Anyone seen new Polar Express freight set?

What catalog is it pictured in?

TEX

Steve

This is the first I've heard about this and it is something I am interested in.

So far, we've only seen one Polar Express boxcar from Lionel (well, two if one counts the PE Toy Fair boxcar).

The item I keep hoping for is a Legacy edition of the standard Polar Express steam locomotive. I beleive it would be very popular for those of us on a budget. What is Lionel waiting for, Christmas?

It's not been pictured in any catalog yet. Word from my LHS is it'll be introduced in Lionel's 2012 Christmas catalog. However, I do remember reading  in a prior OGR post about York where one or two forumites reported Lionel had shown it there in the corner of their area. Am hoping that whoever those posters were will give us some details as to what they saw there. BTW, when is the 2012 Christmas catalog scheduled for release?

This set was indeed on display at York.  It is headed by a steam locomotive.  I don't remember too many details, but my overall impression was that it was a nice looking set.

Andy

I am interested as well, wonder how it would look behind the scale Polar K-4?

What type of steam locomotive is it? Does it come with a CW-80?

TCA Presentation video mentions Holiday catalog available in May.

Also in the holiday catalog, a new Thomas RTR set in Holiday theme with remote.

Made in USA boxcars will be in Holiday catalog also.

Does anyone have the new Polar Express steam engine with Railsounds and whistle effect steam?  I would sure like to see video on how good it works.  My granddaughters want this for Christmas.

TEX

Steve

It is a traditional-sized set, so the rolling stock might look a little small (elf-sized ) behind a scale engine.  If you already have the Polar RR K4, try putting some traditional-sized rolling stock behind it to see what it looks like.

Andy

Thanks for the tip to search Google to see videos of the newest model of Lionel's Polar Express steam locomotive with the whistle steam effect. This is a very nice upgrade to the regular-sized PE engine.

Clearly, Polar Express is STILL a very popular item for Lionel. As we all know, the company even created its own Polar Railroad knock off that matches Polar Express quite well -- and as this post states, a new Polar Express R-T-R freight set is coming soon (I can hardly wait!).

Does anyone think Lionel will ever offer a regular-size edition of the Polar Express engine with Odyssey speed control and Legacy command? I believe (no pun intended) that if Lionel does release an Odyssey/Legacy edition of the PE steam loco, it would be very popular -- especially for those of us on a budget. The scale PE Pere Marquette was beyond my budget and beyond the max curve size of my Fastrack layout.

I will keep hoping for Lionel to issue an Odyssey/Legacy equipped edition of the regular-sized Polar Express locomotive. Will it ever happen? Who knows? But since Lionel keeps milking the Polar Express series, it is possible that one day my wish will come true.

You may get your wish Terrence re: "I will keep hoping for Lionel to issue an Odyssey/Legacy equipped edition of the regular-sized Polar Express locomotive. Will it ever happen? Who knows? But since Lionel keeps milking the Polar Express series, it is possible that one day my wish will come true"

That is at least until Lionel has to pay new licensing fees. I'm sure with the popularity Lionel's PE items enjoy, that when their licensing comes up for renewal that Warner Brothers et al. will definitely want a bgiger cut of the profits than back when rights were first negotiated. Anyone know what year Lionel's current PE license expires and is due for renewal? Perhaps MTH would bid for it and then at last there would be a PE loco that really smokes the ways kids would want it to. (Or could it be Lionel has deliberately avoided putting in more powerful smoke units to avoid the wrath of parents whose kiddies would smoke up their houses setting off smoke alarms everywhere with more powerful smoke units installed?)

First time I have heard of this, intriguing.  Will be on the lookout for this set.

Many thanks,

Billy C 

ogaugeguy, thanks for the gogle tip.  Found the video, even one where he upgraded the locomotive with a fan driven smoke unit for the stack.  It looks like a fine locomotive.  I see where there is an online price of $249.oo for the engine.  I will try.

TEX

Steve

I would not hold my breath for this, at least not an affordable version. In the 15 plus years that TMCC was available, the cheapest TMCC sets were around $450 (In 2005), and that was without the CAB-1 and base.

Thanks for the response, ed h. $450-$650 for a regular-size Polar Express loco with Legacy and Odyssey speed control is not an unreasonable price. I was referring to the high price of the scale PE 1225 Pere Marquette as being beyond my budget.

If I send out my PE steamer that came with the original RTR set and have it upgraded with TMCC and Cruise Control (Electric RR upgrades), the cost to do that conversion would be reasonable. ERR says their boards will not fit the Polar Express, yet I have seen videos of PE engines running with their TMCC and cruise upgrades (the circuit boards were crammed into the tender). I have also seen a stunning You Tube video of the Lionel Harry Hogwarts Express converted to MTH Protosound 2 (jawdrop!). I am sure that was not a low budget conversion.

I would prefer to see Lionel issue a Legacy/Odyssey edition of the standard Polar Express steam locomotive that to have my conventional PE steamer upgraded. In the mean time, I will use a one of my MTH proto 2 steam locomotives to haul my Polar Express cars this coming holiday season. More than anything, I want speed control and the ability to operate my motives via hand-held remote.

I heard that this was cancelled after a complaint from 'Elf & Safety'. 

That is my video and I have the lcomotive. It is very nice indeed i have to say. It has railsounds not trainsounds, a die cast tender shell, an all metal whistle and a nicer bell, cab figures, it smokes so much better than the first one, and the sounds are also so so so so so much better than the old one. I have the air whistle one and you couldnt even hear it. I put an led in it and it is on my channel. I would definitely reccomend it.

LOL.

Thinking of getting this for my 7-year old son.  Can the steam whistle effect be operated with a regular transformer or whistle controller?  The Polar Express RTR set comes with the track, passengre cars, and a little transformer but as I understand that RTR set does not have the whistle steam effect.  Pls. confirm.