Good Buy? Lionel Southern Crescent Legacy 6-11334 + 5 Passenger Cars

The 11334 is a beautiful and well-made loco, for sure.  I suggest you look at a popular auction site to see what they are typically selling for.

IMO your CW80 is a little under-powered for the new Crescent.  For the best operating experience you should plan on getting a Powerhouse power supply, CAB-2 controller and Legacy base.  Probably you realize this, but the new one is a full scale model, and much, much larger than your 1977 version.  Regardless of what it might say in the catalog, the new passenger train is a premium product and will look best on wide O72 curves.  You probably have enough room for those under your tree but when it comes time to build a layout you might find the larger curves very limiting, unless you have a full basement, garage, or bonus room to devote to the trains.  So I would think hard if you really want to make the leap into "scale," or stick with traditionally-sized trains.  Hope this helps!

Maybe this one might be more up my alley?

2003: http://www.lionel.com/products...t-loco-1396-6-31713/

Really am an amateur and don't want to get into buying the Legacy base and what not. 

I can get this set for $850 on a couple different web sites. 

@Stoogesman posted:

Hi all!

I have the opportunity to buy the 2012 release of the Southern Crescent Legacy along with the 5 passenger cars for $1200.

I know the tender and locomotive sold for $1100.

http://www.lionel.com/products...motive-1393-6-11334/

Up to now, I've only ran a few sets that were in the $400 range. But this Southern Crescent would go along great with my 1976 Southern Crescent my dad bought me in 1980 right when I was born. He passed that set down to me and she still runs great. I want to give this new Southern Crescent release to my son (who's 23 months) someday. My biggest concern is the transformer I have. Currently, I have an 80w Lionel transformer. Will that run this Legacy train. I really don't want to get into the whole complicated transformer game. I currently only run them during Christmas time. That may change once we upgrade to a bigger house.

Thoughts on this set I have a chance to buy an transformer advice is welcome!

Thanks everyone!

 

 

I have this set and in person it is spectacular.  You would not be disappointed.

Price always depends on condition.  If that's all your running at one time a CW-80 is fine.

stoogesman says he sees them on sites for 850.00.  I did not see him put the links though.

I don't think I have seen the entire set that low in price, maybe just engine and tender if used.

Sean,

The set he mentioned at $850 and linked to on Lionel's site is actually an older TMCC set, not Legacy.  Plus, that older set only comes with 4 passenger cars.  Helps explain the price difference.

Chuck

If you can afford it now, buy the Legacy version.  It will run better and if you ever decide to move up to a Legacy command control system you will really like this engine's features.

If you do decide to upgrade, you can first buy the less expensive Legacy Cab1L base/Cab1L handheld.  You just attached this system via one wire to your layout and you can run any Legacy/TMCC engine.  If you find you enjoy command control (and you will), you can start upgrading other items as needed.

@CAPPilot posted:

If you can afford it now, buy the Legacy version.  It will run better and if you ever decide to move up to a Legacy command control system you will really like this engine's features.

If you do decide to upgrade, you can first buy the less expensive Legacy Cab1L base/Cab1L handheld.  You just attached this system via one wire to your layout and you can run any Legacy/TMCC engine.  If you find you enjoy command control (and you will), you can start upgrading other items as needed.

Thanks CAPPilot! I am very tempted to pull the trigger and get this 6-11334 set. It is so beautiful. As another user mentioned, could I get away with running a CW80 transformer for the current time? This year and until we get a bigger house (probably in the next year or so) I plan on running this train around my tree. 

It will probably run with the CW-80, but I suspect adding the five passenger cars may overload the transformer.  The locomotive has two smoke units, so with all that running and pulling a load, it'll be pulling at least a couple amps.  Unless these are really new cars with LED lighting, they will soak up close to half the CW-80's power output capability.  I update my passenger cars with LED's as fast as I can for that reason.

@PRR1950 posted:

Sean,

The set he mentioned at $850 and linked to on Lionel's site is actually an older TMCC set, not Legacy.  Plus, that older set only comes with 4 passenger cars.  Helps explain the price difference.

Chuck

Oh I see. Yeah the last Legacy version was the best as far as the detail and paint job.  Just gorgeous.

Go for the Legacy.  

Well, I just realized the ebay seller advertised the locomotive as the 6-11334 however it is actually NOT. It is the #1396 locomotive. Glad I caught that! 

The search for the legacy still continues!