Neil Young Texas Special F3s - RECEIVED!

Thanks, Doug.  That's a nice touch.  The Pocahontas set was only packed in a shipping carton.

 

David

A very pretty set indeed. The postwar 2245 was always one of my favorites and it came with 2 or 3 0-27 Vista Dome cars didn't it?

A postwar-inspired passenger train would not be right without at least ONE dome!  :-)

Wow! The locos look amazing. What a cool paint job. Sure to be a crowd pleaser.

I know we collect toy trains and are not supposed to be rivet counters, but here was a chance to head the Texas Special with prototypical E-7s or E-8s.  I guess the historical Lionel 2245 influence was too strong. To the best of my knowledge F-3s never powered

the Texas Special. Not surprisingly there were no Texas Special B units.  And as noted earlier in this thread, unlike its competitor the Missouri Pacific, it never carried a dome car. Still it's a beautiful train, and Lionel correctly took the red stripe through the door of the passenger cars.

 

Lew Schneider

 

Lew Schneider

Given Lionel's choice to use 15" passenger cars in this set, E-series locomotives would have dwarfed them.  F3/F7's tend to look better with 15" cars, while E-series look more appropriate with 18" and 21" cars.

 

Side by side -- either on the layout or up on display shelves -- F-series locos almost look like toys compared to the much longer E-series units, IMHO of course.

 

So I think Lionel got that part right this time -- prototype notwithstanding.  Same thing for the vista dome.  It's too nice a car not to include in such a pretty train.  

 

David

In my earlier reply, I mentioned that the non-prototypical vista dome could have been substituted with a diner.  Since LIONEL will offer a station sounds diner that substitution is a nonstarter.

 

As Lew mentioned, props to LIONEL for carrying through the faux stainless/red stripe across the vestibule ends.  It's interesting also that LIONEL chose to use a mix of skirted and unskirted cars which is prototypical though not entirely accurately executed.

 

But those concerns are more for the 21" scale cars coming later this year.  It's a great looking set, and if I hadn't already embarked on DIY version (custom decals, name plates, etc. already acquired)  I'd be awfully tempted by the NY TS set.

Thank you everyone, we have just ONE TS set left for sale!

I am a Texas Special  nut.  It  all started at Christmas in 1954 with the A-B freight set.  Since then:  MTH TS Set,Lionel PWC Set,Lionel TS with 21" cars.  Now this one.

As they say in Texas, "Whoa"!

 

Norm

sharp paint scheme...........  have always liked it.  Thanks for the photos.............

 

Mark

I agree with Rocky Mountaineer that the E-7 would dwarf the 15 inchers, but wouldn't they look great with the 21 inch cars!!!

 

As for the 15 inchers, the MTH RailKing E-8s would look great with Lionel's 15 inch cars.

But of course we have no RailKing Frisco E8s (that I know of).

 

I once had the MTH Texas Special ABS 15 inchers, but they just didn't have the shine I wanted.  So I sold them and acquired some custom painted Lionel 2530 series cars. And of course, notwithstanding all of my comments, they are pulled with MTH F3s!!!

 

Lewrail 

By the way gang if you check out the Want to Buy section I need one more Lionel Texas Special car, because I have only 3 of the custom painted 2530s.  Help!!

 

Lewrail

lewrail, i think Lionel did release a scale E8/E9 AA configuration earlier this year to go with the 21" passenger cars.  I already have two Lionel Legacy Texas Special SD70ACe powered units that I plan to match with the 21" cars I pre-ordered.

 

David

The TS 21"cars are a real collectible. The first and last time Lionel produced 21" aluminum cars.

 

I am glad I own this set. If I knew the Neal Young set was going to take so long I would have bought that too

 

rat

Looks like Lionel did a great job.

Norm,  like ya say... whoa !!!   I didn't get to order this particular set, but I already have a PW 2245 set complete with all boxes, another PW 2245 AB engine set, the PW 210 Alco AA, PW 211 Alco AA, a "put together" PW red letter pass set for the extra F3 AAs, MTH Premier TS PA ABA set (PS1), and Williams 6 car 18" Texas Special Pass cars.

I do like the Tejas Especial a lot, but there is only so much room in our house !  HA HA

Looks like the PRR set is pushed back to September

As of today we have only ONE set left and we also have a scale set too.

 

http://www.nassauhobby.com/Tex...C-Passenger-Set.html

 

FREE Shipping too!

I purchased the ABA on impluse long after the pre-order period ended. They are sweet looking! Now I need the passenger cars, I know, not going to happen but if anyone has reason to part with them...

 

Charlie's price has me thinking, "buy the set and sell what you have"...

