New Product Spotlight – LEGACY SD70MAC

As AC traction motor technology improved in the 1990s, the SD70MAC emerged as ideal power for heavy trains.

Prototype Background

6-81134 Burlington Northern

Billed as the biggest technological development since the switch from steam to diesel, improvements in AC traction motor technology promised major changes in how railroads ran trains and assigned power.

Diesels with conventional DC traction motors can develop a lot of power at low speed, but only for a short period of time before the motors will overheat. AC traction motors on the other hand can run at full power without overheating for a long time. This gives AC motored locomotives an advantage in hauling heavy drag freights like coal trains. After testing EMD’s SD60MAC prototypes, Burlington Northern determined they could replace five aging SD40-2 and C30-7 locomotives with just three new SD70MACs on their Powder River Basin coal trains. Burlington Northern’s initial order for 350 SD70MACs brought AC traction to the spotlight in a big way.

6-81138 BNSF

Along with the AC motors, the SD70MAC featured improved anti-slip control which greatly improved the locomotives’ adhesion. In other words, the SD70MAC didn’t pull more because it was more powerful, it pulled more because it made better use of the power it produced. The SD70MACs could dig in and pull when conventional locomotives just spun their wheels. It wasn’t long before other railroads were trying out AC as well.

6-81141 Conrail

While Burlington Northern and most of the other railroads which purchased the SD70MAC did so for coal and other heavy drag freight trains, the locomotives often wander into other service corridors as well. Unit grain trains and general merchandise are common assignments. Perhaps most unusual are those on the Alaska Railroad which sometimes find themselves pulling passengers.

Lionel’s Model

Our latest release brings the model up to date with today’s LEGACY control and other great features, including:

• LEGACY Control System – able to run on LEGACY, TMCC or Conventional control layouts
• Odyssey II Speed Control with On / Off switch
• LEGACYRailSounds including
  • CrewTalk andTowerCom dialog
    

    6-81153 CSX

  • 6 Official railroad speeds
  • 8 Diesel RPM levels
  • Quilling Horn
  • Bell (single hit and continuous)
  • Sequence Control
  • Current speed and fuel dialog
  • Refueling sounds
• Dual maintenance-free motors
• Traction Tires
• Refined Conventional Control mode with lower starting speeds
• Front and Rear ElectroCouplers
• Fan-driven smoke with adjustable output
• 

  6-81153 Alaska

  IR Transmitter (works with the new SensorTrack)

• Directional lighting
• Marker Lights
• Lighted cab interior with crew
• Many separately applied metal detail parts
• Metal frame, pilots, trucks and fuel tank
• Minimum Curve – O31

Another notable improvement over previous SD70MAC runs, we’ve lowered the fuel tank to a more realistic appearance.

The SD70MAC is being built to order. They were presented in two road numbers for Alaska, Burlington Northern, BNSF, CSX, and Kansas City Southern (one in the gray and one in the Southern Belle scheme). A Conrail SD70MAC is available as part of the Big Blue Auto Parts Boxcar Set and as a single number for separate sale. Look to see them later this year at your local Lionel dealer with a suggested retail price of $549.99.

New Product Spotlight – American Flyer Baldwin Switchers

The popular American Flyer Baldwin Switcher is back in three new paint schemes for 2014. Simple, reliable power for any S Gauge railroad, these switchers capture a common prototype.

Prototype Background

6-42597 Canadian Pacific

The American Flyer switcher most closely represents the Baldwin DS4-4-660. Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, the DS4-4-660 worked for railroads large and small and was also a popular choice for industrial railroads. Baldwin built 139 of the 660 horsepower locomotives between 1946 and 1949. Baldwin offered several other switcher models in similar carbodies which found work on other roads as well.

The Pennsylvania Railroad had the largest roster of these locomotives. Its 99 units represented over 70% of the total production. That roster is perhaps even more impressive when considering the next largest owners were the New Orleans Public Belt Ry. with a total of just six and the Erie with five. The rest of the production was spread over a variety of railroads and industrial lines one to three at a time. While these numbers apply to the DS4-4-660 specifically, the trends were similar for Baldwin’s other diesel switchers.

