Your "Holy Grail" items . . .

Lionel 700E. 

I wanted the tail car for the MTH Coors Silver Bullet train, finally found one at Allentown a couple years back.

I want an MTH Milwaukee Road EF3.  Been advertising on the WTB for the last 4 months.

For me it's a Milwaukee Road Quill. 3rd Rail/Sunset Models has it on their site for preorder but I haven't seen any conformation yet in regards to production. The other would be a 2-6-6-2 Mallet, Milwaukee Road of course. I could go on and on but don't want to sound greedy.

Always wanted a 700K, just so I could point to it and say that I built it.

I've been looking for a 3 rail MTH bavarian S 3/6 for a few years. Haven't been able to find one yet

I got mine! I'm happier than Indiana Jones with the Ark of the Covenant.

The last Lionel engine (iconic Berkshire) totally made in America. Dates way back to 2001. Engine has more significance today then it did when it was made. 

The sleeper-diner heavyweight pair from the MTH CNW Heavyweight set. I think eBay auctions are like waiting for a bus -- you miss one and eventually another one will show up if you wait long enough.

Nobody makes my holy grail stuff in diecast.....so I make my own....😁

Pat

The original Vapor Records Boxcar.

Note I do not mean the quite readily available 6-29218.  It looks just like that car, but it's basically almost impossible to tell the difference from the deco on the car itself. 

I don't have the details committed perfectly to memory (but I know it's in the back of one of the McComas price guides from years ago ), but I believe you need to open one of the boxcar doors and peer inside to see a stamping on the frame inside the car, and also have the shipping carton, which may be the only thing with the different catalog number called out on it (not sure if this car has a label on the end of the regular box or not  - again, details not quite committed to memory )

I'm pretty sure I've never seen one for sale (and I made sure to look at the Neil Young auction from Julien's a few years ago to check!) .  Every time I look at a table, everyone asks "what are you looking for ?"  And when I explain, nine times out of ten they will not know what the heck I am talking about ant they will only think there is one of the cars that looks like that.

I'm pretty sure I will never end up with one, even if one did come up for sale, I would probably not be willing to part with the price it would most likey command.  But the title of the thread is "Holy Grail"! .

-Dave

MTH Norfolk & Western Class J 611.

I saw one at my LHS a few years ago and thought about it too long and it sold. Finally, since it was in the 2020v1 catalog, I ordered one and I can’t wait until it delivers sometime late this year. 

I’m waiting for lionel to bring out a lionmaster U.P. Coal turbine. Even one that is full scale. But I would prefer if it was a lionmaster.

I've gotten a couple of "Holy Grail" items during this year of "being careful". I just found one of my last ones...a 6-14000 Lionel forklift loader, NIB.  I am now at peace...lol

John

A Royal Hudson #2860 preferably with TMCC if one was ever made. If not, I’d settle for a conventional Shelf queen. I rode behind it from Squamish, B.C. to Vancouver Back in the early 90’s. An absolutely beautiful engine.

My Holy Grail item has never been made and probably never will be made.  I want a 3-rail O scale TGV set.  For years, I have anxiously awaited each new MTH catalog hoping that they would have made the investment in molds to make the TGV.  It has never happened, and with MTH closing its doors, I don't think it ever will. 

I bought an HO TGV set at a train store in Paris when I was there several years ago.  I fear that is as close as I will ever get to my Holy Grail.

My one thing is the Marx "deluxe plastic" boxed set for the silver Western Pacific E units and passenger cars.  Not common. Green E units are.  Seen one and balked at price; traded away a damaged set. Everything else has not been made in three rail.

I guess the mint, sealed set box 700e prewar set.  However, I think its still sitting in Toronto.   Or the boys set; the all blue salesman set from 1958 I think.  Third choice would be the  JC Penny COB set.

A lot of the stuff I have bought at York was stuff I didn't know existed.  I never read the catalogs and prefer to buy in person.  I like to see/touch the actual item i am buying.

So in the spirit of "common as an item but impossible to find without any damage" :

The Lionel 6-16955 Flat with New Holland Loader.

This was one of the first (for the late 90's era - there were certainly earlier items such as PW hand cars with similar chemical reaction issues) flats with the problem with the treads/wheels of the vehicle on the flat having a bad chemical reaction with the flatcar surface.

Most all of these look like big messy blobs of glue are holding the treads to the surface of the car.  The Loader was supposed to be removable!   I've never seen one where the problem was noted early enough to stop the damage entirely.  The only hope might be if someone gave one to a kid when they were new and the loader was immediately removed from the flat car to play with it separately.  But of course that scenario generally does not result in a prime specimen once the play is done.  

Later cars in the series had a sheet of (non-reacting) plastic between the vehicle wheels/treads and the flatcar to prevent this issue.

So a mint 16955 is another Holy Grail item for me.

-Dave

Atlas O CB&Q F2-A any # except 150 ( I have that one).    A while back I got this one on evil bay (new, unrun, with the rear dummy coupler broken. It runs great, btw)  and a week or 2 later a dummy 2-rail showed up on the bay.   Thought it was Kismet and was rubbing my hands together.   I put a max bid that I thought was good enough and was outbid by way too much for a dummy engine.  It happens.  I will keep looking.

