Lionel LionScale C&O Hopper Cars are a good value.

Do the cars come with holes to place the Kadee couplers? How difficult would the conversion be?

Without listing the price paid, how can you realistically state they "are a good value"?

I think those are the cars I saw at the hobby shop I go too!   Very nice looking!  And I think they have different numbers on each car also.  Seems like they were 60.00 ??

I love Lionel rolling stock but those couplers have got to go. They've switched to them for the Kadee conversion guys. All Lionel needed to do was put the Kadee pocket on the car and the Kadee guys would take care of the rest. Product development needs to re-think this approach. I'll stick with older lionel rolling stock.

Rod Miller

A quick search of a  couple of forum sponsors shows retail about $40/car. I just got my 2nd set of C&O hoppers, & I second Mr. Rowlen's comments.  While I'm not a fan of the big thumbtack style uncoupler, I'm likely going to convert to Kadees eventually (though I've never done this before).  They do have the mounting holes drilled, IIRC, though I think one may still need a spacer to adjust the coupler height.  A coal load would be nice, though those can easily be made (PghTrainFanatic has a video on his YouTube Channel) or purchased if desired.  I've also noticed that these cars are very light, but weight could be added if desired. 

I had the chance to witness the build out of these hoppers when I visited Lionel about two weeks ago. I even assembled a six pack myself!  The process that is going into these made in the USA cars is quite an interesting story, we have a nice interview along with photos lined up for an episode of Notch 6 either this month or next. 

First, the LionScale C&O Hoppers are a good value because I don't have to send them back to Lionel.  (That was cruel)

I paid $41.99 each for six cars.  The axles are very free rolling and 50 could probably be pulled easily by an Allegheny or H-7 Steam Engine, maybe more if curves did not bind the cars and topple them.  I will run 12 of these with my 24 Chesapeake & Ohio Atlas O Trainman Cars.  As far as a good value, they are under $50.00 each which appears to be the new "cheap", when Atlas O Trinity Covered Hoppers just broke the $100.00 mark.

What is a good deal?  It is a deal that makes you feel good. It is money that you DON'T wish you had back in your pocket.

J ROWLEN did those cars come with coal loads? They look good.I am not familiar with Lion Scale is that semi scale?I like your last line on what is a good deal Nick

Rockstars, LionScale is the name given to the line of former Weaver cars that Lionel acquired.  These cars are scale-sized, but lacking in some of the added-on details we've become accustomed to on Lionel's premium scale freight cars.  

The hoppers do not include coal loads, but finding some that fit should not be a problem as these cars were produced by Weaver for several years.  Fellow Forum member "Rail" (Don) makes some really nice coal loads for Weaver cars.

CNJ #1601 posted:

Rockstars, LionScale is the name given to the line of former Weaver cars that Lionel acquired.  These cars are scale-sized, but lacking in some of the added-on details we've become accustomed to on Lionel's premium scale freight cars.  

The hoppers do not include coal loads, but finding some that fit should not be a problem as these cars were produced by Weaver for several years.  Fellow Forum member "Rail" (Don) makes some really nice coal loads for Weaver cars.

I can vouch for Joe's comment about Don's (Rail) custom loads.  They are very nice looking, sturdy if you want to keep taking them in and out for loads and empties running, and the price (about $10 if memory serves) is worth it especially if you are going to be handling them a lot.  I do not have any of the Lion Scale cars, but they do look very nice.

John Rowlen, thank you for the good review on these cars.

I bought 6 of the C&O cars in Springfield for 37 dollars a car.  I love them   Lionel updated the Weaver trucks and the detail and paint are great.  And the most important thing is they are made in the USA   I haven't put them to the test on long trains yet but they are probably the best buy out there for a scale car

Well Ben, I will have to see if there are any at the Monroeville Pennsylvania Greenberg show this Saturday.  Thanks

Sitting around waiting for the snow to end so I took some pictures.  Forgot to mention that Lionel added weights on both ends of the hopper   They are plates on the hopper end  I took a picture to show them  I think its pretty cool that Lionel also trademarked the colors Orange and Blue  LOL

Is that Charles Ro Supply located in MA?  

bluelinec4 posted:

 I think its pretty cool that Lionel also trademarked the colors Orange and Blue  LOL

 

 

 

Wonder what the Chicago Bears and the University of Illinois have to say about that...

Maybe even the Union Pacific seeing they own the trade mark for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, which had orange and blue F-units...

Rusty

carsntrains posted:

Is that Charles Ro Supply located in MA?  

