A THOUGHT FOR LIONEL™

A mixed set of WWII military vehicles and equipment on flat cars. MTH has done some nice scale flat cars with Sherman tanks, and there are lots of Jeeps on flat cars, but what about half-tracks, self-propelled and towed artillery, tank destroyers, scout cars, 6x6 trucks, and for that matter tanks other than the Sherman (M3 Grant/Lee, Stuart, etc.)? Let's have some variety (or diversity, for the politically correct).

This would hit a high note for many of Lionel customers. Good suggestion.

Would like to see a Pullman passenger set featuring the names of famous generals such as Eisenhower, Patton, Montgomery, Rommel, etc...

Sounds like a good idea to me. I particularly like the idea of military equipment on flats. I'd like to see:

-Jeeps

-Sherman Tank

-Duce and a Half

-Maybe a plane in pieces (who has the K-line Plane toolings? Mount that to a flat car with a few boxes)

-Maybe some artillery?

-Then maybe a coach or two for troop movement?

As for the engine, I'd rather see a black steam engine with "U.S. Army" written in white lettering on the tender (or at least something along those lines). I think this would be more attractive than a green engine, like they did a few years ago. I also think that the flat cars should either be lettered the same, or for various railroads, as if they just happened to be in the yard when they needed a flatcar.

I think this set could be a home run. They might even consider a Legacy version, and a Lionchief Plus traditional version.

Everything said so far sounds great. However, you cannot forget boxcars with anti-axis propaganda posters painted on the side. I know it wouldn't be prototypical, but it would pay tribute to WWII, which is what this set would do, if it is produced. If Lionel makes this, I will absolutely buy it!!!

And don't forget whistle steam!

POTRZBE, fantastic idea; I'd be very interested!

It is gratifying to see the responses after just one hour on a Sunday afternoon!  I am interested in the war from its historical perspective as a mobilization of the largest logistical operation of men and materiel in the history of mankind.  Also, my dear ole dad was at D Day in 1944.

Don't know how there is a D-Day train w/o the landing craft that got the first troops ashore.  IIRC correctly, they were built in New Orleans among other places, so they would have been transported by rail.

Great concept; hope it gets made.

EDIT:  If you scroll down this thread you'll find a period photo of LSVP (Higgins boats) at the Higgins factory in NOLA loaded on flat cars--so there is a prototype for this future product.

I'm with you on the landing craft, Pingman.  I wish I had a layout big enough to accommodate a harbor or stretch of beach for the ducks and the LSTs.  I got the 24 pack of Menard's flat cars to specifically carry all the ordnance to the battlefield.

I'm fully behind POTRZBE idea, trains help make the war effort a sussess. A mixed train with WII generals names on the side of Pullmans is  a good thought but not Rommel, he was the German desert fox.

Great idea, I would be all for it.

5 years might be enough lead time for Lionel or MTH to put something together.

I agree that I would not want the locomotive tender to say US Army, Marines, or Navy, etc. but just all black or a livery that may have transported material at that time.

As for the commemorative cars with famous generals names on it I would keep it on the allies side only as much as I admire Rommel and a few other axis generals on a purely military strategy and tactical level.

MTH has the European line now as well.  They could also do a British and French theme for the allies.  It wouldn't be that hard to do the axis side if they wanted with to German and Italian locomotives in the front.

Love the idea!  I would suggest the idea of a basic set with steam power to begin,

plus an assortment of flatcars with military loads.  Optional items after the set

to include figures in period dress, plus troop car, additional loads on flatcars, etc.

I would hope Lionel would employ someone to guide this project who knows the

era and its equipment.  The troop train was a good start, though.

     Hoppy

All the above are great ideas.  I'd like to see boxcars with the major events that shaped the war, like D-Day, Battle of the Bulge, Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Heroshima, a pic on the side of the boxcar and on other side the General in command of that event along with everything else that has been mentioned with the vehicles on flat cars and also troop trains.  Next thing you know LIONEL will have a whole catalog for this called BATTLEGROUND? 

Some one mentioned aircraft of WWII. The P47 known as the Jug was shipped in two crates by trains and then trucks to its final destination. It was then assembled on the spot and test flown. Lionel can make a flat car with such a plane inside a crate or even exposed on two separate flat cars, one for the fuselage and the other for the wings and tail assembly...Just a thought.

I agree with having plenty of flat cars with Jeeps, Landing Craft, Tanks, Half Tracks, and perhaps PT Boats along with Aircraft would be great

I would buy a flat car with a PT Boat if Lionel released one for the 75th

Great idea! This train may open up some historical conversation at shows.

