Lionel 2020 Volume 2 is up! Whatcha looking at?

@CAPPilot posted:

The first order for freight sharks was delivered in 1949 with the DGLE and 5 stripes scheme.  The stripes originally did not go down the nose, but were extended by the shops.  In the mid-50s when they were repainted, they received the single stripe of a freight locomotive (as in this catalog).  There are plenty of photos showing 5-stripe and 1-stripe sharks running together.  The 5-stripe lasted at least into the mid-60s.

I have the Lionel earlier shark set with 5-stripes.

There never were any freight sharks painted in Tuscan Red.  The red shark in this catalog is a continuation of Lionel's fantasy line of trains.

Yeah, I got the CC2 Sharks as well. I like the color on those better than the one in the catalog, not sure what green it is. Probably settle for the red most likely. I am going to watch the FB catalog review by Ryan shortly, see all of what he says and weigh some stuff based on that.

I have a JLC Y6b and a new MTH Y3. So, the only N&W that might have interested me is off the table. Bring back the 2-6-6-2 and make it correct for N&W and I'd be all over it.

These guys must be talking with my wife. This is a big money-saver...

READING & NORTHERN 225, ten wheelerfor me.  Also thinking of the R&N covered gondolas.

The US ARMY Sharks look cool but at over $1400, with B unit, WOW!!! 🤮🤑🤢

I am at the twilight of the playing with trains or collecting expensive toys hobby, but, I'd say the hobby is back to its pre-MTH days...you get what you get from Lionel...

I am looking at page 20 USRA Light Steam locomotive.  Something does not seem right.  Lionel says this is 30 inches long????  That does not seem to be right when the USRA 2-8-8-2 is listed at 28 inches on page 16.  Now I wonder whether the minimum curve is correct at 036? All I have is 036 curves.  Does 036 sound right to you or do you think this USRA Light is 054Min?  Just wondering.  I will email hobby shop tomorrow.  Thank you 

The Penn Central baggage cars are very enticing to me.I like the detail on them.

Clearly Lionel is still pushing the huge 21" passenger cars, of no use to anyone who doesn't have a giant layout. Speaking of giant, that S-1 is over 36" long! You have to make a major investment in track to have enough room to run that thing.  

It appears we've entered the era of non-Vision steam engines approaching 2 grand, and $1000 diesels with the A-A E units. $950 for a Shark A-A, $90-95 cars. You have to hang on for this elevator ride. Surprised that there weren't more LionChief Plus 2 offerings.

Things of interest: 4-6-0 Soo, but probably will find a Pacific at some point and re-label it instead; T&P 4-6-0 (long shot); Cotton Belt Geep (maybe, after seeing what the colors end up actually looking like -  you don't know these days); CNW roof hatch b/c; Central Soya hopper; and ACL LC+ Geep. There's nothing in the "must have" category. Been going back and picking up some stuff from previous catalogs lately, so will be extremely selective on anything new here.

NYC ABA Sharks. First time the Sharks have been offered by Lionel with all three units powered. Like this cool simple black version with the NYC cigar band, which will complement my earlier black and grey 5-stripe version very well.

Pat

@Greg - Mi posted:

I am looking at page 20 USRA Light Steam locomotive.  Something does not seem right.  Lionel says this is 30 inches long????  That does not seem to be right when the USRA 2-8-8-2 is listed at 28 inches on page 16.  Now I wonder whether the minimum curve is correct at 036? All I have is 036 curves.  Does 036 sound right to you or do you think this USRA Light is 054Min?  Just wondering.  I will email hobby shop tomorrow.  Thank you 

I had the same thought. Typo?

@Greg - Mi posted:

I am looking at page 20 USRA Light Steam locomotive.  Something does not seem right.  Lionel says this is 30 inches long????  That does not seem to be right when the USRA 2-8-8-2 is listed at 28 inches on page 16.  Now I wonder whether the minimum curve is correct at 036? All I have is 036 curves.  Does 036 sound right to you or do you think this USRA Light is 054Min?  Just wondering.  I will email hobby shop tomorrow.  Thank you 

I have the B&O Legacy Light Mikado, released a year or two ago. It runs fine on 0-42 and I believe will run on 0-31, but I would have to try it. I would be pretty optimistic it would be fine on 0-36 given it's performance and my experience on my 4x8 home layout. 

