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These have been offered for at least a decade and I finally got smitten by them. I really do not know much about them or what has been offered in the past. I see the 2016 offerings, FWIK, are the 773 Hudson, Tender, and Madison heavy weight. It would be nice to see some pics if you collect them, and it would be nice if there was a link that displays all the past Lionel offerings.

Thanks,

Rich

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The Hallmark ornaments all have a brass loop on the top so as to be able to hand them on something.  They're really too heavy, and a bit too small, to be used on a Christmas tree, effectively, so I built a smaller, "cut out" Christmas tree scene out of plywood.  I use right angle hooks to hold the trains and, overall make a nice little display for my train room.  I don't have anywhere near all of the series, but probably around 25 or 30 pieces.  Would like to add to it, when I get a chance.

Paul Fischer

aussteve posted:

Didn't they have one that had a train running in a circle?

I have a Hallmark ornament that has a pair of trains attached to a spool that rotate around some lighted city buildings when power is applied but it's not a Lionel item.  The only one from the Lionel collection I have is the Class J and tender, which are sold separately by the way.  I have the Hudson and the General but they're the non-ornament versions.

aussteve posted:

Didn't they have one that had a train running in a circle?

Yes, if you mean this:

I thought in the past this ornament was included in one of the linked sites above, but I didn't see it when I just looked, so I just did a photo search to find the pic.

It's very neat.  The handles of the mini ZW turn it on or off (both forward and reverse, depending on which way you move the handle).

I really like how it captures so many of what I consider key classic items across the years.  (the back has additional items IIRC - maybe a 497 and a static coal hopper?)

As to Paul's comment about Hallmark ornaments being too heavy for a tree, this certainly proves that case!  It's dependent on the tree type of course (fake, or which variety of live).  I've had luck even hanging this monster on a live Balsam or Frasier Fir.  I've never had any real issue with the regular ornaments on that type of tree.

-Dave

 

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Last edited by Dave45681
Dave45681 posted:
aussteve posted:

Didn't they have one that had a train running in a circle?

Yes, if you mean this:

I thought in the past this ornament was included in one of the linked sites above, but I didn't see it when I just looked, so I just did a photo search to find the pic.

It's very neat.  The handles of the mini ZW turn it on or off (both forward and reverse, depending on which way you move the handle).

I really like how it captures so many of what I consider key classic items across the years.  (the back has additional items IIRC - maybe a 497 and a static coal hopper?)

As to Paul's comment about Hallmark ornaments being too heavy for a tree, this certainly proves that case!  It's dependent on the tree type of course (fake, or which variety of live).  I've had luck even hanging this monster on a live Balsam or Frasier Fir.  I've never had any real issue with the regular ornaments on that type of tree.

-Dave

 

This a great piece, and unlike some of the Hallmark operating ornaments, it has been a reliable runner now for years. The action is very nice - a Blue Comet steamer with tender and passenger cars continuously goes around, including through a tunnel, and a SW switcher with several freight cars goes forward, then backs up, and each alternate cycle it backs down two different tracks. A crossing gate also goes up and down when the Blue Comet goes by on its track.

The whole ornament is nicely lit, including internal lights so windows light up in buildings. As mentioned, the ZW controls the power, and there's also sound, so at the beginning when it powers up the conductor says "All aboard, Lionel, now departing" or words to that effect, and then steam engine whistle and chuffing noises begin. After this, the sound cuts off during the rest of the time the ornament is running, unless you move the ZW handles and turn it off and on again. The ornament plugs into a socket on a miniature light string.

The weight isn't too bad, but when I hang it, I find a spot on the tree where I can hang the hanger over a branch, in a position on the tree where the base of the ornament can rest on another branch below it to help support the weight. That's worked just fine, and I have it on the tree every year. As mentioned, how you hang it these ornaments depends on the kind of tree you have.

Last edited by breezinup
aussteve posted:

Didn't they have one that had a train running in a circle?

This is the Lionel Centennial clock layout. I found one at a junk store for a couple dollars. It works!

100_2525

Do any of the ornaments run on this thing? The "track gauge" is about 1/4". The loco is drawn by a hidden magnet and the car just slides on the rails, no wheels.

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