Last night I was at the hobby shop and saw a PWC set from 3 or 4 years ago being photographed for an on-line auction sale. It was the military set with the blue loco/motorized unit. Not my cup of tea, but cool none the less.
It got me thinking about the latest PWC offerings from Lionel. The Hudson set and now the Trainmaster set. Both wonderful sets in my opinion. From there I started wondering what I’d like to see in the way of future releases. Aside from a 2025/2035 steamer, all of the items I’d be interested in, like the 726 Berk, The S2 671 Turbine, and the 2056 Hudson are already being produced (and done well) by Williams.
I think Lionel is missing the boat by not re-issueing these iconic locomotives, either seperately or as parts of sets.
A 1656 Bell ringing switcher with die cast tender would be a nice offering. Also, a 675 with the 6440 series passenger cars would be another fine product.
I also love the PWC. Lionel has been very receptive to input on this series. Drop by a York and tell them what you want! I asked them for the reefers with the sliding control panel, and, here they are! The locos mentioned are also on my list as favorites, I would ask them if I were you…
It seems like they only produce about 2 sets a year. I wi***hey would step that up a bit, and start to offer separate sale loco’s also…
I am waiting for the N&W #746… That is what I have been begging them for!
I don’t attend York, but if you go, be sure to mention what we’ve discussed here. To my knowledge (which isn’t extensive), the 2025/2035/675 hasn’t been reissued since the 1950’s? If so, it’s about time for an encore (2-6-2 whell arrangement). I do know that the 2026 style locos were re-issued in the mid 90’s. Every time I go to the hobby shop, there’s one still sitting in its box, never been run.
I will approach Lionel again this York with some proposals for PWC stuff (naturally, including the #746).
How about the PWC fans out there reply with the PWC loco’s, rolling stock and accessories you would like to see Lionel produce? I know my favorites, but would like to hear more of yours!
BTW, that Missile launch set is awsome! Especially with the add-on sound car!
I believe the tooling for the 2025/675 was destroyed a few years ago. I remember Lionel issuing a flatcar carrying small pieces of the tooling as a memento. It might have been with the Bethlehem Steel NW-2 set (?)
I love the PWC series, too, and I’m glad they are reissuing military cars. I hope they make the missile launching flatcar. The “Majestic GG-1” Set from last year was a beauty, and I’d like to see them make the similar Great Northern EP-5 freight set from that same time period. Also, the original green and yellow 027 streamlined pasenger cars as well as the remaining F3 diesels
I agree with you about a PWC 746. In fact, I e-mailed Lionel a while back to suggest that they might reissue one of those great 746 sets from the late fifties. They seemed very receptive to the request. A few more requests might get their attention.
You are correct on the tooling for the 675 being destroyed, it was actualy used once more during the MPC era for the New Englander set, although it was a plastic K4 that time. The tooling was damaged beyond reasonable repair and it sat till they cut it up for that special set. But it still could be redone again, just need new tooling for it.
Glad to hear that you also have asked for a #746. I have been asking Lionel for more PWC steamers and with the release of the #773 Hudson set (and the brisk sales and quick sell-out) that got their attention.
I would like to see more variety in the PWC series, even would like to see some more geeps with the corrected up-turned frame and narrow pilots to make it look more like the original. I also like the high quality UP and Erie Alcos…
The way I see it, figure about 75% of the tables at York are all postwar, the following is there to rerelease all of the favorites of the past!