Norfolk Southern Heritage Units--Lionel and MTH offerings

I'm in for a Reading unit.  I won't commit to either Lionel or MTH, as I want to see what they plan to issue and at what price. 

 

I wondering why folks think that there will be unpowered units offered for sale?  If there is only one road number for each paint scheme, I would be suprised to see unpowered units offered.

 

Jim

No, that's okay, as long as people express their own preferences in a way that doesn't put down anyone else.  I just want to get a feel for what participants on this forum--admittedly not any kind of representative or scientific sampling--think about the options available to them, and I think all here would agree that 18 of the same locomotives being offered by two different manufacturers is quite unique.

Don't know why I get this feeling once the actual photos & prices are revealed, MTH & Lionel will end up seeing far more anticipation then orders.

Joe

NYC and Lackawanna, Lionel of course. I have a ps3 diesel and had to send it twice to get the speaker replaced. Took eight weeks. Lionel service turns around repairs in a week. And the Lionel sounds are better too.

Jersey Central (at a minimum) for me...maybe one or two other road names as well.  Most likely MTH, primarily because I recently entered the world of command control with an MTH DCS set-up!

and I think all here would agree that 18 of the same locomotives being offered by two different manufacturers is quite unique.

 

Wow ...  makes you wonder if all cataloged will be produced

As I have DCS and do not intend to buy legacy, If the price is resonable, I will buy one or two from MTH.

Larry S

What would be interesting will be a sisde by side article comparing features of same named unit.  Then to really add on would be a way to go to this website and hear the sounds under the same conditions to see which sound better during statup, idle, horn, bell etc.

I'm looking forward to Linel's fantasy BNSF Hertiage Program. If the Lionel catalog has a good looking unit for Northern Pacific, Burlington Northern, and Great Northern...then I'll declare bankruptcy, file for Chapter 11 and sleep cozzily with the NP monad bouncing around in my head!!

 

Seriously....I have a soft spot for the Wabash and Nickel Plate Road. I have a friend of mine who has slowly but surely corrupted me on the Nickel Plate. I really have no interest in the NS Hertiage units as most of the railroads I adore are in the midwest or west. However....I would like to get one unit from the program. As I've been slowly corrupted by listening a lot about the NKP...that may be something to consider.

 

If I do...I'm undecided. I would like to have a few more TMCC engines (Saturday at the Trackers taught me that...) but I have 2 CSX MTH Premier. Maybe I could get one NS Hertiage and hook them together as a multiple unit consist !!

 

 

If I went with one, it'd be the (cheapest) Pennsy. But since it's not really what I'm collecting, I might pass. Although perhaps a dummy "shelf queen" might work.

Last fall at York I purchased a new MTH Norfolk Southern SD70ace.  If MTH's are anything like this engine.  I'll buy a MTH over Lionel's high price and inferior quality any day!!!!

Lionel PRR for me,hands down.

 

Norm R.

I'm in for the Erie... it will look great running with my NS SD70M-2!  About 90% of my stuff is DCS, so I'll go for the MTH PS3 model (even though I'm still a little miffed about the McKeen being cancelled almost a year after my pre-order).  I may also pick-up a PRR if they come out in different catalogs - pretty sure the CFO would not approve plunking down the cash for two $400 locomotives simultaneously. 

 

It will be interesting to see how Lionel/MTH split the 18 locos between catalogs and who puts out what paint schemes first.  I'd imagine they'd produce those likely to be the most popular first and move down the list from there.

Allan,

The NYC running again?

Give me a lightning striped SD70ACe . .

 

Ya Mon !

 

Eliot

Regarding the dummy stance, I'm for it.  I would be nice to see some fixed pilot dummies.  I have the original run MTH scale wheel UP units and my main issue running all 7 at NYSME is it causes the breaker to blow.  Too many motors and tach brains fighting each other.

 

And on other issue on the Heritage units MTH did for the UP, they royally screwed up one of the snow ploughs.  I called the parts department and was told sorry they don't offer the correct snow plough color.  Had to go out and paint it to match.

 

I'll buy from whoever makes these in 2 rail - so I guess I'll be buying from MTH.  The RDG is a must, but CNJ and Lackawanna are also possible.

Lehigh Valley in O ga. and H.O.(if the H.O. version isn't 4-500 bucks). Reason: I was born and raised in Phillipsburg,N.J.........I am surprised that rumors have not surfaced that Lionel will have a 30th. Anniversary Passenger set pulled by a Berk.

If I was going to buy one it would be one in Interstate "Creamsicle" colors, but the engines NS picked are too new for my era.

I will go MTH. I just heard  a PS3  diesel that my friend bought, and I like the sounds,better than Lionel.

