Lionel GLa Hopper - Polar Express pics

Keith they are sharp looking cars!

Looks great keith

I like them, Keith. The are a perfect addition to your PE & Polar layout.

Those are great looking.

Look great!

 

Yes .... nice addition to your PR freight train!

 

(Christmas is coming!   )

Looks great! My set should be waiting for me when I get home today.

Between these and the upcoming PE/PRR offerings in the new catalog, I'm having to add a fourth consist to my PE/PRR line.

Purdy. I'm going to have to get one of these.

Nice cars, Keith! I'm might have to get some P&WV ones now!

Very nice Keith, enjoy!

The bunch that I ordered from Charlie Ro arrived yesterday, and I was gonna post pics this evening when I get back from work.  But Keith's pics look terrific.

Just wanted to mention that these come packaged in the Polar Express style box -- not regular orange Lionel boxes.  The cars also are packaged with two blue ribbons securing the car in place.  Nice upscale touch... and reminiscent of high-quality scale cars produced several years ago.  

I'm thinking of ordering a few more to make a nice unit train of coal hoppers. 

David

Thanks for posting the pix, Kieth. Enjoy!

Any chance you could snap a pic of the Kadee mounts? I'd also like to see if the trucks can be de-knuckled without having to grind them apart. Thanks!

I wanted to purchase more, but have to set a limit somewhere.  Two hoppers will be enough for the naughty children.  Your string of these will look awesome.

Sure.  Will post soon.

 

*EDIT*

 

Here are some pics of the Kadee Coupler mounts

 

 

Norm,

It looks like you just need to pull out the C-clip and maybe grind its post, to free the coupler arm.

 

 

Thanks for the quick response Keith! Looks like a proper setup. Yes, it looks like popping the e-clip will free up the stock coupler. Very nice. I am waiting on the PRR ball herald versions to show up.

Hi Keith,

 

Nice looking cars, Lionel did a great job on them !!!

 

Alex

It has been a few years since I up-graded any Lionel freight cars to Kadee couplers but, I remember it taking a bit more work to remove the big coupler from the Lionel trucks, not to mention all that sheet metal stuff on the bottom of the truck. I don't think simply removing the "C ring" will get the job done.

 

Forgot to ask; are those roller bearing trucks?

Good point. I don't think I've even tried converting a Lionel car yet. I tried looking for a manual for these cars on Lionel's site, hoping there was instructions for the Kadee conversion.

Nice car Keith!

 

I don't think simply removing the "C ring" will get the job done.

Hot Water is correct.  

 

This is why, you can take the truck apart without putting a Dremel to it.  I've done it but the problem you run into is this.  The part that covers the axle (where the C-clip is in the picture) doesn't clear the Kadee box.  You could turn it around, but that part of the truck usually doesn't clear the frame.  

 

I don't know about the hoppers.

 

Luckily, you just need two cuts on the truck bolster.  Also luckily, that part of the truck is stamped metal, not cast metal.

 

I do have to thank Lionel for making this effort.  I hope they will add other Standard O cars to the list. 

'Cause nothing says Christmas like a string of black coal hoppers.   

 

(just kidding with ya; they're nice looking cars)

 

My only Christmas coal car:

 

Keith,

   Got to admit they are some of the sharpest hoppers I have seen in a very long time,

way cool stuff for the Polar Express Trains!  Good pick up.

PCRR/Dave

Those hoppers are nice.

 

Lionel may flub some of the prototypes, but they sure do a nice job on the scale PE stuff. I guess because the can "pick and choose' where the rivets go

 

I think I may be swapping my PE I 12 caboose for one of those N5's.

 

The previously scale milk/hot cocoa car is fantastic as well.

Just got around to opening these today.  I'm disappointed, but the problem was in my expectations, not the product.

 

I'd hoped/expected them to be a bit larger.  I have a unit train of the old CSX Coke Express hoppers, and everything else seems undersized now.

 

 

 

Also, while I knew the body wouldn't be diecast, I'd hoped for a bit more "heft" to the product.  Another issue of lofty expectations, after the magnificent offset hoppers from a few years back.

 

Regardless, they'll still look nice behind the Polar RR GP7.  Also, where do these go?  I had two of them rattling around in each box. 

 

The Lionel Naughty & Nice ore cars from 2003 are my favorite pieces of Christmas rolling stock.  Lionel did an excellent job with the graphics for them.  I have three Naughty and two Nice cars.

Nice ore car, breezy.  And I bet it didn't have a $65 MSRP back then either!!! 

 

David

On the sprung trucks on top of the coil springs

Have found a lot of them in the boxes lately. Tougher when they jump off the train on the layout!