I am with @gunrunnerjohn on this one for $2000 paint is easy, details such a rear trucks and brass details should not be an issue to correct. Since they plan these things for 2 years. You think they could get it correct. But hey I have olive drab sharknose set with 2 different colored b units so consumer quality is not ranked as high as the almighty dollar.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:I demand slightly more from my $2,000 toys.
Well besides Joy and Fun, what should I demand of my toys?
BTW, I owe Mike Reagan for me seeing them as toys.
-Chris
I think being able to see our O gauge trains as toys is a healthy perspective. But I want to be super healthy. My dream is that one day I will be on a Ferrari blog referring to my collection of F40s and 250 GTOs as "Toys".
I think being able to see our O gauge trains as toys is a healthy perspective. But I want to be super healthy. My dream is that one day I will be on a Ferrari blog referring to my collection of F40s and 250 GTOs as "Toys".
I could get behind that idea. 
I'd like to see a Pennsy version in real dark PRR brunswick green, boiler front keystone, and gold striping. After all Erie is in PA an VA is a nearby state.
I ordered the Virginian based on best looks. I couldnt get behind a $2000 engine with Halloween effects (totally cool though) for a seasonal use. The whitewalls on most of them is horrendous. If someone comes out with a special run thats more realistic perhaps Ill sell and buy.
@Choo Choo Johnny posted:The whitewalls on most of them is horrendous. If someone comes out with a special run thats more realistic perhaps Ill sell and buy.
Did you miss Mr. Muffins white wall-less custom run?
Lol oops I suppose I did. Too late to sell and buy? haha Thanks man!!
@Choo Choo Johnny posted:I ordered the Virginian based on best looks. I couldnt get behind a $2000 engine with Halloween effects (totally cool though) for a seasonal use. The whitewalls on most of them is horrendous. If someone comes out with a special run thats more realistic perhaps Ill sell and buy.
I agree that from a subjective aesthetic viewpoint the white paint on Triplex wheels does not enhance its look. I also ordered the Virginian Triplex despite my dismay that the photo offered by the Lionel website shows white paint on the wheels. But I cannot say it is not realistic. I can Google “Virginian Triplex”, select images, and see what looks like a photograph of Virginian 700 with white paint on the wheels. But the whole engine is not realistic anyway. Lionel is selling Virginian Triplex 701 which never existed. It’s a fantasy scheme with only 2 instead of 4 wheels on the rear trucks. And it runs on THREE rails! Man, that is unrealistic. I seem to be at odds with myself. What I would really appreciate is a prototypical Virginial Tripex 700, but instead what I am buying sure ain’t that.
I also opted for the Virginian Triplex. I think the paint looks sharp. I'll paint the white walls if I don't like them. I'll also add a four wheel truck if there's room and it's not going to mess anything else up. I'm pretty pumped for these to arrive. I think they're going to be excellent 
Someone told me today at my train club that the road numbers Lionel used are not real on the Eries because Lionel could not license them. I don't strictly require trains to be only prototypical anyway. But I went off the deep end and ordered the Mat Shay and the Halloween.
Haha awesome Dave! 🚂
Here you go. Just ordered one.
@Johnsgg1 posted:Here you go. Just ordered one.
Wow, that's going to be a beauty! Enjoy!
Man between the non-whitewall version and the Pennsylvania version... I kind of wish I would have waited to preorder haha
Cool looking PRR version, I like everything on it except the gold rims...neat for a museum exhibition but not a work horse. A bit steep on the pre-order price, I suppose there's no extra discount available.
@Johnsgg1 posted:Here you go. Just ordered one.
Is the boiler Brunswick Green or black?
Regardless that is one spiffy looking engine. Perfect for an excursion train.
@Former Member posted:Is the boiler Brunswick Green or black?
Regardless that is one spiffy looking engine. Perfect for an excursion train.
The prototype was hard pressed to sustain 3-5 mph, but with that paint job it looks like it could pull an excursion train all day at 60 mph.
@Former Member posted:Is the boiler Brunswick Green or black?
This is Lionel. It could end up purple.
@Bob posted:This is Lionel. It could end up purple.
Now now Bob, in the spirit of the holiday season, let's be gracious!
If it does turn out to be purple perhaps they will rename it to Willie Wonka.
@Norman R posted:The prototype was hard pressed to sustain 3-5 mph, but with that paint job it looks like it could pull an excursion train all day at 60 mph.
Either that or a Presidential funeral train. It looks very buttoned down, formal attire like.
@Paul Kallus posted:Cool looking PRR version, I like everything on it except the gold rims...neat for a museum exhibition but not a work horse. A bit steep on the pre-order price, I suppose there's no extra discount available.
The gold trim gives it that turn of the century charm like the gold trim on my Pennsylvania camelback. As a Pennsylvania it's not prototypical anyway and as a 3 rail it wasn't prototypical to begin with. It just looks beautiful but as you say if that's the preorder price it's real high. I'd hate to see the regular price.
@Former Member posted:Is the boiler Brunswick Green or black?
Regardless that is one spiffy looking engine. Perfect for an excursion train.
Looks like the boiler is Russian blue/gray with the Tuscan red highlights. VA VA VA Voom!
