Lionel Sets from 1970-2000

I bought that NYC 2380 GP9 at a train show last year foe $125. The sounds in that engine are awesome for its time and aren't bad at all compared to todays either. The paint scheme looks good too and it also runs pretty decently for a pullmor engine.

The Lionel starter set 4-4-2's, though common, are great engines for the price.

My very first set was/is headed up by a NYC 4-4-2. They aren't very detailed and are pretty small, but it runs great, pulls a lot and looks pretty nice too. They also came in a lot of different road names.

My first set was the UP Ore unit train.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR3bK6w863k

That's a great set. IMHO, an excellent job by Lionel to get Railsounds and TMCC in a product that could be had for less than $500.

Ron

Those Geeps, which Lionel produced over the course of a number of years in different road names, are known for their great sounds, which are still considered excellent today.

Lionel made gradual additions as production went on (the more recent versions added diecast fuel tanks and pilots, cab interiors with crew figures, electrocouplers, RailSounds improvements and additions [like crew talk] as those became available, etc.

These engines are about as bulletproof as you can get, and from even a short distance away it's pretty hard to tell a "scale" version Geep from these so- called traditional Geeps (which are scale sized as well, of course).

They're also fun because it's possible, and easy, to swap shells with earlier Geeps, such as MPC versions, to get additional road names, and make an easy conversion to TMCC and R/S.

Here's a video showing my NYC geep so you can hear the great sounds.

quote:

What a value! It listed for $299.95.

Even better, the large Lionel dealers had them priced around $229 which was an excellent price considering all the features. I still have a few of these engines, including the Canadian Pacific GP-9, the 1997 Centennial and 1998 Centennial GPs. If I recall correctly, the 1997 Centennial engine was advertised with electro-couplers but was not made with them. However, at the time you could call Lionel and they would send out an electrocoupler kit for free.

quote:

I will start off with the set that got me into Command Control...the 1996 NYC Geep Command Control set.

A very nice set in its day.
Want to know the very best part of owning those sets today?
Hint.. It's not just the color of the box...
Joe

I thought that the Fallen Flag and Service Station Sets (SSS) series were a home run for Lionel; where/when available, I've substituted MTH diesels for the original Lionel item to take advantage of their fuller features.

quote:

Originally posted by JC642:

quote:

I will start off with the set that got me into Command Control...the 1996 NYC Geep Command Control set.

A very nice set in its day.
Want to know the very best part of owning those sets today?
Hint.. It's not just the color of the box...
Joe

As I was putting one of my tank cars away on Thursday, I noticed that same label on the box. It made me a bit happy

Another great set from 1997-98.....the Virginian Rectifier Command Control set....the best part of it is the 3 weather hoppers, N&W, C&O and Virginian....followed by a Virginian porthole caboose. The engine is similar electronically to the Geeps noted above.





Peter

hello guys and gals..........
was there a such a thing as a #1250 set with the #8206 4-6-4 hudson and cars from 1970 ?
the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

quote:

was there a such a thing as a #1250 set with the #8206 4-6-4 hudson and cars from 1970 ?

yes, actually made in 1972. The second Lionel SSS (Service Station Special Set). The 1971 and 1972 SSS
sets are quite difficult to locate with original boxes. Many Modern Era collectors are not aware of the 1971 and 1972 SSS sets, most think 1973 was the first year.

1972 SSS with set box. Note the generic type boxes used for the 1971 and 1972 sets. Just a label to identify them as SSS sets.



1971 SSS (Illinois Central GP-9)

No offence but the single motor f3s mpc made cant pull 10 cars the detail was horrible .. Long live postwar and legacy..

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No offence but the single motor f3s mpc made cant pull 10 cars the detail was horrible .. Long live postwar and legacy..

True, but MPC has a charm, all its own, which is now being recognized. Mark

quote:

No offence but the single motor f3s mpc made cant pull 10 cars the detail was horrible .. Long live postwar and legacy..

