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Post by harborbelt70 on Oct 14, 2023 6:52:26 GMT
To kick off this side shot weekly episode I thought I'd feature a true Lionel classic - indeed what I think is the finest model diesel they've ever made - the die cast GE Evolution Hybrid ES44AC from 2010:
As we are talking on other threads about the latest VL model (Triplex) and there's a poll about preferences among steam, diesel and electric models, it seems right to mention this one. This engine is so feature rich (but has never given me any operating issue) that I think it represents the height of the true innovation Lionel once did. It's early Legacy and so modular boards but excels what Lionel has done since with new-fangled RCMC and sound boards. Somewhere I have a movie of it running with the unique sound, smoke and lighting features but this review from Eric's Trains probably does it better justice:
Later Lionel VL features are more gimmicky IMHO and I don't expect them to better this model any time soon. Just my 2¢ FWIW.
And apologies if this is too much info but a page of the Evo manual gives a run-down of its signature sound and smoke system. MTH copied the charging lights feature of this engine and literally did it to death in repeated issues of ES44s, including their own version of the Evo, but the realism attempted in the Lionel version has never been equalled:
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Post by curtis on Oct 14, 2023 14:33:33 GMT
Great Engine BUT I still prefer MTH over Lionel.
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Post by af3020 on Oct 14, 2023 15:45:50 GMT
In the interests of keeping with the spirit of last week's Side Shot Saturday, since Harborbelt70 has opened with a picture of one of the big guys I'll offer up another picture of one of the little fellows. Ives clockwork ca. 1906  |
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Post by harborbelt70 on Oct 14, 2023 18:15:01 GMT
In the interests of keeping with the spirit of last week's Side Shot Saturday, since Harborbelt70 has opened with a picture of one of the big guys I'll offer up another picture of one of the little fellows. Ives clockwork ca. 1906
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Post by healey36 on Oct 14, 2023 19:12:58 GMT
Okay, harborbelt, can't wait to see the tinplate. Here's a Hafner that I found at an estate sale a few years back; not 100% sure the loco and tender go together, but they were in the same box:  Busted pilot and a weak spring, though. |
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Post by atsda on Oct 15, 2023 1:18:02 GMT
Lionel 736 with tender and 2500 Silver Series passenger cars side view running
youtu.be/UpkGJ2xlA58
Lionel 736 with tender and 2500 Silver Series passenger cars side view panning
youtu.be/QQ32moo_0a8
Alfred
(Fortunately these were recorded the day before the accident.)
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Post by david1 on Oct 15, 2023 3:16:17 GMT
 A five stripe and a solid stripe gg1, two smooth running locomotives. Dave
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Post by af3020 on Oct 15, 2023 3:41:44 GMT
Sounds good harborbelt70....since you will have the oldies covered next week I'll try to scrounge up something of recent vintage to post.  |
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Post by 4dogsinjersey on Oct 15, 2023 5:07:00 GMT
My meager contribution is one of my favorite engines. I have a thing for high hoods and this Lionel GP30 was on my get list for a long time…finally found one…  Tom |
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Post by ptc on Oct 15, 2023 17:03:59 GMT
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Post by af3020 on Oct 15, 2023 17:28:17 GMT
healey36, I did some rummaging through various references and as near as I can tell your engine came with the one you have as well as with the earlier tender version which looks a lot like the American Flyer #328 tender.
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Post by harborbelt70 on Oct 15, 2023 18:29:41 GMT
WOW. That is colourful and illuminated. Well done Brian!Attachments:
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Post by Adam on Oct 15, 2023 18:46:52 GMT
I love the passenger cars you put behind the OGF engine! Just a wonderful scene!
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Post by healey36 on Oct 18, 2023 15:12:18 GMT
healey36, I did some rummaging through various references and as near as I can tell your engine came with the one you have as well as with the earlier tender version which looks a lot like the American Flyer #328 tender. Thanks for the verification, af; I wasn't sure and couldn't put my hands on any reference material that seemed trustworthy. Didn't Hafner and Flyer collude on some stuff? It all seemed to get rather muddled in the early 1930's when the market went into the tank, Ives folded, and cash was scarce (for both buyers and manufacturers). I seem to recall an Overland Flyer set made by Hafner around 1933-1934, marketed in conjunction with the Century of Progress fair in Chicago.
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Post by af3020 on Oct 18, 2023 19:28:37 GMT
Hafner and Flyer started out together in 1908. The split came in 1914 but there was a lot of carryover in terms of train styles. The Flyer offerings for various train items mirrored aspects of the Hafner line into the 1920's. Some Examples Flyer Erie Coach  Hafner Erie Coach  Flyer Tenders   Hafner Tenders   Hafner made a special Century of Progress set which consisted of a #1110 sheet metal locomotive with an operating headlight and a string of 5 1/2" passenger cars with simplified lithography. American Flyer was also at the Century of Progress. They offered a special lithographed floor trolly which was marked "1933 A Century of Progress", however, to the best of my knowledge they did not offer a train set specific to the Century of Progress. I do have one item of interest. Years ago I purchased a clockwork Flyer set at York. It had some additional paper in a large envelope which I examined once I got the set home. Included was a sales slip and a note from what appears to be the original owner indicating they bought the set at the Century of Progress. The engine and cars do match what was available in 1933 so I'll take the word of that long ago owner as a statement of fact. This is the set.  |
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