Norfolk Southern Heritage Units--Lionel and MTH offerings

Some qualifiers are in order for me. If they were made in also a conventional version, and dependent on price, I might go with the Illinois Terminal. I would have to see a production sample and read a review from one of the folks at OGR. If all that lines up positive, then it's the IT version as a semi-firm decision. A tough choice though among a comparatively large set of choices which is a good thing in my book. I wonder if Williams by Bachman will follow suit, although I would think that would mean a glut of product and probably not likely..one can always hope. I just hope this is not one of those lottery pre-order deals which I suspect it will be. I would be nicely surprised if all are actually produced, of course then the question is 2013 as the shipping date? I am taking a wait and see attitude toward these releases although IT is my choice

I will be buying Lionel's version simply because I run TMCC and Legacy.

 

The road names I'm interested in are CNJ, PRR, NYC, Erie, Lehigh Valley, Reading and DL&W. I chose these basically because of where I live. Whether I get all of these or just a couple will depend on the cost and my finances at the time.

 

I had a thought. Since there are 18 road names, and I would assume that most will want to get more than one road name, it would be nice if the manufacturers would put together a package deal and offer a discount for purchasing 4, 6, 8, name your number.

 

It's interesting that there is no Penn Central. I think they were a part of this consolidation somehow.

 

Vic

I will be in for a Legacy  Pennsylvania, nor sure about New York Central.

 

As for no Penn Central, well who really wants to remember Penn Central (shudder)  That would be like making a commemorative train set celebrating the Titanic or some other major disaster.

I have both command systems, so that is not the issue here. I can see myself buying the Virginian, Interstate and the NYC all from MTH. I have been dissatisfied with the paint jobs on the last couple of Lionel diesels I have purchased. The think MTH does a better job on their paint applications. Just my opinion.

Scott Smith

I'm 100% in for the NKP unit w/ PS3. The first set I got when I was about 5 was a Lionel Nickel Plate Special. Had a little soft spot ever since. Just take my money now.

All I have is DCS and I just dont feel the need to invest in Legacy, so I'll be buying MTH units.

I'm on the fence about a few more. If they're available as non-powered units that might sway my decision a bit, and it would further help the cause if the ones I want weren't cataloged together.

I'm envisioning something on top of the catalog page like a cereal box... "Collect all 18!"

i will be buying: southern, savannah and atlanta, and central of georgia. (MTH-Premier)...........rogerw.

I will buy the Original NS, CNJ, B&O From MTH. I wish they would do the Penn Central. I grew up seeing the Penn Central and although not beautiful, I like it.

Virginian and conrail... I have a nyc sd70 ace in mth it looks almost the same as the picture.. Now the price .... I want them in lionel but, if there 800 bucks each i might buy only one ..

Interesting.  If it were anyone else asking they would be most likely told they were just trying to stir the pot just by asking the question. 

 

Just an observation from previous threads that have started out the same way and have been removed.

Nonsense!  Stir what pot?  There is no pot to stir, and folks with any intelligence at all know that I'm not one who waves banners for any one manufacturer or product.  I buy trains that I like, and I couldn't care less who makes them or where they are made.

 

I simply find it interesting that two major manufacturers in our hobby announced and will be offering identical locomotives--18 from each, no less.  I'm interested in knowing why participants here have an interest in buying one line or the other (or both), and which of the models they might be considering, ranging from 1 to 18.

 

I don't care to hear from individuals who have no constructive on-topic  input to offer, or who have no plans to buy Heritage products from either manufacturer.

Lionel CNJ for me, as I run Legacy. If a dummy unit were produced, I would buy one of those, also.

 

I've morphed into an anthracite railroads layout.

 

(Purely an impulse, "gotta have" purchase for me. I have a small railroad where this huge beast does not belong. And, money is tight. But, seeing that Lady Liberty herald on this modern engine hooked me.)

With all due respect Allan, others who have the same attitude on non allegiance have been accused of the same thing when asking very similar questions. Even after adding they are not looking to start a bring war thread. Just an observation and certainly not accusing you of doing do.