LOl, In case you haven't noticed, you;ll find very few PW, MPC or early LTI O gauge trains still operating on layouts today.
I'd imagine most of whatever survived now retired is displayed somewhere on a wall of fame. Living a static life in infamy.
Joe

hello ed h.............
my goodness, i didnt know that they made set like that in 1971 AND 1972. How hard is it to find like "new in the box" set like that and the value of that ? Did it come with the transformer ?
the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

Tiffany,
Finding the above mentioned set in like new condition wouldn't be easy. I would check with Grand Central Limited, Trainz, Joe Grzyboski and the Train Engineer in Nevada. Train shows and the "O" Gauge Forum Wanted board would be worth a shot.

One of my favorites of this time period was the device station set with the NYC GP9 led mixed train. The set had two passenger cars (one named "silver lake") and freight cars. It had two of the 6464 boxcars from the overstamp series. I have almost all of the overstamp boxcars that showed transitional paint schemes of the merger era.

The overstamp 6464s sell pretty well and are fun to collect. I have the Pacemaker/PC, the Reading/Conrail, the PC/Conrail, and the Pennsy/PC. There is also the Jersey Central/Conrail and LV/Conrail. Fun stuff.

I have and run some MPC growlers. They just need some attention after 30/40 years of sitting "appreciating" in value.

Tiffany - I think the 1971 SSS may have included a small transformer, as Ive seen a photo of a set box that has one.
Its possible in the 1971 set photo I posted, the transformer may be under the styrofoam shaped like a building.
Maybe another forum member can confirm this ?

To find a truly mint set, I think it would be very tough. Reason I say this, is because in 20 years of collecting, Ive only seen a few complete boxed sets for sale. One of the Greenbergs books estimates the production well under 1000 pieces of each set, which seems very probable. Since very few seem to come for sale, hard to say what the value would be. Whats interesting about these sets, is that most of the pieces were regularly cataloged items, so a large portion of the value is in the set box itself.

quote:

Originally posted by JC642:
LOl, In case you haven't noticed, you;ll find very few PW, MPC or early LTI O gauge trains still operating on layouts today.
I'd imagine most of whatever survived now retired is displayed somewhere on a wall of fame. Living a static life in infamy.
Joe

I think you're wrong about that. I know a lot of people run Postwar, there are quite a few running MPC too. Postwar is probably more common that MPC when it comes to running though. They were built to last (same goes for prewar trains)

quote:

Originally posted by SantaFe158:

quote:

Originally posted by JC642:
LOl, In case you haven't noticed, you;ll find very few PW, MPC or early LTI O gauge trains still operating on layouts today.
I'd imagine most of whatever survived now retired is displayed somewhere on a wall of fame. Living a static life in infamy.
Joe

I think you're wrong about that. I know a lot of people run Postwar, there are quite a few running MPC too. Postwar is probably more common that MPC when it comes to running though. They were built to last (same goes for prewar trains)

I run MPC, LTI, some modern, and a little postwar. I don't want anything command-equipped and actually don't even have much interest in sound. Most "new" O-gauge just doesn't have that O-gauge "feeling" to me. They're just bigger versions of HO models, which is fine but not what I'm looking for.

To each his/her own.

quote:

This is the set that sent me down the road to ruin - my wife gave it to me as a wedding gift in 1997; my brother purchased the SP set 6 months prior. This set will return this year to taking it's rightful place under the Christmas tree.

quote:

Originally posted by mlavender480:

quote:

Originally posted by SantaFe158:

quote:

Originally posted by JC642:
LOl, In case you haven't noticed, you;ll find very few PW, MPC or early LTI O gauge trains still operating on layouts today.
I'd imagine most of whatever survived now retired is displayed somewhere on a wall of fame. Living a static life in infamy.
Joe

I think you're wrong about that. I know a lot of people run Postwar, there are quite a few running MPC too. Postwar is probably more common that MPC when it comes to running though. They were built to last (same goes for prewar trains)

I run MPC, LTI, some modern, and a little postwar. I don't want anything command-equipped and actually don't even have much interest in sound. Most "new" O-gauge just doesn't have that O-gauge "feeling" to me. They're just bigger versions of HO models, which is fine but not what I'm looking for.

