THE NEW LIONEL EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS SET, VIDEO, PICTURES AND A LOOK INSIDE THE ENGINE

Looks great cant wait to get mine

Can't wait pick mine up tomorrow.

Nice. I like the whistle, close coupling of the cars, and whistle steam. I still have the older cars they are a tough act to beat. 

Don,  XXL you're going to love this set. It's a home run !!!!!!!!

Thanks,

Alex

Great looking set Alex. Sounds and looks great.

Merry Christmas to you and the family.

Hmm, I've got to say the passenger cars look fantastic. I don't mind the plastic construction, since I never had any aluminum cars ever, and I think Lionel's new lighting system is going to be raved by everyone.

As for the engine, the chugging sounds as great as the Vision Line 700E - since they're both NYC Hudsons, that shouldn't be surprising.

Now the whistle. To be honest, I kind of wished Lionel stuck with the shriller 6 chime whistle like on the 700E, or like MTH has been using on their HO ESE's.

 That being said, this one sounds better than the original CC2 run's, and of course the whistle steam is always a plus.

This going to look great running side by side the 700E.

The locomotive and the passenger cars are a grand slam!

Lionel is on fire with some of the great stuff released in the last few years!

Now, come on 2016, I want that UP Excursion Train!

Hooray!!!!GOOD OLE CHASSIS MOUNTED SMOKE UNITS!!!!  

IMO Much more maintenance friendly and far easier to work on.

Thanks for the video Alex. Remember,you've now voided your warranty so" the guy who fixes your trains" will have to charge you if there's an issue.

Thanks for the video, Alex. What a great set...can't wait for mine to arrive. Are the drivers illuminated?

Alex,

AWESOME video. Pulled mine out today to look at it. Sort of think I should have sprung for the complete set.

Alex,

Great looking set, great sound, smoke and whistle smoke which is always terrific.

Good luck with it

JohnB

Terrific set Alex!  Thanks for posting the video.  This is the set everybody's been waiting for this year.  It's Lionel's "Big Boy" for 2015, and it's not even on the Vision Line roster!   Yes, Virgina... there is a Santa Claus! 

I was thinking of springing for the set when it was first announced.  But then during the summer I decided instead to purchase a complete GGD ESE 8-car passenger set,  which I've been on the look-out for.  And the price was very fair -- no more than folks paid when GGD first released the cars.  The GGD cars have a very unique color to them.  So if I decide to go for a Lionel NYC ESE steamer,  I'll likely go for the #5426 Hudson w/black PT tender so as to buffer the subtle color difference between the silver finish on Lionel's locomotive and the aluminum finish of the GGD cars.

Hopefully, the separate sale locomotives will stick around stores long enough for me to purchase one!

Hope everyone who ordered this set really enjoys it!  Looks to be a clear-cut winner from Lionel.

David

The engine is a keeper.  I am staying with my 10 car K-Line ESE cars.    My engine gets track time in the morning.   Alex, lets all keep pitching for a Niagara.  

That is a real crowd pleaser!!! Great sound and very nice looking cars. Thanks for taking the time to upload the video.

Very cool!  Engine and cars look frickin awesome!  I look forward to the UP cars in 2016.   I couldn't tell in the pic, do the cars have pre-drilled/threaded holes for Kadees?

thanks for posting

Thanks Alex, Like that big canon motor. 

Could you post a close up stationary picture(s) of the loco and a passenger car or two.  Can't tell from the video resolution how particularly the cars finish looks.

Thanks Eric

Alex, you are truly a True Ambassador of this Great Hobby, Thank You for helping us Enjoy Our New Trains....Your Video is Awesome....Your layout is coming together and We appreciate your demonstration of this Beautiful Lionel Passenger Set. We Wish You and Your Family a very Merry Christmas....Its a WOW!!!

Love the engine and how the cars are close together .. The cars still look like plastic to me .I bet in the Union Pacific colors they be great. The LEDs in them are awesome. 

Nice ALEX!!!!!  Looks like you were a good boy this year!  No coal in the stocking only in your bunker.  Enjoy your ESE

Hello and Merry Christmas everyone. 

I thank you all for the very nice comments !!!!!  

This engine does have lights above the drivers, they stay lit when the engine is at  idle   

Also the Cannon motor is very powerful  

Here's a few close up pictures 

Beautiful Engine and train. The Canon motor is always a big plus for me.

Alex M posted:

... Also the Cannon motor is very powerful  ...

Good to know, 'cause I'll need that power to pull 8 GGD cars and possibly the Lionel StationSounds car too.  Not sure if the StationSounds car will "look good" with the GGD cars, but I shouldn't have a problem selling it if it doesn't. I could live with a slight variation in color, but I see Lionel went with the full-width vestibules whereas the GGD cars have the narrow vestibules that project out from the car ends.  That may be the real deal-breaker.  So we'll see.  May be April 2016 before the StationSounds car arrives in our hands.  

David

Alex & OGR team

All I can say is I ran mine at home today on the little layout I have - can't wait to get it to NJHirailers this weekend. Great pictures for those that didn't get theirs yet. Highly recommend - this engine is fantastic. 

I didn't preorder then saw it at York and have been sobbing ever since��

Looks fantastic!  Thanks for the pics & video.  Can't wait for mine to arrive!

One can only wish!!

Brent

Alex, that engine looks great and sounds great too!

Thanks for sharing.

Lionel raises the bar!

(Sorry I couldn't resist. I remember somebody complaining about that phrase on this forum a while back.)

Very nice train set.

Richard

ToledoEd posted:

I didn't preorder then saw it at York and have been sobbing ever since��

Last I checked, the usual array of dealers still have them for sale.  You might need to shell out a few extra $ over their pre-order price, but no need to go without.     I think Charlie Ro's price is $1640 which seems like a "reasonable" bump over their pre-order price for something like this.  Dealers asking for the $1950 MSRP (or close to it) at this point already are a bit over the top, IMHO.  

David

Beautiful Alex - Thanks for the report and photos/video.

Years ago Weaver produced one of these in brass that was uncataloged at the time. Only 200 or so made and they were stunning. Things have come a long way since then...

Thanks for posting Alex

Hope to see this guy at Trainstock 8   

Just want to tell you all  if you didn't purchase the set and you really want one, i would run not walk to your dealer and get one. There seems to be some still available, but I'm hearing they are flying off the shelves.  It's such a great set, i can't stop running it.

Thanks,

Alex

Great set.  I am waiting patiently for mine.  Anyone see any problems with the trucks having loose parts?

I just got the engine - no issues, can't speak to the cars, however, Alex has done a quick review, video and pictures

Alex is correct, one of the best Engine's I have purchased in the last year, 765 Berk is very close. Buy the set if you can get it and if you can run 21 inch cars. - I am using the CCII Cars and am about to buy the 2 car set even though I did not but the full set. Mistake - Maybe.

Get it.

Great pics, Alex!

Peter

We have them available for immediate delivery.

 http://www.jrjunction.com/cgi-...=action&key=4539

Alex, I just got done running my locomotive for a good break in and it is a fantastic item.  How lucky we are to have these great NYC Hudsons we have today compared to Hudsons made in the past.  They keep getting better.