Buy anything cool lately?

I purchased the Polar Express set many years ago with the conventional locomotive and air whistle in the tender.  I picked up the Lionchief locomotive for it a few years ago.  Today, I decided to give myself a Christmas present and ordered the Lionchief Plus Polar Express locomotive.

Over the years I have bought, I think, every add-on car for the Polar Express (even have both the conventional and Lionchief conductor cars).  I am going to have to expand my Christmas layout if I want to run the Polar Express with all of the add-on cars.

@Henryjint posted:

Just received my Lionel 2033340 Amtrak E-8s with those early paint schemes. Units 4316/249. The 249 does have two headlights.

I think 249 was an ex Seaboard Coastline E-8 which prototypically had the Mars light on top and a running board on one side of the locomotive leading from the cab door to the number board below the nose grab irons.

It looks like it was painted in sections while in service.

4316 started out as Pennsylvania Railroad 5716 built in 10/52.  When NYC and PRR merged it became Penn Central 4316.  When Amtrak acquired it from Penn Central a temporary logo was painted on it and the number 4316 may have been repainted larger on the rear panels(It looks kind of big compared to the Penn Central road numbers in pictures on other locos).  It eventually was repainted as #322 in the phase-I paint scheme as shown below.  Notice the original PRR tow brackets on the front of the locomotive.

Great purchases fellows, there’s lots of new Lionel diesels pictured above, Southern, Amtrak, Union Pacific, And these are the long ones, so beautiful. My FM finally arrived, no damage just a coupler issue, my good dealer will repair it. I love the 5 horns and the 5 bells, and it runs slow and smooth. It also smokes great. Merry Christmas Everyone

The Burlington was one of the few roads that bought F2s.  These are Atlas units, both powered.  Found one on evil bay months ago and just found another.  Had to have a matching pair.  They're both used and in nice condition. Merry Christmas to me.

And Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone on the OGR Forum.

We're all in this together.

@Chas posted:

I think 249 was an ex Seaboard Coastline E-8 which prototypically had the Mars light on top and a running board on one side of the locomotive leading from the cab door to the number board below the nose grab irons.

 

It looks like it was painted in sections while in service.

4316 started out as Pennsylvania Railroad 5716 built in 10/52.  When NYC and PRR merged it became Penn Central 4316.  When Amtrak acquired it from Penn Central a temporary logo was painted on it and the number 4316 may have been repainted larger on the rear panels(It looks kind of big compared to the Penn Central road numbers in pictures on other locos).  It eventually was repainted as #322 in the phase-I paint scheme as shown below.  Notice the original PRR tow brackets on the front of the locomotive.

Yes the SCL E-8s had the Mars light on top. Reason I mentioned the Lionel unit had the two light nose is that their literature states Mars, roof or ditch lights where appropriate but they don't show a front view of #249. 

@Henryjint posted:

Yes the SCL E-8s had the Mars light on top. Reason I mentioned the Lionel unit had the two light nose is that their literature states Mars, roof or ditch lights where appropriate but they don't show a front view of #249.

I am glad Lionel did one engine with a Mars light.  I love my MTH Santa Fe, Wabash, and Amtrak E-8's with the Mars light.

@Tds posted:

I forget I order this ,what surprise

That is hilarious! Sometimes I fall asleep with my phone in my hand and wake up with my thumb about to “Confirm Bid.” I thought I had some kind of mental condition when some box cars showed up at my house. It was EXACTLY like something I’d have bought myself, but couldn’t remember buying. My father was laughing when he explained that he had bought them and sent them to my address! It was worth every penny to him just to put one over on me.😆

Following up on my post from a couple of days ago, yesterday I ordered 2 more Fastrack switches and some of the lighted Fastrack.  I use O-48 curves on the Christmas layout; hopefully, Lionel will eventually offer the lighted Fastrack in O-48 curves.

I run our Christmas layout on 2 large white shag rugs.  They give the snow effect and the cats don't tear them up like they would the cotton fake snow.  I ordered another white shag rug which will allow me to extend the Christmas layout.  The extra switches give more running possibilities, the lighted Fastrack just looks so cool (may order more after I see how they look on my layout), and with the expanded layout I can run longer trains.

Wow, my dealer fixed the coupler issue so now the TM3 FM is home. Lionel did a nice job on the paint scheme and the fine detailing. Happy Railroading Everyone

@leapinlarry posted:

Wow, my dealer fixed the coupler issue so now the TM3 FM is home. Lionel did a nice job on the paint scheme and the fine detailing. Happy Railroading Everyone

Looks great, Larry. Glad your dealer was able to fix the coupler issue quickly. I have the CC II pair (TM-1 & TM-2).  They share the great paint scheme. Enjoy your new addition!!!