To each his/her own.

I have my moods when it comes to the different era's of train production. Sometimes I put away all my command engines and run nothing but postwar, or conventional modern stuff, some days I just want to run command stuff with sound and the postwar stuff get's put on the shelf. I like both equally, but either might not be for some people. That's their decision to make, not mine

quote:

Originally posted by Putnam Division:
I will start off with the set that got me into Command Control...the 1996 NYC Geep Command Control set. A lightning stripe NYC postwar-style Geep with command control and RailSounds...with 4 postwar-style freight cars. The set included a Cab-1 remote.



What a value! It listed for $299.95. Yes, it lacks a lot of detail and yes, it is basic TMCC with only RailSounds 2....but it rounds and sounds today like it was just out of the box. in fact, I'll put the RailSounds on this engine against any more modern one! Drawbar pull is about a pound...that means 12-15 modern cars, no sweat. I like this engine so much that I got its brothers the NYC 2383 and Pennsy 2028.

Very timely. I just bought one of those engines and I too like the sound. One thing it didn't have was electrocouplers. I have some of those in my parts bin and installed a front and rear, fit perfectly, and plug right in to the board (almost...I had to separate the two leads from each one and put one lead from each into a two pin plug, and the other lead from each one to a "ground" tab).

Silver Lake....you must be reading my mind!
I have 4 more sets from this era to show . I'll be shooting their pics over the next week or so...

Peter

My favorite boxed sets from the MPC Era

Just added "The Hulk" to my collection:



I always liked these colorful big diesel unit trains from the MPC and Kughn Eras.

Here's a set from very late in the game. Right before Lionel moved overseas, they introduced the Baltimore & Ohio EM-1, and in the next catalog brought out a rather scarce set of hoppers specifically made to compliment the engine. To this day I have not found any other photos displaying the engine and cars together as a set:

quote:

I have my moods when it comes to the different era's of train production. Sometimes I put away all my command engines and run nothing but postwar, or conventional modern stuff,

Yea, I'm the same way. Took this guy off the shelf a few days ago and cleaned it up. One of my few remaining MPC engines. It ran perfectly..
Its been awhile since I heard that loud buzzing E-unit & pulmor.
Joe

I often talk about how "when I have company, I run my postwar engines, because they never give me trouble." Well, I have 3 sets from the 1990's, and they are just as reliable. They are:

Lionel Union Pacific Steam Freight Set (my first set from 1993)




Lionel Amtrak Alco Passenger Set (I have the add on cars which gives you a 7 or 8 car train, and a dummy diesel with a horn)

http://www.grzyboskitrains.com/detail10241.aspx

Lionel Navy Set

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lionel...A-Made-/310346769007


Obviously, those are not videos or pictures of my sets. I just posted them to show you what set I meant.

I'm with Skip on this one:




This was our first MPC era set. We would later get the Southern Crescent and Blue Comet sets, but they were nowhere near as much fun as this freight set. It was the desire to set this train back up around my Christmas tree that started me on the path got me back into the hobby.

The box on my set still has the original price tag on it. My dad bought the set in '75 or '76 and paid $149.95 (before sales tax). It doesn't seem like a lot now, but that is roughly equal to $595.00 in today's money.

Andy

Here is one of my favorite sets, the Royal Limited from 1980. Colorful graphics on the engine, a JLC series boxcar, crane car and operating radioactive waste car just to name some of the rolling stock.

quote:

Originally posted by CarGuyZM10:
I often talk about how "when I have company, I run my postwar engines, because they never give me trouble." Well, I have 3 sets from the 1990's, and they are just as reliable. They are:

Lionel Union Pacific Steam Freight Set (my first set from 1993)




Lionel Amtrak Alco Passenger Set (I have the add on cars which gives you a 7 or 8 car train, and a dummy diesel with a horn)

http://www.grzyboskitrains.com/detail10241.aspx

Lionel Navy Set

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lionel...A-Made-/310346769007


Obviously, those are not videos or pictures of my sets. I just posted them to show you what set I meant.

