KCS Diesel Engines Offered by Lionel?

Rod, I presume you're looking for "older" KCS diesels, but Lionel made a couple of Legacy ES44AC versions, a die-cast one #4655(kinda pricey now) and a plastic version #4685.  Also a die-cast Genset switcher #1404.  All modern of course.  So... not sure this is exactly what you are looking for.  Click to enlarge.

Thanks for that info Ted. I knew there was a newer ES44 version out there, but was hoping there might be a newer F3 or F7 version with Legacy, new tooling, etc etc. That would be a nice set to have with a matching B unit. Oh well. Would be nice for pulling the MTH 2008 DAP KCS passenger cars with too.

Rod

There is just so much out there it is hard to keep track, here are a few of mine. I personally like the shiny paint scheme on the KCS. I have a bunch of MTH KCS's but they are more of a dull finish but that is okay, it is all fun!!

Thanks for those pix jjames, very nice. Can you tell me about the ABA set just below 1404 please?

Hi Rod, yes, those the Lionel #14500 F3's A-A Set and the B unit #14542. The B unit was a very hard to find piece at a reasonable price, I actually just added that to the collection this year. So just the one A unit is powered by Pullmor motors, no cruise control or Legacy here just TMCC.

Jeff

@jjames9641 posted:

There is just so much out there it is hard to keep track, here are a few of mine. I personally like the shiny paint scheme on the KCS. I have a bunch of MTH KCS's but they are more of a dull finish but that is okay, it is all fun!!

Ooh both KCS and MRL! Both of which are hard to come across these days.

@jjames9641 posted:

Hi Rod, yes, those the Lionel #14500 F3's A-A Set and the B unit #14542. The B unit was a very hard to find piece at a reasonable price, I actually just added that to the collection this year. So just the one A unit is powered by Pullmor motors, no cruise control or Legacy here just TMCC.

Jeff

Very nice threesome with the B unit Jeff. Love it. If you ever want to sell them.......

The cover of the June 2023 issue of Trains has one of the prettiest KCS pictures I have seen ever. An ABA set of F7's with at least 12 matching passenger cars in tow, at Cook Springs AL in June of 2019. Spectacular! I would post a picture of it here but that would no doubt get someone's shorts in a wad haha!

Rod

@Rod Stewart I know you are looking for F units but from relatively that same era:

https://www.lionel.com/product...-h-15-44-41-2333282/

and a bit newer but an AWESOME Legacy Diesel!:

https://www.lionel.com/product...d70ace-4050-6-28287/

steve

@Rod Stewart posted:

The cover of the June 2023 issue of Trains has one of the prettiest KCS pictures I have seen ever. An ABA set of F7's with at least 12 matching passenger cars in tow, at Cook Springs AL in June of 2019. Spectacular! I would post a picture of it here but that would no doubt get someone's shorts in a wad haha!

Rod

That was the Southern Belle, the KCS business train (used to be the name of one of their passenger trains). It was quite well known. If you google KCS Southern Belle (or business train) there are lots of pictures as well as videos of the train. That Trains cover shot was a beaut!

@Rod Stewart posted:

Just wondering how many different KCS "modern" offerings Lionel has put out since 2000 or so? There is of course the 6-14500 F3 A-A set of 2001. It is a pretty pair for sure, but it's early TMCC, Pullmor AC motors (yikes!), no Odyssey, and no smoke. There are a couple of these sets on ebay asking stupid prices from $525 to nearly $600. Huh? The original MSRP was only $450. What makes these 23 year old sets worth nearly $600? It's not like they are collector items at all. Or maybe the sellers figure since the CP-KCS merger last year that these things are going to be hard to get?

So has Lionel offered any newer versions of F3's, F7's or other diesels in KCS livery? Just wondering.

Rod

@Rod Stewart,

                        I have noticed the same thing for some time now and not just on E-Bay but some of the other auction houses as well.  The only thing I can think of is that since these were archived KCS F3s perhaps not so many were made and perhaps that jacks the price up.  This, of course, is pure conjecture on my part.    I can say this, I own a set of the AAs and the 6 unit passenger consist as well and it makes for a very snazzy passenger train.  I don't mind the pullmores at all and the early TMCC stuff is usually pretty bullet proof.   I would like to get a hold of the B unit but it is hard to find.  

I know it’s older(1991) than you stated, but in Kughn era they made a GP-38. First KCS decoration.

I emailed Steve Nelson (MrMuffin) and suggested maybe he might consider a custom run of Legacy F7's in KCS paint, like the June 2023 Trains cover photo. This might be pretty popular considering they have not been done by Lionel since the 2001 A-A set.

He responded that he would love to do them, so if anyone else is similarly afflicted by a need to have a set of these, maybe shoot Steve an email! Can't hurt.

Rod