Lionel Lionmaster, what is it?

The Lionmaster line are selectively compressed models that are smaller than scale, yet try to maintain the proper overall appearance.  There haven't been any of them in the last couple of years.

Some of them looked very nice and were reasonably priced. The Challenger was probably their biggest hit.  As John says they were designed for smaller layouts that the full scale engines are too big for

Problem they ran into was that the tooling to build them cost as much as the tooling to build a full sized scale engine. Lionmaster generally sold for a lot less than the scale engines and their volume didn't make up for less profit and the tooling costs. Lionel pulled the plug a few years back

I have a couple of them that I have been trying to sell off and on and honestly the response hasn't been that great, so maybe Lionel was right to stop building them

I've done Super-Chuffer installs in a couple of the Lionmaster Challengers, they're actually a pretty nice looking locomotive.  I'd like to see them bring them back, but I doubt that's going to happen.

I have the Lionmaster N&W A. It has better speed control and sounds than my scale Lionel N&W A. It is the only non-scale locomotive in my roster to survive the "purge" last year.

Gilly

I have one of the Lionmaster Challengers. It's a very nice looking engine and runs great. It's the only non-scale locomotive I have. 

I had always hoped for a Lionmaster PRR I1 decapod. Doubt it will happen in my lifetime.

jackson

I believe the Lionmaster line was also the last gasp for TMCC installed from the factory.  Everything Command Control afterwords was Legacy.  Nothing special to write home about yet the PRR T1 in my roster is a nice interpretation...probably closer to "S" in size than "O".

Bruce

I have the Legacy PRR T-1 Duplex, pretty nice little locomotive and even has whistle steam.  I did have to tweak the rollers as the factory installation has a nasty tendancy to snag Atlas switches and flip you off the track!

Nice, John!  I'm sure I've seen a U-tube of that Legacy engine in operation....the whistle steam being more obvious than on the new BB due to the distance between whistle and stack.

Bruce

Yep, one disappointment with the BB is the whistle is so close to those big stacks that it's hard to see the stream.  It does put out a nice healthy amount of smoke, just mixes with the stack.

I also have the Legacy Atlantic with the whistle smoke, the whistle seems to smoke more than the stack on that one.

The Legacy Atlantic is on my bucket list.  Always had this thing for E6's and K4's....hell, most anything with high steppin' drivers.  I'll be upgrading my old TMCC E6 with cruise as soon as the order from ERR arrives.

Bruce

Bruce,

I have both the original PRR atlantic with TMCC and the newer Legacy version with whistle steam. Huge improvement in all aspects over the original. Smooth, great sound, great smoke. 

The Lionmaster BB has been a great loco for us. We run mostly scale stuff but shorter stuff like the Atlantic and GP's. The BB looks "big enough" and doesn't overwhelm everything around it. Good sound, great smoke and good detail.

I have 4 Lionmaster Challengers, a LM Big Boy, LM Cab-Forward, and a LM NYC Hudson. Before the Lionel Scale size Union Pacific FEF-3's came out, I was very Happy with the Lionmaster line, and still am, but I also got bit by the scale bug.

Hi, my name is Doug, and I have a PROBLEM......

Chris, I must have missed your postings on the For Sale/Trade board, what did you have for sale?

Not surprisingly the budget is a bit thin after Christmas, but the right Lionmaster at the right price, I might have to see where I can scrape a bit up.

Doug

I posted a SP Cab Forward here that eventually sold, but had very little response. Also ran same ads locally for  SD90 diesel and the Duplex, not going to get rid of the Challenger until I get a scale one.

Good to hear praise for the Legacy E6 reissue.  I was hoping there would be a noticeable improvement although I'm more than pleased with smooth performance of my old E6.  That's why I feel it upgrade worthy.  If it needs to be renumbered to make room for the Legacy version then so be it.

I do enjoy scale and in that catagory have curtailed my loco purchases to Hudsons or smaller.  I even try to keep the rolling stock small and since the layout era is pre 1950 that also imposes limits.  Biggest factor is that anything larger than say a scale GG1 will have issues with clearances on my modest "around the wall" track plan.  I've tried a 21" coach and it scrapes the room walls and bridge piers.  Plans are to finish the attic and move up there for a larger venue. 

The Lionmaster T1 is the big power on the future traditional layout, built mainly for conventional running yet still have the option of using TMCC.....simply my existing layout with PW accessories instead of scale.    I doubt there's really anything other than scale that I'd care to have with Legacy.

Bruce

Is the TMCC TI PRR Lionmaster made in 2002/2003 worth $450? It seems in very good condition. Thoughts, good or bad welcome.

If it's in 100% operating condition, I'd be offering $350, and I wouldn't go past $400.  You can probably find the Legacy one with whistle smoke for around $500-550 without too much trouble.

Here's the Legacy one on your favorite or not so favorite auction site for $500: 181879466338

Thanks for the Info John! Really would like the Legacy Version but without knowing if Lionel will remake this LionMaster in PRR, I may have to put an offer in on this one.

It would be a must for my O36/O48 layout....

Good luck BradFish, I'm betting his problem is the bottom shelf isn't full yet  

(you too Dennis)

Are these compressed at a different overall scale?

Or is the what & where & how much, out of proportion from the prototype?

Are they well proportioned too each other?

I'll eventually want one big steamer, and I have more semi scale stock than scale. These seem to fit the bill. 

Lionmaster stuff is compressed.  In general, the proportions look pretty good when compared to the scale model.  I believe the goal of the Lionmaster was that it run on O31, all of the ones I've gotten have had that as their minimum track diameter.

Had a Legacy version of the LionMaster T1 been conveniently available, I probably would have sprung for it over the TMCC version.  Still, the early T1 is just fine.  It had an erratic operation issue in command control that made the original owner give up and sell it.  I'm into it for roughly $300, when converted into US dollars.

  I recently had the opportunity to view the scale Lionel T1 and had a difficult time distinguishing it from the LionMaster.  I've changed my tune about it being closer to S scale...the LionMaster possesses a heft and visual massiveness, something that the usual traditional sized compression couldn't capture.  It looks perfectly at home pulling 18" heavyweights or a fast freight of scale cars.  I shortened the drawbar assembly to add realism since everything on the layout is 072 or larger.

Bruce

Add the ERR Cruise Commander M and it'll be well behaved as well.

Erratic operations issues, is not very specific, so Cruise M may not be the issue.  Could be antenna issue or faulty R2LC.   G

It had a pinched antenna lead which I've mentioned in other threads about erratic TMCC behavior.  It also served as the guinea pig for my magnetic tether experiment.  It gets nowhere near enough operation time and has only begun to break in.  I'll sure be happy to be back running trains as opposed to building a layout room.

Bruce