Lionel Sets from 1970-2000

I think this bright blue steamer from the Blue Comet set and the Southern Cresent set made the previous year were Lionels first home runs of the modern era.
Joe

One last colorful sets from the 1980s, 1981 again, the Great Lakes Limited. Always liked the NP stock car and Pure Oil tank car in this set as well as the Alaska gondola. Another set I regret selling.

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Originally posted by wtblake:

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Originally posted by breezinup:

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Originally posted by jim sutter:
.......Thirty years ago I was 35.....

Wow, Jim, you're old!

Thirty years ago I was only 33.



(Scarey. )

Thirty years ago I was only 2.

Bill

Thirty years ago was nine years before my existence began!

Never opened this one :

quote:

That's the (1988) Amtrak Silver Spike set. I saw those for sale for years - it seems they were available for a long time.



The very similar Lakeshore Limited from 10 years prior had the Alco with the traditional Alco AAR type A switcher trucks(and traditional open frame AC/DC motor).



They were both better looking than the 90's "Amtrak Passenger Car Set" that seemed to sell quite well too.

Great photos - I have been acquiring some of these engines and sets. I find about 50% have dead or poorly working Sound of Steam boards. It would be interesting to read how others in this thread are handling Sound of Steam issues. Is there a leaning towards originality or ...?

Its great to see so many complimentary threads about MPC products. I don't know how many times over the years I've noted so many disparaging threads about the products made from 1970 through the late 1980s. I still possess all of the engines and rolling stock I purchased during those years and everything still runs great. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones because my Sound of Steam boards are still fully operational. Like many of the previous posters my favorite set is the 3100 Great Northern. Also, like many others my first full MPC set was the NY Central Empire State Express freight set which I bought in early 1977. The box for this set is still in great condition. Also, I think their Fallen Flags sets were winners. We were very fortunate to have MPC carry the torch for us during those years.

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Of all the FARR sets, I enjoyed the Great Northern as well.

OK, that was it. after four or five of you guys picked the GN Berk as best I had to check it out again..
Whaddya think??
Me thinks she still looks good some 30 years later..
Joe

quote:

Originally posted by JC642:
I think this bright blue steamer from the Blue Comet set and the Southern Cresent set made the previous year were Lionels first home runs of the modern era.

I agree, the Blue Comet was a hit, and I own that set. Though the Alton Limited I believe was better, since it came with the die cast tender and electronic whistle. It's definitely my favorite of Lionel's small steam passenger sets (Blue Comet, Southern Crescent, Alton Limited, Chessie Steam Special, Wabash Fallen Flags)

JC 642,
Also, your Great Northern steam engine came in a very attractive box. I real eye catcher. This time Lionel did it right.

i was show exctied to show off my Lake Show limited set i picked up at a flee market this year, looks like someone beat me to it! i had to add a B unit alco to this though on my shelf! i picked this up for $200 unopened new in the box this year.

i know if your looking for a silver spike set, i see them frequently on EBAY.there is one for $189 on now.

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Originally posted by OKHIKER:
Its great to see so many complimentary threads about MPC products. I don't know how many times over the years I've noted so many disparaging threads about the products made from 1970 through the late 1980s. I still possess all of the engines and rolling stock I purchased during those years and everything still runs great. We were very fortunate to have MPC carry the torch for us during those years.

About a year or so ago, there was a very long thread on MPC that went on for a long time, as tons of enthusiasts came out with their endorsements, and the great response surprised many of the naysayers. There was an overwhelming positive response - yes, lots of folks love their MPC era trains.

They did indeed carry the touch, and very well, and were responsible for many technical innovations as well as outstanding decorative skills, aptly demonstrated in the pictures above. For sheer beauty, many of the pieces remain unsurpassed, IMHO.

One of the 3 early passenger sets marketed by MPC.

This started with the Milwaukee Special in 1973, the Broadway Limited in 1974, and this set from 1975.

The 9500 series cars were made from a new mold created in Michigan, and were the first passenger cars and sets cataloged by MPC.



Ken

Here's the NYC Passenger/Freight from 1994:
I love branchline consists. I wish more were done.



This set came with an excellent operating car.



Here are the add-on cars that came in 1995.