Allan, since you're not planning on buying any of these offerings I'll admit I'm not going to either.  But I do like the blue Norfolk & Western and the "original" Norfolk Southern (a.k.a. Norfolk & Southern).

I'll probably go for a PRR unit.  Whether it is Lionel or MTH will depend on price and timing of the release. 

I'll consider the Reading by Lionel. I run Legacy so that's an easy decision. I strictly model the Reading Railroad so it is a bit out of my era but it'll be cool anyway. Maybe I'll park it next to my Back To The Future Delorean.

Conrail is first

 

 

Off of facebook

 

Mike Slater

wow yep.  and here is another

 

***************************************************************

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

 

PARR INTERNATIONAL NEWS JOURNAL

 

THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012 (OXFORD, PA.)-

Initially I was not amused when my advisors alerted me of Norfolk Southern's announcement.  That's because since the Norfolk Southern is a heritage railroad of The Penn American Railroad it's self, such plans and announcements cannot be made before I,  the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of The Penn American Railroad, provide my approval signature.  The proper documents have not crossed my desk as of yet, so this project will not operate until proper protocol is followed as worded in The Penn American Railroad corporate Standard Operating Procedures.

However, on the surface, I generally like the idea and will officially approve this measure once the 25% licensing fees are accepted by the contracted model train companies, Lionel and MTH, and proper documentation is signed and approved by myself.  And also, after a terse and firm reprimand of the Norfolk Southern Division Communications Manager of  The Penn American Railroad for the premature announcement.

Thank you for your mandatory attention.  You may all now go on with your lives.

Brian

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Operating Officer

Chief Financial Officer

The Penn American Railroad

"Serving the Basement"

***************************************************************

I'm more than likely going for the Pennsylvania, Reading and Lackawanna.  I'm not one that looks at price first.  I believe that both MTH & Lionel will produce beautiful detailed renditions of these locomotives and the sounds for each will be outstanding since these are current (and hopefully without any operating issues).   For me all that's left, as Pat says above, whether it is Lionel or MTH will depend on price and timing of the release. 

Sign me up for a Wabash Lionel and Norfolk & Western Lionel both to honor my Dad and his service he gave to both roads. 

There have been so many sub-variations in General Electric Locomotives built since 1990 that it would be very expensive for Lionel and MTH to offer completely exact models of the GE Diesel-Electric Locos in O Scale. 

 

MTH and LIONEL quit trying to make "Traditional O Gauge" versions of all the new GE Locomotive variants built after 1995 because of the constant changes.

 

Then again these new NS Heritage diesel might finally get Lionel to offer a Traditional O Gauge version of the ES44AC that is fully equipped and priced right for starter sets.

 

Andrew

I'm gonna have to wait for S Scale versions. 

 

Rusty

N & S they are doing a Penn Central

http://www.nscorp.com/nscporta...ritage_roll_out.html

 

I like both Lionel & MTH.  However, I run TMCC with Legacy coming soon.  I will when the money is at hand pick up a TIU for operating both systems.  If I find a Western Pacific Heritage Unit (Love the color of this SD 70 unit) I will purchase it regardless of manufacturer.  

 

Many thanks,

 

Billy C

 

 

Wabash, NYC, Conrail for sure - several others depending on how good they look!

Harold

I'll pick up a legacy NS, but I have a problem, I simply have too many Legacy's and proto 2s,so if I buy another engine I need to throw one in the garbage can .

P.S. no street address available.

 

Neil

I have Legacy and DCS, my first choice is Lackawana from MTH, and later on, I may order Conrail from Lionel, I am not sure.

Neil,

 

You could always add an engine terminal to your workshop!

 

AF

I am definitely in for the Conrail version.  This is simply because I loved seeing the various road names go by in western PA during the merger.  It was neat to see a NS lead with a Conrail, and maybe even a UP or BNSF.  I am guessing that they were running acquired engines prior to a new paint job.

 

I will probably go MTH, because that is what I have....but.  I am intrigued by the new features of Legacy and this may be the engine to push me in that direction.  In the end it will come down to what those feature are, and if they are worth the extra price (over MTH) to me.

 

Chris

PRR definitely; not sure which manufacturer.

Now, will WBB be doing these on the molds they have now?  (Like, SD70's on SD90 bodies....)

 

I run conv, and I am not convinced eith MTH or Lionel products with advanced electronics are robust enought for the long haul.

 

My pic would be CR because i like blue, and PRR.

Artie , Yeah I could do that, but then that takes the fun away from the garbage man!!!!!

Neil

Wabash from both Lionel and MTH.  Then a mix of MTH and Lionel.  This going to to be fun!

Harold

Hey N&W 1218 I just saw your dad worked for both N&W and Wabash.  My dad did too - in Canada between Detroit and Buffalo.

Harold