Yes.

Hot Water posted:

carsntrains posted:

Is that Charles Ro Supply located in MA?  

Yes.

You must have posted as I edited my post lol    Yep I have some rolling stock I bought here in TN with their price tags on them!

Rusty Traque posted:

Wonder what the Chicago Bears and the University of Illinois have to say about that...

Rusty

Thats the LEAST of either teams problems.

bluelinec4 posted:

I bought 6 of the C&O cars in Springfield for 37 dollars a car.  I love them   Lionel updated the Weaver trucks and the detail and paint are great.  And the most important thing is they are made in the USA   I haven't put them to the test on long trains yet but they are probably the best buy out there for a scale car

I've found the new lionscale trucks do no stay coupled when added to a 20-25 car train (especially with a few diecast cars thrown in).  Im wondering if adding stronger springs to the coupler armature would resolve the issue.  

Has anyone else noticed their LionScale cars uncoupling under tension?

Aside from this problem, the new cars are great!

Lionel16 posted:

 

I've found the new lionscale trucks do no stay coupled when added to a 20-25 car train (especially with a few diecast cars thrown in).  Im wondering if adding stronger springs to the coupler armature would resolve the issue.  

Has anyone else noticed their LionScale cars uncoupling under tension?

Besides this one small issue, the new cars are great!

I can't answer specifically to the Lionscale couplers,   but when operating trains with 25-100 cars long at our club displays or at a members home layout most of our club members tie the couplers shut with small black plastic cable ties that go around the coupler arm/lift bar.   The cable ties are 3/32" wide and 4" long.   Once tight,  just snip off the extra length.   Problem solved and can be reversed if needed.   I can tell you that when the train is going by,  very few people can see the cable tie in place and at our shows we usually get questions on how we are able to operate such long trains without cars uncoupling.   Of course,  if you are doing switching operations,  that's a whole new ballgame.   Another option would be to install Kadee couplers on the cars.   I suppose that you could play around with the coupler spring/tension if you choose.   Always more than one way for the desired result.

Nick

The couplers on these cars stink. They don't stay coupled with ten cars.  Definitely need to be tied shut

Very poor decision on Lionel's part to switch to this style of coupler. They are simply ugly. They did it for the KD conversion guys. All those guys only need the KD pocket and they would be happy. Those of us that buy most of the product got screwed.

Rod Miller

I have enjoyed my cars. They look good and are well made. I have had zero issues with the couplers. 

SJC,

How big are the trains your run them in?

I think these cars are a great value, however I will not be purchasing any Lionscale cars.  The couplers are the big draw back for me.  The thumbtack and the fact that the couplers does not swing independent of the wheels.  As Rod said in a previous post, I will stick with the older freight cars that have the couplers I am looking for.

I bought the "six pack" of B&O gondolas when they were first released by Ro. Very happy with them. Understand others' concerns but couplers don't bother me in the least.

Those are not Lionscale hoppers  Completely different truck and coupler

Ive taken the spring off of my Lionscale trucks, and stretched them out a bit with a pair of needle-nose pliers.  We'll see if this has any affect on the cars performance.

SJC posted:

I have enjoyed my cars. They look good and are well made. I have had zero issues with the couplers. 

I have four LS hoppers (WM - B&O), running small consists of six or seven cars, couplers working fine at this level of operation.

John Rowlen posted:

I just received the first six Lionel LionScale Chesapeake & Ohio Hoppers today.  The paint job is good.  The metal wheels roll very smoothly. Only wish the Uncoupler plunger was back further from the knuckle coupler and not so visible.

I tried an Atlas O 50-ton Bettendorf Barber truck with air hoses, but it raised the car up 1/8" higher above my H21a Hoppers.  I may add Kadee Couplers on the middle cars to give a more pleasing look to the passing string of cars.

The cars are very nice, roll smoothly with very little drag. These Hopper cars are a great way to fill-out a coal train.

Are they like Weaver cars? I love weaver and I'm sad that they went out of business. I was wondering if Lionel is using the weaver tooling

Mason Rascona posted:

 

Are they like Weaver cars? I love weaver and I'm sad that they went out of business. I was wondering if Lionel is using the weaver tooling

Yes, Lionscale is the way Lionel is marketing the weaver tooling. The USA made Weaver car tooling is now  owned by Lionel and the made in Asia cars are now owned by Atlas O.

They are the weaver cars with some changes.  The weights are a great idea   Not too happy with the new trucks though