Friends,
A year ago, the Lionel Vision Line Big Boy was all the rage on this forum. Some members were paying about $2000 or more to buy one.
The Lionel LionMaster Challenger was just released, and while not a Vision Line model with stereo sound and depleting coal load, is of interest to many of us who like highly detailed traditionally sized steam engines with steam whistle and great sound, but don't have the money and/or curves for a scale sized engine engine that costs $2,000. The LM Challengers, have sparked a lot of interest here, although they are not Vision Line Models, or even scale size. In its 2015 Signature Edition catalog, at pages 40-41, Lionel offered a total of 5 choices, 3 Union Pacific Challengers, (two black models and a gray one), a black Rio Grande model that is part green in color, and a black Western Maryland edition that is red over the engine cab, and red on the tender deck.
I bought the Western Maryland version as it was the best looking to me, and is an eastern road name.
Which one did you buy AND why, and if you didn't buy one, which one do you like best?
Post your responses below, and thanks for reading.
Erol Gurcan
