The Red Train Like Roses

Here's the Lionel/American Flyer version:

Rusty

I really wish Lionel made that S gauge locomotive in O gauge, too. It's so nicely proportioned and has great sounds.

Mikado 4501 posted:

I really wish Lionel made that S gauge locomotive in O gauge, too. It's so nicely proportioned and has great sounds.

They do/did - twice. Too long, actually (same chassis as the too-long Erie Pacific), but closer in detailing to the real thing than the S-scale version. MTH, K-Line, Lionel over many years, have also offered the C&A/Alton/Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (they bought the Alton) heavy P-16 Pacific. Some toys; some scale models; all of them wrong. The S version above appears to be a red USRA Light Pacific. The P-16's were an old design, constantly updated and upgraded (the Alton was not wealthy), and actually looked and acted like more modern equipment at the end.

Some were given larger sand domes and a head brakeman's "shanty" on the tender for use in high-speed freight service.

B&W photo, obviously. GM&O (Alton) P-16. Not a USRA loco. Note modern Boxpok main drivers. Not long before scrapping, as the GM&O dieselized very early. These were red/black/graphite; MTH offered this version on a USRA (of course) 4-6-2. "GM&O" now on the coal bunker; "The Alton Route" on the tender sides.

I've often wondered which of the Red Train schemes and locomotives to head them were the most accurate since there's so little photographs of these locomotives on the Internet, unless there's far more photos of them floating in specific history books.

The Lionel Legacy model from 2012 has the best overall features, but the very recent MTH model sure does stand out and looks the most attractive. In comparison to the pictures I've seen online, it looks the most accurate, which isn't saying much, though. I've yet to see a photo match up to how the Lionel models looked in terms of decoration.

Other gauge companies like Rivarossi and Broadway Limited have also seemed to go after this scheme, but in the darker maroon scheme.

D500 posted:

Mikado 4501 posted:

I really wish Lionel made that S gauge locomotive in O gauge, too. It's so nicely proportioned and has great sounds.

Lionel over many years, have also offered the C&A/Alton/Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (they bought the Alton) heavy P-16 Pacific. Some toys; some scale models; all of them wrong. The S version above appears to be a red USRA Light Pacific. The P-16's were an old design, constantly updated and upgraded (the Alton was not wealthy), and actually looked and acted like more modern equipment at the end.

 

I don't mind a USRA Light Pacific "stand in," because I would seriously doubt an accurate version would ever appear in S.

I have to say I'm reasonably happy with the Lionel/Flyer version, except the maroon on the locomotive looks a little "muddy" to my eyes.  Maybe it's just too much maroon.  I've occasionally thought of painting the boiler black, leaving the cab, domes and cylinders maroon and add a white running board stripe to snazz it up a bit.

Rusty

Wasn't there a red Alton LionChief Plus steam locomotive recently? 

The red Alton livery is very attractive. Arnold

Mikado 4501 posted:

I've often wondered which of the Red Train schemes and locomotives to head them were the most accurate since there's so little photographs of these locomotives on the Internet, unless there's far more photos of them floating in specific history books.

The Lionel Legacy model from 2012 has the best overall features, but the very recent MTH model sure does stand out and looks the most attractive. In comparison to the pictures I've seen online, it looks the most accurate, which isn't saying much, though. I've yet to see a photo match up to how the Lionel models looked in terms of decoration.

Other gauge companies like Rivarossi and Broadway Limited have also seemed to go after this scheme, but in the darker maroon scheme.

I much prefer the darker maroon or reddish brown to the bright fire engine red. Arnold

That's true Arnold, Lionel did make a LC version I think a couple years ago. I personally like both schemes a lot.

To be honest though, the recent MTH RailKing version is looking like a perfect fit for me right now. It's beautifully painted, has excellent detail, and comes with the modern sounds and control, but gives off the toy train vibe of the Lionel MPC era set had and it can run on any toy train layout. Plus, at around $400, that's a great price, and the passenger cars look great.

If the K-Line version wasn’t so difficult to find, I’d probably be all over that. It looks quite handsome.

Mikado 4501 posted:

If the K-Line version wasn’t so difficult to find, I’d probably be all over that. It looks quite handsome.

I agree, and if I remember correctly, the recent LC+ version (I think it was a Pacific and I opted for the Jersey Central instead) was a similar handsome reddish brown color. Arnold

My father would take the Ann Rutledge or the Abraham Lincoln regularly when travelling between Chicago and St. Louis.  One year, he took me to Chicago prior to the Amtrak takeover.   We had reserved chairs in the parlor car, ate a delicious meal in the dining car complete with china and linen tablecloths.  My dad said that the C&A was the luxury line.....and there used to be a train every other hour between STL and CHI in both directions...on the C&A, Wabash, Illinois Central, MOPAC/C&EI, Nickel Plate, NYC and Pennsylvania connecting.