There is a fantasy-scheme lightning stipe bay window caboose. When I find it in my boxes, I'll post a pic.

Here's an early favorite from Lionel Trains Inc. in 1987: The Conrail Limited Freight train. Headed by a handsome SD-40 with excellent Standard O freight cars, including the scarce and desirable Conrail woodside caboose :3 Another modern era favorite of mine, even though it doesn't have TMCC or RailSounds.

I have always liked the diesel but not the woodsided caboose. It just didn't seem to fit with a modern SD-40 diesel. The other freight cars in the set were fine.

quote:

Originally posted by jim sutter:
I have always liked the diesel but not the woodsided caboose. It just didn't seem to fit with a modern SD-40 diesel. The other freight cars in the set were fine.

Well, I thought it was cool, and pretty unique. Though I guess an extended vision would be a little more realistic.

MPC Lovers: To all of you who expressed fond memories and experiences with the tenure of MPC of the Lionel Brand name; remember that they were all made, by that now obscure group: THE AMERICAN WORKER ! Dennis M.

This is my favorite era next to postwar. I have just about every collector line set, engine and other items from these years. They run well, excellent paint and colors, and just fun! Not so many electronics here, although I have updated some to TMCC and RS.

Just picked up the last SD-40 Set I needed, The Gold Coast Limited from my good friend Chris at Nicholas Smith Trains mint in the Box. Also bought the Last lighted Lionel Dealer Sign he had, sealed in the box. Photos to Follow.

I grew up in the MPC era as most of us did & the thing that strikes me even now is how new old stock MPC trains look fresh from the box. About 98 percent look like they were made yesterday.

Lionel really improved the painting,graphics, & plating of side rods & other metal parts when it was under General Mills ownership for its trains & rolling stock.

Next to tinplate, I would have to say that Lionel's MPC era is of great interest to me. A big thank you to all who have shown photos here.

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Here's the NYC Passenger/Freight from 1994:
I love branchline consists. I wish more were done.

Good looking set, Love the chicken sweeper in red.
Folks tend to forget Lionel produced really colorful sets after MPC here in America between 1986-2001
Joe

Mikado4501,
Nothing wrong with you liking the Conrail woodsided caboose. When we all go the Dairy Queen ice cream stand, we don't all by a vanilla ice cream cone. Earlier this week, I had a cherry blizzard. I told the girl to use the cherry topping they put on cones and Dilly Bars. This makes for a mighty fine treat.

1688torpedo,
These post contain a lot of good memories for me as while.

JC642,
Like You, I thought the red poultry car from that set was much sharper then the single release tuscan one.

I'm still waiting for one of you to post pictures of the 75th anniv. set,
Milwaukee Road Limited Limited set with the #8855 Milwaukee Road SD-18 from 1978, The Quaker City Limited set with #8962 Reading U36B diesel and the Southern Pacific Limited set with the #8960-8961 U36C diesels from 1979.

This engine might not count in this topic (since it's made in Korea), but it is still an LTI favorite.

The 18018 Southern Mikado of 1992 wasn't scale deatiled (was scale size) especially by today's standards, but it still looked great. Not to mention it is an excellent puller, and runs like a dream. I still like the first edition of RailSounds in it, too. It's another Modern Era favorite of mine.

What an enjoyable thread this has been!

Jon

Couldn't resist the colorful TCA Bicentennial Set a few years ago at York. This set was the first time MPC
re-issued the short streamlined pass cars.

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Originally posted by KOOLjock1:
What an enjoyable thread this has been!

Jon

You can say that again!

While I am not knowledgeable about the MPC period and have no trains from the era, thoroughly have enjoyed following this. The pics of the various sets are fantastic!

This is an excellent thread! Would anyone have a picture of the add-on stock car that was made for the Rocky Mountain Special (6-1765)

Jim Sutter, This was my first train set and I was one of those happy young engineers

Here's the Conrail SSS of 1997. It spawned 3 dditional overstamp boxcar sets od eastern roads. I'll photo those over the next week.





Love that modified porthole caboose with the blocked windows





They did a nice job on the overstamp.

