After running it for a month, I have decided that the 6-11230 Lionel S3 Northern is the best Lionel Steamer I own. Other favorites include my 6-11154 Vision line CC2, my 6-11423 Blue Comet and my older 38095 J Class which is non-legacy but a great runner.
The S3 is joy to listen to, looks great, and the cylinder steam effect is really well done. The self-adjusting drawbar should be a standard feature on all engines. It makes a big difference.
I decided to seek out and buy the S3 only after being so disappointed by the offerings in Vol II this year. I'm glad I did.
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