6-42598 Union Pacific

Unfortunately for Baldwin, its diesels never produced sales like its steam locomotives. Its switchers were however their most successful designs and many outlived their original owners. Today the distinctive “burble” sound of a Baldwin diesel can still be heard on a few active on shortlines and preserved at museums.

American Flyer Models

These locomotives include the familiar and time-proven features and performance of traditional American Flyer models. Each is equipped with:

6-42599 Youngstown Steel

• Transformer-controlled forward / neutral / reverse operation
• Powerful maintenance-free motor with flywheel
• Directional lighting including headlight and back up light
• Die-cast metal trucks
• Metal frame
• Operating couplers
• Traction Tires
• S-36 Minimum operating curve.

Three new paint schemes join the roster this year including Canadian Pacific (6-42597), Union Pacific (6-42598) and a colorful Youngstown Steel Bicentennial unit (6-42599). Also still available is the previously cataloged M&StL locomotive (6-48165). Each retails for $289.99. See your favorite American Flyer dealer to order yours today.

New Product Spotlight – LionChief Plus Diesels

Lionel’s new LionChief Plus steam locomotives have quickly earned a reputation for their power, features and easy operation. Soon diesel fans will have comparable choices for their railroads as well! The new LionChief Plus GP-7 and RS-3 will offer amazing performance and value on two of the most common early road-switcher locomotives.

Prototype History

LionChief Plus RS-3 pre-production sample.

In the 1940s, a new type of diesel locomotive was coming to the rails. Alco was the first to introduce the “road switcher” with its RS-1 model in 1941. The locomotive was essentially a stretched switcher with a small hood added to the back of the cab and larger trucks. The short hood offered room for a steam generator or dynamic brakes.

The new road switcher was a true jack-of-all-trades, capable of handling freight or passenger trains on the mainline, branch lines or in the yard. The narrow hoods offered better visibility from the cab in either direction and easier access for maintenance. Although few could have predicted it in 1941, the basic standard for the future of the diesel locomotive had been born.

LionChief Plus GP7 pre-production sample

EMD countered the RS-1 with its “General Purpose” GP7 in 1949. The new “Geeps” were just what the railroads needed to replace their steam locomotives and orders were strong. In 1950 Alco unveiled their third version, the RS-3. EMD’s updated GP9 came in 1954. Together, the new road switchers made it possible for railroads to replace nearly all of their steam locomotives by the end of the decade. While EMD greatly outsold the competition, both models have maintained a good reputation and many examples of each can still be found at work today.

6-38779 New York Central RS-3

LionChief Plus Locomotives

Like the prototypes, the new LionChief Plus diesels should be the perfect fit on many railroads – though thankfully in our world there is no need to retire your steam!

With its LionChief™ Remote they can run on layouts powered by the LionChief™ wall pack, a conventional transformer (set to 18V) or a Command Control system. Flip a switch on the locomotive and you can run it conventionally with a transformer as well. (For more information on the LionChief™ Plus control system and how it relates to others, see this earlier blog.)

6-38827 Burlington GP7

It’s not just the control system that sets the new LionChief™ Plus locomotives apart. Like the LionChief Plus steam locomotives, these new diesels are excellent pullers. Our test samples had no trouble taking 35 scale freight cars on our layout, including up a FasTrack grade.

These new diesels are packed with features including:

• User selected operation – Conventional AC transformer control or LionChief™ Wireless Remote (included)
  

  6-38819 Rio Grande RS-3

• RailSounds RC™ with diesel revving and background sounds, horn, bell and user activated announcements
• Fan-driven smoke operates low at idle and increases when the locomotive is in motion
• Speed Control maintains a constant speed on curves and grades automatically
• ElectroCouplers on each end controlled by the remote
• Operating headlights
  

  6-38825 Union Pacific GP7

• Maintenance-free motors
• Die-cast pilots and trucks
• Stamped metal frame
• Lighted cab interior
• Engineer and fireman figures
• Traction Tires

The LionChief™ Plus RS-3 will be available in Chicago and Northwestern, Denver and Rio Grande, New York Central and Pennsylvania.

6-38824 Northern Pacific GP7

The GP7 will come decorated for the Burlington, Northern Pacific, Santa Fe and Union Pacific. The LionChief remote is preprogrammed specifically for each locomotive. You can have one of each on your layout – or any number of the other LionChief™ or LionChief™ Plus locomotives – without a signal conflict.

