UP veranda gas turbine

Lionel has only made one and its early TMCC, while nice (and diecast) it's hard to find and lacking compared to what can be done today. I keep hoping for a Legacy one, though I really want a Legacy Big Blow turbine

MTH has made PS-1 and PS-2 (and I even think PS-3) versions, I'd look at their stuff. Avoid PS-1 unless you get a great deal and can afford to have it upgraded

Didn't a book just come out about Veranda Turbine?  

There are about six of them on eBay right now.  Have a look.  None are inexpensive although.  Good luck.

We have two and a freight set with one. On our website or call. MTH Premier. 

We we sold two the first week they came out and I reordered while MTH still had them. And here they sit. Lol. 

Yes, but I have a feeling the subject in the book is not a likely candidate for a command control upgrade.

Given what is available, I'd buy the PS3 version.  Opinion.

FYI, I bought my original PS version for $200, NIB.  Generally speaking, that's about what the market is for these.  If you are paying more than that for PS, you're wasting your money. 

There was a thread here recently titled "PS2 upgrade not for the faint of heart" or something like that, with pictures showing an MTH Veranda update from PS to PS2.  do a search to find it.

The member who did it is an experienced hobbyist and it wasn't an easy task for him.

Not to hi-jack this thread, but I am with you on the Legacy Big Blow turbine.....would love to see an all die-cast version (perhaps even the next entry of Lionel's Vision Line!!)

Lionel...are you listening????

By "Big Blow" ,I assume yunz are all talking about the GTEL 8500 UP GE three unit locomotives, 1-30.   I'd love to see an up grade to this beastie over what's already out there.  Lionel already has the tender, so it would be sort of natural.  OTOH, I'd like to see Scott Mann do it, he already has the tender too!  Plus a decent drive and trucks with awfully close wheelbase dimensions.  If he can do Jawn Henry, then a Big Turbine can't be all that tough!    All the UP Turbines, except the two STEs, were known as "Big Blows".

I nag Mike R about it every chance I get. The Big Blow(GTEL) would be awesome. Not only would it have Turbine sounds and smoke, but it also had a diesel engine for moving around the yard at low speed. The UP26 sitting about 5 miles from me and I can get them every angle of photo they might need

The MTH PS3 version if you can find it.  It will be newer and more up to date than the Lionel or older MTH version.  I had both of the older two: the Lionel has a diecast metal body which is great, but the MTH has four motors.  Sort of a toss up.  The newer one is probably better by far.

Many years ago I performed a QSI upgrade on a early MTH Gas Turbine. Loved the sounds back then. I'd love to see and especially hear one of the new MTH PS3 versions. Alas, it's only a dream. I no longer drive and no local shows to see by, Dial-A-Ride.

Here are the MTH and Lionel locomotives side-by-side. I found the Lionel to "feel"  more muscular and aggressive, looking more ponderous and in-charge as it moved effortlessly down the track, IMHO.

FrankM.

Well, maybe and maybe not.

The last MTH version of the Veranda Turbine had a glaring issue with the smoke - the factory put a hole in the wrong place and left out the part that was meant to funnel smoke to the turbine exhaust. I think that months later this was corrected by the issue of replacement parts. Not sure if they are available now.

Four motors? So what? The Lionel twin motor die cast version is one of the best pullers ever. It also has synchronized diesel and turbine smoke with sound to go with each.

But it's old and by now an engine that's been mainly boxed up or seen a fair amount of service may have developed issues. Mine has with motor/control problems and I just have not got around to having it fixed. Lionel still show most spare parts available.

The Lionel engine goes for very different prices on the web - anywhere from $560 to $999. I would hope Lionel would recycle the die cast tooling and add Legacy features. A VL version is probably too much to hope for.

But if you want multiple motors, massive smoke and a really impressive crowd pleaser I'd look for an MTH UP80 coal turbine! Not PS1 though.

I hope Lionel makes both the Veranda Turbine and the GTEL Big Blow in Vision Line!  I would settle for Legacy.  So Chris keep bugging Reagan!

MTH fixed the smoke issue with the PS3 Veranda.

We'll see the Veranda again by Lionel, Vision Line or not.  

Heck, I would like to see a reissue of UP's 3rd Generation Gas Turbine Electric (MTH's MT-2124 offered back in 1996) but with a decent sound system included.  Using white noise to try and imitate the howl of a 8,500 hp gas turbine's exhaust was ridiculous.   

OK Frank I give up' which is which?

U.P. Power

The engine [X-73] on the left is the Lionel.

The engine [X-61] on the right is MTH.