My New Lionel Chief New Haven FA

That is so cool!  Thanks for posting.   

Great looking train.

Been waiting for a review on these. I think you may be the first up on the forum. I may grab these AAs later.

Thanks for posting.

Great acquisition! 

Here's a few more pictures.   They are packed like HO engines.  Has a plastic sleeve and the a plastic case holding the engine in place. They are nicely painted.  They have die cast frames and metal wheels and gears.   Now if Lionel would do the 2023 yellow Alco with gray nose in LC+ with the matching passenger cars!

Curious how the bodies are mounted on these engines.
Thanks for posting!

Bruce

Do these engines ride at the same height as the original higher quality postwar ALCO’s? They look a bit higher to me, but maybe it’s just me seeing much more of the higher riding cheaper models in my lifetime.

PRR Bruce posted:

Curious how the bodies are mounted on these engines.
Thanks for posting!

Bruce

They are attached like the old Alco with that latch you turn with a flathead screwdriver.   One on each end

Hi Vinny26

The New Haven looks great on your layout. Thanks for sharing the videos & photos.

What is cool Lionel has these locomotives in four road name. Baltimore & Ohio • Great Northern • New Haven • Union Pacific.

Click here: To see catalog.

Gary

Mikado 4501 posted:

Do these engines ride at the same height as the original higher quality postwar ALCO’s? They look a bit higher to me, but maybe it’s just me seeing much more of the higher riding cheaper models in my lifetime.

Actually the postwar Alco looks slightly higher.  I took a few pictures of my 209's with the new one.   Take a look

I guess the new ones do ride lower than the cheaper stamped metal frame postwar models. 

I gather Thomas was talking about the 'higher quality' (2023 UP, Erie & NH) original PW alcos that rode low and looked great!

Would have been nice had Lionel produced the handsome Green AA pair like these...

I may buy one to pull the LCCA 1958 O27 remake passenger set......since the remake has trouble  pulling all the cars....

Peter

Very nice new NH engines!!

"...and very slow speed if you like that"

How could you not like that?

They belch smoke like an alco should....love it!!

VINNY26, Thank You for the videos, and I have always liked that color scheme on Diesels...and they sure smoke. I liked the videos, however, I would like to see more pictures of your really nice layout.  To me the layout is the stage, and your nice new Diesels are the characters....Great Set....

I need another B&O on my motive power roster like a hole in the head, but those B&O Alcos are calling me.  In reality, they'd look a lot better on my semi-scale layout than my F3s.

Vinny26 posted:

Mikado 4501 posted:

Do these engines ride at the same height as the original higher quality postwar ALCO’s? They look a bit higher to me, but maybe it’s just me seeing much more of the higher riding cheaper models in my lifetime.

Actually the postwar Alco looks slightly higher.  I took a few pictures of my 209's with the new one.   Take a look

The poster's question asked for a comparison with the "ORIGINAL HIGHER QUALITY POSTWAR ALCO'S", not the later stamped frame version like the 209 photographed.

These engines look awkward as they are jacked up really high on their frames just like the recently produced green Alco set which had issues with its coupler rubbing on the frame because of this change.

It is supremely ironic: There are scale operators who favor can motor performance over Pullmors. Yet, those same people don't notice when a engine's already toy-like proportions get aesthetically worsened by the introduction of can motors?

Hi GregR,

I don't think Lionel will ever make a Pullmor motor again.  What this engine offers is that Blue Tooth technology; which, from my limited experience from running the Lionel 5 Star General, is way too much fun.  I kind of wish the Green Alco had the blue tooth. 

Vinny26,

  Now that is a real beauty, congrats on a fine purchase.

PCRR/Dave

Brewman1973 posted:

  I kind of wish the Green Alco had the blue tooth. 

 

 

I'm hoping for a blue tooth/dual can motored 2nd run.....and, some separate sale add-on cars.....

Peter

Awesome totally awesome I am going to get me a set.

GregR posted:

Vinny26 posted:

Mikado 4501 posted:

Do these engines ride at the same height as the original higher quality postwar ALCO’s? They look a bit higher to me, but maybe it’s just me seeing much more of the higher riding cheaper models in my lifetime.

Actually the postwar Alco looks slightly higher.  I took a few pictures of my 209's with the new one.   Take a look

The poster's question asked for a comparison with the "ORIGINAL HIGHER QUALITY POSTWAR ALCO'S", not the later stamped frame version like the 209 photographed.

These engines look awkward as they are jacked up really high on their frames just like the recently produced green Alco set which had issues with its coupler rubbing on the frame because of this change.

It is supremely ironic: There are scale operators who favor can motor performance over Pullmors. Yet, those same people don't notice when a engine's already toy-like proportions get aesthetically worsened by the introduction of can motors?

Here is a side by side comparison with the quality postwar Alco.  A 2023 from 1951.   Look the same to me 

If Williams got it correct the first time with their Golden Memories Series locomotives years ago, why does Lionel keep re issuing these cheap Alcos like the green ones and the several LCCA sets (NH & Santa Fe) that as someone posted above "Can't even pull their few cars"? This New Haven model at least seems like a step in the right direction. It's about time...

I'm confused about the new New Haven FAs. Setting aside the motors, are they similar to the original postwar FAs (like the UP 2023s) with a die-cast frame or are they similar to the cheapened postwar ones (like the NH 209) with the sheet metal frame? Thanks

Chris Dunn

Hi Chris,  I am like 98.657% sure that the frame is more like the PW UP 2023,  The picture below is the green Alco, which is conventional but has the same look and feel as the Lionel Chief FAs.   One feature of the frame is that the pilot has two screws which attach it to the frame.  I may get the LionelChief Great Northern FA and swap out the shells.  So My green alco would have blue tooth.  

Thanks, Dave. 98.657% is good enough for me. But if others have insight into this, please say so. 

Chris Dunn posted:

Thanks, Dave. 98.657% is good enough for me. But if others have insight into this, please say so. 

Chris.     They are like the 2023 Alcos.   Die cast frame and metal wheels and trucks.  I ran them in front of 4 Railking passenger cars and the engine pulled them with ease.   They are well done!

Thanks Vinny and Dave. Now I'm interested.