other brands, to keep performance at its peak…point i am trying to make, is that these ‘sliders’ do not hinder operation, or the locos overall asthetics, but rather, enhances the total enjoyment…how many people keep their face 6" away from the bottom of the loco??? i would wager on average, people stand/view 5’ or more away from the trains, in which case, you cant tellif it has sliders or not…just my .02 worth…