Please see the few quick pics I took. This is a very nice set and a great value. The Loco looks great and the boxcar and caboose add a nice splash of color to the black hoppers (as appropriate). Very glad I pre-ordered this one.
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The trucks on the Geep look pretty good...👍
Mark in Oregon
Thanks for the quick review of the Clinchfield set. It looks better than expected. Looking forward to getting this set as well as the Texas Pacific set.
Yeah I like the rework of the GP but still want to see reissues in the original Gilbert style as well. Those long trucks give it that ACG American Flyer look. I also thought I would not like that 1990s era AF caboose modelled after MPCs worst 027 caboose design IMO but it works here.
I think the painting and graphics on the Clinchfield set are top notch. The trucks are as bad as the original Gilbert GP7 trucks, just bad in a different way. The shells are identical.
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Wow, I didn’t realize that the Gilbert trucks were so much longer than the Lionel trucks. Admittedly, the Lionel trucks look a tad short but I think they look better.
For comparison, here is an American Models GP9 with correctly sized trucks.
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Love the pictures. I am very interested to get mine.
Ben
@AmFlyer posted:I think the painting and graphics on the Clinchfield set are top notch. The trucks are as bad as the original Gilbert GP7 trucks, just bad in a different way. The shells are identical.
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Well, to play Devil's advocate, the Lionel Flyer trucks are a significant operational and cosmetic improvement over Gilbert's version. The new power truck 'works better' on the GP7's on which they are painted black (e.g., the Nickel Plate Road). The AM trucks would look "too fussy" on what is an update of a 1950 Postwar model intended primarily as a toy. Compared to this, the liberties that Lionel took on their PW O gauge trains are much more egregious. I assume that most here are aware that the Gilbert GP7 trucks are too long because Gilbert utilized the power truck intended for the PA's to produce another diesel in the line.
For what it is intended, the Clinchfield set looks like an appealing cost effective winner. Enjoy!
Bob
I have had my UP FlyerChief for a few years now. From an operational standpoint I rate it excellent. The four small roller pickups work great. I never ran it on Gilbert track , rather on MTH flex with mostly #6 and #8 turnouts. It looks like the small roller pickup could hang up on the metal frog point on the #8 turnouts but they do not. These trucks were apparently thoroughly tested with AF FasTrack. The pulling power is good. Mine will start and pull 15 freight cars (mix of Gilbert and AM) up a 2.25% grade. At 18 cars it can keep the train moving but cannot start it on the grade. That is a longer train than most purchasers will run.
The trucks are about the right length, just too tall. The Gilbert trucks are way off. The silver tucks on the UP really stand out even while running on the layout as too tall. The black trucks on the Clinchfield should just disappear when running so the size will not be noticed.
@AmFlyer posted:I have had my UP FlyerChief for a few years now. From an operational standpoint I rate it excellent. The four small roller pickups work great. I never ran it on Gilbert track , rather on MTH flex with mostly #6 and #8 turnouts. It looks like the small roller pickup could hang up on the metal frog point on the #8 turnouts but they do not. These trucks were apparently thoroughly tested with AF FasTrack. The pulling power is good. Mine will start and pull 15 freight cars (mix of Gilbert and AM) up a 2.25% grade. At 18 cars it can keep the train moving but cannot start it on the grade. That is a longer train than most purchasers will run.
The trucks are about the right length, just too tall. The Gilbert trucks are way off. The silver tucks on the UP really stand out even while running on the layout as too tall. The black trucks on the Clinchfield should just disappear when running so the size will not be noticed.
Wholeheartedly agree with your review, Tom. I would only add that my sample of the NKP GP7 operates just fine on Gilbert track and switches, as well. Black trucks on a mostly black diesel translates into a fairly sharp looking engine. The electrocouplers are useful and the FlyerChief horn and bell sounds are decent. My only quibble is that the motive power sounds can be grating; however, one can adjust the volume to suit. I would be willing to wager that the T+P freight set is going to be pretty sharp.
Bob
I found a picture of the pulling test. My memory is slightly off. If one blows up the picture and counts the cars there are two MTH cars and 18 Gilbert and Lionel AF cars in the consist, 20 total. The 180deg, 30”R curve is visible in the middle of the 2.25% grade. The GP7 pulled this with just a little wheel slip. It would not start that train on the grade. I consider that outstanding for the relatively light, single motor FlyerChief GP7.
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Tom, I'd love to see more of your layout! Have got a Youtube video or other?
If you click on my name at the top of the post, my profile will come up. Click on Posts, the first post that shows should be Layout Photo's.
I do not have a video channel. Go to www.nasg.org, click on Layouts, then click on "S" in the drop down. Go to Smartt, select Western Pennsylvania, for a video taken at the the end of construction.
