Lionel Legacy M1a Coal hauler set VIDEO & PICS It's finally here!

Very nice. Enjoy.

Hello,I did check out your video,I am a subscriber to your channel.Your work keeps getting nicer,I enjoy everyone of your video's.Thanks for sharing this cool set with us.Would love to hear you talk more during your presentations,but they are outstanding without narration.

Great images. Nice train, hope you enjoy running it!

How well does the whistle steam work?

Looks like a really nice set. Thanks for sharing.

Nice to see that Lionel provided nice packaging for this set!  The last few sets have not had any packaging to contain the cars and the engine.  Nice job Lionel!

Good for you!  Enjoy!!!

Chief Bob (Retired)

Very nice!  Now, not being a Slobbering Pennsy Fan, I always thought that the 6755, which is in the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum in Strasberg, PA, is an M1b.  Where did I go wrong?

Absolutely a nice touch!   The MTH twin husky-stack sets (CSX and UP) only had the individual components packaged in a brown shipping box, and Lionel took the same approach for the N&W Pocahontas passenger set.   So I was beginning to think this was the "new norm".  But thankfully, this set and the recent SP "Oil Can" TankTrain set from a couple of years ago had nice set boxes inside the outer shipper.  I think the NYC Water-Level freight set also had a nice set box too.  Definitely adds to the "feel good" factor when purchasing these sets.  

David 

Thanks for posting your video, Nick.  Nice to see your beautiful layout again!

David 

H W,

      6755 started life as a M1a, was re-built in 1953. From Wikipedia:

       The 6755 was built by the Altoona Works in 1930. The 6755 was a class M1a and was used predominantly in freight service, though it would occasionally be used for passenger trains. In 1953, the locomotive went back to the Altoona Works and was rebuilt into a class M1b. The locomotive continued to be used for freight service until January 1957 when it was retired from the roster.

Nick,

     Great looking train enjoy it, good luck too.

JohnB

is it me or does the spacing between the hopper cars look awfully big?

NICK

REALY NICE  ENJOY IT

STEVE

Yes. Think of the cars as being fodder for upgrades.

OK, but did Lionel, and MTH for that matter, produce their models based on the 6755 that is preserved in the PA RR Museum, which is actually an M1b? How would someone that is not a SPF tell the difference between a real M1a and an M1b?

Thanks for posting this Nick, great job.

What caught my eye was the insanely close spacing of the engine and tender. Does this model make use of the newer(ish) kinematic coupler?

Thanks again.

Charlie

H W,

    The easiest way of telling the difference between a M1a and a M1b is the pilots. The M1a has the old fashion step on pilot and the M1b has a streamline pilot. Similar to the upgrades the Pennsy did on the K4s.

    I don't want to guess what Lionel or MTH were thinking but if it is a M1a model it was how the 6755 engine was built and if it's a M1b its how it looks today at the PRR Museum. Lionel and MTH both built M1a and M1b engines.

JohnB 

Love it!

Sweet looking set!

I have two GLA hoppers and they are quickly becoming my favorite pieces of rolling stock.

Enjoy.

John, with all due respect the cast pilot does not signify that the locomotive is an M1b.  You're correct in that some of the M1a's were rebuilt into M1b's.  The spotting difference is the attachment points for the thermal siphons (the siphons themselves are internal to the boiler) which rise in a diagonal line at the rear of the boiler above the firebox.  If the siphons are there, it is an M1b.  If the sides of the Belpaire are smooth (no siphons) then it is an M1a.

Here are two photos of M1b's, you can see the siphon ends above the running board in front of the cab.

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr6704.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr6792.jpg

M1a locomotives could be found with step pilots:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr6758.jpg

with slat pilots:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr6759.jpg

or with cast pilots:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr6778s.jpg

The lettering on the Lionel tender is the "condensed" style that PRR used in the 1930's.

Mr. Bartizek,

Thanks. THAT is the sort of technical information I was looking for.  So,,,,,is that Lionel model REALLY an M1a?  Also, are you familiar with the PRR M1 model that MTH produced (same #6755) quite some years ago, and is it an M1a or an M1b?

