What's the difference: Lionel Conventional Classics vs Postwar Celebration Series ?

The command control is just about the only difference between the two series. The conventional classics came in postwar style packaging also.

Bill

My favorite of any of the series are the Legacy GP units that have the pullmor motor. They just run forever.

The PWC series locomotives and other items usually had a "PW" prominently displayed to help inexperienced collectors identify them as remakes. The conventional classics did not.

PWC rolling stock went through a series of strange changes in truck types, most of which did not match the original postwar equipment. This was the most disappointing aspect of the PWC series, because so many other things were done right.  Some sets awkwardly contained postwar rolling stock with modern sprung trucks, some had another type of goofy looking truck, and some, toward the end of production, were furnished with diecast postwar AAR style trucks like the cars in the Northern Pacific Legacy GP-9 set. Conventional classic cars used die cast bar end trucks or die cast AAR style trucks to match the appearance of the postwar equipment. They were even kind enough to get rid of those fast-angle wheels and glossy black side frames that just don't look right, particularly on a postwar remake.

Some sets, which could be considered conventional classic sets, had postwar style Lionel packaging, and were sold to LCCA members. One example is the New Haven 209 Alco AA set with passenger cars. It was essentially a conventional classic set, but with TMCC. Conversely, not all PWC equipment had TMCC, including many operating units.

Then, we had the introduction of "postwar inspired" offerings, which came along about the time that the conventional classics series was winding down. Undoubtedly, the name change  gave Lionel's millennial designers the license to go freestyle, and come up with a bunch of wacky products, like the reindeer rocket fuel car.  In some cases, like the Wabash 2367, they were truly conventional classic remakes. But for the most part, they were fictional "what if" items offered in different road names, colors, etc. The items offered since 2014 have been very limited,  don't have postwar characteristics, and such things as Pullmor motors and remakes are history, as the company is squarely focused on either Nascar or those funny looking things that race around on that coaster track that flexes like a wet noodle.

So, after reading the above info, my understanding of the differences is as follows:

Conventional Classics:  1. All powered units run on conventional type power using the old tried and true transformers. 2.All offerings came with wheels/trucks that generally matched what the original Postwar products had on them. 3. CC products  were produced in only the same roadnames as the original products.

Postwar Celebration: 1.Powered units offered for Legacy and conventional type power. 2. Wheels and trucks may be a mismatched conglomeration of most anything. 3. some products offered in "fantasy" road names, never produced on true Postwar cars.

Does this about sum it up?

Thanks,

Jeff

I think the only issues with your summarized statements are that :

1) PWC was TMCC with respect to any command control that may have been included, not Legacy, and

2) the "never made in PW" (fantasy, etc) group that Greg described was for the "postwar inspired" items, not formally called PWC in their catalog depiction and packaging, I don't think.  I'm pretty confident anything actually wearing PWC badging or packaging was really made in some close version (less minor differences like the truck situation described) during the original PW years.

-Dave

Actually...toward the end of the PWC run, there was at least one PWC set with Legacy. 

http://www.lionel.com/products...t-loco-2349-6-38328/

I also own a nice pullmor motored M&St.L Legacy GP-9 which is packaged as PWC.

But most PWC products were manufactured with TMCC, not Legacy.

Thanks. I keep confusing TMCC with Legacy. Now I have got it correct.

I think there are really 4 broad classifications.

PWC - TMCC operating items and some accessories.

CC - Which are conventional controlled and had packaging to match.

PI (Inspired) items that enhance the above two. (like a baggage car for the LCCA 208 set)

Archive - Items that were pictured over the years from the Lionel archives bur were never made  (For example the Union Pacific GP unit)

NSBill posted:

The command control is just about the only difference between the two series. The conventional classics came in postwar style packaging also.

Bill

 

Given the timing, I always thought that the Lionel Conventional Classics were, in part, a response to competition from Williams.  Both the Conventional Classics and the Williams line generally appealed to conventional operators.  That was just my own personal view, however.

I just purchased the LCCA 1600 Burlington passenger set.  This is like the conventional classic sets but it has TMCC  also. It can also be purchased with a dummy alco a second  REA car and   a diner . I wish this set was more faithful to the 1958 postwar set and left out the TMCC & never came with the extras. I'm a purist and if you are going to re-do a postwar set make it like the original

Or don't buy a set with TMCC.  

I would have if they made it without TMCC

I got the M&St.L Geep nine 2348  in PWC / Legacy..............Ripped out all that electrical junk, and rebuilt it as a totally conventional piece.  Should have just gotten a decent Post War original for close to the same price !