Just got an email from TrainWorld that my preordered Lionel Strasburg 2000’s Wood Coach and Combine set has arrived and is ready to ship! Should be interesting to check out!
When will the other coach sets be arriving?
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Wonder whether the Strasburg hybrid steam engines will soon be following? Any recently updated info on their anticipated shipping / arrival dates?
@N&WGuy posted:Just got an email from TrainWorld that my preordered Lionel Strasburg 2000’s Wood Coach and Combine set has arrived and is ready to ship! Should be interesting to check out!
When will the other coach sets be arriving?
Will be interested in seeing whether Lionel made any changes to the MTH tooling these were made from or the led lighting in them.
Glad I picked up a bunch of the MTH cars for half the price while they were available! 
However, I am in for the spendy #90 Decapod when it arrives.
@ogaugeguy posted:Wonder whether the Strasburg hybrid steam engines will soon be following? Any recently updated info on their anticipated shipping / arrival dates?
Last I heard the #90 models have a May or June delivery date. Could be earlier though since all the Strasburg coaches had the same delivery date and here this one 2-pack is at the end of March! 🤷♂️
We'll see, I have a small batch of boards that got shipped by DHL the 14th, they're still in China rattling around between cities! If Lionel's deliveries are anything like mine, it'll be awhile! 
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Glad I picked up a bunch of the MTH cars for half the price while they were available!
Me too, John. I'm very glad to have bought the MTH SRR cars at MTH pricing. I'd love to have a set of the B&M woodsided cars, but not for what Lionel is charging.
Very nice!
Glad to see Lionel kept the passenger figures and the greenish tint in the overhead windows.
I was told that the new coaches were a bright red color, can you confirm?
@ogaugeguy posted:Wonder whether the Strasburg hybrid steam engines will soon be following? Any recently updated info on their anticipated shipping / arrival dates?
The newest e.t.a. from Lionel on the Strasburg #90’s from what I’ve heard is now sometime around August/September.
Did Lionel retain the KD coupler mounting pad? And do the trucks mount the same way as the original MTH ones?
Here Is an informative video review of these wood sided passenger cars that Lionel is making from MTH tooling that Lionel bought. There are some noteworthy things to see here. Interesting video. A few months back, I picked up 7 of these MTH manufactured wood sided passenger cars in Central RR of New Jersey from a hobby shop in the north east, new in the box. I paid $85.00 each. Lionel street price for these same cars are 2 for $314.99 at train world.
Yep, I have a bunch of the MTH cars, I bought most of then used, and one three-pack new for a ton less than the Lionel prices for the same cars.
So I’m the Strasburg freak, I’ve waited 30 plus years for Strasburg stuff and therefore I must have it if it is different. What Eric and other people have failed to talk about are the subtle differences between the 2 styles from Lionel and MTH. First let me say the 1990 version is great, different variation that’s never been done. Only issue is I believe that it was somewhat of a fantasy scheme, meaning while the railroad did have that decor on their cars at one point, but it didn’t last very long. When the railroad eliminated the egg logo and put the writing of the cars in the oval shape the writing that said Strasburg Rail Road still had the yellow background. Then later when they repainted the writing they eliminated Rail Road and just left Strasburg. So while this style kind of existed, it was a short life span. It was more common to see them just say Strasburg in that style. Now the 2000 cars look actually pretty close to what is on there today. The red is actually pretty spot on, something Lionel has been really bad at lately so that’s a surprise, as opposed to the MTH cars which were a little bit darker than the real thing. There are 5 differences I noticed about the cars though.
1- Obviously the price, best I see out there is a little over 300 bucks. Lionel has gone insane with passenger car prices. The fact that they believe MSRP price should be 200 bucks for a passenger car is insane. You use to be able to get the MTH 5 pack for 400 bucks. 300 is an easier pill to swallow but unless you’re a crazy strasburg fan like me, seek the MTH cars.
2- The interior is a different color. MTH used a red mold for their seats where Lionel used a green one. Big deal right? Well actually Lionel got this one correct as the majority of their fleet has green seats. There’s only I believe 2 cars that have red. So if you’re a purist, Lionel did their research here. And the lights bring out sort of a greenish hue which actually look kind of cool.
3- Figures, as documented the figures are a little different. The biggest difference is they eliminated the standing figures. Which is not really a big deal, but is a difference none the less.
4- The Lionel cars cheapened out on 2 areas, they didn’t paint the platforms on the ends which kind of look really cheap. The MTH cars had black platforms as the real cars do, Lionel kept them red because that’s what the color of the mold is. So they didn’t take the time to paint them and make them look more realistic. The other area that I’m surprised no one has mentioned is Lionel eliminated the air hoses. That was a neat detail MTH use to have and Lionel just got rid of them. Not super noticeable but when comparing the two you see it.
5- The font is all screwy. Lionel really has a hard time with fonts these days. I have no ideal what they’re doing honestly. While the 90 versions look good, the 2000s are all messed up. For starters Strasburg is noticeably off than the real thing. Idk where they got that look. MTH nailed it dead on. The other thing is the names of the cars are screwy. The combine car for example has a name and number that is about 10 point font. Then the coach, which came in the same pack has a name and number that’s around 7 point font. Very very strange. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
All in all they’re nice cars. I know my comparison is that of a crazy Strasburg river counter. And if these variations mean nothing to you the, go with the MTH cars. But this is for all those guys out there that want to know the main difference between the two makes. Happy railroading!
