I’m starting to shop for a Lionel RS-3. It seems like Lionel has produced many versions - post war, MPC era, and modern.
Who is running what, and how do you like them?
Great topic. Iam going to a meet tomorrow and a RS-3 is one thing I will be looking for.
I have the JC Penny Susquehanna. Neat looking engine. Needs some cab detail and eventually upgrade to TMCC. Pretty strong puller too.
Dennis
The first Lionel RS-3’s came out after the MPC era in 1988 starting with Soo Line and Santa Fe. They have twin horizontal can motors in the trucks and are smooth running, good pullers. Lionel later offered cheaper single motor versions for starter sets. These are not as powerful as the twin motor versions. You have to be careful because some roads such as GN were offered both ways. I’ve got a UP from 1989 and like it a lot. Pulls lots of cars and looks good doing it.
I have the original Great Northern with dual can motors, metal frame, horn and metal handrails and it is nice. They made a later one with plastic frame and trucks for a starter set, so watch out (although there is nothing inherently wrong with those single-motor-plastic frame models)
These locos are really nice looking and inexpensive to boot. The first several do not have a horn, however, so watch for that, too. All of them have plastic trucks.
One thing you need to do with all of them is make sure the light bulb inside the cab is not rubbing against the roof. If it is, it can burn a whole thru it when it gets hot. Fix is to tape a piece of aluminum foil (I would use double-thiuckness) to the roof above the lightbulb to protect the plastic roof.
I like these engines, overall, just fine and have one version of each type (dual motor and single motor).
I’ve got one of the earlier models, the UP from 1990ish. It’s the two motor type with no horn. Paint looks nice, pulls good, and is very quiet. I’d post a picture of it, but I can’t find it at the moment [%-)]
J White
Thanks all.
I’ll start looking for a dual motor version.
My plan is to kit bash it with a GP-7 or GP-9 long hood to model one of the few RS-3’s that the KATY line had overhauled and re-powered by EMD in the late 50’s.