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With one of railroading's most important anniversaries coming up in a few months, has any manufacturer decided to build new 3-rail models of these engines? I'm not talking about slapping different paint jobs on the Lionel General or the MTH NYC 999--but new designs based directly on the real engines.

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josef posted:
pennsy484 posted:

Finely crafted brass models to be formally introduced in May.  See below page from Lionel 2019 catalog, last sentence.

20190126_155116

Can't figure out why Lionel still insist on filled spoke wheels and filled cow catcher on these.

Because they are ready to run sets.  Not scale legacy. The Lincoln funeral train did.

SandJam posted:
josef posted:
pennsy484 posted:

Finely crafted brass models to be formally introduced in May.  See below page from Lionel 2019 catalog, last sentence.

20190126_155116

Can't figure out why Lionel still insist on filled spoke wheels and filled cow catcher on these.

Because they are ready to run sets.  Not scale legacy. The Lincoln funeral train did.

I know that. Wasn't talking about the Legacy set, but these which have been produced like forever.  Just to make them an improved look since their selling them as a special set, that just maybe, cleaning up the driver wheel and cowcatcher would go a long way in making them slightly more desirable. Just an example, I bought at that time for an 8 year old nephew who was a big Lone Ranger fan the set. First thing he noticed was the wheels and cowcatcher. This from an 8 year old who likes trains and now as a grown up is still in the hobby. I asked if he still had the LR set, he said no. Had his mom donate it since its so "toyey".

Besides,the Brass BTO will be ES44AC, not the original steamers.

 

Last edited by josef
josef posted:
SandJam posted:
josef posted:
pennsy484 posted:

Finely crafted brass models to be formally introduced in May.  See below page from Lionel 2019 catalog, last sentence.

20190126_155116

Can't figure out why Lionel still insist on filled spoke wheels and filled cow catcher on these.

Because they are ready to run sets.  Not scale legacy. The Lincoln funeral train did.

I know that. Wasn't talking about the Legacy set, but these which have been produced like forever.  Just to make them an improved look since their selling them as a special set, that just maybe, cleaning up the driver wheel and cowcatcher would go a long way in making them slightly more desirable. Just an example, I bought at that time for an 8 year old nephew who was a big Lone Ranger fan the set. First thing he noticed was the wheels and cowcatcher. This from an 8 year old who likes trains and now as a grown up is still in the hobby. I asked if he still had the LR set, he said no. Had his mom donate it since its so "toyey".

Besides,the Brass BTO will be ES44AC, not the original steamers.

 

Well ready to run sets need to be cheap to sell, so it’s all about cost.  Cheaper to make solid drive wheels and catcher. 

Where does it say the brass models are the es44’s?  I didn’t see that.  It states right in catalog the brass models of the Jupiter and 119

josef posted:
pennsy484 posted:

Finely crafted brass models to be formally introduced in May.  See below page from Lionel 2019 catalog, last sentence.

20190126_155116

From what I see in catalog, they won't be Brass copies of the Jupiter and UP. But rather fantasy painted engines using ES44AC UP engines.

That is not what it says,  that last line specifically states Jupiter and 119.  The es44s are already in catalog right above on second page.  

SandJam posted:
josef posted:
pennsy484 posted:

Finely crafted brass models to be formally introduced in May.  See below page from Lionel 2019 catalog, last sentence.

20190126_155116

From what I see in catalog, they won't be Brass copies of the Jupiter and UP. But rather fantasy painted engines using ES44AC UP engines.

That is not what it says,  that last line specifically states Jupiter and 119.  The es44s are already in catalog right above on second page.  

Looking again, I believe your right and I hope so. I guess I glanced to quickly when I saw the ES44AC. Thanks, it well maybe what I would order.

smd4 posted:

I'm guessing the steam locomotives 119 and Jupiter. Why would they make a brass version of an engine they already make?

If anyone has seen the PSC 2-rail O scale models of these engines, they're insane. Gold-plated brass parts just for starters. Simply stunning.

