Based on the videos above I would say the wait was worth it. I hope everyone that ordered these are happy with them and have a trouble free experience.
Nice job to the crew at Lionel!
Here is a three and a half minute horizontal video with no music.
******ETA****** 11/24/2023 10:13 PM
Just to make certain there’s no misunderstanding, this is not my video, just one I found on YouTube.
Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday Season all!
What a better way to start the season off with this long awaited arrival?
My 2000s version came today and it did not disappoint. See below as I do my preliminary runs of the engine with (MTH) Strasburg cars including an Nicholas Smith custom run Marion car, a small mixed freight using two custom run freight cars from PDT (shoutout to Beth!) as well as an H21a hopper, a caboose hop with an scale Brassworks PRR ND, and finally a full freight haul!
Hope everyone is enjoying theirs as much as I am mine!
My shameless plug - Please subscribe and check out my other videos as well (O Scale and the real thing).
Pilot version arrived a week ago and is fantastic! #3 0f 10.
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Only 150 made of the 2000s version
Apparently only 15 or so of each of the Great Western variants were made, so they might be the sleeper collector items later on, along with the pilot version...
Looks like the 1990's variant was the most popular according to production numbers, followed by the retro egg logo model.
Where do you get info on total production numbers?
@rplst8 posted:Where do you get info on total production numbers?
It was announced by Lionel on Will2926's YouTube channel where Lionel shows how best to unpack this beast at the Nashville Store. Also the carton's are numbered. But there could be multiple batches so one can't always use the carton number.
@Mike W. posted:It was announced by Lionel on Will2926's YouTube channel where Lionel shows how best to unpack this beast at the Nashville Store. Also the carton's are numbered. But there could be multiple batches so one can't always use the carton number.
Thanks for watching the video! The Pilot is absolutely fantastic! I also picked up the 1990s version and following our move to CO, I will be doing a video on it soon! Happy Railroading!
If you go back to the catalog the pilot was the only version not pictured. There was a banner that noted it on the page with all the other engines. But was not pictured so perhaps slipped through resulting in only 10 being made coupled with that it is a pilot. Not sure but was not very apparent compared to catalogs where the pilot version is pictured along with all the other versions. It was also interesting for this model to have on the outer shipping box for each version, the number of the engine and total made. Not sure if that has been done before but was a first for me to see that on the box. Just some observations I noted for whatever they are worth.
Sure is a pretty thing; hardly looks like a "toy train".
I wonder why the cab isn't also made of brass; seems like it would have added to the over-all look.
In any case, hope it runs as good as it looks. 
Mark in Oregon
I can share everyone's excitement on this landmark model. However, I find it disappointing that Lionel could not design a more prototypically correct cylindrical underside part of boiler, especially given that is so pronounced on the real #90. I understand the technical challenges of the drive-train and wiring. I am not a bona-fide "rivet counter" yet I appreciate when models of steam engines can at least give the impression of cylindrical boilers. Both Lionel and MTH have achieved that on some models.
@Paul Kallus posted:I can share everyone's excitement on this landmark model. However, I find it disappointing that Lionel could not design a more prototypically correct cylindrical underside part of boiler, especially given that is so pronounced on the real #90. I understand the technical challenges of the drive-train and wiring. I am not a bona-fide "rivet counter" yet I appreciate when models of steam engines can at least give the impression of cylindrical boilers. Both Lionel and MTH have achieved that on some models.
I honestly found it more annoying that the boiler face has no rivets. The less than prototypical boiler/frame gap doesnt bother me that much, especially considering how small the boilers are, I can appreciate the engineering challenge of getting that correct while still having a fully operational model. No rivets on the boiler face, however? Come on. Entry level models have had that detail since....forever it seems.
@Strummer posted:I wonder why the cab isn't also made of brass; seems like it would have added to the over-all look.
I wonder if the diecast parts are from the molds of other models they already had… or that they plan on using for other models.
It stands to reason that the cab may have been a common design from Baldwin.
@rplst8 posted:Hopefully you’re not missing the sand dome cap for the switches.
The sand dome cover is packaged separately on the side of the styrofoam so that it would not come loose in shipping. Aside from some contact points the engine is tightly mounted to the aluminum base and touches nothing else inside the foam
I still think the original Brass Hybrid is one of the best in Pilot version. Of course the #90 is fantastic.
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@Mike W. posted:I still think the original Brass Hybrid is one of the best in Pilot version. Of course the #90 is fantastic.
..."brass cab"; see? 
It really adds a lot to the over all look, don't you think?
Mark in Oregon
@Strummer posted:..."brass cab"; see?
It really adds a lot to the over all look, don't you think?
Mark in Oregon
Agree, more brass = more attractive in the raw. But I feel like the point of the brass hybrid is 100% functional. Allows for variation in what needs to be differentiated for the buyer...yet strength in those components that do not. So perhaps the cab didn't change. The #90 also appears to use more sheet brass than the original Santa Fe. Some hybrids have the running boards as diecast zamak as well.
@will2926 posted:It's incredible! Do you know how many were made?
I do not. It was sold direct by Lionel to kick off the brass hybrid product line. And then some were sold through dealers after. I would be curious as well.
I picked up the 1990's model, absolutely love it. I did weather mine slightly not long after arrival to better reflect how it would look in daily service, specifically the smoke box, running boards, cab roof and tender top. Last pic shows the weathered red on the cab roof vs the stock clean red on the tender.
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Great looking engine