Peter

quote:

The 18018 Southern Mikado of 1992 wasn't scale deatiled (was scale size) especially by today's standards, but it still looked great. Not to mention it is an excellent puller, and runs like a dream. I still like the first edition of RailSounds in it, too. It's another Modern Era favorite of mine.

Who could forget, "Johnny Cash Ridin' the Rails?"

quote:

Originally posted by ed h:
Couldn't resist the colorful TCA Bicentennial Set a few years ago at York. This set was the first time MPC re-issued the short streamlined pass cars.

And the last.

I found it! The fantasy scheme NYC bay window caboose.



Peter

quote:

OK, that was it. after four or five of you guys picked the GN Berk as best I had to check it out again..
Whaddya think??

I like to think of it as a Berkshire myself, but they had actually replaced the two wheel lead truck with a four wheel truck, making it a Northern. Great looking locomotive.

quote:

Originally posted by Mikado 4501:

quote:

Originally posted by jim sutter:
I have always liked the diesel but not the woodsided caboose. It just didn't seem to fit with a modern SD-40 diesel. The other freight cars in the set were fine.

Well, I thought it was cool, and pretty unique. Though I guess an extended vision would be a little more realistic.

Indeed, that Conrail caboose is a sharp looker. Actually, the Conrail woodsided caboose would have been used with the SD-40 in real-life operations. Here's what the Greenberg's Guide to Lionel Trains 1970-1991 (HIGHLY recommended, by the way) has to say about this caboose:

"This (caboose) came in bright Conrail blue with white lettering, and it was a scale dead-ringer for the old Canadian National wooden cabooses of the early years of this century. Conrail actually gave some of these ancient cabooses a new paint job and used them in its early years. This one looks magnificent; it has drawn praise from collectors and is in hot demand."

Note that the SD-40 entered production in 1966, and Conrail didn't commence operations until 1976, so in fact this caboose would have been in operation at the same time as the SD-40 in the early years of Conrail. Looks like Lionel got it right in putting this caboose in the consist.

quote:

Originally posted by jim sutter:
leavingtracks,
Like you, I loved Lionel's tank cars. They really did a nice job on them. I still believe some of the M.P.C. ones were nicer than anything they have made since the M.P.C. days.

I also really like the tank cars from that era. I still have over 40 of them in my collection (including all the chrome ones), and it is a very interesting and colorful group of cars. Put a string of twenty or so of these behind an engine, and lots of comments come from on-lookers!

Another set of interesting cars were the liquor series, as well as the beer cars, and also the Tobacco Railroad series. Factory weathering was also introduced with the turn-of-the-century reefer series. It wasn't a financial success (most folks wanted their cars to look new), but it's another example of the innovation that was going on during the MPC years.

To me, some sort of bay or N5c cabin car would fit the spirit of the SD40 better.

The SSS set with the MSL GP 9 looks good!

MPC had a "baby" U36C, and the 2400 type passenger cars. Have some closed rack auto cars and one could have the original Auto Train!

I love this thread!!!



I have several sets mentioned here and some not mentionned. They are all treasured.....this is a part of my collection

1984 Erie Lackawanna Limited
1987 Conrail Limited
1989 Santa Fe Special
1980 Royal Limited with Chessie System U36C
1977 Milwaukee Limited with Milwaukee Road Sd18
1979 Blue Comet..IMO the nicest MPC passenger set made
1992 Western Pacific SSS with GP9
1994 Chesapeake & Ohio SD28 Freight Set
1997 Northern Pacific F3 North Coast Limited set. I have this on display in my place and I love it!!

Another sharp looking set from the 1970s, the 1978 Service Station Special. The last of what many collectors consider the "real" Service Station Specials. While the SSS sets would reappear in the mid 1980s, just not the same as the original 1971-1978 sets.

This set is on my wish list, one of these days have to get one.

I also love MPC, I finally got the Joshua Lionel Cowen Hudson I ahve wanted for years to go with the boxcars and caboose. I also love my MoPac GP-20's, they cant pull more than 6 cars but they run and run!!

Cincytrains,
Not sure if this well help or not. When you run your MoPac diesels put the dummy unit in the front. Then connect the power unit to the cars with the power truck up against the cars. You could possibly change the curves on your layout to a wider curve.