Yes, they are very nice and also rather fragile. What folks do not fully appreciate is just how small these engines really are when you build true scale models of them. The PSC pair were sold quite a few years ago in a nice wood box and generally command ~$3500. 

What would also be nice would be if there were some reasonably close to scale passenger cars for each engine.

If you guys are expecting SMR quality, forget it! Number one they would be too small for legacy sounds or any sounds for that matter. 

If Lionel or MTH made it with the tooling they have but upgrade the detail, great graphics and a great paint job then I may buy it even if the engines will be a little oversized. Think outside the box Lionel and MTH. 

Dave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

david1 posted:

If you guys are expecting SMR quality, forget it! Number one they would be too small for legacy sounds or any sounds for that matter. 

If Lionel or MTH made it with the tooling they have but upgrade the detail, great graphics and a great paint job then I may buy it even if the engines will be a little oversized. Think outside the box Lionel and MTH. 

Dave

 

I believe in their announcements at the TCA museum in Strasburg that Lionel said they'd have Legacy control, NOT sounds due to the space constraints of such a small locomotive model.  If Lionel or MTH used tooling they already had, they would not be correct models of the UP 119 or CP Jupiter locomotives.

Dtrainmaster posted:

Well, it's May, any news about these?

Dave

I believe we have to keep checking the Lionel Website for news when they will be ready for order.  They will not be available to dealers from what I understand.  Direct from Lionel only.

They will be Legacy, just no sounds or smoke.   They will have passenger cars to go with them.

I am excited to see them.

josef posted:
SandJam posted:
josef posted:
pennsy484 posted:

Finely crafted brass models to be formally introduced in May.  See below page from Lionel 2019 catalog, last sentence.

20190126_155116

Can't figure out why Lionel still insist on filled spoke wheels and filled cow catcher on these.

Because they are ready to run sets.  Not scale legacy. The Lincoln funeral train did.

I know that. Wasn't talking about the Legacy set, but these which have been produced like forever.  Just to make them an improved look since their selling them as a special set, that just maybe, cleaning up the driver wheel and cowcatcher would go a long way in making them slightly more desirable. Just an example, I bought at that time for an 8 year old nephew who was a big Lone Ranger fan the set. First thing he noticed was the wheels and cowcatcher. This from an 8 year old who likes trains and now as a grown up is still in the hobby. I asked if he still had the LR set, he said no. Had his mom donate it since its so "toyey".

Besides,the Brass BTO will be ES44AC, not the original steamers.

 

Had same feeling every time I see this engine in whatever set Lionel, painted for whatever theme seems in vogue for the time.

But, have to admit, it must be selling because it keeps on coming almost in a regular basis still not scale, filled wheels, and filled cowcatcher.

They msrp prices will be out on May 10th. If you look up Lionel's visit to the TCA on You Tube they give a sneak peak on the brass hybrids. 

Heres the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKFGP7usnc4

Ryan starts talking about them around 23 minutes in. He says that the engines will have only legacy in them, but no sound or smoke. On the up side the engines will be highly detailed and they are also producing matching 2 pack passenger cars.

david1 posted:

If you guys are expecting SMR quality, forget it! Number one they would be too small for legacy sounds or any sounds for that matter. 

If Lionel or MTH made it with the tooling they have but upgrade the detail, great graphics and a great paint job then I may buy it even if the engines will be a little oversized. Think outside the box Lionel and MTH. 

Dave

Perhaps Lionel could build them slightly over-sized at 1/43 scale.  That way, if one wishes to do an authentic old wild west or an old time, turn-of-the-century layout, they would match perfectly with all the 1/43 scale vehicles available on the market today.  

And with sound becoming quite the norm for even N-scale these days, I'm kinda' thinkin' that being too small for sound is no longer a rational argument for anything O-scale or O-gauge. 

Other than the wheel arrangement, there is nothing remotely similar as far as size goes between MTH's model of the relatively large NYC 999 and the very small 4-4-0's that participated at the golden spike ceremony.  The 999 is nearly twice the size of those locomotives.  A caricature they might be able to create, but as far as a scale locomotive on that chassis....

Last edited by SantaFe158

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