Along with so many other sales flyers, page 19 of the “Linens n Things” catalog in the Thanksgiving Day Chicago Tribune was mostly occupied by an ad for two Lionel toy trains.
I am not at all familar with the first. It is a “Polar Express” set G gauge and has a Berkshire engine, tender, coach and observation car and a couple of Polar Express figurines. It includes a 60 x 70 G gauge oval track and sells for $139.99. It is described as “Battery Operated”; is this something recent or new for Lionel?
The other ad is for a set that costs $199.99 and seems to me a lot more like the traditional “real deal” – O gauge (not .027, apparently), with “a 40 by 60 oval track, die-cast steam locomotive, tender, boxcar, flatcar with stakes, and caboose. Includes working headlights, air whistles, puffing smoke and operating coupler.” (Nothing is said about any power pack.)
These sets at these prices are available only Friday and Satuday, Nov. 23 and 24. If interested, try to score the harcopy flyer or print it out if possible, as it has a twenty-percent off coupon on the back.
I don’t know how much of a force Linens n Things is around the USA but in Chicagoland they are all over the place, on a par with Bed, Bath and Beyond.
Both of those I believe are every day prices for target in faact the G gauge polar set is 1 battery opperated and 2 its only $129.999 everyday at target. the other set is same price for every day at target. But yes Linens and things along with a few others are starting to pick up and carry a min. of lionel products.
Hi Al, I saw that too - nice big ad. That G- scale set has also been in a few catalogs I’ve received. I’ll run by tomorrow or Sat just to check it out.
I saw this G Scale Polar Express about a month ago at the local Linens n Things. I was surprised not only to see a G scale Lionel set but to see a battery powered set too. Pardon me if this is not something new but how long has Lionel been making these types of sets? They are new to me.
Doug…That streetcar in your signiture photo {I believe it is}, sure looks like the ones used in Johnstown, Pa., many years ago. Model seems correct and so does the color.
That was the Johnstown Traction Co. Abandoned in June of 1960. In fact, my avatar photo was taken in a restaurant in Johnstown, Pa.
The G scale Polar Express was introduced in one of the 2006 Lionel catalogs, if I’m not mistaken. Lionel has been making G scale (transformer powered) off and on for about 20 years or so. The G scale Polar Express is the first one to run off batteries that I know of.
I just pulled up Lionel’s web site. The G scale set was introduced this year it said. It lists for $129.99. It runs on a single 9 volt battery or six 1.5 volt batteries. It runs on plastic track and has a remote control for forward and reverse-no speed control. Has operateing head light and whistle.I have not seen this set, but from what I read, it is basically for under the Xmas tree, not as a G scale everyday model. The O scale polar express is track powered, just like the rest of Lionel. The G scale train is a good deal for a “train under the tree” thing, just not for a layout though. Just my opinion here. Ken
Lionel has done G scale battery for quite a few years off and on as they show up on ebay off and on normally don’t sell for much more than $30.00 second hand as most don’t want battery power.
Saying that they are a nice train for around the xmas tree . I think the main thing most don’t like is you have to keep spare batteries around so it runs when you want.
Quentin, it sure is a Johnstown trolley - complete with 11 station stops sounds - a wonderful product of Western Hobbycraft - and one of the biggest bargains in O scale. I use the initials of JTC for my layout
Yep, we have them out here also. My first response was, wondering how much negative impact that the battery operated PE would have. Then I got into this argument with myself and don’t know who won…
Will this set create more of a negative impact for potential enthusiasts? Or will it put a train set in the hands of some who couldnot otherwise?
My sister bough a $25 train 3 or 4 years ago for the tree. It was almost G Scale, and very highly decorated for Christmas. Their family truly enjoyed it, and would give me a bad time about how dood it was, and all the features it has compared to my “expensive” toys. Bad news was they were right! It had lights, smoked, didn’t talk but sang. and was vey attractive. Had an On/Off switch. Bottom line they had fun!
Doug: It sure is a great replica of it, as it jumped out at me. Right after WWII JTC did purchase some new cars {PCC, I believe, and they were really quiet}, compared to the models we’re discussing. Believe they had some kind of insulation in the wheel construction that prevented the transfer of the noise from the track, etc.
JTC was an icon in the city for years. I remember it as “the” cymbal as one arrived {driving}, into the city and the streetcars were part of the “traffic”.
“The other ad is for a set that costs $199.99 and seems to me a lot more like the traditional “real deal” – O gauge (not .027, apparently), with “a 40 by 60 oval track, die-cast steam locomotive, tender, boxcar, flatcar with stakes, and caboose. Includes working headlights, air whistles, puffing smoke and operating coupler.” (Nothing is said about any power pack.)”
This set is the regular Lionel production “PENNSYLVANIA FLYER” set. It is not O-27 because it comes with FasTrack which is O-36. The stabdard loop of FasTrack included with sets is 40" X 60".
The set includes a die-cast 4-4-2 Steamer with F/N/R, smoke and headlight. It also has a hidden reverse unit lock-out switch and a smoke unit shut off.
The tender has the standard Lionel motor-driven air whistle.
The cars all have full paint jobs, plastic trucks, operating couplers, metal wheels.
The transformer is the redesigned CW-80 80 watt unit with variable accessory posts. The set also comes with ten telephone poles and a bridge.