Thanks for you help.

Really awesome set .

Locomotive 6755 was completed in May of 1930 as class M1a.  It was rebuilt in April of 1944 into class M1b.  So as it exists today in Strasburg it is an M1b.  Given that Lionel used 1930's lettering on the tender, the Lionel model should be class M1a.  In the video and photos above, the Belpaire sides appear smooth so M1a it is.  Look particularly at the original post photo immediately below the set box photo.  If you click on the photo to enlarge it, the engineer's side of the boiler rear is as smooth as a baby's butt.

I can't speak about the MTH model, I've never seen one.  I have the 3rd Rail M1a in my fleet.

Wow, great train set. Awesome video. Thanks.

Nick,

Great video, great set. Thanks for posting.

Alex

I've been busy last few days so my apologies for this late thank you...but thanks to everyone for the very kind compliments on this set, my video, and layout!  Much appreciated!  

To answer a few quick questions the tether is the same as other standard Lionel legacy tethers. Nothing special, other than the width of it seems thinner. Here's a good laugh about the gap between the tender and engine cab, I forgot to remove a small black piece of foam so the gap looks a little closer than when it is when removed lol. See for yourself here in the second video part 2, or as Charlie sheen would say in hot shots "part duex". Lol

Very Nice. I get to your layout one of these days.

Nick,

Thank you for posting this video. I just love the whistle on your new steam engine. Hope you have a great evening.

Nick,

Thanks for sharing.  Your layout looks great.

Norm

Nick,

Your videos and layout look fantastic. The weathered Fastrack is top notch.

Mike

Great set, Nick, thanks for posting the videos.  Your layout is awesome - I particularly like the finish and detailing that you have on the rock walls and surfaces. Enjoy your new PRR M1a!

Nice, nice set. Makes me regret once again not springing for the Lionel Mohawk set.

On another subject, the too-big car spacing is one of my objections to Lionel's (and others, I think) new trucks/couplers. The coupler shanks are too long, the coupler cannot be adjusted if the knuckle won't stay closed, and they have a somewhat delicate coupler shank.

I know everyone complained about the "thumbtack" couplers, and everyone tried to improve theirs, but most are a step backwards in use ("where IS that blasted tab?") spacing, durability and maintenance. And those air hoses...that's where the tab is hiding.

(The hoses are easily snipped off.)

The thumbtack design, which was accessible, armature adjustable, short-shanked and user-friendly, needed finessing, not replacing.

Very good videos Nick, thanks for sharing.  Have fun with the Coal Set!

Great video, Nick! That is a really cool set. Thanks for posting! 

Nick,

    When I watched your first video I was so impressed with your new M1a train set I did not notice how terrific your layout is. The second video fixed that. Well done.

JohnB

Hello Nick, great video !!!!

I don't care if is a M1a or b or it has a slotted front pilot or a solid pilot.

Great looking model of a Pennsy M1. The sounds are greats and you got to love that quallable whistle effect.

Have fun with her, she's a beauty !!!!!!!!

Hi Nick, I just wanted to chime in, Fantastic Model Railroad, Fantastic Layout and Scenery, and Yes, Fantastic Lionel Huffin and Puffin and Whistle Blowin, M1A Pennsylvania Coal Train....I love the Chugging Sounds, Whistle Smoke effect, and Wow, the Real Smoke Unit really looks Full of Smoke...(SMOKES LIKE A  DRAGSTER)..Lionel has really hit a home run with this set....Thanks for giving us two really super videos to watch...We appreciate your contributions to Our Great Hobby, Model Railroading...Leapin Larry.

I find it very annoying when mfgs reissue the same loco with the same road number, esp when there are hundreds of other road numbers to use.

BTW, does the tender with the dog house have the indent for the brakeman's house?

Cool video and engine. Nice job......Paul

PghTrainFanatic,

Very nice video, set and layout! Thanks for posting!