Atlas Model Railroad vs PIKO:Which is more popular?
In October 2026, Atlas Model Railroad had more branded searches than PIKO among model railway brands worldwide. Atlas Model Railroad had about 4,400 branded searches, while PIKO had 1,300. Atlas Model Railroad made up 2.2% of all model railway brand searches we track, and PIKO accounted for 0.64%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about model railway brands, PIKO appeared in two of the five answers and Atlas Model Railroad in one. PIKO was mentioned before Atlas Model Railroad in two out of three answers.
Who do people search for more?
Atlas Model Railroad, about 3 searches for every 1 for PIKO
Who does AI mention more?
PIKO, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Atlas Model Railroad in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
PIKO, named ahead of Atlas Model Railroad in 2 of 3 answers
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Top model railway brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, PIKO was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Atlas Model Railroad was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. PIKO was listed before Atlas Model Railroad in two out of three answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Bachmann4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Kato4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Hornby3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Marklin2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Athearn2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
PIKO2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Lionel1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Atlas Model Railroad1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Roco1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
MTH0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about model railway brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which model railway brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best model railway brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best model railway brand for a hobbyist?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“scale model railway”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“train model kits”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Atlas Model Railroad or PIKO more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Atlas Model Railroad and PIKO by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 model railway brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Atlas Model Railroad, PIKO. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Hornby | MTH | Lionel | Marklin | Bachmann | Rapido Trains | Athearn | Kato | Walthers | Atlas Model Railroad | Roco | Graham Farish | Peco | PIKO | Fleischmann |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 28.8% | 10.5% | 26.3% | 8.6% | 7.1% | 4.7% | 3% | 2.8% | 3.3% | 2.1% | 0.66% | 0.6% | 0.55% | 0.51% | 0.36% |
| Dec 2025 | 26.4% | 9.7% | 27.3% | 9.7% | 7.9% | 4.3% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 1.9% | 0.61% | 0.7% | 0.59% | 0.55% | 0.39% |
| Jan 2026 | 33.4% | 12.2% | 16.7% | 10% | 6.7% | 4.5% | 4.1% | 3.1% | 3.6% | 2.4% | 0.86% | 0.7% | 0.73% | 0.59% | 0.47% |
| Feb 2026 | 29.7% | 16.3% | 14.9% | 8.9% | 7.3% | 4.9% | 4.7% | 3.5% | 4% | 2.7% | 0.73% | 0.79% | 0.67% | 0.49% | 0.51% |
| Mar 2026 | 29.7% | 16.2% | 15.7% | 8.9% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 3.8% | 3.9% | 4% | 2.6% | 0.68% | 0.93% | 0.69% | 0.43% | 0.51% |
| Apr 2026 | 31.4% | 17.2% | 14.3% | 9.4% | 6.3% | 5.1% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 0.77% | 0.83% | 0.55% | 0.46% | 0.41% |
| May 2026 | 31.9% | 17.4% | 13% | 9.5% | 6.4% | 5.2% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 2.3% | 0.72% | 0.84% | 0.48% | 0.46% | 0.52% |
| Jun 2026 | 33.5% | 15% | 13.7% | 10% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 3.7% | 2.4% | 0.61% | 0.72% | 0.51% | 0.49% | 0.47% |
| Jul 2026 | 32.8% | 14.7% | 15.6% | 8% | 6.6% | 5.4% | 4% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.56% | 0.48% | 0.46% |
| Aug 2026 | 30.5% | 16.7% | 14.5% | 9.1% | 7.5% | 5% | 3.4% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 2.7% | 0.8% | 0.81% | 0.69% | 0.5% | 0.56% |
| Sep 2026 | 31.8% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 9.5% | 6.4% | 5.2% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.9% | 1.9% | 0.67% | 0.84% | 0.57% | 0.53% | 0.42% |
| Oct 2026 | 30% | 16.4% | 15% | 11% | 6% | 6% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 2.2% | 0.94% | 0.79% | 0.66% | 0.64% | 0.49% |
How has branded search for Atlas Model Railroad and PIKO changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Atlas Model Railroad was ahead of PIKO in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Atlas Model Railroad’s share of searches among model railway brands worldwide moved from 2.1% to 2.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 4.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, PIKO’s share of searches among model railway brands worldwide moved from 0.51% to 0.64%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.6K to 1.3K.
How did search popularity change for model railway brands worldwide in October 2026?
2 changes

Estimated monthly branded searches for Atlas Model Railroad worldwide fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 6.6K to 4.4K in October 2026.

Estimated monthly branded searches for PIKO worldwide fell 18.8% over 12 measured months, from 1.6K to 1.3K in October 2026.
How are Atlas Model Railroad’s and PIKO’s branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Atlas Model Railroad’s and PIKO’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Atlas Model Railroad
1 branded search term
- atlas model railroad
PIKO
1 branded search term
- piko trains
Other head-to-heads among model railway brands

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