Lionel ,Acela, VS SF 2-10-10-2, NYC L2=A

Although the NYC is a fantasy scheme, the L2a would be a cool piece to have, now as far as the Acela vs the 2-10-10-2 as much as I like the Acela and think its cool, the 2-10-10-2 wins out, for me I think it's way cooler! So ultimately it's Steam vs Modern, Steam wins out. Just my opinion.

Ryan confirmed the Acela is being made. Only some of the fantasy schemes were canceled.  if you ordered the amtrak scheme, then you gotta decide what you want. Only you can decide what you really want. My preference is steam. Plus they dumbed down the acela with the removal of automatic doors. Good luck on your choice.

Im glad that they are making it because I preorder the prototypical Acela. Im torn because I missed out on the first Santa Fe 2-10-10-2 Vision line, the Acela is Lionel's icon and substituted the automatic doors with an added motorized B unit, and the NYC L2-A is the bang for the buck. I can only afford 2  of them without causing a divorce. I wish others can chime in to help narrow it down.

Thanks Conrailfan and Joe Fermani. I guess I will be leaning towards steam with the VL SF 2-10-10-2 and the NYC L2-a pacemaker set.

Well  missed out on the Acela and missed out on the SF 2-10-10-2 the last time around.  Don't know if they will make either one again anytime soon. Myself going for those two. Thinking if the Mohawks do well they might run again in not to distant future IMHO.

Leave the Wife, get all three trains.....JUST KIDDING-JUST KIDDING

I would go with the Acela and the SF 2-10-10-2

russ

My local O Gauge dealer told me on Tuesday that Lionel cancelled most of the Acela paint schemes,  leaving only the Amtrak paint version/s?

Personally, I’m looking forward to the new Acela. I’d say go with Acela and the 2-10-10-2. They are unique and might not be produced again for a very long time, if ever. But ultimately, what do you like to run?

@RadioRon posted:

My local O Gauge dealer told me on Tuesday that Lionel cancelled all of the Acela fantasy schemes... leaving only the Amtrak paint version/s.

We will be producing the two Amtrak schemes, Santa Fe, and the Polar Express.

I have no love for any modern passenger equipment and no love for Amtrak, so I'd personally go with the steam options. 

@Dave Olson posted:

We will be producing the two Amtrak schemes, Santa Fe, and the Polar Express.

Dave, thank you for the update/correction.  I am glad that at least some of them are going into production. 

Ok, I am seriously thinking about the VS SF 2-10-10-2, but Question, what type of equipment would be pulled by it? Freight? or Passenger?

If you preordered all 3, you should take all 3. Otherwise you’re sticking the dealer with the other. Most dealers consider a preorder an order. Just my 2cents

@rscott posted:

Ok, I am seriously thinking about the VS SF 2-10-10-2, but Question, what type of equipment would be pulled by it? Freight? or Passenger?

Deffintally not a passenger locomotive. Being an early 19 teens locomotive it would pull wood-sided cars and early 20th-century equipment.

Your choices are a SF steam engine that was gone by 1918, a passenger train that started service in 2000, and a NYC steam engine in a fantasy scheme.  That is quite a broad range of interest.

I do agree with PRR steam.  Need to stay with the pre-order unless the product is messed up.

I believe these will come at different times and none of them very soon, so I think the costs will be spread out.  Negotiate with your wife with something she really wants.  Or agree not to buy another engine for the next 1-5 years or so (but only if you can stick to it).

@Trainmaster04 posted:

Deffintally not a passenger locomotive. Being an early 19 teens locomotive it would pull wood-sided cars and early 20th-century equipment.

The Santa Fe 2-10-10-2's weren't really successful and rebuilt into 2-10-2's between 1915 and 1918.

Rusty

@Rusty Traque posted:

The Santa Fe 2-10-10-2's weren't really successful and rebuilt into 2-10-2's between 1915 and 1918.

Rusty

Very true. Too small of a boiler and not enough interest. I imagine if SF rebuilt the boilers and converted the locomotives to a simple configuration, I would imagine they would have been more successful. Either way, SF made a locomotive with a fallback policy to where if it succeeds, then ok, but if not, well make two locomotives.

@Rusty Traque posted:

The Santa Fe 2-10-10-2's weren't really successful and rebuilt into 2-10-2's between 1915 and 1918.

I'll bet the models will be more successful!

@Strafe posted:

Hello everyone, I have a dilemma and I need suggestions. I preordered in this years Lionel catalog the Lionel Acela with the expansion set, Vision line Santa Fe 2-10-10-2 #3001, and the red/gray New York Central L2-A with the expansion set. My wife and I came to an agreement that I can have 2 out of the 3 trains. I do not know if Lionel is going produce the Acela or not. Does anyone know? If so, what would be the best 2 choices I should get out of the 3 above?

It is more of a case of what you want, not what we think that you should buy.

Dave Olson,

Thank you for chiming in. I wish all manufactures did this. Please take care and have a wonderful and safe evening.

Strafe - Look at it this way, a 'golden rule' has evolved as a result of this dilemma.

'In future, check with your wife before you pre-order anything.'  (Assuming you still have a wife after the trains arrive - just kidding)

Easy decision. Lots of Mohawks out there....

The 2-10-10-2 and Acela seem much less common than the Mohawks. I would say go with them.