I happen to own a lot of sets from 1970 to the late 90s actually that is what makes up most of my collection. The video of the Union Pacific Express train set is actually mine and that is one of my favorite sets I like it because it was so deluxe and I liked the cars and the 4-4-2 and I thank you for posting it. Recently I have been upgrading a lot of my postwar and MPC items with new led light bulbs from dans drumheads and they look great. This time was one of my favorite eras of Lionel and K line.

quote:

my favorite eras of Lionel and K line.

Liam 98

The sets were nice but over the years I've tried to pick a favorite engine from the Made in America modern era. (1970-2001) Unable to ever get it down to just one. My favorites seem to change with the weather.
If I had to choose today, you don't hear or see it around very often these days but I think the 13 car Disney set from the 70's has to be near the top..
Also, at the time I loved the JC Penney silver shadow Hudson.
Joe

Contrary to some opinions, many of us operate our MPC era trains.

Here is the handsome MPC MoPac GP-20, with a string of MoPac K-Line Streamliners.

Here is a video of my Lionel 8020 and 8021 upgraded to LED lighting pulling a big string of cars. 8020 and 8021

quote:

Originally posted by Liam:

quote:

Originally posted by CarGuyZM10:
I often talk about how "when I have company, I run my postwar engines, because they never give me trouble." Well, I have 3 sets from the 1990's, and they are just as reliable. They are:

Lionel Union Pacific Steam Freight Set (my first set from 1993)




Lionel Amtrak Alco Passenger Set (I have the add on cars which gives you a 7 or 8 car train, and a dummy diesel with a horn)

http://www.grzyboskitrains.com/detail10241.aspx

Lionel Navy Set

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lionel...A-Made-/310346769007


Obviously, those are not videos or pictures of my sets. I just posted them to show you what set I meant.

I happen to own a lot of sets from 1970 to the late 90s actually that is what makes up most of my collection. The video of the Union Pacific Express train set is actually mine and that is one of my favorite sets I like it because it was so deluxe and I liked the cars and the 4-4-2 and I thank you for posting it. Recently I have been upgrading a lot of my postwar and MPC items with new led light bulbs from dans drumheads and they look great. This time was one of my favorite eras of Lionel and K line.

It is a great set, and was a great way to get started in the hobby. I wish the big companies would still make cheap(er) sets of quality, with 5 cars and all the extras.

Speaking of Service Station Sets, how about the 1990 set with the green 2400 series cars? The locomotive was strange with the light gray color and stripes, but the cars were a faithful reincarnation of the 2400-01-02 cars.

I have this set, which may be brought out for the Christmas layout.

I have collected the original MPC "banner Box" cars for the last few years, since many were carry-overs from postwar Lionel.

I think this is it Larry. Another one of my favorites, but could have done a better job with the locomotive paint job.

A Lionel set, c.1983 or so, set me back twenty four years.

My sons were little and I wanted to get a Christmas toy train tradition started. My Lionel experience was from the fifties, so I bought the kids a set at the local true value hardware store, based on it said "Lionel" on the box. No train stores in the boonies.

Also, no pc's back then, no internet, I bought the Lionel name, based on my splendid childhood experiences. Set turned out to be a piece of crap! Indefensible DC powered plastic garbage. After Christmas it ended up in the dumpster, no regrets except I could use the O-27 track today. If it wasn't for the quality of the Polar Express set I bought in '07 I wouldn't be here.

