Charlie,
I think they're totally different and unrelated. AHM went to Rivarossi, or the other way around! It got quite confusing for some years. AHM passenger cars were suddenly market as Rivarossi in the late 80's. Leading up to that, they were made first in Italy, then Yugoslavia, now in the Peoples Republic of China. Progressive cost cutting, wouldn't you say?
At some point, AHM disappeared completely, replaced by IHC (actually the same guy) and Rivarossi became a separate entity. HOWEVER, there was a decent brand of engines and rolling stock called "PEMCO", which I have been told has evolved into the IHC locomotives available presently.
In the 1980's, someone showed me a comparison between the AHM GG-1 and PEMCO GG-1 locomotives. Until that time, we thought they were one in the same, except that the PEMCO was significantly cheaper than it's AHM counterpart. The body detailing was IDENTICAL, but the weighting and placement of the mechanism inside made the balancing and weight characteristics of the two totally different.
Being on a budget, I took the PEMCO, as it seemed to pull and perform identically. You can get one today from IHC and it's the PEMCO model.
You brought up Model Power, and they seem to be in bed now with ROCO. The ROCO "HO" Baldwin Sharknose diesel is an upgraded Model Power model.
Woodie, you would be surprised about the demand for European stock in North America. European manufacturers make few models for our prototypes, yet from all the people in military service and business travellers, there's quite a demand for MARKLIN and other European manufacturers models over here. Also, nearly everything in my area in "Z" is German. A dealer I frequent in Montreal features overpriced Athearn kits, but the ROCO rolling stock of German and Austrian equipment is quite reasonable, considering the quality one gets.
I have to fess up to a consist of European passenger equipment for 2 rail operation. It was accumulated from a few trips, getting hooked, and mail ordering and hitting the shop in Montreal.
German "N" is VERY big in New York. Lots of freight cars available, but I personally only know one fellow who's into it.
Back to L I M A.
I can't even find it on the web. Helmut's trains in Virginia supposedly has it, yet they don't have anything listed on the site.
Anyone?
George.