Neil Young Texas Special Set

I ordered it.  Like the combo of traditional size with all the modern bells and whistles and higher detail.  Only have room for an O-31 layout.   I've always liked the TS paint scheme and never had one so I thought....what the heck!

Long over due! Neils got it right give us all the bells and whistles in the traditional stuff too! I too want to get this set if possible and I can get the money.

I ordered the Pennsy items.  Lookin forward to them.

Yes!! 

 

For both the MKT and PRR Neil Young sets, they feature the 'return' of the 15" aluminum passenger cars...with all of the gizmos and doo-dads (interiors, riders, distributed lighting, diaphragms, sprung trucks, etc., etc..) that we've come to expect from the larger siblings. 

 

That's reason enough for me!!

 

And, thanks, Lionel!!

 

KD

Has Lionel ever done a scale F3 in the PW Texas Special colors?

Both sets are selling very well!

I'm in for at least the Tex. Spec. A real first for these style F-3s - vertical can motors, cruise, smoke (including the unpowered A!), plus all the other Legacy features, and extra details. The cars are top-of-the-line 15" aluminum, with operating vestibules, diaphrams, sprung metal trucks, interiors with figures, add-on vent and grab handle details, etc. Lionel has done this type of 15" car a few times previously (I have a Santa Fe and a UP set of these cars, and they're outstanding - virtually the same as the 18" versions).

 

The catalog also says removable tops, which I've never heard of before in these cars. (We'll have to see - hard to believe they'd modify the mold for this.) For those of us with more modest-sized layouts, these sets are great. (A-B-A with six cars is still almost 11 1/2 feet of train)

 

One thing this set may do -- lower the prices for the high-dollar PWC Tex. Spec. set.

No. Scale cars, but with ALCo PAs. Who knows, they may make their new E-8/E-9s in TS sometime (E-7s were prototypical, but E-8/9s would be relatively close).

Gee.......NO DA.......thanks to Charlie at Nassau I have my Texas Special set pre-ordered.  I hope the date holds for delivery.  Lionel has been pretty good about timely deliveries on newly cataloged items........

 

Those of you who are on the fence I would jump off if I were you and order a set before it is too late.  This set is going to be difficult to find down the road....in my opinion. 

 

PS - not everyone has to be a "scale" nut.  Some of us are just traditional sized at heart.

 

TEX

Steve

As I stated in my earlier post I want this badly! I unfortunately do not have the cash to get it at the moment. It may be a sell out and definitely hard to find down the road. I just can only hope they don't sell out before I can scrape up the money. The legacy stations sounds car is going to put this set along with legacy in the engines over the top IMHO. Way to go Neil!!8! Thanks for suggesting to matt and the boys in marketing to do these sets. Hope to see more like this! I also hope they keep your line of signature stuff like this with legacy comming for years to come. The initial start is a great offering!

"Has Lionel ever done a scale F3 in the PW Texas Special colors?"

They did a scale E-7 set with 21" cars (K-Line ?) not too long ago.  

I'm not sure why they would do a scale F-3 set in the original PW fantasy scheme since the scheme isn't accurate and the real F units never wore anything like that.

But the original E7's for MKT and SL-SF for the real post war, as well as the passenger cars really outshine the overated Warbonnet of the ATSF!

I wouldn't say the Katy F-units never wore anything like that, they just were't lettered for the "Texas Special."

Image: "Missouri-Kansas-Texas Lines in Color" by Raymond B. George Jr. Morning Sun Books c. 1994

 

F3's, F7's, FP7's, FA2's, PA1's, E8's all painted similarly from EMD and Alco. 

Only the E7's had the fluted siding.

 

Rusty

"NEVER" ????????

 

TEX

Steve

 

I ordered this set.  It will be placed right next to my Lionel scale set from a few years ago,the PWC set,and MTH's effort from about 15 years ago.  Thr Lionel TS freight set from 1954 was my favorite as a boy and is still in my family.  I really like the Texas Special,but will not buy any duplicate sets at this point.

  You can spot them in the backround of my avatar.

Norm

 

 

I believe the F's were only used in freight service and the Lionel version(s) never had the yellow blaze on the nose until the E's were released.  

 

As much as a I lover the PW set (this was my first train set) it's a fantasy scheme on the wrong loco.  If you really, really want the "real thing" then buy the E's.  

 

Williams introduced E's before Lionel did and then proceeded to not do the the Texas Special on the E's while releasing a fantasy set of F-7's.  I am betting that most of the train buyers have no idea what the real train looked like and either think

 

a) Lionel "got it right" or

 

b) assume the Lionel PW scheme isn't based on anything real (aka a "Lionel Lines" version).

I could execute quite a few electrons pointing out inaccuracies in Lionel, Williams and MTH paint jobs if I wanted to, particularly when it comes to postwar F3's and reproductions thereof.

 

But I won't.  The toy vs. model thing was beaten to death AGAIN a week or so ago.

 

If folks want a foreshortened representation of trains like the Texas Special or others trains, it's purely up to them.  If folks want to wait or search for the preciously released Lionel set with fluted E7's (with incorrect E6 pilots if you want to get fussy...)and long cars, it's also up to them.

 

Sometimes, a nice looking train is a nice looking train regardless of its accuracy.

