Got the Polar Railroad Bug

 

Although you're obviously paying a bit for "Legacy" in the GP7, it will certainly operate in conventional mode.  So don't necessarily rule that out.

 

Another natural choice would be the Polar Railroad K-4 steamer, which is available in Legacy (6-11330) and conventional (6-11331) models.

 

Have fun!

 

David

 

P.S.  Also note that most of the Polar Railroad items that are available as ala carte items are "scale" vs. the Polar Express starter freight set which is traditional size Lionel O-Guage.  Not a show-stopper, but some folks will notice the difference in rolling stock size and features.  My own tastes migrate toward the ala-carte offerings and pass on the starter set stuff.

There's also the more modern SD80MAC in the Polar RR scheme.

The only problem with the Polar RR SD80MAC is that it is in red and green, rather than the Polar Express colors.

 

Also, keep in mind that most of the Polar Railroad line is Standard O (scale sized) and would look somewhat over-sized running behind one of the conventional Polar Express steamers which are in the Traditional Line (smaller than scale).  Only the Polar RR Caboose (6-36674 version) and the Polar RR Hopper with Presents (6-26455) are Traditional sized and would look good with a conventional Polar Express engine.

 

As David said, the natural choices would be the Polar RR K-4 (requires O-54 minimum curves) or the GP7 (requires O-31 minimum curves).

 

A third option is the Polar Express Freight RTR Set (6-30184).  It is Traditional sized, has an add-on reefer (6-36166) and would also look good with the Polar RR Caboose (6-36674 version) and the Polar RR Hopper with Presents (6-26455).

 

Andy

Thanks, everybody--just the kind of insight I was looking for!

 

I have no reservations about running traditional and scale together, as I've always felt the consist can be thoughtfully arranged to minimize the effect.  I do avoid engines with electronics--if that GP7 was conventional, it'd be at the front of this train for sure.

 

The K-4 (6-11331) is gorgeous, but I don't have the curves to accomodate it, sadly.  And yep, the SD80MAC has that bright red/green color scheme that is a little offputting for me.

 

The Polar Fright starter set is definitely where I plan to start.  I know those sets are eyerollers for the more serious among us, but I've gotten my money back and then some by selling off starter engines and cars and hanging onto the track and CW-80's from the sets.

 

How about the steamers from the various Polar Express passenger sets?  Anything good going on there?

If you are not interested in the passenger cars, there is the separate-sale Traditional sized Polar Express Berkshire engine with whistle smoke and RailSounds (6-18754).

 

Andy

Yet another option is to custom paint cars or engines.

I'm also a fan of the Polar RR series from Lionel.  It is a neat idea and I hope they continue it.  Like you, I don't mind running scale and traditional together....especially when it is a Christmas/Winter themed train.  My favorite car in the series so far is the stock car. I bought two of them.  I don't have the starter set, but I have all the scale freight and the GP7.  I have customized three cars to go with my Polar RR freight...a Lionel barrel car, MTH log dump car and a sleigh transport auto rack.  I also added a RailKing searchlight car to the mix.

Last year the GP7 was available for $250 and less at several vendors.  I'm hoping the same thing happens with the SD80.

 

I hope you're right.  But right now, the SD80MAC Polar RR doesn't appear all that plentiful.  So I'd be very surprised to see this jewel go on sale.  But we never know!!!

 

David