 

Mike

 

 

I always thought that was a poor marketing decision on Lionel's part to offer the stand-alone AA locomotives, powered B-unit, and non-powered B-unit... then offer the "set" as a 4-pack of passenger cars ONLY packaged with an AA locomotive configuration.

 

They made a similar faux paux with the upcoming New York Central ESE... locomotives will be available ala-carte, but the basic passenger set ONLY comes packaged with one style of steam loco.

 

Much more effective to offer everything ala-carte, and let the scale-minded folks configure things the way THEY prefer -- not the way the importer forces enthusiasts to buy.  But then again, I'd probably last about two minutes sitting in meetings where these kinds of crazy decisions get made. 

 

David

 "buy the set and sell what you have"...

 

Probably a very good move.

It will not help my wallet until I sell what I have but will get me the passenger cars.

 

It's decision time.

 

Mike

Well the scale E-7 set flew out of here and we still have that one Neil Young set left......

While all the sets are gone we do have one Neil Young powered B-unit left.

 

http://www.nassauhobby.com/Nei...-Powered-B-Unit.html

I am glad I got the scale set. Here is a picture with the scale engine next to my postwar Texas Special. What a difference. 

Jim, the scale set is indeed a very nice passenger train. I do applaud this reissue of the F units and 15" cars as not everyone can accommodate the 21" passenger cars that came with the scale E units.

 

Your right Brian, I am just getting spoiled with scale. 

Brian is right, of course--nice to have the choice.

 

Now, can't wait to see the LIONEL 21" ABS TS cars.  TS lovers should be in heaven.

Maybe change that to "relatively few can accommodate...." The ABA and all seven cars would run almost 18' long! (For reference, that's longer than a Chevy Tahoe full-sized SUV.) That requires a huge layout.

We still have that powered B unit for all you set guys

I pulled the trigger and bought the set, it arrived today and it's nicer in person than the photos. Glad I did although now I have an extra set of AA units and a very nice 4 car 15" Williams passenger cars to sell. Both Mint/Like New.

 

Both will be posted on the For Sale and Trade forum at reasonable prices.

 

And by the way, I have the 2 car add-on set pending.

 

Mike

Does the powered B unit have sound?

 

Regards, 

Frank

I haven't run mine yet but the box says smoke and Legacy Railsounds

Curious... 'cause it's difficult to tell from the photos of what's actually been delivered... but do the Texas Special Neil Young F3 A-units have the detailed pilot that's been used on F3's since the early 2000's (I have the Santa Fe and NYC from that time period)?  Or is it the smoother, less-detailed version from the post-war era?  The pic in the catalog appears to be the latter... as do some of the earlier pics posted in this thread.  Perhaps the red/yellow stripes were easier to apply on the less detailed pilot?

 

Thanks, in advance, for any clarification current owners of the set or ala-carte AA units can provide.

 

David

Appears to be smooth

Smooth pilot like the post war F3's. Interesting that the couplers on these "non-scale" don't stick out from the pilot as the scale Burlington F3's. Just an observation.

Mike

 

I believe the Neil Young Texas Special F3 and passenger set were designed to celebrate the original 2245 Lionel release in 1954.  Lionel wanted to keep to the same post war F3 concept adding new body details and electronics.  For Texas Special lovers this is a must have engine and set.  The painting is absolutely stunning.

 

Steve and Lady

Oregon

I have an extra TS PWC AB 38100 NIB that I would put toward the purchase of the E7 set if anyone is interested...if not, I'd like to buy it outright.  One on the 'Bay right now is way up there in price and hasn't sold in a couple of listings.  I PM'd the seller with an offer and got nothing back.

Anyone have the E7 TS and 21" cars for sale?  Thanks!

AB

The set I recently saw on eBay is grossly over-priced at $2,495 and doesn't even include the StationSounds diner.   

 

The E7 scale set with all seven passenger cars (including 4 in the basic set, plus the 2-car add-on pack, plus the StationSounds diner) in MINT to Like-New condition typically goes for about $1,600-$1700 plus shipping.

 

Hang in there... good luck hunting for a set.  I bought and sold mine here on the forum a couple of years ago.  Beautiful set... I just didn't have the real-estate for 21" cars at the time.  I'm now planning a layout that should be able to better handle the longer scale-length passenger cars, so I have the new Lionel 21" ABS cars on pre-order to pair with two Texas Special SD70ACe locomotives that I already own from a few years ago.  That's another option if you can't find the aluminum set a fair/reasonable price-point.

 

David

Thanks David.  That is the range I feel like I am in too. 

Sounds like a reasonable approach.  Thanks!!! 

 

David