Since this novel Lionel North Pole Central set was introduced, at my office it has been a fun set to run. Each year at Thanksgiving, the set is put back on display at the VA Medical Center where I work. The North Pole Central freight runs on the inside loop, while the seven reindeer passenger cars are on the outside loop pulled by a Christmas Hudson. The several sidings are loaded with the normal layout trains.
Now I am eager to get the two final reindeer passenger cars and eagerly await the announcement. My dealer Mark, at the “Market Street Hardware and Toytown” has received no news on when they will be announced as available. I have twice e-mailed Lionel inquiries with no response whatsoever. I hope I am not the only person collecting these pieces. (Or maybe I do!)
Anyway the veterans come into my office year round and enjoy the trains, during the Christmas season they always bring in family!
Dave…Can’t help you with the North Pole Central, but over the years several on the forum have been known to send a train donation to VA Centers. Is this something you would like to be included in?
Thanks for the offer. Possibly when I am ready to retire, a donation may be needed. Hopefully I will make it two more years before even starting to phase out. When a retirement date is established, I plan to donate a decent layout to the Chillicothe VAMC. Which if accepted, would most likely be set up in the Volunteer Service building.
By the way I also have a nice Marx layout at the Ironton AMVETS post. I work there every Wednesday.
I wish Lionel would answer my e-mails…
David,
I have all the NPC pieces that Lionel has produced since 1998. You reference 2 additional passenger cars, however I think you will only ever see one more (if ever). There have been 7 cars produced to date:
Cupid: Full Length Vista Dome
Donner: Diner
Vixen: Vista Dome
Comet: Baggage
Dasher: Combination
Dancer: Coach
Prancer: Observation
Of the original 7 the only missing reindeer is Blitzen, MTH has been manufacturing the Rudolph set for a few years now so I would bet they won’t allow Lionel to produce a Rudolph car.
Thanks Brent. I have them all as well. Hopefully MTH has not bought the copyright on Rudolph, as I love the NPC and really would enjoy seeing Blitzen and Rudolph in the consist. All that being said, it appears we may not see Blitzen even in the eight tiny reindeer soon!
I still wish Lionel would answer one of my several e-mails.