New Lionel Fantasy scheme 2-6-6-2's

Sweet! I like the tender on the green one. And they roll so well on Super O.

Actually, many - all? - of the Lionel 2-6-6-2 paint schemes (and some detail changes) are not fantasy schemes in the sense that the road did own some similar (s-t-r-e-t-c-h that "similar" 'til it hurts) locomotives. The NYC, for example, had quite a number of 2-6-6-2 Mallets, though they were smaller than the USRA design that Lionel offers. Lionel did put a smokebox front on that is like the NYC locos - but I think that the air pumps were completely lost.

That GN green one does look impressive, I must admit. It's hard to make a USRA 2-6-6-2 look bad, anyway. 

Yea, this is my first 2-6-6-2s and this green goat smokes AMAZING...

The GN is striking.

I find these much less of a fantasy than Daylight Cab-Forwards, Hiawatha S-2's, 49er Challengers and 20th Century Ltd. Niagara's.

Rusty

I drool at every daylight ac9 and cab forward i see...

Fantasy or not, that’s a good looking Locomotive, also the B&O Steamer looks great. Thanks for posting as I think your going to see a lot of positive remarks.

Happy Railroading 

Could someone post a video of these?

I can.  Give me an hour or so...

Ok...  some videos.  I topped off the smoke fluid in the B&O, overfilled the whistle steam.  So its faint...  needed to run a few laps...

The GN is shown with whistle steam...  they do smoke very well!

Dang, that track looks so good Bob.  So do the new steamers too!

I'll wish for a B&O for Christmas.....

Amc...  im wishing for the southern pacific...  for Christmas...

That GN scheme is lovely, but I think I prefer the B&O engine...just looks less "fantasy". 

Gosh, those things REALLY put out the smoke! 

Mark in Oregon

Awesome! Thanks for sharing .

The shade of green used by Lionel certainly looks the fantasy part as well. It's an interesting looking engine, but the green appears way too light, an olive color, and lighter than the catalog image (which is itself too light a shade). For comparison, below are some photos of my Lionel Legacy Great Northern Light Mikado, a prototype GN steamer, and a Sunset 3rd Rail GN steamer, which have the correct color.

Thats under a crazy spot light.  Normally it looks like this.

I prefer to look at prototype colors, and not 'colorized' photos because thats not a reference.

Its also pretty consistant with MTH, BLI, etc...

I am good with this green.  You can see the better picture (not under florescent spot light above)  I think the heavy mikado green is too dark after reseaching it.  Lots of other manufacturers also were very close to this lionel green and from what i can find, looks really close to GN.

next time i will shut off the spot light that made it look glowing!

Super O Bob posted:

Its also pretty consistant with MTH, BLI, etc...

I think the heavy mikado green is too dark after reseaching it.  Lots of other manufacturers also were very close to this lionel green and from what i can find, looks really close to GN.

It doesn't seem like the Lionel Mallet green is close to anything else, at least as far as I've seen. The Lionel Mikado green is essentially the same as the prototype photo above of the S-1 4-8-4 (shown at the Great Northern Historical site) and as the 3rd Rail engines (which engines supposedly are carefully researched). The MTH versions (example shown below) are significantly darker as well. There were variations in the green used by the GN, depending on which shop did the painting, apparently, but I haven't seen any light olive examples like the Lionel Mallet. But who knows?

Since Lionel did such a radical change with the color on the Mallet compared with all their previous Great Northern engines, it would seem to be going on with the color choice. Given the painting color issues they've been having with some of their engines lately, such as the T&P and New York Ontario & Western F units and others, Lionel may be having some problems with their Chinese suppliers, and/or someone at Lionel isn't paying attention.

Regardless, none of this matters as long as the Mallet owners are happy. If they think the color is close or close enough, that's great, and the rest of this is nitpicking, especially given the fantasy engine motif. It's an interesting looking engine and will be an attention-getter.

Yes, i like it alot better than that darker green.  As i posted, its closer to prototype engines that were not 'restored'.

Okay this is about as close as I have come to a fantasy engine. I am thinking between the Great Northern shown above and The Southern Pacific.

Both had 2-6-6-2 engines but not like the Lionel Models. I have switched back and forth on which one I would buy and I will only purchase one. Did anybody receive the SP version? I would love to see a picture and would like to know if the handrails on SP version tender is like the GN version - all handrails painted black?

Yes.  I have seen the decoration drawings for the sp.  I wondered same thing early on.  They are all painted black.

Southern pacific lettering on tender appeared to be in white.

In case anyone is interested this what Southern Pacifics only cab in rear 2-6-6-2 looked like (Class MM-1). It was its first articulated and true Mallet.  So Lionel's version is a true fantasy engine. Credit Guy L. Dunscomb.

