Skip to main content

7 replies

More Lionel NPC Train Confusion

T Tommys_TrainsOGR Forum Member

I am a collector/operator of Lionel North Pole Central and have many of the original set expansions packs, motorized units and small locomotives (Dockside Switcher, Snow Plow) , add on cars, and operating cars. So I've been trying to sort out in my head what all of these Lionel offerings are... 

 

There is the Santa Flyer 1 and Santa FLyer 2 (not to be confused with the Santa Flyer Freight Set which is not NPC), based on the Euro style loco that first appeared in the Harry Potter set.  But I had been reluctant to purchase because there just didn't seem to be any add-ons to these... Until now.  It seems the "North Pole Express 2-Pack" is styled after the Harry Potter Passenger Coach and Combo car and in this set are designated as Mistletoe and Silver Bell respectively.  They are indeed NPC although the product name might lead one to believe it is related to the North Pole Express Freight Set...  Why there is but one Passenger coach is a mystery, and leaves one to wonder if there will be a second added on in the future? A two car consist behind the Santa Flyer locos seems a bit lacking.

 

While I like the new cars, I also had my eyes on the new Victorian Christmas set, also based on the Harry Potter loco and it has a consist of three cars, which I had imagined as the Euro version of the Polar Express for impoverished British and northern European kid's excursion to the NP.  

 

Not sure I need the Santa FLyer 1 or 2 with the North Pole Express car 2-pack, as I have the full compliment of Original NPC passenger set reindeer named cars for elf transport... But Now that I have it sorted out, I can compare the alternatives.  

 

In past years,  have run the Polar Express to the NP on a segment of layout based on Snow Village houses and Super O track, transitioning to the NP village pieces with Fastrack,and am tempted to create another segment based on the Euro themed Victorian train...  Not crazy about the Dickens village pieces but its a possibility.  

 

But this whole NPC thing is getting a bit out of hand.  Can't bring myself to spring for the more expensive pieces like the Legacy Pioneer Zephyr or the GP's, as I prefer to run conventional or TMCC (the little NPC inspection car was TMCC).  But then, maybe Santa will come through on one of these...

 

Any other ideas?

 

 

 

 

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

RadioRonRadioRonOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Tommys_Trains:

There are the Santa Flyer & Santa Flyer II (not to be confused with the Santa Flyer Freight Set) based on the Euro style Harry Potter set loco.  I had been reluctant to purchase either as there didn't seem to be any add-ons to these, until now.  It seems the "North Pole Express 2-Pack" is styled after the Harry Potter passenger coach & combo car & in this set are designated as Mistletoe and Silver Bell, respectively.  Why there is but one passenger coach is a mystery, & leads me to ask if there will be a 2nd added 2-pack on in the future?  A two-car consist behind the Santa Flyer locos seems a bit lacking.

Tommy:  I AGREE!  I have the "Santa's Flyer" loco No. 6-38671 from 2009(in red) & have been perplexed as to why Lionel cataloged only a single two passenger car add-on set (No. 6- 35250) in 2012 & 2013 (its not new as you indicate).  The add-on set last appeared on P. 16 of the 2013 Lionel Christmas book, listed as the "North Pole Express Passenger Car 2-Pack" although the graphics ON the cars say "North Pole Central Lines."  They first appeared on P. 9 of the 2012 Christmas catalog, described as the "North Pole 2-Pack Passenger!"

In April, I tried to get an answer on the prospect of a 2nd two-car passenger add-on for these North Pole Central "Harry Potter"-style locos from the Lionel folks at York.  The people I spoke with seemed to not even recall that a two-car "NPC" passenger add-on set was ever released!!  The woman I was directed to, who supposedly handles "new product development," was clueless when I asked why a second add-on has not been released.  She mentioned the then-upcoming Victorian set, but that was irrelevant to my question.  She couldn't get off the misconceived thought that I was asking about add-on cars to the Harry Potter set itself.  She didn't really grasp that I meant only that the "NPC" cars at issue were from the same molds as the Potter cars, not the Potter cars! 

This is even more peculiar given that Lionel cataloged a black "Hallow's Eve" Halloween version of that loco in 2011 and 2012, No. 6-18745... accompanied with Hallow's Eve two-car passenger add-on set in 2011 and a second add-on set in 2012.

I'm stumped &, in the meanwhile, stuck with two useless Potter-style North Pole Central add-on cars!!  

 

 

 

T Tommys_TrainsOGR Forum Member

The only thing I can figure is that this "Express" is limited to two cars in order to facilitate the higher rate of speed required to staff emergency personnel in some far reaches of the NP complex...  The two pack does include the combo car so it is similar to the end of train configuration of the Hogwarts Express so I wouldn't hesitate to run it as is.

 

I do believe this is classic Lionel behavior in that they release an engine or some other piece and leave folks hanging.  There are countless stories of this nature.  You would think  that this issue might rise to the top of their customer concern surveys if there was such a thing.  Seems Lionel are rank amateurs when it comes to social media and other ways of gauging customer satisfaction.  Maybe they need to narrow their focus a bit and concentrate on fulfilling specific wants in a less wide ranging product lineup.  Just a thought. 

Last edited by Tommys_Trains
RadioRonRadioRonOGR Forum Member
I don't know, Tommy.    Do you mean marker lights or interior lights?  I've never put them on the track or powered them up as I have been waiting for the second two-car add-on to show up.  (These are the "Harry Potter"-mold "NPC" cars, you are referring to, right?). I don't recall any flashing lights being mentioned regarding the two-pack.  Are you & I talking about the same thing.... Lionel 2-pack, No. 6-35250, right?  Originally Posted by Tommys_Trains:

RadioRon, 

Do your NP Express 2-pack cars have flashing lights?  I just acquired a set directly from Lionel & they both have rapidly blinking lights.  

 

Last edited by RadioRon
T Tommys_TrainsOGR Forum Member

Right, no description anywhere that these lights are supposed to flash, but its a problem that has been around for years...  this thread from 2012 addresses it.  I bought  mine from Lionel direct (on eBAY) and I suspect they are from a similar batch that has sat around their warehouse for a few years.  They shipped and got here in just a day or two which makes me think they came from Charlotte.   https://ogrforum.com/t...r-car-lights-blink-1  You might want to check yours.  Its quite annoying.

Add Reply

Views: 712
Post

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×

Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership

OGR Forum Supporting Membership

Help support this forum with an OGR Forum Supporting Membership.
You will be able to watch the videos in the INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO FORUM!
A one-year OGR Forum Supporting Membership is only $12 per year, so sign up now!


    OR     


Access the ALL the OGR VIDEO FORUMS AND  over 300 back issues of OGR
with a DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION!



$12.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable)
×