This is my first post, so hello everyone who decided to read this relatively new post written by a guy who is considered "inexperienced" in the model railroading world!
When Lionel introduced the new 2018 Big Book V1 Catalog, there were some unique items in there that caught my eye. The three most notable items include:
- #84719 Santa Fe Lionchief Super Chief Passenger Set
- #84723 BNSF Lionchief Tier 4 Freight Set (Is there any new information on this? I would really like to see an actual product picture and not catalog art)
- #84772 Norfolk & Western Hopper 6 Pack
I managed to receive both the Santa Fe Set and the N&W Hoppers for Christmas this year, and I am very pleased with the end results of both products. I figured I'd share my pictures of the new 6-Pack, because from what I know there are no posts here featuring the new Hopper 6-Packs.
The Norfolk & Western was called "King Coal" for a reason, and these 6 Hoppers will help uphold that title even though the N&W is now NS. Lionel's Newest 6-Packs are designed to be sold at Hobbystores as "Breakup" items. You buy one of these 20$ or 25$ freight cars as a cheap, but realistic add-on to one's starter set. I have two of these "Breakup" cars myself, the #84455-4 MKT Flatcar and the #84458-4 New York Central Gondola, but after I saw the image of the N&W Hoppers I knew I had to get the whole enchilada.
On a bit of personal opinion, you do NOT separate Norfolk & Western hoppers. You either get the whole hopper set, or don't get it at all.
All 6 (4 shown) of the hoppers on my at-the-time-being-disassembled Christmas layout.
The First image I had of the hoppers upon opening the box.
Comparing one of the new N&W hoppers to another standard Lionel hopper, in this case the #82072 Philadelphia Quartz Hopper from 2015.
Up close details of the trucks. On the left is the Standard Lionel Hopper, while the one on the right is the one from the N&W 6-Pack. While I do like the new design, I feel as though the truck looks a little too big for its size and looks to be far too wide than the hopper at certain angles. However, it is sturdy and far more durable than the plastic trucks seen on most starter sets and freight cars
PROS
- Realistic Design
- Crisp Graphics
- Sturdy Trucks and Couplers
- Nice look when behind a train whether it be one car or the whole set
CONS
- No Coal Loads
- Plastic Car Body
- Trucks are not sprung
- Trucks look a bit too bulgy, but thats me