The new locomotives will retail for $329.99. See your local Lionel dealer to place your order today. The diesels should be available by mid Summer.

 

New Product Spotlight – H24-66 Train Masters

When Fairbanks Morse debuted the Train Master in 1953, its massive size, weight and power were unlike anything else the railroads had ever seen – at least in a diesel. As rare as they were immense, the Train Master left a big impression wherever it was seen.

Prototype Background

6-81207 Canadian Pacific 8900 (8903 also available)

Locomotive builders’ order books were filled in the early 1950s. Alco set the new standard at the end of the last decade with their RS series and EMD couldn’t seem to build GP7s and GP9s fast enough. The typical diesel of the day was a four-axle road switcher, weighing in at about 120 tons and producing around 1500 horsepower. By themselves or in multiple unit consists, they could handle any freight or passenger job the railroads had.

6-81209 New Jersey Central 2401 (2406 also available)

FM’s Train Master dwarfed its competition. The 66 foot, six axle, 194 ton monster produced 2400 horsepower and a continuous tractive effort of 82,500 pounds. Like its smaller competitors however, the locomotive was capable of handling a multitude of tasks. A pair of Train Masters could do the work of three GP9s on a heavy coal drag in the eastern mountains. Yet the locomotive still had acceleration rapid enough to suit them well in commuter service on the Southern Pacific.

6-81217 Norfolk & Western 157 (#164 also available)

A locomotive with these capabilities should have been an overwhelming sales success. Only 127 were made in the four year production, with 20 locomotives on the Canadian Pacific being the biggest roster of any road.

Several reasons have been given for the model’s failure to catch on. The unique FM opposed-piston diesel engine is an easy scapegoat. Although the engines had a proven track record in the marine industry, and while some railroads got long and productive careers out of their own, the engine was a maintenance headache. Its design made it more challenging to access and repair in the smaller locomotive shops and unlike an EMD GP9 that shared many parts with earlier models, the FMs needed their own inventory.

6-81211 Reading 801 (#804 also available)

The locomotives were too big for many lines and were harder on the track than lighter diesels. In many ways, the Train Master was simply a locomotive ahead of its time. Within another decade, the idea of higher horsepower, six axle locomotives would catch on with railroads everywhere.

While most Train Masters were retired in the 1960s, Southern Pacific maintained their fleet for commuter service out of Los Angeles into the 1970s. Today only one survives – Canadian Pacific #8905 at the Canadian Railway Museum in St. Constant. This locomotive was built by FM’s Canadian division, the Canadian Locomotive Works.

Lionel’s Model

The Train Master has enjoyed a much longer history in Lionel’s sales books. Our latest release brings the model up to date with today’s LEGACY control and other great features, including:

6-81215 Southern 6300 (#6303 also available)

• LEGACY Control System – able to run on LEGACY, TMCC or Conventional control layouts
• Odyssey II Speed Control with On / Off switch
• LEGACYRailSounds including
  • CrewTalk and TowerCom dialog
  • 6 Official railroad speeds
  • 8 Diesel RPM levels
  • Quilling Horn
  • Bell (single hit and continuous)
  • Sequence Control
  • Current speed and fuel dialog
  • Refueling sounds
• Dual maintenance-free motors
• Traction Control

6-81213 Southern Pacific 4803 (#4809 also available)

• Refined Conventional Control mode with lower starting speeds
• Front and Rear ElectroCouplers
• Fan-driven smoke with adjustable output
• IR Transmitter
• Directional lighting
• Marker Lights
• Lighted cab interior with crew
• Many separately applied metal detail parts including positionable drop steps on the pilots.
• Metal frame, pilots, trucks and fuel tank
• Minimum Curve – O31

The Train Master will be available in two road numbers for Canadian Pacific, Central of New Jersey, Norfolk and Western, Reading, Southern (TNO&P) and Southern Pacific. Suggested retail price for the locomotives is $549.99. See your dealer to place your order today!

 

 

New Product Spotlight – LEGACY E8 and E9

We first introduced our E8 and E9 diesels here on the blog last year. Here’s an update on the project, along with photos of our production samples. These locomotives will be on your dealers’ shelves soon!

Lionel’s new E8 and E9 capture the look of one of the most famous faces of railroading.

