I'd buy one if it had clowns for engineer and fireman figures.

jim911 posted:

Any thoughts on this engine

Only one thought: fantasy paint! The CM&StPP did not paint their 4-8-4s like that, nor did the Southern Pacific paint their cab forwards and AC-9s in daylight colors.

Very beautiful, I'm thinking about getting this one in the future.

When it gets down to it the whole model railroad hobby is fantasy, isn’t it?  I think it’s a great looking engine.  Just like these are beautiful in their own way.  I’ll buy one.

EDIT:  I forgot to mention my Daylight AC-9 delivers tomorow.

It must stink being a grown up without imagination and fun. 

MartyE posted:

It must stink being a grown up without imagination and fun. 

Awesome post!  LOL!

Re: the OP - I like the cylinder steam effect and if it also had whistle steam I would have considered it, even though we have no interest in this road.  The paint job is so different than everything else in our stable, this one would be refreshing.  But mostly, I'm just a sucker for smoke effects.  Still hoping for a Vision Allegheny (yep, I know it prolly isn't ever coming) with dynamo, whistle, steam emanating from under the cab (what is that even called??), and cylinder steam.  Similar to the Vision Challenger but with cylinder steam too.    

I have the original and ordered the Hiawatha.

This will be a popular locomotive -- just like the Daylight Cab Forward was. 

What they SHOULD have done was make this a sweet VisionLine locomotive with all the effects.  But wait.... didn't we hear something on the forum a few days ago that Lionel might be unveiling a VisionLine loco at York in a couple of weeks?  Hhhmmm.... perhaps that'll have ALL the steam effects we've been waiting for in ONE locomotive.  Swinging bell too.  Although I can do without the depleting-coal-load effect, which is a technological accomplishment for sure.  But it's just an example of something that doesn't need to be implemented even though they can.  Why push the price even higher with an unnecessary feature?    Heck, nobody even talks about it on the VL Big Boy anymore... do they?

David

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

 Heck, nobody even talks about it on the VL Big Boy anymore... do they?

David

Everytime this locomotive runs on a layout it draws a crowd.  The VL Big Boy was worth every penny to me.  It never fails to impress.  Even folks that have seen it run before have asked to see it again when they are around. 

Speaking of bait...not taking it for the rest of your post.

I thought the depleting coal load sounded hokie ... till we ran our BBs. Most visitors think that's an awesomely cool feature.  Think it would've been a different story if the coal load didn't still look so real and deplete so slowly.  So I actually like it very much!  But I agree that if given the choice and had to pick only one, I would prefer more smoke effects over a depleting coal load.   

MartyE posted:

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

 Heck, nobody even talks about it on the VL Big Boy anymore... do they?

David

Everytime this locomotive runs on a layout it draws a crowd.  The VL Big Boy was worth every penny to me.  It never fails to impress.  Even folks that have seen it run before have asked to see it again when they are around. 

...

Marty, my comment referred to the depleting-coal feature of the Big Boy's tender -- not the entire locomotive itself.  I don't doubt the VisionLine BB's popularity.

Nothing wrong with a fantasy scheme locomotive. I mean, count the rails. If you see three of them, it means you can do whatever you want.

Unfortunately, the price makes this S-3 a fantasy purchase for me. I mean, I counted the dollars and, clearly, I can’t buy whatever I want.

I like it, ......but I have the Milwaukee Road S3 from 2011, the 6-11230 (267 on display shelf in glass) plus the 4 car passenger cars 6-25622 (never been our of the box) and the 2 car passenger set 6-25623 (never been our of the box) that were released in 2013.

I may consider it but the other than the paint, not sure if I would just buy it for that reason. Beauty of an engine.

My guess is the overall cost of the S-3 is no more expensive to bring to market then the E-6 Atlantics on the next catalog page.  And, because tooling for the S-3 already exists,  most likely  this identical reissue will cost less to produce then the first  run of the S-3's ... 

joe  

I took a chance and pre-ordered one...catalog illustrations make me a little apprehensive. I have the Lionel scale Hiawatha cars from about 10 years ago plus the streamliners that were released when the first issue of the S-3's came out, and these and the Hiawatha S-3 should make a fantastic consist. Until it comes in I have a LOT of selling to do in order to pay for this and the new PE cars.

I agree, Paul,  Let's hope the catalog colors aren't a true representation. 

I might jump at the chance once the S3 is released, just to have an engine for the Lionel 18" Hiawatha cars.

I spotted # 261 on the movie "Public Enemies" the other day.   Woefully out of time with the 30's period. 

Capt. Obvious nailed it....The Milwaukee never painted their 4-8-4's like that! 

