Lionel Christmas steam locomotives

Am wondering if the PE freight set loco is the same exact one that's in their regular PE passenger set. Anyone know or hear from Lionel reps whether they are the same identical locos in both sets?

My guess is that color sells, particularly for Christmas-theme items.  Let's be perfectly honest about it, from the standpoint of paint schemes, and aside from the fact that they have so many fascinating moving parts exposed, black steam locomotives are pretty bland appearing.  Many people who buy these holiday sets probably prefer a bit of color beneath their Christmas trees.

I have a good number of black steam locomotives myself, but definitely prefer engines that have some color to them (probably accounts for why I have so many green Southern Railway locomotives). 

I used to have a fairly large collection of Christmas trains, but gave up on that when they became too plentiful.  My most recent holiday-theme motive power was the Lionel Polar Railroad Geep and some Christmas motive power from RMT.

It's painted as a Christmas set. Christmas means bright colors. Lionel has a lot of regular train sets you could choose from. Then add some Christmas cars.

They look like toys BECAUSE...???

ok let me try to answer that..  BECAUSE THEY ARE TOYS......   boy that was easy....

Matt, look through your many Lionel, Marx, American Flyer Catalogs.  As far back as 110 years, there have been LOCOMOTIVES that look like TOYS.  The Red Comet, the Blue Streak, the Bunny Express, the Lady Lionel.  It's OK not to like 'em all!!!  I absolutely hate all Christmas Trains. I can't even look at the Polar Express...Locos, cars, accessories...I cannot stand them...but it's just my personal preferences.  For every hater, there's a lover!!!

I know what you mean but I couldn't pass up a chance at answering the question, its not to offen that I know the answer to anything so I am told ..

I would say that there are two really good reasons why Lionel (and other companies as well) paint their CHRISTMAS locomotives in CHRISTMAS COLORS, it wouldn't be much of a CHRISTMAS locomotive in BASIC BLACK would it? Another really good reason is because people must be BUYING them, or Lionel would not keep making them year after year.

 This a lot like the Lone Ranger thread, If you don't like Johnny Depp as Tonto, DON'T go to the Movie, If you DON'T like RED, WHITE and GREEN Locomotives, DON'T BUY them, obviously somebody thinks they will be profitable, and will sell. If Lionel makes a Christmas Locomotive, and 2000 people buy them, but YOU don't buy one, is YOUR (or your Dad's) Life really that adversely affected?

 Even if they are basic black, I don't care for anything with "Lionel Lines" "Boy Scouts of America" "Monopoly" Etc, Etc on the tender, so I don't buy them, but I sure don't criticize Lionel for making them for those that do want them.

Buy it if you like it, Save your money if you don't. It's really a Simple concept.

Doug

in Answer to that question No they are not the same Locomotive

The Locomotive in the Polar Express Passenger set is a 2-8-4 Berkshire While the Locomotive shown in the catalog for the Polar Express Freight set is an 0-8-0 Switch Engine

Originally Posted by B+M FANriginally Posted by Ron Blume:They look like toys BECAUSE...???ok let me try to answer that..  BECAUSE THEY ARE TOYS......   boy that was easy....

Guys, did you even bother to read my post? Lionels Christmas locomotives look like toys because toy trains are painted all sorts of rediculous, unrealistic rainbow colors. I know that Lionels trains are toys, what I meant was their usual locomotives are highly detailed models of real locomotives. Seriously guys, you both know what I meant about Lionels Christmas locomotives looking like toys.

I think they read your post, although I am not sure you read the replies. Everyones Christmas locomotives are in Christmas colors. The closest think to being realistic would be the Polar Express in both traditional and scales size. You could also include the Department 56 Hudsom Lionel made for Allied Model Trains 12 or so years ago as it was made to pull Department 56 Christmas themed rolling stock. It is what I use to pull the few Christmas cars I own. Lionel makes a lot of locomotives in scale and traditional sizes. Not all of them are in reaslistic paint schemes. If you have a Christmas train and want a plain black engine to pull it, many are available.

The answer that occurs first to me is the "don't buy what you don't like" one.  However, perhaps a better answer is to wait until these products you hate are blowout priced and then buy some and send them into your paint shop.

Santa just read my post and called me to tell me I am a lowdown Scrooge and I'm not getting anything this year but coal.  He hung up on me when I said, "COOL!  I need new hopper loads!"