Allan, I think you should get one of each and write a comparison for the next printing

 

-bruce

I am a big fan of the Interstate RR and have often thought of having some modern units custom painted in that scheme. I would eventually like to have four of the Interstate heritage units and re-number 3 of them.I would run one loop with 2 Lionels and 2 MTH units on the other loop,possibly with Weaver Interstate hoppers if they are ever released.(you can reserve them right now-and yes I know they are WWII era cars).

Actually, I don't plan on buying any of them since the "theme" I'm modeling now doesn't include those roads and I've just about reached my saturation point with train stuff.  Time now to devote more effort to layout building.

 

I am, however, going to write about these product offerings, and that directly relates to this posted topic  (but not as a review--I'll leave those to George Brown).

NS and Virginian.   I would prefer Overland make them in brass for us 2-railers but Lionel if I must.

I'm in for a Legacy PRR.

I'm contemplating a few of these...some of the possibilities would be Interstate, Original Norfolk Southern, Norfolk & Western, Central of NJ, Reading, PRR, and Illinois terminal.  

 

As for who's product I'd buy, much would depend on price, the nature of the shell (plastic vs. die-cast) and other features.

 

- Mike

I don't buy modern locomotives, but I may be in for the Wabash or NKP. If so, I would buy Lionel because I prefer them over MTH. Legacy sounds are better, to me. *I have locos from both manufacturers.

I'll be interested in too many road-names to decide now.

 

My last three engine purchases have all been Legacy (two diesels, one steam). I really like the Legacy sounds and think they are superior to my PS2 equipment.

 

I have a MTH RK LIRR RS-1 w/PS3 on order. If the PS3 sounds are up to snuff, MTH will be in the running again.

 

Ron

MTH because they are the only one likely to do it in scale wheels fixed pilots.

Lionel, Legacy sounds are miles ahead of PS3.

WHy would they paint a freight engine in Erie passenger colors?

MTH since only they offer versions with scale wheels and fixed pilots.

Lionel sounds are good but take a listen to some PS3 diesels. Miles ahead? That just may be overstating it a bit. I have both legacy and PS3 and both are great to my ears. Lets keep on topic here and I would like to know why NS will not do Penn Central? I love the Penn Central with all the dirt and rust those engines ran with. I saw them everyday so I do have an affinity for them.

Will be getting Lehigh Valley, Central of Georgia,Savannah & Atlanta,Reading. All MTH. This is great news!!!! Tom

Whoever does some unpowered versions.

I appreciate the responses made thus far, and look forward to even more over the coming few weeks.  I'm just trying to get a feel for the choices people make and the reasons for those choices.  You can be sure your input is helpful.

I have all of the UP Heritage powered units by MTH and several of the Lionel unpowered units.  Given all that I will only buy unpowered units based on price.  If the price is the same I'd buy MTH due to flange size.

I'm going to wait to see what they look like in the catalogs as they are offered. So far I'm liking the PRR and Conrail. To be honest it will probably come down to who makes what first.

ps3 is good but legacy is  better sorry .. I agree they closed the gap some..

Reviewing the heritage list, I did not see my favorite fallen flag, Pittsburgh and West Virginia which was bought up by Norfolk& Western.  So guess that settles that and keeps my wallet closed!!

May have an interest in the jersey central and Wabash. Will buy MTH as they are for the most part a more reliable product and p3 eliminates the battery problem

I'd be interested if MTH offered them in the Railking  Imperial SD-70ACe.   

 

It all depends on the following.

1. price.

2. Who comes out first with my roads, PRR,  RDG.

3. What about dummies?

4. Overall looks.

5. Did I mention price?

 

Bottom line I like to get as many as I can, we will see.

I might suggest two separate topics for this subject; one for Lionel and one for MTH. 

 

Allen should know by now that including orange and purple in the same topic is going to end up with mine is better than yours.  

 

It's started already with the this sound is better than that sound.  

 

It's like putting Chevy and Ford guys together in a confined space.  

Lionel! Nothing beats Railsounds and Legacy. I am in for the Reading to give my MPC U36B a rest, The Lackawanna, to give the MPC SD40's a rest, and the Conrail to give my other MPC SD40 a rest.

 

Mark

 

All Lionel...All the way...

I'm in for the Lionel Legacy PRR version (as long as it is Standard O and not Traditional).  Heck, I'm thinking about getting the MTH version of the same engine, too.

 

Andy