Big Steam Purchase

what about one of the vision line challengers. don't have one, but they are supposed to be impressive and have VL features (whistle steam!) and those great lionel sounds.

this is a great smoker and whistle steam.

http://www.lionel.com/products...ilLineID=&CatalogId=

and the real one still runs in southern calif.

I would go with a Legacy steamer. You'll have more features and the sounds are probably a little better than the older TMCC engine. 3rd rail engines will also have the older Railsounds 4 system in it. I assume the H-7 will have RS 5.

I'd go with the JLC H7, or a JLC Big Boy if you can find one.

Jeff C

I love the JLC H7 but I have the UP version. I don't like the walkway over the air pumps on the left side of the C&O one.

I would go for the big boy it is very Detailed and has a great lighting package just a fantastic engine, I own 3 and love everyone

All the large steam locomotives, both Lionel and MTH have video's of their operations and functions on YouTube or this forum archives. It might be worth your while to search for various engines you might be interested in or recommended on this thread and see for yourself what each offers.

If it were me, I would lean toward a Vision Line Lionel locomotive because it would give the latest in features and great smoke/sound.

TEX
Steve

I own both the Legacy Big Boy and the C&O H-7 and I love them both, but if forced to make a choice the Legacy Big Boy wins hands down. The Big Boy has a very high level of detail, runs great, and it is a very good smoker with adjustable smoke levels.

Eric Hofberg
TCA, LCCA

I agree with the majority,the Legacy Big Boy is great.

I have the H-7 in U.P. and I had the chance to buy the Big Boy when Lionel came out with it and looked it over.

I greatly prefer the H-7, because I think the prototype was better looking and more interesting looking. And the model and also I believe the prototype H-7 have more added on detail than the Big Boy. The model produces all the smoke you could possibly ask for and runs fine. No problems there at all.

But, I think the Big Boy will be easier to sell when the time comes and will hold its value better, simply because many appear to be in love with the name.

If the articulated 4-chuffs per revolution sound (like the prototype) is important to you, be careful which Lionel model you you select.

Here are some excellent pics of a UP H-7

Well it looks like i am going to have to get a big boy and look for a UP H-7. Thanks for all of the great input everyone.

I don't know - that C&O H-7 pulling a long string of C&O hoppers looks pretty swell....

JLC challenger.

The big boy was purchased yesterday. Just waiting for it to arrive! I do also love that H-7 so that is going to be next on the list. The challanger is another nice piece that i will also be adding to my "must have list" after that video link (thank you Gary). Thanks again to everyone for the great feed back!

Sigh, if i had a permanemt layout, I'd have to revise my how much would you spend post and rethink my affinity for MTH... Just kidding Mike, if you make the Giants stuff, I won't switch!

quote:

Originally posted by Weekender:
The big boy was purchased yesterday. Just waiting for it to arrive! I do also love that H-7 so that is going to be next on the list. The challanger is another nice piece that i will also be adding to my "must have list" after that video link (thank you Gary). Thanks again to everyone for the great feed back!

The Lionel 2-8-8-4 EM-1 is another great locomotive. Yes there are dimensional beefs about it, but I think they are small, compared to the sound and massive looks.
I was able to fix its universal fairly easy and I put two fat boy speakers in it and WOW, the sound is just amazing! It will easily pull 30 diecast 2 bay hoppers up a 3 percent grade...