Thank you @Apples55, Paul, yes, the Century Club 2 had this paint scheme to and they are beautiful. At one time I had those engines ( in fact the entire Century Club 2 collection) and they were very nice diesels. I did sell the entire Century Club 2 to a friend. I still have the entire Century Club 1 collection. That’s the reason I got back into the hobby, having the good looking post war engine with TMCC. It seems that everything comes in at the same time, so these are the three newbies to my model railroad.

Picked up an MTH N&W  auxiliary tender from an auction house.  It will look nice behind my Lionel J.

It's a little bit shiny compared to the Lionel,  maybe I'll tone it down with some satin finish.

Hi..1st post hope it works..my new pc is a Lionel N&W J legacy..love it ..Ive had the Niagra

@Snkbittin posted:

Hi..1st post hope it works..my new pc is a Lionel N&W J legacy..love it ..Ive had the Niagra

You are off to a good start with that pair. Welcome to the Forum.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

You are off to a good start with that pair. Welcome to the Forum.

Bob

Thanks Bob!  I love em both

Just arrived this morning (ordered Wednesday evening from Mario's Trains) two Lionchief sets for my two latest grandkids' first Christmas.

Lionel Junction Christmas Set With Illuminated Track

Thomas & Friends James Set

@Snkbittin posted:

Hi..1st post hope it works..my new pc is a Lionel N&W J legacy..love it ..Ive had the Niagra I noticed you have those beautiful Lionel Milk Cars behind that Niagara. I love those. BOTH are outstanding trains! Thanks for sharing. Keep posting those pretty pics.

@CoolHand posted:

The Niagra has all Milk cars..Im a fan of wood side billboard reefers..the J has the passenger cars but Id like to do a billboard theme for that too..the cars are Lionel..Atlas..Weaver

Now I have a job, placing these new accessories on my layout, and hopefully I’ll get it done this weekend. When I set them up I’ll post the real pictures of the contents in the boxes.... Thank you Lionel... Merry Christmas Everyone

Some neat stuff over the last 10 days or so. Although today might beat it all(that’ll come later though)

Was ecstatic to walk into my LHS and find  three mth railking passenger car 4 packs, some 2 packs and a single...all from the Lehigh Valley RR! And all 4 packs were different- bright red, dark red/brown and  this scheme:

Bought the single, have the 4 pack on hold and will be getting it shortly! As I live in the Lehigh Valley, these are tough to find.

Local Dutch auction win- $10 for the lot of 3 republic Steel  cars, lcl containers, stakes, and the Postwar cape canaveral mercury project car. The last one is the one I wanted. The Caboose is my first unique Arts piece. GOt it last Sunday at a flash train meet

also from the flash train meet- for a good deal- Lionel NYC diecast depressed flat car/machine car.

also at the auction, got this MTH premier 20’  container for $10. Was attached, via rubber band, to a plain black flat car. Also got the CSX diecast flat car pictured via ebay  and modified it to fit some intermodal containers

Speaking of containers. intermodal kick continues- although these aren’t scale. Finally arrived in the mail. Lionel maxi stack  container 4 pack

STicking with intermodal but switching to scale(I think?) K-line diecast CSX Gunderson. While it says 48’ for the markings, the containers are really 40’- but at least they’re scale!

Random find at a LHS last week- MTH RK Husky Stack Norfolk Western container- again for $10. Considering MTH doesn’t sell extra railking intermodal containers, had to pounce

also from the flash train meet. Lionel Postwar 156 platform in g/VG condition. Nice deal too. Trying to buildout my platforms to make a large continuous passenger platform

Last Sunday, went to a hobby shop and found this for well under the going rate. Back-up secured!

This afternoon- picked up this Tinplate station circa 1902-1911. Super psyched about this pick up

Got some other stuff today too as my favorite hobby shop has a sale. Will post when I get home

@leapinlarry posted:

Wow, my dealer fixed the coupler issue so now the TM3 FM is home.

Larry,
What kind of coupler problem did you have?

@StevefromPA posted:

Some neat stuff over the last 10 days or so. Although today might beat it all(that’ll come later though)

Was ecstatic to walk into my LHS and find  three mth railking passenger car 4 packs, some 2 packs and a single...all from the Lehigh Valley RR! And all 4 packs were different- bright red, dark red/brown and  this scheme:

Bought the single, have the 4 pack on hold and will be getting it shortly! As I live in the Lehigh Valley, these are tough to find.