@SJC posted:

I have the B&O Legacy Light Mikado, released a year or two ago. It runs fine on 0-42 and I believe will run on 0-31, but I would have to try it. I would be pretty optimistic it would be fine on 0-36 given it's performance and my experience on my 4x8 home layout. 

Just looked up the 2012 v1 catalog and it shows the locomotives to be at 20 3/4" and has a min curve of O36. Maybe Lionel was trying to get this catalog out in a hurry and missed this.

The K-Line Mikado which the Lionel one is based on will run on 031. If the Lionel version requires a larger diameter its because the drawbar is shorter. 

Pete

I was considering the Pennsy Genset but will wait to see what it looks like.  Too many changes to be sure what the final product will look like.  The Pennsy S1s are nice.  I missed the first round.  So that is on my maybe list.

Is the light Mikado 4501 right this time? I remember something about the last run or maybe it was another Southern engine(630) that was not correct. I think that might be one solid choice from me other than the Ten Wheelers. Other stuff I'm still mulling over as yet. Some of the passenger cars look good. Ryan said the VL NYC baggage was still around, so I won't be needing that since I have it already. Some of the other cars are past 1949 which I want to model around. The reefers they have in there I was curious, but I think they would still be in that time frame, not sure though.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Is the light Mikado 4501 right this time? I remember something about the last run or maybe it was another Southern engine(630) that was not correct. I think that might be one solid choice from me other than the Ten Wheelers. Other stuff I'm still mulling over as yet. Some of the passenger cars look good. Ryan said the VL NYC baggage was still around, so I won't be needing that since I have it already. Some of the other cars are past 1949 which I want to model around. The reefers they have in there I was curious, but I think they would still be in that time frame, not sure though.

It's a close approximation, but no, 4501 has several details that vary from the model.  For example.... the walkways on either side of the boiler are incorrect.  O scale usually requires using a bit of imagination with any model as very few are accurate 

@Brian DeFazio posted:

It's a close approximation, but no, 4501 has several details that vary from the model.  For example.... the walkways on either side of the boiler are incorrect.  O scale usually requires using a bit of imagination with any model as very few are accurate 

Well, walkways are one thing, looks like the bell is in the right place.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Well, walkways are one thing, looks like the bell is in the right place.

Right place yes, correct type sort of. The type of bell she has today is closer to what a 2-8-4 has. Yes, she has had a shelf mounted bell but that was when she was still working for the K&T or pre museum days. It could be argued that it is correct, or incorrect, but Lionel has done a good enough job to recreate it. Also, if they were going to make new tooling for it then modelers would be howling about the prices.

@Trainmaster04 posted:

Right place yes, correct type sort of. The type of bell she has today is closer to what a 2-8-4 has. Yes, she has had a shelf mounted bell but that was when she was still working for the K&T or pre museum days. It could be argued that it is correct, or incorrect, but Lionel has done a good enough job to recreate it. Also, if they were going to make new tooling for it then modelers would be howling about the prices.

I asked on their FB page about the length and minimum curve as they are probably both wrong. 30" is a little long for a Mike, and 36 curve? Does it bend in half? Last offerings of Light Mike's was in 2017, they took a 54 curve but I forgot how long they were. I think around or just over 20".

Am looking at the prices!  Perhaps individuals in the market for these offerings can file for more government stimulus money.  Thank goodness I've gotten my trains before now.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

I asked on their FB page about the length and minimum curve as they are probably both wrong. 30" is a little long for a Mike, and 36 curve? Does it bend in half? Last offerings of Light Mike's was in 2017, they took a 54 curve but I forgot how long they were. I think around or just over 20".

Generally they around 21" long.  The k-line version was the same tooling and could manage O31 curves.  Changes in the drawbar would be the only reason for a larger curve rating with this model

@hold*on posted:

Am looking at the prices!  Perhaps individuals in the market for these offerings can file for more government stimulus money.  Thank goodness I've gotten my trains before now.

Agreed. I've been through this catalog several times since yesterday ......what little enthusiasm it evokes is subdued by the pricing..........Usually there is a significant "buzz" for several days following a catalog release, I am not sensing that activity with this release. Glad I purchased my trains before the pricing went stratospheric for the same stuff with a new paint job.........

The only thing I am ordering is one of the Legacy Maine Central GPs. I like New England road names and it runs on O-31. Ordered one of the FM demonstrators from the last catalog for the same reason as well as the Lionel Lines Lionchief.