Pete

NYC fan: Yes that was and is a great set. I did some extra enhancements of putting wire hand rails on the boiler/steamchest and changed out the drive from a D&H loco to get whitewalls on the loco. I further added trainsounds to the tender by changing out the old chassis for one that was already outfitted with the system. It is a tight fit, requiring one to trim the corners off the whistle motor retainer so it would fit inside. The chasis sits a 1/4 inch lower in the plastic tender shell, so a new mounting screw hole on the metal frame needs to be drilled to keep it all level. This is at the drawerbar end of the shell, while the other end has the two metal tabs that slide into the tender shell. A small amount of rebending of the tabs are needed to again level off the shell on the metal frame. Not really a lot of work but a great end result! No extra cars were ever added top this set, so I became inventive. I got an extra coach andadded the older O27 vista dome window strips that have the blinds in the center area. I also added two roof vents that are used on the diner cars to have this car simulate a tavern/lounge car. I makes a nice addition to the set of a car (diner) that was never made for it. Dennis M.

My MPC Amtrak 8466 will pull the 2 dummy units ams about 6-7 mpc 2400 type MPC passenger cars.

The Great Northern and Pennsylvania sets from the Famous American Railroad series. My 2 most favorite engines/sets of all time. Even with all of the technology today, I still love running, and hearing them.

Bill

Here is another sharp looking set from the 1970s, 1977 to be exact, the 1765 Rocky Mountain Special.

wtblake,
My opinion the Great Northern set was the nicest of all five sets. The extra stock car that came later really made this set a home run.

ed h,
You are right. A very attractive train set. Back in the eighties and early nineties this was a great set to break up and sell the pieces individually. Back then, the flat with trailers brought the most money. Living here in western PA. we could sell the B.& L.E. hopper and chrome Gulf tank car all day and night. I never could get enough of those two cars. I'm sure this train set put a smile on a lot of young enginers faces on Christmas morning.

quote:

My opinion the Great Northern set was the nicest of all five sets. The extra stock car that came later really made this set a home run.

I agree with you. Of all the MPC freight sets I once owned, its the only one I kept. I did hang on to the grey UP Berkshire with smoke lifters from the previous set.
Here she is in a photo taken a some time ago..
Now how could anyone not love this guy?
An MPC classic if there ever was one..
Joe

Lionel made gradual additions as production went on (the more recent versions added diecast fuel tanks and pilots, cab interiors with crew figures, electrocouplers, RailSounds improvements and additions [like crew talk] as those became available, etc.

These engines are about as bulletproof as you can get, and from even a short distance away it's pretty hard to tell a "scale" version Geep from these so- called traditional Geeps (which are scale sized as well, of course).

as awesome as these engines sound I think I'm going to start to be on the look out for one of these. They look very nice.

JC642,
Thank you for sharing with us your U.P. steam engine. It looks great. You are fortunate to have a nice looking one. The gray paint on a lot of the boilers have begun to turn yellow.

quote:

Originally posted by jim sutter:
wtblake,
My opinion the Great Northern set was the nicest of all five sets. The extra stock car that came later really made this set a home run.

Jim, you're right, the stock car was great. It really did make the set.

Bill

wtblake,
Not only that but I always felt the Great Northern stock car was the nicest of all the extra cars made for the other four sets.

The 1989 Lionel LTI Canadian Pacific Freight Set. Led by a Red SD 40 this is one nice looking Lionel Freight Set.

Many thanks,

Billy C

William Cunningham,
Orange is my favorite color. Therefore, the Sclair hopper car in this set was a instant hit with me.

Jim Sutter, you are right. When I purchased the set back in 1990 my wife told me how great looking the Sclair hopper car was. When I put this set on the layout, it just looks good and powerful.

Many thanks,

Billy C

Does anyone have references from 1970-1976...especially for Sears sets? I am trying to research my first set from 1970, and then maybe buy one?

I have acquired the B&M GP that I got after that... but I wanted to set too...

Another nice set from the early 1980s, 1981 to be exact. The Maple Leaf Limited. Up to a few years ago I had this set, I now regret selling it, it was a very sharp looking set.

Never could figure out why this set does not have a flat car or work caboose for the crane car!

quote:

Never could figure out why this set does not have a flat car or work caboose for the crane car!

