Lionel Famous American Railroad Sets

The sets were nice, except for the fact that they placed a FARR logo of their own design on every piece. I have some of the FARR stuff despite the logo.

 

If they were to do more FARR sets, I hope they will leave the FARR logo off.

Either way, I doubt I would buy any of it. I have only been buying older stuff for a while now.

Out of them, the Southern and the Pennsylvania were my favorites. Not just because they're two of my favorites, but because the engines were the overall best in the series.

 

I would've opted for the New York Central, Erie Lackawanna, and Conrail or Lehigh Valley, but the last two aren't quite as famous...

 

I'm not sure how Lionel would "reintroduce" the series, as the standards of high end train sets has changed significantly since the 70's/80's at Lionel.

Some things are better off left in the past. These sets were great for the era. They added a little pizzaz to old postwar models at a time when nothing really new was on the horizon. I don't think this is the case in 2015. I have all 5 but in retrospect, I would have liked them more without the FARR logos. 

 

There was also the Fallen Flag Series a couple of years later, that didn't have a logo. That Wabash set was one of my favorites back then.

 

What a perfect way to describe these sets. The Santa Fe was my first "real" engine as a kid, and it provided the steam I needed to become a lifelong collector.

 

There are so many options today in road name and in variety of cars, it's almost more fun to make yoyr own FARR or FF series.

Well, over the years, Lionel has made many great sets.  I have only one, the Santa Fe Anniversary Passenger set: ABBA Warbonnet F3s and seven cars with full interiors.  wonderful set if an absolute power hog.  The lower of the Santa Fe trains on the upper shelves in the photo.

 

The only set I wish Lionel would produce in the future would be a Vision Super Chief set, super-detailed, super featured ABA F3s and six or seven cars, plus extra B units and cars available.  That I would buy in a heart beat. 

Me too, I vividly remember that set.  IT was a beauty.  There was something about that blue locomotive and cars.

 

Originally Posted by Lee Willis:

I only buy one road name-Santa Fe isn't it-but I'd by that set you described.

 

Missed out on the classic 'War Bonnet' as a kid and would love to have a VL version!

None...they were fine at the time they were released but I don't see a need to rehash the past.

-Greg

I only have one road name on my list, Detroit & Mackinac Railway. Lionel & MTH and local clubs have manufactured rolling stock. If any one knows, where I could find a 3-rail D&M. Please post a link. Atlas makes a HO scale engine, never have seen it in 3-Rail

   Click photo to enlarge.

They were just PW rehashes in new paint. Never really liked them. 

They were the best that we could buy at the time and I bought them all and have been selling them off since Feb of this year.

Mikey

I couldn't afford them when they were new; I have bought a few of the cars and the Turbine in the past couple of years. They are pretty well made, and are reasonably priced now.

 

J White

 

Trainroomgary Atlas o makes the c425 which is the loco in your pic. But alas the loco has not been rereleased in over 5 years. For the d&m at this time you will have to custom paint the atlas o c425.

Trainroomgary , Atlas o makes the c425 which is the loco in your pic. But alas the loco has not been rereleased in over 5 years. For the d&m at this time you will have to custom paint the atlas o c425.

I bought only the PRR set. Mib cars but the loco was used. Unfortunately paid at the height of the collectors market. I still have the set and may get a display shelf for it. If Lionel were to rerelease it, it would have to be like the CCII sets, scale locos and cars. As stated above, place the logo in an inconspicuous spot or drop the logos altogether.

What if Lionel redid all five series but made the steam engines and rolling stock scale with all of their modern goodies?

Gary, if you find one of those Alcos you can have Mike Packard paint it for you.  He specializes in Michigan railroads and has done trains for both Charlie Stoia and myself.