Lionel North Pole Central 4-4-2 and Matching Pass. Cars Info

Yes, please post some pics and/or vids of this set! Interested to see how it turned out. The other Hiawathas look really great!

Hoping someone might bite on this….  Would love to see some pics of this set

I'm waiting as well before I consider committing the funds! Im actually just thinking about getting  the passenger cars.

Sunrise

Agreed…. I’d like to make sure they look good before purchasing…. Hopefully someone has ordered the set that won’t mind posting some pics/ video…!!

If someone sees one on display at a store or train show take a picture and post it please. I'm going to the Greenberg show in oaks pa next week, if I see one on display I'll take a picture.

Was able to stop by my local hobby shop and see these on display…. They didn’t have the engine just yet (might have been on a pallet in back) but the cars look very nice…. I’ll say that after rec’ing my ‘24 Hiawatha set and now seeing these cars, I’m pleasantly surprised with the work.  The Hiawatha is super sharp and rich with color…. This set didn’t disappoint either….  

Wow, those cars look really sharp!  Thanks for posting the pictures!

Hopefully, someone will post pics of the engine shortly.

Wow! Any engine would look great pulling those!!!

Sunrise

Anyone know if the this set has any Christmas sounds or just the standard sound effects?  Hopefully someone who purchased can chime in.

Thanks!

Looks like these sets have definitely shipped…. Hoping someone can post a video/ pics of the engine!  TIA

Thinking that the Trainworld custom North Pole Central Vision Line Hudson would make another good candidate to pull those handsome cars!!

Sunrise

The nice guys at Charles Ro were kind enough to open one for me. It’s a beauty!

Thanks for the photos! Are parts of the roof silver on the Hiawatha? The tops of the passenger cars appear to be silver as well? or is that just the lighting?

Thanks for posting!

Sunrise

No the roofs are white, side of the loco is silver.

Thank you to everyone who posted pictures and videos of this set!  This set looks amazing.  I think am I going to have to pick one up.

@Sunrise Special posted:

Thinking that the Trainworld custom North Pole Central Vision Line Hudson would make another good candidate to pull those handsome cars!!

Sunrise

i didnt see that anywhere.  went to their website and dont see it

Yes…. Thank you to those who posted videos/ pics…. It’s a fantastic looking set and I’ve placed my order for the engine and 7 cars!  Thanks again!

@tom21pa posted:

i didnt see that anywhere.  went to their website and dont see it

They actually took the image down because they're updating it. They said it should be back up at the end of the week, It's a beauty for sure! I have a better understanding of the preorder program. So in order to eliminate sudden price increases and lack of fulfillment I placed my order early.

You're going to love it.

Sunrise

This is the first chance I have had since leaving the store and uploading those photos and video to type some more information...

This locomotive and car set is gorgeous. Really unique and stunning. My phone camera lens wasn't really as clean as I'd like, so the photo details are not great. The roofs of both the loco and cars are snow-white, like the Sleighbell Limited offerings. The sides of the loco boiler are a shiny silver, similar to the 'Locomotive of the Year' Hiawatha silver. The bronze-gold colors of the trucks and wheels are really unique, and give a special look to this consist. This is also the only new Hiawatha to offer whistle steam, though it comes from the same area of the locomotive as the popoff valve steam does. So it's really just a software choice. But again, a distinctive feature of this engine.

In my opinion, and only mine, the cars would look terrific pulled behind any traditional black steam locomotive, such as a NYC hudson for example. However, the engine with its large bronzed wheels might look less good pulling passenger cars with silver trucks such as the Sleigh Bell 21" cars for example. Just my opinion... However, this loco and these cars together would make a pretty incredible sight on any model railroad! I'm buying the complete set FOR SURE!

@tom21pa posted:

i didnt see that anywhere.  went to their website and dont see it

@tom21pa Here ya go.

@Sunrise Special posted:

@tom21pa Here ya go.

Whoa awesome thanks!

