Skip to main content

Hello everyone,

I know the transportation issues going on in this country make this question probably difficult to answer, but has anyone heard what the status of the Legacy Camelbacks are?  According to Lionel Shipping Schedule they were due in September (again, I get it with the transportation issues) but has anyone heard anything on when we could expect them at our LHS?  Thanks!

Anthony

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Don't have a specific reason other than the roadname and train name, but I firmly think the Jersey Central 'Blue Comet' version will be a real winner out of all the roadnames. Prototypically, a CNJ camelback did power the 'Blue Comet' on occasion but it was not painted in blue. By the way, many train dealers are already SOLD OUT on this locomotive!

2131390NJCBlueComet770_LegacyCamelback_1400x

Above is Lionel catalog photo.

L8cRWxCNVwBUKRc7rbRn0KA

Above photo by Liberty State Park, NJ

Walter M. Matuch

Attachments

Images (2)
  • 2131390NJCBlueComet770_LegacyCamelback_1400x
  • 8cRWxCNVwBUKRc7rbRn0KA
Last edited by Walter Matuch

I would love to find a model of the Camelback that pulled the Blue Comet.  Here is a 2010 I took of the one surviving one that did.  It is little larger in scale than I able to manage though!  There is something about the forward placement of the cab on the 4-4-2 arrangement that I find much more visually pleasing than the 10 wheeler although both are awesome machines. 

IMGP3283_ED

Attachments

Images (1)
  • IMGP3283_ED
@MartyE posted:

I was thinking about getting the Halloween Camelback but the desire left me yesterday.  I realize this is no fault of Lionel's because of the shipping issues globally.  Unfortunately once Halloween was over the need to have one vanished.

The cool thing about the Halloween version is you can have different bell and whistle options. I think its neat to have the option to go from a standard Camelback whistle and bell sounds to Halloween wolf howling and church bell sounds. I think thats a cool option. Of course the locomotive is still Halloween themed but looks great.

Brad

Last edited by B rad
@GG1 4877 posted:

The challenge is always prototypical CNJ cars.  The closest I've found in O scale are the All Nation metal and wood kits.

It certainly is a challenge and it would take a long time to find enough All Nation kits to make an decent sized consist.

For that reason I am willing to sacrifice prototypical accuracy and will be using 5 MTH cars to do the job. Most people who visit my layout are not train buffs (friends, family & neighbors who visit around the holidays) so they will not know what is and isn't accurate. As the old saying goes: "What they don't know won't hurt them!"

Not to get too off-topic,  I have been on the hunt for a MTH premier CNJ pacific so I can run The Queen of the Valley. Once I get that loco, I will definitely need to get some prototypical cars.

Bryce

It certainly is a challenge and it would take a long time to find enough All Nation kits to make an decent sized consist.

For that reason I am willing to sacrifice prototypical accuracy and will be using 5 MTH cars to do the job. Most people who visit my layout are not train buffs (friends, family & neighbors who visit around the holidays) so they will not know what is and isn't accurate. As the old saying goes: "What they don't know won't hurt them!"

Not to get too off-topic,  I have been on the hunt for a MTH premier CNJ pacific so I can run The Queen of the Valley. Once I get that loco, I will definitely need to get some prototypical cars.

Bryce

The All Nation kits are not that hard to find.  I have seven coaches, two baggage \ coaches and a baggage car.  I tracked all of them down in just a few months.

A correct BC diner is an 80' prototype with a truss rod support system.  I have the plans for it and will likely find a reasonable Walthers donor as a start.

The real work is in building them well.  As for an MTH premier Pacific I have one 3 rail version that was going to be a donor for my 2 rail partial one but I liked it the way it was and I am seeking another.  It still needs a lot of work to be correct.  

As an aside I also have a Weaver Reading GS1 Pacific that is closer to a CNJ 820 series Pacific.  That Pacific type has the honor of pulling the duty when the BC derailed.  It has the correct Wooten firebox but needs some details updated.

Last edited by GG1 4877
@GG1 4877 posted:

I have seven coaches, two baggage \ coaches and a baggage car.  I tracked all of them down in just a few months.



That is good to hear, I just put an auto-search on the popular auction site.

Hopefully I will have the time to properly build and make the cars CNJ accurate (it seems my to-do list keeps getting bigger and bigger while my time to complete tasks shrinks ha!).

Bryce

@GG1 4877 posted:

I would love to find a model of the Camelback that pulled the Blue Comet.  Here is a 2010 I took of the one surviving one that did.  It is little larger in scale than I able to manage though!  There is something about the forward placement of the cab on the 4-4-2 arrangement that I find much more visually pleasing than the 10 wheeler although both are awesome machines.

IMGP3283_ED

I think 592 would be a good candidate for new Lionel tooling as a higher-end Legacy engine. To my knowledge, the      4-6-0 camelbacks are the only camelbacks that have been produced in 3-rail O Scale (albeit multiple runs from both Lionel and MTH). 2-rail models is a whole other story.

I think this prototype would give a nice touch of variety to the market for those who like camelbacks.

Jonathan, I agree that the forward placement of the cab on 592 is more visually pleasings - I feel as if the elongated firebox emphasizes the necessity of the cab's location over the drivers

Last edited by Prr7688
@Prr7688 posted:

I think 592 would be a good candidate for new Lionel tooling as a higher-end Legacy engine. To my knowledge, the      4-6-0 camelbacks are the only camelbacks that have been produced in 3-rail O Scale (albeit multiple runs from both Lionel and MTH). 2-rail models is a whole other story.

I think this prototype would give a nice touch of variety to the market for those who like camelbacks.

Jonathan, I agree that the forward placement of the cab on 592 is more visually pleasings - I feel as if the elongated firebox emphasizes the necessity of the cab's location over the drivers

The only 2 rail Atlantic type Camelback I am aware of is the International Model Products one and it is not the same as the CNJ prototype.  I have been looking for a 2 rail one for many years!

@MartyE posted:

I was thinking about getting the Halloween Camelback but the desire left me yesterday.  I realize this is no fault of Lionel's because of the shipping issues globally.  Unfortunately once Halloween was over the need to have one vanished.

I have the Halloween version on order ... so I expect  it soon.

Halloween's over, you say?  OMGosh ... I run that livery year round.

Besides, "wait 'til next year" is appropriate here....

Just received and opened my Blue Comet camelback…the color is way too bright blue. Looks toy like in my opinion vs a scale engine. I will post a review video today of it running and a side by side next to my scale Lionel legacy blue comet

*sigh*  I've been partially dreading opening the box when it arrives because of all the recent color issues with lionel.   Really was hoping they'd get this one right 😞  Can you post a pic as mine hasn't arrived yet?

Last edited by Brian DeFazio

Here's a quick review video. I did a side by side next to my Lionel Legacy Blue Comet Pacific from ~10 years ago. Quite a difference in color. Details are good for the price, some new sound sets would be refreshing but still good.





One more addition I missed in my review. The coal on the deck is painted blue 😂. I Know this is cast into the tooling but surely this could have been pained black

Last edited by EricTrainMan

Here's a quick review video. I did a side by side next to my Lionel Legacy Blue Comet Pacific from ~10 years ago. Quite a difference in color. Details are good for the price, some new sound sets would be refreshing but still good.





One more addition I missed in my review. The coal on the deck is painted blue 😂. I Know this is cast into the tooling but surely this could have been pained black

Is Lionel going to start selling sunglasses so we aren’t blinded by the recent paint jobs?  

Add Reply

Post
This forum is sponsored by Lionel, LLC
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×