Señor J. posted:seaboardm2 posted:Señor J. posted:As much as I love my Lionel and MTH O-Scale trains, I've also developed a love for vintage Transformers (1984-86). As a result, many of the near-scale (1/43) vehicles I bought for my layout resemble cars and trucks from my childhood -- many of them being Autobots and Stunticons.
That being said, what I want is a real-world counterpart to Decepticon locomotive Astrotrain: a JNR D62 (a 2-8-4 Berkshire type in North America) steam locomotive.
While I don't expect to see this engine in "FedEx Purple" or with Space Shuttle engines behind the cab anytime soon, I'd still want to have this locomotive pulling my American style rolling stock... perhaps making off with a load of tank cars, or a gondolas loaded with Energon cubes. So far, the closest thing I've seen to a D62 is the Polar Express locomotive. All it really needs is some boiler deflectors at the front and it'd make an excellent substitute. I will say that while an authentic tender is nice, I'd personally prefer a more aerodynamic tender (like the Polar Express's) -- whether it had 4 axles or 6.
I'd also like to see Lionel or MTH build an O-Scale version of the Soul Train.
The style of the train seemed to change slightly over the years; this was the version that adorned the back wall of the studio/set for most of the show's run. On a Soul Train record album, the version printed on the record's decal most resembled a Greenbrier style 4-8-4, so I say Lionel should start there and work backwards. Considering that I've had the opportunity to buy "barbecue" and "bacon" flavored smoke for my locomotives (and Southern Rwy. caboose), I'm sure it should be no trouble to provide a pint of orange or pink colored smoke for this locomotive. With any luck, it should a smooth, sweet smell (mesquite? "sweet Italian sausage"?) when used. If a set of passenger cars is made to go with the Soul Train, at least one of them should have flashing lights in the interior, like a club car with a swinging dance party. I'd also like to have a car with a SD Card based MP3 player. (It would be best if the speakers are equipped in the same car, but there have been external "sound cars" before...) The collector/user would load the SD card into his phone or computer, drag and drop their music on the card, then install the card back in the train car. Then you have the hippest party on wheels.
Even the Soul Train theme song, "The Sound of Philadelphia", sounds like it belongs on a Passenger car. Maybe another car could be named after Don Cornelius.
(I've tried pitching this idea to both Lionel and MTH. I wish someone would take it up...)
In addition to being my favorite rail-based Autobot, this is also the Nozomi version of the 500 Series Shinkansen (Bullet Train). Unless it's been beaten recently, this is one of the fastest bullet trains in Japan. While it sounds like I'm asking for the world (literally), this train has been made in O-Scale. (The problem is, the retail price is about the same as a small used car!) It should also be no surprise that I'd like to run the TGV (the silver and blue Atlantique, or in its vintage orange) on Lionel tracks.
I hope my wants haven't drowned out the page. Let me know if some of my requests match your own.
-- Señor J.After all these years I thought was the only one to noticed the soultrain locomotive.Was base on a real world steam locomotive.Astrotrain is another favorite of mine.Although at first I mistook astrotrain for a britsh or french type locomotive.
It took me a good while to find a real-world base for the Soul Train. (If MTH can do the Coors 'Silver Bullet', why shouldn't someone make the Soul Train?)
Astrotrain was more of a challenge -- someone once guessed the wrong locomotive; the wheel arrangement didn't match up, plus JNR scrapped all 20 D-62 engines -- numbered "D 62 1" to "D 62 20". If Astrotrain were made, I'd want him to have the number "D 6248". (In Japan, Astrotrain's toy had the serial number '48' out of 49 Transformers sold in 1985.)
Its funny I used to thinnk the berkshire type was american only.Turns other countries had berkshire steam locomotives.Not as cool looking as the american type thou.