One of the most famous passenger locomotives of all time, the E8 and E9 were the last in the long line of EMD’s E units. These locomotives were the face of passenger service on most of America’s railroads for nearly forty years. Towards the end, many found their way into freight service as well. For more history of the prototype locomotives and the trains they pulled, see our earlier blog.

The new E8s include one powered and one non-powered locomotive. Both engines feature:

The Union Pacific E9 features a single headlight above the nose door.

• Fan-driven smoke unit with adjustable output
• Directional lighting including LED headlights and Mars Lights where appropriate
• Front ElectroCouplers
• Working front Marker Lights
• Illuminated number boards
• Lighted and detailed cab interior
• Die-cast metal trucks, fuel tank and pilots
• High level of separately applied details including the Pennsy’s Trainphone antennae
• O-31 minimum curve

Powered locomotives also feature:

• LEGACY Control – also capable of running on TMCC or Conventional
• Odyssey II Speed Control
• LEGACY RailSounds including
  

  Like the prototype, the Southern Pacific locomotive includes a headlight on the nose door and a Mars light above.

  • CrewTalk and TowerCom dialog
  • 6 Railroad speeds
  • 8 Diesel RPM levels
  • LEGACY Quilling horn
  • Single hit or continuous mechanical bell
  • Sequence control provides sounds and dialog for an entire trip around your layout
  • Current speed and fuel dialog and refueling sounds
• Dual motors with flywheels
• Refined Transformer Control with lower starting speeds
• Traction Tires
• Engineer and Fireman figures
• IR Transmitter

In addition to the Mars light, locomotives feature appropriate pilots, horns and other roof-top details appropriate to each prototype.

The A-A locomotive sets will be available in Baltimore and Ohio, Burlington, Florida East Coast, Kansas City Southern, Milwaukee Road, Pennsylvania, Southern Pacific and Union Pacific. Retail price is $929.99. Matching passenger car sets will also be available.

New Product Spotlight – LEGACY Dash 9 Locomotives

Following on the heals of the Dash-8 line which helped General Electric grab the Number 1 spot in locomotive production, GE’s Dash 9 became the face of North American railroads from the 1990s to today. Found on railroads in every corner of the continent, no modern-era layout should be without at least one of these locomotives.

Prototype Background

6-39565 Santa Fe

The first Dash 9 rolled out of Erie, Pennsylvania in 1993. The Dash-9 was also micro-processor controlled like the Dash-8. They also include split-cooled radiators (a feature found on some late-production Dash 8’s as well) and the 7-FDL diesel engine.

While there have been several locomotives in the “Dash 9” line, by far the most common is the C44-9W. These six-axle, comfort-cab equipped locomotives generate 4,400 horsepower. Norfolk Southern’s fleet of C40-9Ws have 400 less horsepower but are identical on the exterior. There are some variations in headlight arrangements and other small details between railroads, but overall the locomotives are strikingly similar.

6-39586 Norfolk Southern

Not since EMD’s SD40-2 has a single locomotive so completely dominated the motive power landscape. The C44-9W can be found in all types of railroad freight service, from unit coal trains to priority intermodal runs.

Other than locomotives too badly damaged in wrecks to be rebuilt, all of the Dash 9s built remain in service today. Some have changed hands due to mergers. The end of production came with the introduction of GE’s new Evolution Series of locomotives which bring added EPA Tier 2 compliance to the line.

Lionel’s Models

6-39568 BC Rail

Lionel is happy to bring this modern powerhouse to your railroad in roadnames to fit any interest.

All of the models feature:

• LEGACY Control – also capable of running on TMCC or Conventional
• Odyssey II Speed Control
  

  6-39574 Chicago & North Western

• LEGACY RailSounds including
  • CrewTalk and TowerCom dialog
  • 6 Railroad speeds
  • 8 Diesel RPM levels
  • LEGACY Quilling horn
  • Single hit or continuous mechanical bell
  • Sequence control provides sounds and dialog for an entire trip around your layout
  • Current speed and fuel dialog and refueling sounds
• ElectroCouplers on front and rear
  

  6-39571 BNSF

• Dual motors with flywheels
• Refined Transformer Control with lower starting speeds
• Traction Tires
• Fan-driven smoke unit with adjustable output
• Directional lighting including LED headlights
  

  6-39583 CSX

• Working Marker Lights
• Illuminated number boards
• Lighted and detailed cab interior with figures
• Operating Ditch Lights
• Metal frame
• Die-cast metal trucks, fuel tank and pilots
• O-36 minimum curve

6-39859 Canadian National

Two LEGACY powered and one non-powered locomotive are available for each roadname allowing you to recreate a hefty 3-unit consist. These locomotives also frequently wandered from one railroad to another, so mixing some of your favorites will look perfectly prototypical.

