Any Thoughts on the Warren G. Harding Funeral train?

My first thought was "Who the h*ll is going to buy this?"

Kudos for trying something different.  But I don't think there's a lot of long term appeal here.

Throw in the price and I can already see these on clearance.........

Been wrong before, though.

You're a bit late!

Not for me. 

lionelstore.com only shows the photos for the loco.

Berkshire President posted:

My first thought was "Who the h*ll is going to buy this?"

Kudos for trying something different.  But I don't think there's a lot of long term appeal here.

Throw in the price and I can already see these on clearance.........

Been wrong before, though.

I thought the same thing.  Nice looking engine and all but not for me.  I'm sure it will look good on someone's layout.

Berkshire President posted:

My first thought was "Who the h*ll is going to buy this?"

Kudos for trying something different.  But I don't think there's a lot of long term appeal here.

Throw in the price and I can already see these on clearance.........

Been wrong before, though.

You seem to forget Built to Order,if they receive enough orders for it to continue into production the only extras will be what the dealers order. Like others have said not for me but others may like it.

Doug

The lamp is a different look to a popular engine, but unfortunately the theme vs the engine, lacks some sales luster in the present day imho. I'd like to think the engine alone stands a chance alone or at the head of a different train. Was the head lamp special? I like the early styling of it but hadn't seen one on something "modern” like a K4 before. We need earlier locos in general. This is one for custom cars if your heart is set on them... and two sets won't hurt you bad if they do make it eventually; eh?

Adriatic posted:

The lamp is a different look to a popular engine, but unfortunately the theme vs the engine, lacks some sales luster in the present day imho. I'd like to think the engine alone stands a chance alone or at the head of a different train. Was the head lamp special?

Nope, it's the simply a type used in the pre-electric headlamp era:

Rusty

I see enough funerals, don't need a locomotive to remind me.

Oh my gosh, Warren G. Harding died!?

Pete

I like the smaller / Atlantic style tender

For what it’s worth; the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, GA has in their collection the Pullman “Superb”; which transported Harding’s body back to Washington, DC thence to his hometown of Marion, OH for burial.  The car is reportedly haunted by Harding’s ghost.

Not sure if Lionel is planning to include a spirit in their model of the funeral train but; perhaps inclusion of a presidential ghost would warrant a premium set price.  🤔

Curt

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I see enough funerals, don't need a locomotive to remind me.

Me too.  Funeral trains don’t appeal to me at any price.  

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I see enough funerals, don't need a locomotive to remind me.

Your post reminds me of a time I was chatting with a senior neighbor of mine:

I asked him, "What have you been up to lately?"

He responded, "I've been pretty busy.  I've had 14 funerals this month." 

Shocked, I said, "Oh my goodness, I'm sorry for your loss.  It must be tough getting old and seeing your friends and family pass on like that...and so close together, what a shame.  How are you holding up?"

He laughed and said, "No! I started driving a hearse for the funeral home." 

I laughed it off with him, but was certainly embarrassed that I made that assumption. Haha!

***

FWIW, any excuse to make a Pennsy K4 is a good one.  RIP Harding.

Texas Pete posted:

Oh my gosh, Warren G. Harding died!?

Pete

I didn't even know he was sick!  

Just for laughs, you should all look up the history of Harding - it's a scream. Among the highlights: world class philanderer, possibly poisoned by his wife (who later took up with the Doctor that treated Harding, and who later died similarly himself  ), along with the usual bribery and corruption scandals (also look up Secretary Fell). 

I imagine as the train went by, some were singing "I'll Be Glad When You're Gone, You Rascal You".

History is fun, I wonder why kids today think it's boring?

Rusty Traque posted:

Adriatic posted:

The lamp is a different look to a popular engine, but unfortunately the theme vs the engine, lacks some sales luster in the present day imho. I'd like to think the engine alone stands a chance alone or at the head of a different train. Was the head lamp special?

Nope, it's the simply a type used in the pre-electric headlamp era:

Rusty

Thanks thats what I had hoped, a generic feature means it isn't limited to leading a dirge. I just never put 2+2 together on the change in lamp housings in general; that's big info, lol.

That' top one is looking pretty slick imo.

I applaud Lionel for thinking outside the box but a funeral train is not for me.  If the shrouds were add-ons that could be removed so the loc could be a non-funeral loc, then I would consider it.  As is, I won't be getting one.

I haven't seen the train of discussion yet, but it's not like the first time they've done such a thing.

They did the Lincoln Funeral Train a while back to finish (?) off the "Heritage Series" line of small no-frills (in terms of electronics) engines with cars.  The engines and cars IIRC were primarily made from brass.  No electronic reverse, just switchable forward and reverse.  Also no smoke.  (Earlier entries were Best Friend of Charleston, John Bull, Dewitt Clinton, and Stourbridge Lion.)

That was a pretty small (though still pricey, considering no electronics) set though, Engine/Tender with one car, and then a 2 car add-on set.  IIRC, the pricing direct from Lionel was $800 for the engine and single car and then $600 for the 2 car add-on.

This new offering sounds like a much larger train set and financial outlay judging by the comments above.

-Dave