3rd Rail/Sunset engines.  

Im looking at the

• F.O.M. Southwind sans the "RPO" and 18" Heavyweight Sleepers. [ My GGD will fill in nicely!]
• PRR 100Ton Hopper car set  [to add to the PRR "Coal train"]
• Conrail Safety Caboose- New England Division.
• PRR Single Strip Sharks with Superbase B unit.

On the Fence with BLW Demo sharks [Have the WBB version.]

Just placed a preorder for a Northern Pacific GP7.  First Lionel engine and first Northern Pacific for my layout.  Hope a Legacy control system shows up for Christmas this year but sounds like no rush.  I think I read not to expect this engine before June 2021.  Can’t wait to compare the Lionel to my MTH Engines and learning the Legacy system.

They would make a Frisco Mikado, after I re-lettered an MTH Mikado last year (I did the 4018, like the one in Birmingham).  Kind of like how they made the A&WP #290 after I re-lettered a K-Line Pacific...  Are they following my post on here?  Kind of weird...  I was thinking about painting some E7s to pull my Golden State cars, I have been using some Southern Pacific E8s, well they are in this catalog too!  Not saying mind readers too, but wow...  I might be interested in buying those, but I would like to see the actual production model for the colors compared to my K-Line cars...

Just put in my order for a 0-6-0 Canadian National, all the PS-5 gondolas, all the roof hatched box cars and even though I do not usually do fantasy I ordered the NYC Explorer set with add on cars ( so far LOL )............Paul 2

If they can get the headlight in the right spot for the UP Gensets, I'm in for one of them. Otherwise, nothing for me this time.

I wonder if dealers will split the Southern GP-7 set. As pointed out by DaveJfr0 on the Southern RR topic page, the cars don't match the locomotive. The GP-7 is in the 50s era green but the cars are 1970s - 1980s (especially the caboose). As he said, change the loco to the black tuxedo and offer the green one as a separate sale. I would really like to get this green loco, and if needed will buy the set. I have some Atlas GP35s that the cars and caboose can run behind anyway. 

@Larry Mullen posted:

Ah!!!!!!!!!!  Thanks, Jon & Dave.  I don't even think I had to say it 5 times.  I feel smarter now, thanks!!

 

I did not get it either until I split out parts of the words in my mind.  Maybe whoever picked that didn't realize it either, I wouldn't have. LOL.  With what's going on in the world is that really a big deal.  I think I will buy one now, haha

Nuthin

I preordered the Chessie System bay window caboose and Western Maryland PS-2 2-bay covered hopper, both for 2-rail conversion, from Charles Ro Supply.

Just a foretaste of what’s to come, much higher prices.  

Further to Brian DeFazio's comment above - Yeah, Lionel's 2017 Signature Edition catalog shows the length of those Light Mikados to be just under 21 inches.

First time in a long time there is nothing I want. Probably good for my wallet haha. 

After looking through the catalog several times, I can't think of anything that 

I could want. A lot of remakes at phenomenal prices, (2-8-8-2, GP-7, GENSETS). The 2 freight sets offered hAve no discount over purchasing individual units. $190 for a remake of Weaver's B60 baggage car and RPO'so are ridiculous. I'm nevery going to spend $95 for a plastic freight car.

$375 for a 40 year old GP-7 is not worth it. 90 to 250 dollars for a 9 by 6 inch building makes no sense to me. $400 for a k-line remake of the 18 inch pullmans.

No thanks

For the first time since I got into into 3-rail O-gauge, I see something in a Lionel Catalog that I may actually be willing (but just barely) to spend the money on - An LC+ R.I. GP7.  A lot of cool features for the not too overly exorbitant amount of money.

I also wouldn't mind having the Legacy Rock Island E7 ABA set, along with all the Golden State passenger cars.  But a grand total of around $3,950.00 catalog pricing (cough, hack, choke, puke, nitroglycerin tablets, emergency AED's, etc. etc. ) for 3-rail trains?  I'm not sure if I'd spend that kind of money even IF I won the lottery!  ZOIKS! 

Hi Paul (@Mixed Freight), I bought the ABA RI E7 set plus all the golden state cars from Nassau Hobby for $2,250. While not an insignificant amount of money, it seemed like A decent deal to me. They also have great pricing on the LC+ RI GP7. They had the lowest prices I could find on the pre-orders.