Pete

Bob,

Thanks now I really have to make a decision. Now I am back leaning SP. This morning I was on the GN! The whiteish letters make since, because SP changed from Aluminum to a gray as standard (except GS and other daylight engines) in 1947. The Sp received the 2-6-6-2's  in 1943 from the Verde Tunnel and Smelter Co. and were built in 1917. They did not get Vanderbilt tenders until later on around 1950, However the tenders were larger in the one photo available. The SP did have tenders like the model on some 2-10-2's and other engines so it is possible.

It sounds like the whistle pitch on the B&O is slightly lower than the GN version. A pretty subtle way to distinguish one from another sound-wise.

Norton

The SP and GN are fantasy engines. The SP is less of a fantasy.

yes none of it is 100% or probably 50% correct.

I used to be big into great northern railroad because I absolutely love their paint scheme.  The dark green that mth uses and lionel used to use are about spot on. That new color is not right but who cares I would still get one. What curves do these need?

Blue Streak posted:

Norton

The SP and GN are fantasy engines. The SP is less of a fantasy.

yes none of it is 100% or probably 50% correct.

Indeed, quite a bit closer. Not originally an SP engine but likely what Lionel considered close enough. NYC also had a similar Mallet 2-6-6-2 which Lionel has cataloged but it would have taken way to much to make right.

Pete

Oh, hey...  i forgot i had pics of the SP from york...

Close to that prototype pic, even similar cab number, but you can see the wires on tender are black...

Norton posted:

In case anyone is interested this what Southern Pacifics only cab in rear 2-6-6-2 looked like (Class MM-1). It was its first articulated and true Mallet. In 1928 they were converted to Cab Forward (class MC-2) and in 1931 converted to single expansion (class AC-2). So Lionel's version is a true fantasy engine. Credit Guy L. Dunscomb.

Pete

Looks like a 2-8-8-2.

MELGAR

MELGAR posted:

Norton posted:

In case anyone is interested this what Southern Pacifics only cab in rear 2-6-6-2 looked like (Class MM-1). It was its first articulated and true Mallet. In 1928 they were converted to Cab Forward (class MC-2) and in 1931 converted to single expansion (class AC-2). So Lionel's version is a true fantasy engine. Credit Guy L. Dunscomb.

Pete

Looks like a 2-8-8-2.

MELGAR

Thanks for noticing. I mistakenly scanned an MC-1. Corrected above. I should have noticed that.

For those not familiar with SP speak, MM=Mallet Mogul, MC=Mallet Consolidation.

Pete

What about pics and video of the "slightly less" fantasy New York Central version?

Anybody?

Bob,

I broke down last night and bought the SP version from Charlie on his sale. My first fantasy engine! I guess hot wheels and Scooby Doo sets are next. 

Joe

Hey Blue...  no not that kind of slippery slope...  be sure to post pics!  I would love to see it!

My favorite fantasy engine is the DM&IR EM1 lionel did in the giants series.  It looks FANTASTIC and I just love that tender with the huge logo on it...

I have alot of fantasy stuff, but outside of a few Graves box cars, have not been drawn to comic stuff...

If it looks COOL then I like it as a fantasy.  I do have and was one of the pushers of the Scale Polar Express...  that took so many years to convince lionel to make...  they were really apprehensive.  Thats why they offered a separate sale tender, and separate cars.  I got them to offer coach separate so we could buy as many as we wanted to make a longer train.

They wouldnt risk tooling money on a round roof observation, but we got the platform.  Hopefully someday we could get them to do a scale movie sounds observation with round roof.

It was like pulling teeth.  But the sales were very high and they have redone it.  I just expected there were more guys like me who operate the high end stuff (we spend the big money) and would love to have some fun too...

I have alot of trains, but the last thing i want is a starter set polar express!  I want the polar express as it would appear if it was REAL.  so now you know the rest of story on that.  Its about time to get that train out and start running it...  hope u like the abandon toy car...

Very handsome!  Those will look great on the mainline with those wide, sweeping curves.

Fantasy or not those Mallets look fantastic.  I can't wait to see the Western Maryland.

wild mary posted:

Fantasy or not those Mallets look fantastic.  I can't wait to see the Western Maryland.

You bet!  I have wanted that WM mallet so bad, but just ran out of train funds!  I bet its fantastic looking with that logo...

Anyone get the WM?  Please post pics!!!

I haven’t run it yet but here is the BR&P

Dj'sOgaugetrains posted:

I haven’t run it yet but here is the BR&P

Wow...  thats really cool!

Sure wish Lionel would do some hybrid engines using this chassis. Milwaukee Road Mallet would work for me.