Have to ask Steve, what's your LHS?

I live just outside of Harrisburg & I'm always looking to visit new shops.  One benefit of living in Pennsylvania is the sheer volume of train oriented stores around!

Big Jim, in answering your question, my dealer said the pin holding the coupler open or closed was bent during assembly at the factory. That was a fairly easy fix for my dealer. I’m just happy that it didn’t have to go back to Lionel.

Glad to hear it was something simple.

Larry you have the best toys.

Just purchased a #2343. Rear motor had to be worked on but I got it operating with a good servicing. Actually my first post war diesel added to my steam collection. Needed some variety.

Got this Atlas Pluto Water car recently.  Story goes,  my wife and I spent our first anniversary at French Lick Springs hotel in 1981, home of Pluto Water Springs.  Rode the French Lick and West Baden Railroad.  In the very early 1990's  I bought the k-line version of this car.  Sold it a month ago to a fellow club member.  Last week our son surprised me with the Atlas car.

Here's both cars,  Atlas on top, K-line below.

Got my package of trucks from Atlantis before Thanksgiving. Ended up orderin 6 of them figuring I can make up a bunch of diffrent colors. Yesterday USPS dropped off the TCA TOFC's I had ordered a while back. They were suppose to be Weaver TOFC's  but production problems caused Lionel to substitute theirs. I do hope Lionel will be able to make the Weaver ones again because I like them better. Pics..................Paul 2

@paul 2 man those are cool Tofcees! Love Seaboard by itself, even though I don’t all Seaboard consists.when I run modern freight consists- it’s CSX. That said, I like including rolling stock from its predecessors, the”Family Lines”, L&N,  B&O, WM, etc...

JUst to clarify- are those Tofcees Lionel 40’ trailers?

Paul, I got one of the Atlantis GMC stakebody truck kits.  You got six!  I should have known.  

Got my Menards REA stake body lighted truck this week. Really nice and the tailgate even opens. Haven't tried the lights yet but as soon as a decide where to put it the lights will be on.

I haven't tried the lights on my Menards REA stake body truck either, Bob.  They are nice looking!

@Mark Boyce posted:

I haven't tried the lights on my Menards REA stake body truck either, Bob.  They are nice looking!

Now see guys, Paul2 could have got them from Menards with working lights and just repainted them! LOL

They really look Nice!

I went to Portland yesterday and cleaned out Hobby Smith for their dull coat, 4 rattle cans.

I also scored the newest NP historical society magazine and the OpSig magazine

A while back MTH issued a separately sold set of 4 box cars displaying some locos. Not sure of some of the loco's significance, but think they are cool looking box cars.

Union Pacific (30-71028):

Norfolk & Western (30-71029):

Nickle Plate Road (30-71030):

Southern Pacific (30-71031):

All four:

I got the 752, 753, 754 about a week ago, the trailer cars between a month and a week ago

StevefromPA, I'm not sure what the length of the Lionel trailer is. The Weaver trailer is shorter, I think they are 35 ft. And to me they are taller  and wider. If I get a chance I'll measure both trailers............Paul 2

This morning getting the paper was a pleasent surprise. The first TOFC set from the TCA was sitting on the step. These were also suppose to be Weaver but Lionel substituted their TOFC in its place. Although not Weaver Lionel did another great job on it. Pic.............Paul 2

StevefromPa, I could not find my tape measure so I took some pics of the Weaver versus the Lionel trailers. the flat cars seem to be about the same length. But the Weaver trailer is shorter then the Lionel trailer. It also looks like it stands a bit taller.

These cars were an impulse buy on eBay. I jumped on them when they were listed buy it now including shipping for $60. These are my first set of the small o27 lionel cars I've wanted to run with some smaller engines. They work great and are in better condition than expected which is always a welcomed surprise.

Buys from yesterday at my favorite hobby shop: 30% off new items, 50% of used(many of which were basically new)

TheAtlas and CSXare from the hobby shop, the other stuff from the market where I got my station. COST, if shown, is only to show what i consider great deals:

Norfolk & Western 45’ Pines trailer....$18

MTH RK CSX 40’ High cube

Atlas 40’  APL intermodal container- $16.50. This is why scale can be great- it keeps things standardized and even if the Atlas and k-linecontainers have different pin sizes- it still works

Plasticville Greenhouse. Thought this was pretty cool

Thats all for now! Good weekend!