Below are three photos comparing the MTH Strasburg and Lionel Strasburg cars.
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From what I've seen, the high price of the new Lionel cars has increased demand for the used MTH cars, which, in turn, has resulted in higher prices, assuming you can find the cars.
Too bad I didn't buy more of the MTH cars when they were going cheap on the used market.
I have all I "need," including the observation in both the "Paradise" and Philadelphia & Reading colors, as well as a set of the bright red cars that were a Nicholas Smith exclusive sale a few years ago. That set is still sealed in the shipping carton!!
@th55 posted:Here Is an informative video review of these wood sided passenger cars that Lionel is making from MTH tooling that Lionel bought. There are some noteworthy things to see here. Interesting video. A few months back, I picked up 7 of these MTH manufactured wood sided passenger cars in Central RR of New Jersey from a hobby shop in the north east, new in the box. I paid $85.00 each. Lionel street price for these same cars are 2 for $314.99 at train world.
Hey, if your interested in trading those CNJ cars for a different set, let me know. I've been looking for those for awhile.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Too bad I didn't buy more of the MTH cars when they were going cheap on the used market.
Ditto, I want the B&M wood sided cars but not at the price Lionel is charging.
I had to look long and hard for my CNJ sets so I don’t want to part with them.
@superwarp1 posted:Ditto, I want the B&M wood sided cars but not at the price Lionel is charging.
Likewise with the New York Central and Hudson River car$.
Pete
acAAOSw9OJiZt8QI was fortunate enough to pick up a full set of the MTH Strasburg cars last year from Sidetrack Hobbies. I couldn't believe they still had them at the time.
I did buy the 1990's cars from Lionel. As others have stated, I'm reasonably perturbed by the price increase on these. 
Just an FYI: those three MTH CNJ Overton cars on eBay (used) went for $410.00 plus $20.00 shipping.
@DJ Haney posted:4- The Lionel cars cheapened out on 2 areas, they didn’t paint the platforms on the ends which kind of look really cheap. The MTH cars had black platforms as the real cars do, Lionel kept them red because that’s what the color of the mold is. So they didn’t take the time to paint them and make them look more realistic. The other area that I’m surprised no one has mentioned is Lionel eliminated the air hoses. That was a neat detail MTH use to have and Lionel just got rid of them. Not super noticeable but when comparing the two you see it.
5- The font is all screwy. Lionel really has a hard time with fonts these days. I have no ideal what they’re doing honestly. While the 90 versions look good, the 2000s are all messed up. For starters Strasburg is noticeably off than the real thing. Idk where they got that look. MTH nailed it dead on. The other thing is the names of the cars are screwy. The combine car for example has a name and number that is about 10 point font. Then the coach, which came in the same pack has a name and number that’s around 7 point font. Very very strange. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
All in all they’re nice cars. I know my comparison is that of a crazy Strasburg river counter. And if these variations mean nothing to you the, go with the MTH cars. But this is for all those guys out there that want to know the main difference between the two makes. Happy railroading!
My two problems with these are the non-black platforms and font issues like you mentioned.
It appears Lionel did not buy the artwork from MTH.
Overall, what bothers me is the inconsistency between the two products. Lionel has to know that there are people who bought the MTH version of these and want to expand their collection. It's hard to do that now without having a funky looking train with two separate red's from the different manufacturers on the coaches that are of the same prototype.
@Prr7688 posted:My two problems with these are the non-black platforms and font issues like you mentioned.
It appears Lionel did not buy the artwork from MTH.
Overall, what bothers me is the inconsistency between the two products. Lionel has to know that there are people who bought the MTH version of these and want to expand their collection. It's hard to do that now without having a funky looking train with two separate red's from the different manufacturers on the coaches that are of the same prototype.
Oh I knew right off the bat the colors wouldn’t match. I knew people who ordered the 2000 era with the idea that they would match them with the MTH set. Lionel has absolutely SUCKED at colors lately. It baffles me how they consistently screw up colors on pretty much anything they come out with. Their Erie Lackawanna PA’s were white not gray, their B&O milk cars were an electric bright blue, their Lehigh Valley Alcos were pink instead of Red, the Blue Comet camelback was a bright blue, their Southern 10 wheeler was a mint green, I could go on and on! Truthfully unless it’s black, I don’t trust it. And until they show me otherwise I refuse to preorder anything until I see the finished product.
@PRRMP54 posted:Did Lionel retain the KD coupler mounting pad? And do the trucks mount the same way as the original MTH ones?
Yes they did
@DJ Haney posted:Oh I knew right off the bat the colors wouldn’t match. I knew people who ordered the 2000 era with the idea that they would match them with the MTH set. Lionel has absolutely SUCKED at colors lately. It baffles me how they consistently screw up colors on pretty much anything they come out with. Their Erie Lackawanna PA’s were white not gray, their B&O milk cars were an electric bright blue, their Lehigh Valley Alcos were pink instead of Red, the Blue Comet camelback was a bright blue, their Southern 10 wheeler was a mint green, I could go on and on! Truthfully unless it’s black, I don’t trust it. And until they show me otherwise I refuse to preorder anything until I see the finished product.
Well Lionel did a fantastic job with the PRR coaches!
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