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For Immediate Release

March 13, 2012

 

 

Lionel Electric Trains Announces

Norfolk Southern Commemorative Heritage Series

 

Norfolk Southern fans!

 

Like you, we were excited to read about Norfolk Southern’s plans to produce a series of locomotives dressed in the famous liveries of its fallen flags.

 

Lionel is proud to announce that it will produce its SD70ACe and ES44AC models in the commemorative Heritage Series decoration in 2013.

 

Details to follow in our 2012 Volume 2 Catalog this Summer!

 

Heritage Series Roster (as selected by NS)

 

ES44AC Locomotives

Central of Georgia Railway

Conrail

Interstate Railroad

Lehigh Valley Railroad

New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad

Norfolk & Western Railway

Pennsylvania Railroad

Southern Railway

 

SD70ACe Locomotives

Central Railroad of New Jersey

Delaware, Lackawanna and Western

Erie Railroad

Illinois Terminal Railroad

New York Central Railroad

Norfolk Southern Railway

Reading Company

Savannah & Atlanta Railway

Virginian Railway

Wabash Railroad

 



Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I think I'm going to pee my pants

 

I thought this was actually a case where Lionel built the models first and NS decided to follow up by building the real thing. Think of how confusing this is going to be for the next generation of O-guagers to figure out in 20-30 years..."was this one part of Lionel's first Heritage Series of imaginary engines or the second Heritage Series that consisted of real engines?"

Last edited by J Class
Originally Posted by J Class:

 

 

I Think of how confusing this is going to be for the next generation of O-guagers to figure out in 20-30 years..."was this one part of Lionel's first Heritage Series of imaginary engines or the second Heritage Series that consisted of real engines?"

Simple:

 

There WILL be prototype locomotive images of the of the actual NS units.

 

There will NOT be prototype locomotive images of the Lionel fantasy versions.

 

Unless, the future O Gaugers will be too lazy to google/bing/yahoo/whatever the Norfolk Southern.

 

Rusty

Originally Posted by ericstrains.com:

I wonder if the ES44's will be the die-cast "vision line"-esque ES44's or if Lionel will go cheap and go back to plastic for these. I hope they stick with the die-cast versions, personally.

Well, lets see now...  Even "cheap" plastic, the 8 ES44's loco's will probably MSRP out at $4399.92 total, barring any price increases over the release span.  It'll be about $9899.82 MSRP for all 18.

 

You're street price may vary, state and local takes etc...

 

Hope they don't release them all at once!

Rusty

I don't intend to buy one/any, but those can be famous last words. I do steam and
electric, mostly, and I would like to get the gumption up to sell most of my diesels.

But I'm really going to look at the NYC SD70; prefer GE, and not hot for lightning
stripes, but NYC always makes my ears perk up. Dummies, I hope?
Originally Posted by Charlienassau:

 I'm sure MTH will be following with a similar announcement in due course and there'll be plenty of these to go around and sell like hot cakes.

 

Also announced today (see my thread). After the NS made their press release Andy got on the phone.

If NS is licensing these models, Lionel may have an "exclusive"

Originally Posted by techie:
Originally Posted by Charlienassau:

 I'm sure MTH will be following with a similar announcement in due course and there'll be plenty of these to go around and sell like hot cakes.

 

Also announced today (see my thread). After the NS made their press release Andy got on the phone.

If NS is licensing these models, Lionel may have an "exclusive"

Well maybe MTH can do that TRAXX engine up in all those road names instead. Kidding, just kidding.

Seriously, I am not sure They need to have license to do those, remember UP.

Originally Posted by ericstrains.com:

I wonder if the ES44's will be the die-cast "vision line"-esque ES44's or if Lionel will go cheap and go back to plastic for these.

Do any manufacturers use plastic on diesels, or just Lionel? I don't have many modern trains, but many of the photos I see on the forum and items I see in the hobby shop look like plastic shells for diesels. Are all the manufacturers making diesels in die cast now?

 

Originally Posted by falconservice:

Die-Cast Zinc or Aluminum bodies were something the management at Lionel introduced just for the VISION Line.

 

Andrew

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't understand the comment about Lionel "going cheap" by using plastic, because I thought all the manufacturers/importers use  plastic for diesel shells. I assume Atlas - which appears to be consistently praised for high quality uses plastic?

 

Originally Posted by Harry Doyle:
Originally Posted by falconservice:

Die-Cast Zinc or Aluminum bodies were something the management at Lionel introduced just for the VISION Line.

 

Andrew

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't understand the comment about Lionel "going cheap" by using plastic, because I thought all the manufacturers/importers use  plastic for diesel shells. I assume Atlas - which appears to be consistently praised for high quality uses plastic?

 

The funny thing is, metal vs. plastic in model railroading is not a new debate.  I remember it going on the the early 1960's...

 

Plastics and metal alloys have both come a long way since then.

 

Rusty

"""Plastics and metal alloys have both come a long way since then.""

 

Strolling through my LHS a few weeks ago I came across the new SF AC6000 in the big display case. Never really got a good look at one till then. Really surprised at how far Lionel has come with add on details on ABS shells.. No gaps, open venting throughout, even the plow had add on railings applied..  What a sleeper with spectacular sound to boot.  This engine is just beautiful inside & out.  No need for diecast shells when ABS looks this good at less cost..

Joe

Originally Posted by OGR Webmaster:

For Immediate Release

March 13, 2012

 

 

Lionel Electric Trains Announces

Norfolk Southern Commemorative Heritage Series

 

Norfolk Southern fans!

 

Like you, we were excited to read about Norfolk Southern’s plans to produce a series of locomotives dressed in the famous liveries of its fallen flags.

 

Lionel is proud to announce that it will produce its SD70ACe and ES44AC models in the commemorative Heritage Series decoration in 2013.

 

Details to follow in our 2012 Volume 2 Catalog this Summer!

 

Heritage Series Roster (as selected by NS)

 

ES44AC Locomotives

Central of Georgia Railway

Conrail

Interstate Railroad

Lehigh Valley Railroad

New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad

Norfolk & Western Railway

Pennsylvania Railroad

Southern Railway

 

SD70ACe Locomotives

Central Railroad of New Jersey

Delaware, Lackawanna and Western

Erie Railroad

Illinois Terminal Railroad

New York Central Railroad

Norfolk Southern Railway

Reading Company

Savannah & Atlanta Railway

Virginian Railway

Wabash Railroad

 



GREAT!!!

This type of product run is a good thing for not just the people in the hobby, but the 1:1 industry in general.

Hopefully it will draw alot of public attention to rail transportation and we the hobbyist will get to enjoy alot of cool new products.

 

Thanks Lionel, this is a good move.

 

Mario E.

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