Agreed - Shortly after Lionel came out with the 6205 CP gondola which looks good next to the crane car.

quote:

Originally posted by Geoff:
Never could figure out why this set does not have a flat car or work caboose for the crane car!

Simple - so you could then buy another Lionel produced item to complete the set. A favorite marketing technique.

quote:

JC642,
Thank you for sharing with us your U.P. steam engine. It looks great. You are fortunate to have a nice looking one. The gray paint on a lot of the boilers have begun to turn yellow.

Yea Jim, I guess I'm lucky. This engine has been on a display shelf most of its life with no discoloring yet. Love these Iconic old & colorful MPC Berks.
Amazing, Back in the 70's-80's folks wanted all the PW classics redecorated & modernized.
Unlike today these MPC guys are unique, all American and scream character.
Why everyone wants their chinese clones dull coated, lifeless, boring and close to the old originals I'll never know...My opinion, If you want it to look like the original, buy an original. There's plenty of it out there & it's probably cheaper then the new imported clones.
Here's another MPC favorite.

ed h,
The Maple Leaf Limited set was another set that was great for breaking up and selling the pieces individually. The British Columbia tank car was one of the nicest "O" gauge tank car Lionel built. We kept one on our layout for years. The diesel in this set was very attractive and it came with a electronic horn. Even with out a flat car or gondola the crane car was in high demand. The Chessie crane car from the Royal Limited set and this Canadian Pacific crane car our two of the nicest crane cars Lionel has produced.

JC642,
Your Chessie Berkshire is the prettiest Berkshire Lionel built. That yellow, orange and blue paint just jumps out at you. With a long string of those matching yellow passenger cars behind this engine just spells the word WINNER.

quote:

Originally posted by jim sutter:
JC642,
Your Chessie Berkshire is the prettiest Berkshire Lionel built. That yellow, orange and blue paint just jumps out at you. With a long string of those matching yellow passenger cars behind this engine just spells the word WINNER.

Thanks Jim. Hard to imagine some of these guys are already 30+ years old..
With so many beautifully decorated engines to pick from its a tough call...
If I can find a few shots of some others, I'll poist them here Let others decide..
Joe

quote:

Originally posted by ed h:
Another nice set from the early 1980s, 1981 to be exact. The Maple Leaf Limited. Up to a few years ago I had this set, I now regret selling it, it was a very sharp looking set.

I always thought those different Limited sets Lionel did in those years, one each year for 6 or 7 years or so, were really gorgeous sets. Even the packaging was absolutely first-rate, with the colorful and decorated outside boxes and separately packaged cars inside. If I'd been a kid and gotten one of those sets under the tree, I would have been thrilled. They still look beautiful.

They certainly would rank as one of the prime Exhibits in the argument of how far MPC raised the bar in bringing beautiful color decoration to O Gauge trains.

quote:

Originally posted by SantaFe158:

quote:

Originally posted by JC642:
LOl, In case you haven't noticed, you;ll find very few PW, MPC or early LTI O gauge trains still operating on layouts today.
I'd imagine most of whatever survived now retired is displayed somewhere on a wall of fame. Living a static life in infamy.
Joe

I think you're wrong about that. I know a lot of people run Postwar, there are quite a few running MPC too. Postwar is probably more common that MPC when it comes to running though. They were built to last (same goes for prewar trains)

Yes, I think JC is wrong, too. Not only have the MPC trains survived, but in attending train shows, I see quite a few MPC era trains being run. One large club here always runs some, using TPCs to run them with TMCC. Also, some operators have added ERR conversion kits to MPC-era engines to give them full TMCC capabilities.

breezinup,
Your comment about the Lionel packaging on these limited sets is right on target. They made these sets stand out from all their other products. breezinup, you mentioned how if you were a youngster and received one of these sets you would be glad. Thiry years ago I was 35. Twenty years later I was still thrilled everytime I would find one of these sets at a show still new in their box that I could take back to the store to resale. I have always loved these sets.

quote:

Originally posted by jim sutter:
NYC Fan,
That N.Y.C. steam freight set was a great train set to break up and sell the pieces individually back in the 1980's.