6-39580 Union Pacific

Non-Powered locomotives feature:

• Die-cast metal trucks, pilot and fuel tank
• Select separately applied details
• Magnetic couplers

6-39577 Southern Pacific

Powered locomotives retail for $529.99, non-powered for $259.99. All locomotives will negotiate O-36 curves. Whether they’re on the point of doublestacks, autoracks, mixed freight or a coal train, these common workhorses are a must for your modern layout. See you dealer to pick up yours today.

New Product Spotlight – American Flyer Norfolk Southern Heritage ES44ACs

We introduced our American Flyer replicas of Norfolk Southern’s now famous Heritage Series of locomotives in 2012. This year we are completing the run with the remainder of the twenty locomotive fleet including a new-to-S Gauge ES44AC!

6-42531 – Reading SD70ACE

Shortly after their introduction, these locomotives were turned loose on Norfolk Southern to perform daily chores just like the rest of the roster. They can show up almost anywhere at any time on any train. Several have even made it well off of Norfolk Southern’s rails, being seen as far away as Washington and California. Despite their “regular roles” the locomotives are still required to be washed monthly and crews will often take the extra time to make sure they are in the lead on a consist whenever possible.

6-42542 Central of Georgia ES44AC

Whether you are a fan of modern era railroading or just like seeing a favorite fallen flag back again, these locomotives have something for everybody. And our American Flyer models are designed to please as well.

Both the SD70ACE and ES44AC models have similar features. Powered and non-powered models of each scheme are available with unique numbers. Powered locomotives include:

6-42552 Norfolk and Western ES44AC

• LEGACY Control System – able to run on LEGACY, TMCC or Conventional power. The models are also DCC enabled.
• AF Speed Control with on/off switch for maintaining an even speed through curves and grades
• LEGACY RailSounds featuring
  • CrewTalk and TowerCom announcements with varying scenarios based on the train’s motion
    

    6-42546 Interstate ES44AC

  • Eight diesel RPM levels
  • LEGACY Quilling Horn
  • Single hit or continuous mechanical bell
  • Independent volume control
• Two maintenance-free motors
• Front and Rear ElectroCouplers
• Mounting holes and support plate for scale couplers (sold separately)
• Pivoting Pilot allows for operation on tight curves with better appearance
• Operating headlight, ditch lights, illuminated number boards and detailed cab interior
  

  6-42544 Conrail ES44AC

• Traction Tires
• Metal Frame
• Fan-driven smoke unit
• Die-cast metal trucks, pilots and fuel tank
• Separately applied metal details
• Cab window glass
• Engineer and conductor figures

Non powered locomotives feature:

6-42548 Lehigh Valley ES44AC

• Metal Frame
• Die-cast metal trucks, pilots, fuel tank
• Front and Rear operating couplers
• Separately applied metal details

6-42550 Nickel Plate ES44AC

All locomotives will negotiate S-36 curves. All come with American Flyer wheels but can be switched to scale wheels which will be available separately through Lionel Customer Service. ES44AC locomotives retail for $529.99 (powered) and $269.99 (non-powered.) SD70ACEs retail for $479.99 and $239.99.

6-42535 Virginian SD70ACE

In addition to the locomotives, separate sale cylindrical covered hoppers are also available decorated in complementary schemes for each road name. Twenty of these would certainly create a colorful consist! Cars retail for $79.99 each.

6-42558 Norfolk Southern ES44AC

If you are looking for colorful modern power for your American Flyer layout, it doesn’t get any better than this. Keep your eyes open for these Heritage Units coming to the rails and hobby shops near you!

6-42556 Southern ES44AC

6-42537 Wabash SD70ACE

6-42554 Pennsylvania ES44AC

6-42533 Savannah & Atlanta SD70ACE

6-42560 Monongahela ES44AC