Burlington F3's review?

No flames I just want the truth, good or bad

I don't own these but they seem to be great looking and sounding locos.

Heres the Lionel product overview:

Heres a thread with some photos posted by N.Q.D.Y, maybe she can comment and maybe post more video.

https://ogrforum.com/d...nt/10299794800672766

Great timing on this topic! I too am currently deliberating on what sort of motive power to pull my CZ consist.

But am also putting a set of 3rdRail E-7's into my pool of consideration. Although from what I've read, it seems F-3's are more generally accepted as the appropriate units to pull the CZ. So that has me leaning towards the Lionel F3's

What set of MTH F3's are you referring to (MTH PN)?
Last run of Burlington F3's by MTH were back in 2001, according to their website. But most recently ('08) they released a set of Burlington E-8s.

Curious if I'm missing something somewhere.

I can't compare to any other models, but I have the Lionel Legacy F3A-B-A set and I'm 100% happy with it. It runs great and sounds beautiful. The detail is really good, and I love the way that all of the doors open.

Here's a photograph of the real thing.  This compares very favourably with the Lionel models. 

Personally, I would wait for the Atlas O A-B-A set of CB&Q PASSENGER F units, which are specifically styled & painted for the CZ passenger cars.

For what it's worth, the CB&Q didn't use F units for very long on their portion of the CZ, i.e between Chicago and Denver. The Burlington quickly changed to E7A units (CB&Q never had E7, E8, or E9 'B' units), which where much more capable of maintaining the higher train speeds the CB&Q had. As the years progressed, the CB&Q subsequently purchased more E7A units, then E8A and E9A units for their passenger & commuter fleet.

The A-B-A F units were re-assigned to freight service, but did keep their passenger series road numbers.

Thanks Nicole, I checked out your pictures from a prior post and tthe lionel F units do look great. 

Hot water, thanks for your post, I doubt Atlas can deliver their F3's any time soon, I have been waiting for another set for over 3 years and still not here.

press2meco, not sure when MTH made their Funits but I did find them while doing a search. 

I can't compare because I have only had Lionel. But I can tell you have purchased two F3 burlington and Rio Grande out of the 2012 catalog and both had problems. Front couplers didn't work, one rear coupler didn't work, and the scale detail was rubbing on traction tires. The result was thrown and shredded traction tires quickly. Sent back to lionel. Couplers still don't work and the front coupler on the Burlington almost misses the coupler it's mating to. IE...I have a limp coupler. That being said the Burlington is a beautiful engine and is now an ABBA.

I own a set of the original MTH CZ ABA F3's that I have converted to PS2, and

really enjoy watching them pulling my CZ passenger cars.

I'd like to see MTH make a newer version of them, as well as an E5 CB&Q diesel set.

I like the Lionel set as well, and have both Legacy & DCS control systems running

on my layout. The best of both worlds.