I just kept thinking about this in my head and again today after running some locomotives on my layout I do have favorite units and they are not the most expensive, well for me they were but not in comparison to the number of choices in available in Lionel Legacy locomotives. So, my criteria here is kind of my own budget being a target price of $500-$600 for a Legacy Locomotive, looks good, good value features, and runs without too many problems. I have operated some friends units while teaching them how to use their Legacy units, done lots of shopping, and played a lot with mine. So, besides price point, looks, value, features, is also curve radius versus values/appeal of the Legacy locomotive. I would like to own a Centipede for instance, but the price point really exceeds my personal criteria along with my layout is Fastrack with the largest diameter being O48. Should there be a locomotive that does not fit this radius then the other factors would have to convince me that being able to only run on another layout is still worth the price of admission. Okay, so here goes my personal list for 2011 and 2012:
1. The 2012 scale GP-35 Lionel Locomotives. I ended up with 2 of these beauties after getting another defective SD70ACe (starts with no motors in the trucks and went downhill from there). Looks, price, value, wow factor, fun, feeling like I got my money's worth are all there. I think that Lionel's new Legacy Sequence control along with Legacy 1.51 and using all horns on in a multiple unit train is just plain amazing. I have gotten friends that do not smile to smile when they run these. Fit, finish, pulling power is amazing. Colors and details are consistent and yet these locomotives really look good with anything that I pull. Sound quality is excellent. The paint on the UP unit matches other units well and from my amateur view the yellow is a perfect match. The Southern Pacific gray and red look good. I would suggest these units first for anyone that runs O48 or smaller layouts.
2. Lionel Lindbergh (there are other road names) Atlantic Legacy Steam Locomotive. I really like the looks of a good steamer and while I love operating a Bog Boy on my small layout it is pricey and it is big while the Atlantic unit fits well and has great features. While this locomotive is a little above my target price range the fit, finish, features, and overall running quality really make this one to consider. The quilling steam whistle is just plain fun and the synchronized smoke from the stack is just right. Great sounds and lighting. This locomotive does not have sequence control so that puts it in the number 2 spot. Great looker and runner and the features such as the steam whistle are only found on a few more expensive Legacy locomotives.
3. Lionel DD35a Legacy Locomotives. Price per pound and size on these would almost be enough to say yes but there is much more. Details are good, not great, but are good enough to make these units blend in with the GP-35 units and look good. I love smoke and these units have two smoke units each which really fogs up the train room and makes a great site to enjoy as the come through the curve. Fit and finish is good. These units also have the Legacy sequence control which again I think needs to be advertised more. Throttle up and tower com sounds, bells sound, horns sounds, and you are rolling with the same along with squealing brakes when stopping. Very nice. Sound quality is good but not as loud at the GP35 units. These are really almost too long but the value to the money and how well they run puts them at number 3 on my list.
What are yours? I think that we need to tell Lionel and others what really works, what we like, and why so instead of making future "close-out" products we can get products that meet price versus features where we the consumer feels like we go our money's worth.