 

Rusty

 

Chuck's right. I thought they used Alcos, but they are E-7s (prototypical). Guess Lionel already has the molds to do their new E-8/E-9s. I don't know of any other E-7s they did other than this - kind of odd. Here's the scale TX SP, from Signature Catalog, 2008 Vol. One:

 

 

Texas Special Set (LEGACY E7 Diesel PWR A #101, DMY A #101A)    Advertised as “The Glamour Train of the Southwest,” this streamlined consist, dressed in red and silver, became an American icon of the 1950s. The Texas Special ran from St. Louis to San Antonio, jointly operated by the Katy and the Frisco Railroads.    This train set features four 21” aluminum passenger cars, a powered E7 diesel locomotive, and a non-powered E7 diesel locomotive.
SET FEATURES: Powered E7 diesel locomotive, non-powered E7 diesel locomotive, combination car, coach, sleeper, observation car FEATURES: LEGACY Control System equipped-able to run in LEGACY Control mode, in TrainMaster Command Control mode, or in Conventional mode with a standard transformer Odyssey II Speed Control with ON/OFF switch LEGACY RailSounds sound system featuring: -CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements, each with different scenarios depending on whether the locomotive is in motion or stopped -Five official railroad speeds with CrewTalk dialog -Eight diesel RPM levels -LEGACY "Real-Time Quilling Horn" control with instant response for realistic signature "quilling" and correctly timed warning signals -Single hit or continuous mechanical bell sounds Directional lighting, including LED headlights ElectroCouplers on the front of each A-unit Dual powerful maintenance-free motors with momentum flywheels Traction tires Fan-driven smoke unit in both the powered and non-powered A-units Die-cast metal trucks, pilots, and fuel tanks Metal frames Separately applied metal details Separately applied metal handrails and screens Pivoting diaphragms on rear Opening doors Accurate builder's plates Lighted number boards Illuminated cab interior Engineer and fireman figures 21" PASSENGER CAR FEATURES: Combination car, coach, sleeper, observation car Die-cast metal sprung trucks with rotating bearing caps and operating couplers with hidden uncoupling tab Diaphragms between cars Extruded aluminum bodies with flush fitting windows Metal frames Authentically detailed and painted interiors Passenger figures Interior lighting with ON/OFF control Individually boxed Gauge: Standard O Scale Minimum Curve: O-54 (6-31755) $1,279.99	Concept photo shown Concept photo shown Concept photo shown Concept photo shown

Hi Charlie,

Can we still order the TEXAS SPECIAL 6-11194 FROM YOU?

 

GG1GUYY

 

That engine in the photo is an E-7, not an F unit. The view is from an angle that doesn't convey its length. No. 2000 was one of the E-7s used on the TX SP.

I guess I was thinking along the lines of Lionel's 'Post War Scale' releases a few years ago with the beautiful 2373 CP as a good example.

 

 

 

 

I'm not a stickler for 100% authenticity as esthetically I don't particularly care for the Red & silver on the Lionel and Williams E7/8's but rather prefer the Red and WHITE of the original PW model. It would be nice to see that scheme on a fully detailed F3 with a scale pilot and full sized window (with wipers).  I'd buy one.

Always admired the 2245 as a boy. We had American Flyer and had to content ourselves with the 'Comet' and the 'Rocket'. Fortunately, Santa brought a Warbonnet ABBA eventually...

 

 

PS  I'll admit that the Legacy E7 model is indeed beautiful however.

 

Psst!  The 2000 was a Frisco locomotive, not an MKT!  The Katy's Texas Special E7's were the 101A and 101C.

 

And, just for grins, here's an MKT FP7 mu'd to an E8:

Image: "Missouri-Kansas-Texas Lines in Color" by Raymond B. George Jr. Morning Sun Books c. 1994

 

Rusty

Rusty,  Is that red and white in your photo above?

The original photo's a little faded, but yep.

 

Rusty

MKT F3's pulling a freight..............

 

Saw the F3's and GP7's in solid red often in the 60's. 

 

Regards,

Swafford

  

NOT A FANTASY!

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki...rvice_circa_1948.JPG

 

Where were the MKT engines serviced at?

Count the axles on the trucks.  Those are E's not F's.

 

I like this set , but have the PWC version. Wish that the engine was available as a separate sale item.

I ordered a set as well, thanks to TexSpecial(Steve) twisting my arm!

Thanks Frank, for the info, I am googling it now for pics!

Amazing how the red and silver/white paint scheme is so popular, yet all you ever mostly see is the green scheme.

Was the Frisco engines serviced in Parsons KS too?

Chipset.......I didn't realize that I "twisted your arm" to order the set.  Oh, maybe just a little bit.  At least we have some money in our wallet for awhile longer.

 

TEX

Steve

 

No worries Steve!

It was actually just a nudge, maybe even just a nod...that is all it took!

The shop I ordered it from owes you a 10% commission though.

 

I wish Lionel would have made the 2400 cars in TX SP in 1954-55 for 2245A/C.

 

I've got the 2245 from 1954, and run them with the Williams 4 car TS 15" AL 2500 type cars.  Nice set.  Looks even better with the LED lights I placed in them.

I also took the plunge and ordered this set, just received the two B units from my dealer. Hoping the rest of the set arrives sooner than later.