I would just add that it would be special if it were manufactured in America.

Frank

I like this concept, and would purchase an army or marine set.   I love the LionChief Plus locos, so a somewhat upscale set (without track and transformer) with a LC+ loco would sell well.

Some have mentioned Rommel, and I would be really interested in a "AfricaKorp" train, with a Pzkw3-J on a flatcar, an 88 on a flatcar, a truck on a flatcar, and a troop/guard car, pulled by a European loco.

What a great concept, and assemblage of ideas for it.  My thoughts:

-Made in USA

-No track or transformer - concentrate on the loco and rolling stock

-Lion Chief

-Love the idea of General-themed Pullmans

-Plain black loco

Oh, I hope Lionel does this.

Quick Google search yielded this photo of Higgins boats loaded on flat cars at Higgins New Orleans plant.

I agree with this, EXCEPT, PLEASE DON'T RUIN THIS SET WITH LC/LC+. If done with better quality(I Hope) Locomotives and Rolling stock, this would appeal to a more serious modeler, than the LC/LC+ market targets, a set like this would warrant and DESERVE TMCC/Legacy.

With LC/LC+, I'm OUT.

Doug

I agree with Doug if its LC/LC+ I'm out but I would even consider it if it came out conventional set. Like some of the remake sets they have done 

It has to be done in scale 3 rail with legacy. No conventional, no LCS+ or it would be a bust. 

If not count me out.

They could do two sets: one would be a premium Legacy set with steam  loco and matching scale caboose. Individual scale WWII cars would be available to go with them.

The second set would be in the starter set line, complete with track and power pack, etc..

That way, both ends of the buyer spectrum would be served. And I think that the concept is solid enough to support both types of set.

Also, the Alco RS series diesel locos were seeing plenty of use in WWII and so would make a good alternative motive power offering for those who want to go diesel instead of steam.

Lot's of great ideas here.  With a basic train, let's say of a recon company and associated equipment (jeeps, pc's, deuce and halves, 5 toners, a few M41 tanks.  Then, there could be lots of add-on cars, troop cars.  WOW!  It would be some great train!

I too, would like scale & Legacy. I was thinking there could be different cars either generically or specifically geared towards a branch or unit...maybe a VMF 214 Corsair or an Easy Company Jeep...maybe a top 10 Aces boxcar, or a tribute to all the war workers? The possibilities are endless!

I really hope this will come full circle.

This an outstanding idea and should appeal to a broad customer base. I agree that it could be done in both quality entry-level sets as well as full-scale Legacy equipment. It would be a good way to introduce some of the younger generations to the history of our country by some of the grandfathers who still have a good memory of the war from their parents who were in it.

My dad was USN and an enemy aircraft instructor who spent time on destroyers up and down the east coast. Later sent to the west Pacific. My generation has a lot of knowledge and stories to pass to his grandchildren and my grandchildren and this idea could be a real fun experience and learning tool for the kids!

Bingo. Great idea!

This is a great idea,also make the locomotive that we built for that purpose for the European Theater.

Mikey

I wish Lionel would have a line of scale/detailed WWII rolling stock and engines.  I don't think they have to wait for the 75th anniversary.  I propose that it be a "dedicated line" just like Forces of Valor is for Unimax Toys with special packaging to differentiate it as its own product line within the Lionel family.  

I have no idea how many of their customers model that 40s and 50s, but I would wager it would be a pretty high percentage, not to mention whatever number of collectors are left in this hobby that would purchase these items.

Yup!  American-made.  Goes without saying.  And, I like the idea of the "Generals

Box Cars."  I would hope there are still plenty of us history lovers out there.  I am

63 and about half my B&N purchases are about WW II, even though my Dad, not me,

was of the age to serve there.

     Hoppy

Don't care where it is made as long as it is scale and correct. 

Would love a German 2-10-0 with the swatiska but I know it cannot be imported to Germany but maybe decals could be supplied for the American buyer. This would make a great historical set.

A troop train of each American and German origin. 

I'm young but I love history and WWII (and trains, duh!). If I could live during anytime, it would be 40s/50s, which is why I model that era!

I believe ETS made a tinplate version of that engine (a 2-8-0 if I remember correctly), but it is discontinued and it is expensive and hard to find in this country. I'm pretty sure this is the engine you are interested in.

Excellent idea!

Peter