Lionel Knockoff?

Gee...   3 rail plastic track for a battery powered locomotive.

Not stolen, just poorly cloned.

Rusty

I like the placement of the caboose

Certainly not worth $ 49.99.

Yes, but its not a bad representation of an ALCO RS 3 and 1950's era rolling stock. As far as the placement of the caboose, perhaps the locomotive has just run around the train on the invisible passing track, and will shove the cars in to some customers. If it gets kids interested in railroads, I see no problem. The price seems high, but it may be "made of the finest plastic".   

I've seen this sort of thing here and there, and it always surprises me, toy-like as it is, how many of the bits and pieces are fairly good representations of the real thing - far more than one would expect. Note the RS3's trucks, the general shape of the locos's body shell, the trucks on the cars, and that "Marx" 3-dome tanker.

It's less cartoonish than it could have gotten away with. It shows us how relatively easy and accurate low-end tooling can be these days. 

I like how the RS3 has "Steam Train" in black letters on the side of the body, Nice touch!

I get the impression English is not the first language of those who designed this. 

Well, if the "Dazzling Lights" don't sell it, I don't know what will!

Of all the nerve!  what is needed is a good old 250% tariff on it. That will stop them from undercutting our American Train manufactures who also get them made in China. Hay wait a minute.                      

That's an insult to Lionel.  Doubt they would be threatened by this.

Wonder what "their" quality track record is?  😁

"Now parents and child begin together family game"

What does that even mean?!?!

Wow,even the three rail track in plastic  !

What's the purpose for that ?? 

Lionel knockoff! Lol, what I consider some old L's blunders don't even come close to that piece of junk. 

For $20, it'd be a good source for kitbashing parts,  I suppose... 

"TRAIN POWER"

"Specifications colours and contents may vary from illustrations" ..........hmmm, wonder where they got that from ?   

Center rail for no apparent reason.

Those battery-operated set pieces are clearly not made from Lionel tooling. Not even close.

Not that it matters. Williams, which was originally Williams Reproductions, created a number of cars in the early modern era based precisely on Lionel tooling. And anyone who is familiar with Williams postwar reproductions realizes that part of Menards freight car line is based on Williams, not Lionel. The underframes are a dead giveaway.

I don’t mind someone importing this battery-operated set. But given the likely production costs, the set is overpriced. At most, it’s a $29.99 set.

The three-rail plastic track is hilarious, though, when I think about it.

Rusty Traque - the three rail track for the battery powered locomotive is made by the same people who provide batteries for sound powered phones.  On the other hand, for those who are always worried about having to make an insulated track section for running accessories it would seem that the three rail plastic track would be the perfect answer to that problem since it would be perfectly insulated.   Too bad they didn't put an "S" in front of "Cargo" - at least it would give you a chance to offer up that very old joke about snails and speed at your next train running session.

Anyone have a better shot of the locomotive? That fuel tank looks interesting... first time I have seen an ALCo LONG tank on an O scale RS3. I wonder if it's molded into the plastic frame like Lionel did at the turn of the century.

I see the loco only has a coupler on the "front" and they don't look like Lionel MPC solid couplers of the 1980's either.

jay jay posted:

Yes, but its not a bad representation of an ALCO RS 3 and 1950's era rolling stock. As far as the placement of the caboose, perhaps the locomotive has just run around the train on the invisible passing track, and will shove the cars in to some customers. If it gets kids interested in railroads, I see no problem. The price seems high, but it may be "made of the finest plastic".   

The caboose says "Precursor" on the side, that's why it's first!

I also like the term "auto hinge" instead of coupler.

Rusty

Looks to be on par with most Vision Line offerings. I wonder how long it will take Eric to get his hands on a pilot version for a train review.

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Anyone have a better shot of the locomotive? That fuel tank looks interesting... first time I have seen an ALCo LONG tank on an O scale RS3. I wonder if it's molded into the plastic frame like Lionel did at the turn of the century.

 

I see the loco only has a coupler on the "front" and they don't look like Lionel MPC solid couplers of the 1980's either.

The "fuel tank" is merely the battery box cover big enough to cover 8 AA batteries.  I think any resemblance to the real thing would be purely coincidental.

Rusty

"Finest plastic" - NOT! The highest grade plastic used in model trains was the BASF polymer, Luran-S, used by the original LGB for their locomotives and rolling stock. Another weather proof and highly durable polymer, Vestilene, was used for the original LGB track ties. Current LGB production is in Hungary and those original polymers may or may not be used. The original LGB is unsurpassed for overall quality!

Grampstrains posted:

What's the surprise?  Most of Menard's stuff is a Lionel knock off.

As was Williams, that begat MTH. . .

Doug Kinsman posted:

Looks to be on par with most Vision Line offerings. I wonder how long it will take Eric to get his hands on a pilot version for a train review.

Now that would be funny!! I'd like to see Eric @ericstrains.com do a "high end" review of the this thing with an operation demo at the end.

Heck, I'm almost willing to buy one and ship it directly to him to see that video show up on his blooper reel!

H1000 posted:

Doug Kinsman posted:

Looks to be on par with most Vision Line offerings. I wonder how long it will take Eric to get his hands on a pilot version for a train review.

Not that would be funny!! I'd like to see Eric @ericstrains.com do a "high end" review of the this thing with an operation demo at the end.

Heck, I'm almost willing to buy one and ship it directly to him to see that video show up on his blooper reel!

I am considering purchasing one myself (just wish the price was lower). I like knockoff stuff like this.

Harry's Trains posted:

"Now parents and child begin together family game"

What does that even mean?!?!

It means that using the model train will make any family enjoy being together ... just like this product that I spotted in a shop. Of course, this does even more by bridging any generation gap to improve communication!

This cement truck (that looks suspiciously NOT like a cement truck) requires more effort on the part of the owner who must constantly tell the model how wonderful it is!

O Gauge Guy posted:

Harry's Trains posted:

"Now parents and child begin together family game"

What does that even mean?!?!

It means that using the model train will make any family enjoy being together ... just like this product that I spotted in a shop. Of course, this does even more by bridging any generation gap to improve communication!

This cement truck (that looks suspiciously NOT like a cement truck) requires more effort on the part of the owner who must constantly tell the model how wonderful it is!

"To be highly praised and appreciated in definitely."  Hahaha