2015 lionmaster challenger

Lionel has received many requests for the return of Lionmaster.  I expect if they don't recieve many orders for this one we may not see any more Lionmaster for a long time.

I have 2 Lion master Challengers - both legacy and also a Big Boy with the whistle smoke. they are all just brilliant engines. The operation and sounds are strong and whilst not scale they are large enough to look OK next to the few (small)scale engines I have. 

 

MIKE

My medium sized layout has an 072 loop but the majority is 036 curves and switches.  I pre-ordered a 2015 legacy lionmaster challenger so I can use my recently aquired 990 throughout the layout. I also have a Legacy Tuscan K4 (catalog says 036 minimum) but without the Lionmaster line it is tough to find 036 capable Legacy steam that I like.

Challenger looks great and I am looking forward to the steam whistle smoke effect.

I think the should have started with a Hudson, like the 5418 so it can be run on a 4x8 layout!!  There are a lot of toy train layouts out there.

 

Art

the LionMaster line is super.  i had a challenger and have a big boy.  if they come out with a big boy with whistle steam effect, i will be upgrading.

 

these are super engines.  look and sound great and operate very well.   

 

you won't go wrong by getting one now.

I would like to add 1 more thought to this,i really liked the scale polar express that was in the last signature catalog  i thought it had a lot of nice details on it,i didn't order it because i am still rebuilding my layout & i wasn't ready to be ordering any new engines,when i finish rebuilding,& if the scale polar express is available again i probably will order it.

I have a Lionmaster Challenger from about 10 years ago.  I like it a lot.  It is the biggest steamer I have and I am glad to see Lionel bring this line back.  I'll buy a big boy if they make one.

If you listen to The Podcast, Mike made it very clear they brought them back because of customer requests, however if they don't sell, they will not keep making them.  So all you guys who have been complaining about Lionmasters not being made better buy them if you want to see anymore.  Otherwise this will probably be it.  With the BTO, they are protecting themselves from people who keep saying they want things and then never buy them when they are actually made.

I hope they sort of fill in the gap between the two power trucks. Seems like too much of an open space.

Do it.  I have 6-11200 which was the last  release of Lionmaster. Great compressed look and even with the compromises it holds up with scale rolling stock and even other locos. 

See the O Gauge Union Pacific thread on the photo album forum for visuals.

 

JLC Legacy Big Boy (Top) Legacy 4-12-2 (Center) Legacy Lionmaster Challenger (Bottom) 

I bought a LionMaster Legacy Challenger last month.  I love it.  Great detail for the price, sound is terrific, runs well.  A great engine.  I ran it on O42 curves this Christmas - it was very good.

 

Bill

 

I have the legacy LM big boy w whistle steam and it's a great loco.
Great detail, smoke and sound.
Looks great w a string of scale size refers.

I know the lion master challenger is rated at O-31 curves but I am having a hard time imagining a challenger locomotive going through O-36 turnouts.You have wide radius (O-72&O-60)curves.Why did you opt.to use O-36 turnouts?Nick

IMO all the Lionmaster locos are great, I had all ( until I switched to full scale) of them except for the T1. Hudson, challenger, cab forward, bigboy, and class A my personal favorite.

 

They've had far more runs of challengers than any of the others.

 

IMO Lionel needs to bring back the hudson and A, they were only made once over 10 years ago. The Lionmaster a was, and still is one of my favorites, even though I no longer own it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of course the NP challenger from 2003:

 

 

 

 

Yes O 36 turnouts not the best for these challengers either. The cab would swing out and hit the switch stand.

Just love the LionMaster Challenger which I've owned since 2008 and it runs just fine on 31 curve.  I will certainly consider buying the 2015 iteration which hopefully will have the upgraded whistle steam.  Looks ok too running with the other scale engines. When I was at York 2013, I mentioned to the Lionel marketing people that I thought they were missing out by not coming out with more LionMaster offerings. 

Rockstars1989, The reason i used 036 switches is i have 14 of them,all in perfect working order & i wasn't about to spend all that extra money for o60,or 072 switches,also even if an engine could not make it through  an 036 switch i can still run it on either the 060,or 072 loop,besides all those switches are for sidings only,where i park trains so it isn't necessary for an engine to go through a switch on the main loop,i would rather spend the money on a new engine,when you are limited to what you can spend,we have to make some compromises.