The Christmas Hiawatha looks sleek and sharp!! Like the gold wheels and trucks  

The trainworld one is looking nice. Hopefully they use the metallic green and red will make it sharp.  Will it have the Santa crew talk I assume?

@Sparty1225 posted:

The Christmas Hiawatha looks sleek and sharp!! Like the gold wheels and trucks  

The trainworld one is looking nice. Hopefully they use the metallic green and red will make it sharp.  Will it have the Santa crew talk I assume?

I imagine that it would considering the Christmas Hiawatha does!

Sunrise

Here ya go everyone! Via Nicholas Smith…

https://youtu.be/X4kyqRCy1rM?si=Ncs3bOT_MBb48ZYl

Any videos or images out there with the engine and passenger cars together?

Sunrise

@Sunrise Special posted:

Any videos or images out there with the engine and passenger cars together?

Sunrise

I've been waiting and waiting for ANYONE to post such. What's the holdup??? Love to see it running as a complete set.

I thought these would sell fast! Seems as if there's plenty of inventory out there....gives me time to wait for a full set photo or video to appear and sway me either way!

Sunrise

FWIW: I just ordered a 4 and 3 car set from Charles Ro and Butch told me he only had a couple sets left in stock. Lionel's site is showing "Few Left" whatever number that means I don't know.

As for online videos, I've noted that these have been dropping off over the last few years for just about everything train related, although there are few enthusiasts who have their Youtube channels. Personally, I've seen friends and acquaintances stop posting over the last decade or so, although they're still active in the hobby.

@Paul Kallus posted:

FWIW: I just ordered a 4 and 3 car set from Charles Ro and Butch told me he only had a couple sets left in stock. Lionel's site is showing "Few Left" whatever number that means I don't know.

As for online videos, I've noted that these have been dropping off over the last few years for just about everything train related, although there are few enthusiasts who have their Youtube channels. Personally, I've seen friends and acquaintances stop posting over the last decade or so, although they're still active in the hobby.

Did you order the engine as well?  I was thinking about ordering these cars vice the Halloween Woodsided Passenger Cars. Need to make my decision soon!

Sunrise

OK, because no one else would do it, here's the complete set running in my attic Fastrack layout. My basement table layout is under construction...

I included the Vision reindeer car, which is a perfect match for the colors of this set. In fact, this set helps to finally explain the colors of this car, which are not a great match for the Sleighbell Limited cars and locomotives. Other than the green roof, the colors and scheme are dead on, which is super nice! Also, the name of this train, according to dialogue in the observation sounds car, is "The North Wind", which I really like.

Personally, I think Lionel knocked this one right out of the park. These Hiawatha engines are bargains, whichever version you choose. I got 4 of them, and they are all terrific. But honestly, there is something extra special about the Christmas version, with the unique gold/bronze wheels and hightlights, the white & silver boiler, the Reindeer Road symbols and lettering and of course the great sounds - just lovely!

Enjoy folks,  David O.

@David Ogletree posted:

OK, because no one else would do it, here's the complete set running in my attic Fastrack layout. My basement table layout is under construction...

I included the Vision reindeer car, which is a perfect match for the colors of this set. In fact, this set helps to finally explain the colors of this car, which are not a great match for the Sleighbell Limited cars and locomotives. Other than the green roof, the colors and scheme are dead on, which is super nice! Also, the name of this train, according to dialogue in the observation sounds car, is "The North Wind", which I really like.

Personally, I think Lionel knocked this one right out of the park. These Hiawatha engines are bargains, whichever version you choose. I got 4 of them, and they are all terrific. But honestly, there is something extra special about the Christmas version, with the unique gold/bronze wheels and hightlights, the white & silver boiler, the Reindeer Road symbols and lettering and of course the great sounds - just lovely!

Enjoy folks,  David O.

Thanks a million for taking the time to film and post! I may have to sell one of my Halloween F19s and put the funds toward this set. Too many great holiday offerings these days!

Thanks again,

Sunrise