These have not been made in 3 rail... The Forney in the correct size and the F7A or AB Royal Gorge that I have pictured, I would love to have.  Most likely I never will, but that is why we can dream.   Dennis.

Apparently someone or something did not like my personal photo of the Royal Gorge F7 and it was deleted, so I'm posting it again.

Lionel 773 made in 1950 with good Magnetraction and in excellent condition.

Not sure it fits the "Holy Grail" category but finally picked this up a few years back.  I forgot also, I got a new box for my 765. The original was ruined in a water break.  Just won one on the auction site so now "the 765" (I always hear @Rich Melvin's voice) is complete.

@artyoung posted:

Always wanted a 700K, just so I could point to it and say that I built it.

I'm not a pre-war collector so I had to google "700K Train" to figure out this is a kit version of the 700E. Here is a story from a guy who set out to collect all the kits to assemble his own.   Looks like assembling the engine is a lot easier than acquiring the 5 kits.  Any idea how many kits Lionel made?

Bob

I find that every time you find your "Holy Grail" item, you gain a new one. It's a never ending cycle. Mine have included:

-Ives 1708 cattle car (took 4 years to locate)

-Lionel 659 in the correct condition to replace the one missing from my Grandfather's boyhood set (took 3 years to find)

Then my focus changed a bit, and I went to:

-Original Allentown Railroad stock certificate (took 4 years {and a trolley bell} to find, then I found a second cheap on ebay a month later)

-SGL Reading G3 and scale Reading passenger cars (took 2 years)

At this point, I would say my Holy Grail items would be getting to build another layout, so I could run things when I want to again. While I know I will find this Holy Grail, it is several years down the road. 

My "un-obtainable" holy grail would be a 3rd Rail N&W Class M... un-obtainable in that I will probably never find one given it's rarity and high re-selling price.

My realistic Holy Grail (one that I actually have a shot at finding) is the Lionel PRR 460 Lindbergh Special (2011). I've been looking for one for close to a year now. I spoke with the guys at Nicholas Smith Trains about it to see if they've seen a used one come through the store. They said they had ordered 60 when it first came out, but their Lionel Rep didn't place the order and they got zero. 

Finally got my 700E in LN condition.

Lionel 1975 Christmas car

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Lionel 773 made in 1950 with good Magnetraction and in excellent condition.

I'll take one too, please. And if I can't have it in excellent condition, then at least a solid (no zinc pest) barn find - something I can restore and point to with pride!!

And if I may kindly have two such wishes, I want a 700E, but it has to be an attic find, and preferably I would be the one to pull it out of it's dusty, but intact box - for me, that would be an experience to remember!!!!

Or a 602 Seaboard, in the box, brand spanking new, never opened from the factory - strong memories from Christmas 1957 - thanks Dad!

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Lionel 773 made in 1950 with good Magnetraction and in excellent condition.

Ditto.

More room for a bigger layout... and a bigger layout also

I’m still looking for the Lionel Erie Lackawanna Phoebe Snow B-unit made in 1999 with RailSounds. I pieced together most of the set.

A lithographed  O gauge Marklin Heinz Reefer in L/N condition.

My Pre War Grail is Lionel 203 0 6 0 switcher with Magic Electrol

My Modern Era is MTH Crocodile which I got to ride behind in Switzerland fan trip.

I now have both Locos

Mikey

When I first got started in three rail it was a 700E. As my collection of NYC Hudsons got filled in I mostly lost interest in one. Lately it was a 3rd Rail NYC E7 in early paint. Still would like to find one but have pre ordered Lionel's so fast losing interest in 3rd Rails.

Pete

Regarding the Neil Young cars, I have them, remember ordering them when they were first announced. Two Vapours and a flat car load of guitars. Treasured items!

My holy grails are three, all Third Rail...  a Rio Grande coach, and Canadian National Diner and Observation.

Jan

PRR E44, PRR GG1, B&O E7,  B&O P7s.

@Dave45681 posted:

The original Vapor Records Boxcar.

Note I do not mean the quite readily available 6-29218.  It looks just like that car, but it's basically almost impossible to tell the difference from the deco on the car itself. 

I don't have the details committed perfectly to memory (but I know it's in the back of one of the McComas price guides from years ago ), but I believe you need to open one of the boxcar doors and peer inside to see a stamping on the frame inside the car, and also have the shipping carton, which may be the only thing with the different catalog number called out on it (not sure if this car has a label on the end of the regular box or not  - again, details not quite committed to memory )

I'm pretty sure I've never seen one for sale (and I made sure to look at the Neil Young auction from Julien's a few years ago to check!) .  Every time I look at a table, everyone asks "what are you looking for ?"  And when I explain, nine times out of ten they will not know what the heck I am talking about ant they will only think there is one of the cars that looks like that.

I'm pretty sure I will never end up with one, even if one did come up for sale, I would probably not be willing to part with the price it would most likey command.  But the title of the thread is "Holy Grail"! .

-Dave

dave,

Took me about 15 years to find one, they don't show up very often to say the least.  To further confuse matters the box is mis-labeled 6-29606 where the actual item number is 6-29206.