Bruce

I was glad to see that Lionel brought the S-3s back out. I have two now, and will have to stop at that. I chuckled at the Hiawatha version, but that is just me. I was also glad to see that Lionel brought out a new engine number in the more proper looking color scheme. Maybe this time one of the magazines will give Lionel credit for this locomotive, as I do not recall seeing any reviews on the original release of the S-3! For shame, if I am correct!

The painted S3 is very gimmicky which makes it very desirable. If they do a good job on the paint I think it will look great on that size engine. It would be nice if they did a better job on the catalog photos. 

Has anyone seen this model at York or elsewhere?

Paul Kallus posted:

Has anyone seen this model at York or elsewhere?

It can be seen on Lionels facebook, without needing to be a facebook member. This is a display photo from York that Lionel posted:

Ryan also rolled out an operating sample on the" Ryan and Dave Show" a couple of months ago, also on facebook.

 https://www.facebook.com/Lione...s/10157123870213345/

I noticed the Niagara wasn't wearing white walls - I guess it's the same black engineering test mule?

Thanks for those pictures Rick and Marty. That is a handsome and sharp looking model.

TedW posted:

When it gets down to it the whole model railroad hobby is fantasy, isn’t it?  

No.

RickO posted:

I'd buy one if it had clowns for engineer and fireman figures.

This opens up an entirely new can of fish and kettle of worms, indeed. Other paint schemes would be appropriate applications of said sartorial finery. But, would there be both Good Clowns and Evil Clowns?

D500 posted:

TedW posted:

When it gets down to it the whole model railroad hobby is fantasy, isn’t it?  

No.

Well, let’s see.

We’re pretending that we are moving vital freight to distant destinations, but we’re not.

We’re pretending we’re transporting people from station to station, but we’re not.

Our people are plastic or pewter and stand absolutely still while the trains travel short distances.

Our buildings are usually plastic and largely vacant. Those with ground-floor details almost never have any in the floor above.

The grass and trees never grow, it never snows or rains and the sunlight comes from all directions.

The diesels have plastic bodies and don’t use diesel fuel, the steam locomotives usually are electrically powered, and the electric locomotives usually take their power from the rails, not from a catenary.

Oh yeah, and there are three rails.

Yep, I would say that’s a fantasy world. Paint can’t change that. 

RickO posted:

I'd buy one if it had clowns for engineer and fireman figures.

jim911 posted:

The painted S3 is very gimmicky which makes it very desirable... 

It may be desirable for some, probably. But not for me. I'll have to go with RICKO's view - to me, it looks too much like an engine on a circus train. I think it's mostly the painted wheels that put it over the top. Just my opinion.

I prefer engines to look as prototypical as possible. Fantasy is not of interest to me, but it's more digestible if the paint scheme is at least feasible enough that it could have happened. This Hiawatha S3 doesn't meet that criterion.

I think it’s pretty cool... I ordered one and look forward to it.  I think it’s sharp looking actually, I like that tender a lot.  To each his own!

banelson posted:

I think it’s pretty cool... I ordered one and look forward to it.  I think it’s sharp looking actually, I like that tender a lot.  To each his own!

That's right. Different strokes for different folks, as they said in the 70s.  And, probably in most cases, the Lionel marketing department has a good idea of what will sell and what won't.

breezinup posted:

RickO posted:

I'd buy one if it had clowns for engineer and fireman figures.

It may be desirable for some, probably. But not for me. I'll have to go with RICKO's view - to me, it looks too much like an engine on a circus train. I think it's mostly the painted wheels that put it over the top. Just my opinion.

At first, I was thinking if only that ugly pilot could be replaced. Then, I came across this post and looked a little farther back. Yes, you nailed it, the wheels do indeed make it look exactly like a circus train! Now, I am scarred forever! 

A new pilot and a lot of black paint below the running board and this would have been a nice looking engine.

They pretty much followed the Hiawatha Hudson paint scheme, which was prototype, so why not take it one locomotive further for the fun of it.

That is quite the awesome fantasy scheme.  I have not purchased fantasy schemes in the past but this one has me wondering about making an exception.

MartyE posted:

 

I suspect that the harsh lighting condition is the reason that the S-3 looks so much like something for a circus train. Ooooor, are the drivers really white?
Sadly, there is not much that can be done with the "High Water" pilot. 

Not for me, but its nice.

NOTE that the Niagara with the fantasy paint scheme was the biggest seller in the last catalog. What does that tell ya?

Big Jim posted:

MartyE posted:

 

I suspect that the harsh lighting condition is the reason that the S-3 looks so much like something for a circus train. Ooooor, are the drivers really white?
Sadly, there is not much that can be done with the "High Water" pilot. 

Guessing the drivers match the boiler. A light gray?

jim911 posted:

Any thoughts on this engine

If you like it and think it is worth it, purchase it fantasy paint and all. Does anyone know if the colors are correct for that old Milwaukee Road paint scheme?