Neil Young Texas Special

The "traditional" Lionel F-3s are approx. 13" long, which happens to be scale size for the F-3s. Put them next to a "scale" F-3 and they're the same size. So to, "traditional" Lionel GP-7s and GP-9s at approx. 14" long are also scale in size. These engines are different from "traditional" Lionel rolling stock, which is somewhat smaller than scale.

"Traditional" sized is a moving target.  The the scale in height, width and length varies from item to item and may not be consistent for the three dimensions.  Lionel engineers were masters at the selective compression game.

These appeared to be upgraded F3's that Lionel's been offering forever, with 15" cars.  It's something I would have jumped on 20 years ago when I was actively collecting Lionel.

Rusty

Lionel had a series of 'Postwar Scale' F3's in several road names - 2343 SF, 2344 NYC, 2363 IC,  2373 CP, that were full scale F3s decorated in the colors and numbers of their postwar namesakes. These are beautiful scale diesel sets. I was hoping that these Neil Young F3s would have been in the same vein with a scale 2245.

Alas, they are based on the 'traditional' post war F3 cabs and frames with the 'squinty' windshields, large opening, plane pilots, and decoration.

As nice as they are with Legacy and better paint, they aren't what I had personally hoped for.

Will they sell - certainly. Neil is very well-respected for his involvement and influence with Lionel and this should be a good series. The traditional F3 probably still has a certain appeal to a significant segment of Lionel fans.

Here are two Lionel Santa Fe F3s - full scale and a PW 2343. You can see the big differences.  The scale engines are about the same length but are noticeably taller. Perhaps in the future Lionel will still bring out a 'scale' 2245 Texas Special...

Here is the beautiful 2373 Canadian Pacific PW Scale F3 AA set fro a few years ago