Yup. That set was always sought after. The set was unusual in that it was full of great cars, and every single car in the set became a "hot" car. The stock car was somewhat less desirable than the others, but every one of them became high-dollar car.

quote:

Originally posted by jim sutter:
wtblake,
Not only that but I always felt the Great Northern stock car was the nicest of all the extra cars made for the other four sets.

Speaking of stock cars, although it wasn't one of the add-ons, I've always thought the stock car for the Southern FARR set was really a standout, with its dark green body and contrasting dark red roof and doors.

quote:

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

Wow, Jim, you're old!

Thirty years ago I was only 33.



(Scarey. )

Although it did not come with a set box, here is my favorite including the add-on stock car from 1989.

FARR #5 from 1984 / 1985.

Donald

quote:

Originally posted by jim sutter:
wtblake,
Not only that but I always felt the Great Northern stock car was the nicest of all the extra cars made for the other four sets.

Yup, and and as breezinup mentioned the Southern one is quite nice as well.
Donald very nice pictures.

Bill

quote:

My opinion the Great Northern set was the nicest of all five sets. The extra stock car that came later really made this set a home run.

I have all 5 FARR sets and I agree, the Great Northern is my favorite. My first Lionel engine was a 736 Berkshire, so when FARR 2,3 and 4 were announced with the Berkshire shell, I had to have them.

quote:

Originally posted by breezinup:

quote:

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

The "Great Lakes Express"--pictured by Skip on the previous page--has long been one of my favorites. I have that set, given to me by someone very special in my life and still in pristine condition, and it ranks high on the short list of trains I will never part with. I think I was most attracted by the green passenger cars that closely resembled what I remembered seeing years earlier in postwar catalogs, but I also, for whatever reason, also like that light gray small steamer.

Alan

I just picked up that set and it is all original, but oddly came packaged with two Lansing coaches, instead of a Lansing coach and a Detroit coach.

I was curious if anyone had run across this. Also, how often do these appear in a set breakup so that I could add the missing Detriot coach?

quote:

Originally posted by breezinup:

quote:

Originally posted by ed h:
Another nice set from the early 1980s, 1981 to be exact. The Maple Leaf Limited. Up to a few years ago I had this set, I now regret selling it, it was a very sharp looking set.

I always thought those different Limited sets Lionel did in those years, one each year for 6 or 7 years or so, were really gorgeous sets. Even the packaging was absolutely first-rate, with the colorful and decorated outside boxes and separately packaged cars inside. If I'd been a kid and gotten one of those sets under the tree, I would have been thrilled. They still look beautiful.

They certainly would rank as one of the prime Exhibits in the argument of how far MPC raised the bar in bringing beautiful color decoration to O Gauge trains.

I have most of the cars (missing the gondola)for a Seaboard Limited set. Was the engine for this the green and yellow GP9 or the black and red NW2?

Silver Lake,
I believe the diesel you are referring to was the #8063 Seaboard SD-9. It was made in 1980. My favorite tank car was in that set #9369 Sinclair.

breezinup,
You are correct. The Southern stock car from the #4 FARR set was a great looking car. Also, happy to hear your birthday cake has just about as many candles on it as mind does.

3rail,
When the Penna #5 FARR set was shipped, our shipment came by freight carrier. It was the first time we ever received a shipment of electric trains by tractor and trailer. I wasn't at the store that day. However, my wife and her mother were so excited they took pictures of the truck being unloaded.

My plan this weekend is to take pics of my other sets of this era:

NYC Mixed passenget/freight
Conrail sale set

and 3 more surprises (sets) that haven't been mentioned.

Thank you to all who have contributed to this threads. I have learned a great deal about the MPC era and love the set pics!


Peter

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.

quote:

Originally posted by wtblake:

quote:

Originally posted by breezinup:

quote:

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.

quote:

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.

quote:

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.