Lionel Blue Comet

The comet is the cream of the crop

Very nice!  Now I want one.

Are those passenger cars steel? They sure look it!

Lionel's best-looking blue comet set imo.

Brooklyn Corey - Particulars please, if you have them (ie. Lionel or MTH/RailKing, product number if possible, was this a set or were the engine and cars sold separately)

Thanks.

MPC version?

It is a beautiful train. I'm a freight train guy. Filthy, noisy, fast, built for function and not comfort, is usually my style but I would love to have one of these!

One of my favorites from the MPC era along with the Chessie Steam Special Berkshire set.  Here is a photo from the original catalog for the set.  Enjoy your set Brooklyn Corey!

rjsmithindy - Thanks for the info Rob.  Now if I could only find out the product number of the Blue Comet engine (lol)?   

Incidentally, my Lionel Price and Rarity guide indicates that the five (5) Blue Comet cars were released from 1978-80; whereas interestingly there were actually a total of six (6) cars (6-9581-86 incl.) in the Chessie passenger car set to which you referred (released in 1980), a Diner car being the difference between the two sets.

@BillYo414 posted:

Are those passenger cars steel? They sure look it!

No, they’re plastic but they are nice.

@PH1975 posted:

rjsmithindy - Thanks for the info Rob.  Now if I could only find out the product number of the Blue Comet engine (lol)?   

Incidentally, my Lionel Price and Rarity guide indicates that the five (5) Blue Comet cars were released from 1978-80; whereas interestingly there were actually a total of six (6) cars (6-9581-86 incl.) in the Chessie passenger car set to which you referred (released in 1980), a Diner car being the difference between the two sets.

I bought the dining car, it came today.

@johnstrains posted:

MPC version?

Yes

@PH1975 posted:

Brooklyn Corey - Particulars please, if you have them (ie. Lionel or MTH/RailKing, product number if possible, was this a set or were the engine and cars sold separately)

Thanks.

It’s Lionel

The locomotive and tender part number is

6- 8801

passenger cars

Barnard 6-9536

Halley 6-9537

Faye 6-9538

Westphal 6-9539

Tempel 6-9540

Dining car( not in video, came today)

Giacobini 6-19000

Great set, fun era! Congrats, Brooklyn!

@pdxtrains posted:

Great set, fun era! Congrats, Brooklyn!

Thanks

@PH1975 posted:

Incidentally, my Lionel Price and Rarity guide indicates that the five (5) Blue Comet cars were released from 1978-80; whereas interestingly there were actually a total of six (6) cars (6-9581-86 incl.) in the Chessie passenger car set to which you referred (released in 1980), a Diner car being the difference between the two sets.

Yes, the Chessie set was released in 1980 and had an electronic whistle added that the Blue Comet did not have. It had two add-on cars in later years like the Blue Comet set as well.

Best thing is that you don't get whacked while buying it mail-order!

Jon

Brooklyn Corey - Beautiful Set!!  Thanks for all the info.

Interestingly the Blue Comet Diner car came out seven (7) years after the rest of the cars, which I guess just proves how popular this set was; although I'm aware of a few other Lionel passenger sets released over the years for which there's also been some 'delayed releases'.

Enjoy running your set!  😊

The Baby Madison Dining Car tooling wasn't made until the late 80's... at which time Lionel released dining cars to match all the previous sets... B&O, PRR, MLW, SOU, and JC Blue Comet diners were all made available in limited quantities.

Jon

Beautiful! Thank you sharing the speedy video! Love it!