Anyone have any comments on Lionel's Heritage series of trains?

Is the Heritage series the same as the Post-War Celebration series ?

No, Dan, They're not. And I might have the wrong terminology. 

About 1990 or so they made a series of old timey trains, although I don't know how many different ones were issued. Here is link to show you what I'm talking about:

https://www.walthers.com/herit...ail-stourbridge-lion

These were made long after 1990, but I'd need to check my records to see what specific year each was done.  Probably closer to between mid to late 00's and probably ended around 5 years ago with the Lincoln Funeral Train (or at least seems to have ended).

I think the full list of "Heritage" sets in this context is the Best Friend Of Charleston, John Bull, Stourbridge Lion, DeWitt Clinton, and Lincoln Funeral Train.

They are nice, but they are not high tech in terms of operation (full conventional - not even an e-unit - direction is controlled via a mechanical switch), but nicely detailed.  Some balked at the issuing of the small coal cars issued with the Lion, as it didn't survive long enough to ever actually pull a consist in real life, apparently.  The "grasshopper" gear is impressive in operation though.

They do all have relatively fragile detail parts. 

As to the nomenclature, unfortunately Lionel threw the word "Heritage" around sort of a lot over the years.  The series Dan is thinking of (and William1 refers to below) was probably when Lionel called certain things "Heritage" in some of the late 90's catalogs and small flyers.  The deal was supposedly going to be the cream of the crop and also extensive warranty service offered (lifetime IIRC, but that of course depended on parts, many of which are no longer available).  Some early items in this club were the Backshop accessory, and I think also the original modern re-issues of the Culvert Loader/Unloader  (might have just been one of those - it's been a while ). 

Then there was this series of trains(Stourbridge, DeWitt, etc), also called "Heritage".

Then there was the whole Norfolk Southern Heritage program (though that is because the actual prototypes were also called that, I am pretty sure - MTH also did that line and called them that), with all the Diesels and matching cars painted to commemorate the fallen flags absorbed in to what is now NS over the years.

-Dave

I have the Wabash GP7 triple lash up set.  One of the last of my O trains.  It is a beautiful set.  I think the FEC triple lash up set was in the Heritage line also.  I sold that.  Nice thing is, these trains have a lifetime warranty if you have the receipt from where you bought it from.  I had the speaker replaced in a Wabash unit ( maybe both) and the repair guy was astounded that Lionel honored the warranty on a twelve year old engine.

Thanks Dave

Reason I'm asking: She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed is doing an 1880's type theme for Christmas this year and I thought one of those might fit right in. I do have the lionchief Victorian train set but we ran that last year and I'd kind of like to change things out this year. I'm just not too knowledgeable about them. There were three that I can think of. Stourbridge Lion, Best Friend of Charleston and John Bull. Of course, there may be more that I don't kniow about.

DeWitt Clinton : (there was also a single add-on car)

http://www.lionel.com/products...assenger-set-6-11164

Lincoln Funeral: (add on cars 2nd link)

http://www.lionel.com/products...uneral-train-6-11183

http://www.lionel.com/products...r-car-2-pack-6-25631

John Bull: (there was also a single add-on car)

http://www.lionel.com/products...assenger-set-6-30088

Stourbridge (2nd link for cars):

http://www.lionel.com/products...ge-lion-1829-6-11153

http://www.lionel.com/products...-cars-2-pack-6-27426

BFOC : (there was also a single add-on car)

http://www.lionel.com/products...f-charleston-6-30065

-Dave

The DeWitt Clinton would make for a nice Christmas tree train, though a little pricey even if you can locate one.

...and there's the rub. Finding one at a decent price. 

But if it doesn't come about, I still have the Victorian 4-6-0 I can run again.