Can the train market absorb this many triplexs?

They are selling so yes, it can.

I think so. Big enough to handle this volume of Erie Triplexes? Maybe not. But the world is a big place. People have different tastes so I think the fantasy schemes open up the number of sales.

I've never been one for buying two of a special engine but that Pennsy Triplex is really stuck in my mind.

I think so too.  Most dealers are out of the Halloween triplex's.  Brady was down to 2 PRR as of Friday afternoon.  Fantasy schemes are very popular. 

I have typically not been interested in the Halloween stuff but the Halloween Triplex is effortlessly cool. I'm not surprised they're hard to find.

I think it's a good sign that there are enough of us in this hobby that they can sell fantasy ( and "ultra" fantasy Halloween, Christmas etc) schemes. My 14, and 18 year olds like them. That's what we need, the younger gens getting interested. Some of us aren't so young anymore. Me included.

Mike

I suspect the minimum order quantity from the factory has not changed in sometime so in order to make the minimum order, Lionel had to offer all these paint schemes.  15 years ago, you could make the minimum quantity with one or two paint schemes, now it takes many.

Of course it can!

Easter

Star Wars

It's a Boy

It's a Girl

Penn Central

Conrail

Gotta get a Flash Blue in there too..

Since U.S. Army steam (WWII era or thereabouts) is a main interest for me in O gauge, I should probably consider the Army version, even if it is a fantasy scheme, but there are two intervening factors: (1) could not run it on the curves on my layout, and (2) I would likely be facing divorce if I spent $2,000+ on a locomotive at this point in time.

I've been waiting for a Legacy and RS Triplex for a long time, since Legacy started actually. MTH made their model around 2001 or so and was in fact the locomotive that turned me into an O-scale nut. Back in those good old days I participated in a group of fellow train enthusiasts, and we hosted semi-annual train running events/parties. I recall distinctly that Erie Triplex running on my friend Dave's layout - and I drooled over its mechanical splendor.

Over the course of several years, I subsequently sold all my Lionel and RailKing traditional sized trains and went through the onerous task of re-building my layout in order to accommodate O-72 curves. Eventually, I finally was able to buy an MTH Triplex with PS2 and run it on my newly constructed elevated O-72 minimum mainline. My only complaints about it were blister bubbles (that I later found plagued certain diecast molds) and the sound system. Although it was not a bad sound system, it was typical MTH sounds, which IMO always lagged behind Railsounds. I am surprised it took Lionel so long to make the Triplex, possibly the result of Ryan's creative input and love of steam locomotives. All during those years Lionel must've produced 4-6 runs of the Big Boy and Challengers.

IMO, the only other no-brainer engines that remain to be made in the VisionLine are the Allegheny and PRR T1.

Yes Paul - Let's campaign for a Vision PRR T1.  :-)

I vote for the porthole version

Somebody's buying them but at $2500.00 each I don't see how many people can afford them.

Good afternoon C. Sam,

If Lionel made a vision line PRR T-1, I would (vote) be in for one. The sounds on my Lionmaster T-1 are great, and having a scale sized one with even bigger speakers would make them even better.

Erol Gurcan

@Paul Kallus posted:

I am surprised it took Lionel so long to make the Triplex, possibly the result of Ryan's creative input and love of steam locomotives.

I seem to recall that the Triplex was one of the molds Lionel acquired from MTH, but I may be mistaken.

I would vote for a PRR T-1.  I cannot believe that Lionel has gone 23-24 years without releasing a new Legacy version.

@breezinup posted:

I seem to recall that the Triplex was one of the molds Lionel acquired from MTH, but I may be mistaken.

The Triplex is former MTH tooling.  I'd be surprised if we see much if any new tooling for steam locomotives considering the market for them in O scale and the fact that a lot of very nice tooling already exists for so many steam locomotives already. 

@c.sam posted:

Yes Paul - Let's campaign for a Vision PRR T1.  :-)

I vote for the porthole version

Sam,

I have been waiting for a Legacy T1 for ever, don’t have to be a Vision Line engine either. I have asked Ryan several times at the York shows when Lionel used to attend. His answer was always we are working on it, as soon as new dies are done. I think he was BSing me. Now maybe too late, I really can not see me spending 2 grand on any new engines

JohnB

I am glad for Lionel that they are selling them, I also wonder how people afford $2300.00 for one plus all of the other items released throughout the year. I would say our hobby is in a good place right now.  Just awful lot of money!! Just my 2 cents

@JohnB posted:

Sam,

I have been waiting for a Legacy T1 for ever, don’t have to be a Vision Line engine either. I have asked Ryan several times at the York shows when Lionel used to attend. His answer was always we are working on it, as soon as new dies are done. I think he was BSing me. Now maybe too late, I really can not see me spending 2 grand on any new engines

JohnB

Lionel LEGACY 1931400 T-1 CHESAPEAKE & OHIO C&O Steam Engine O Scale #3001

A great engine with cylinder steam.

Mike

@LT1Poncho posted:

Lionel LEGACY 1931400 T-1 CHESAPEAKE & OHIO C&O Steam Engine O Scale #3001

A great engine with cylinder steam.

Mike

Mike

   I am sure the C&O T1 is a great engine but Sam and I are looking for the Pennsylvania Duplex. I have purchased two Legacy engines this year the NH&I 2-8-0 and a PRR L1 2-8-2. Got a great deal on the L1 from Mr Muffin. Just no 2 grand engines 😀

JohnB

Before this thread gets lost in the fog, I have to throw in a mention for The Forgotten Triplex - the RK version, which is an under-appreciated gem, in my opinion. I have bragged on mine before. I re-lettered this "B&O" version (I think) for Southern Railway, as the Southern did indeed have several "Duplexes" (some Mikados and a 2-10-2 with tractor engines under the tender).  This thing is heavy, detailed, smooth and impressive. In making this "little" Triplex, the MTH designers were very clever and gave it 1:48 cab, pilot width (etc) and husky cylinders, to name a few points. It looks like a 1:48 model of a smaller prototype, to me.

3 photos. Fairly hefty. RK Triplex and MTH Premier Hudson.

(I always thought that MTH should have offered a RK "freelance 2-8-8-0" by substituting a non-tractor square or Vandy tender.)