The Special Target Set, a recreation of set #1590 from 1958 was first reported on this forum and as was listed as available “on-line” only. Now, the set is sold out on-line, BUT is being sold at some Target stores. On their website you can search by zip code to see what stores have it, some are already coming up as sold out, or limited availability. The store near me shows it as available, so I’ll have to check it out. The set itself features the red stripe 2-4-2 columbia steamer lettered for the PRR. Ken
Please be advised: the Target set does NOT have a red stripe 2-4-2, but a red stripe 4-4-2! As Lionel had not made a 2-4-2 since the mid 1980’s, I was hoping for one here, but alas it was not meant to be!
Also: the set lacks the yellow stamped-steel flatcar with the Range Rover truck on it.
Jon [8D]
My correction, the Columbia in the set is a 4-4-2. Ken
A COLUMBIA is a 2-4-2, a 4-4-2 is an ATLANTIC.
DOUG
Good evening all,
I was looking at the set today and it looked to me as if it was a 2-4-2 with the 4-4-2 bolier. What is even more interesting was the 6112 gondola, which looked as if it was the old short O-27 “Scout” gondola. These have not been made in quite a while (late 90s, I believe). Maybe this is a precursor to Lionel making the “true” O-27 cars again (I could only hope).
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
I’m with you on that one Mike. It’d be nice to see K-Lionel also bring out the 027 cars. I never understood why K-Line didn’t put out a matching set of the so-called S-gauge cars with 3-rail trucks on them. I have the PRR and the NH S-gauge cars and dumped the trucks for 3-rail ones… those cars have the nicest paint jobs K-Line ever put on those small cars.
As for the Target set, I hope it does sell well and that the customers Lionel wants to reach with the set, are actually buying it. I know there are plenty who criticize these low-cost starter sets. The same kind of sets made during the MPC years also get no respect, and yet there have been countless threads I have read where more established hobbiests admit to getting their start with one of those sets.
Hopefully Lionel can stike a successful balance between marketing reasonable quality low end sets to beginners and budget operators - and continue making a sufficient quantity of high end items to keep the established buyers happy too.
Just for the record, the Target set DOES IN FACT have a 2-4-2 Columbia style steam engine. I just checked the set out today at my local Target in Riverhead, NY. They have a few left and are hoping to get more as it is selling well. A separate sale box car is also being marketed, that they were sold out of. Has anyone seen what the boxcar is ?? Ken
I haven’t looked in the stores, but it is probably this one:
Target also lists a tank car and a hopper.
I have seen the set in Target and have to say it is impressive. Much better than the diesel from last year and an improvement on the Lionel Lines steamer previously.
The tank car is a Southern railway item, I thought it looked good for the price $30 I think.
We can only hope that this indeed will funnel more hobbiests to their local train store for more items after the holidays. Lord knows they need the business more than ever.
Brianel, I agree that more low end stuf keeps us happy and maybe ‘FEED’ the hi end guys some stuff later on.
The box car is the Delaware and Hudson, $29. trestrainfan: You got it! It’s a tan color with blue lettering, not yellow like the picture, and it has plastic trucks. Nice car. Saw it yesterday.
Kurt
If the Power Max transformer with the set is the 40 watt I hope it is better than the one from years back. Barely has enough power to run a train, especially if you add a car or two with lights.
Wow, they didn’t even put a CW-80 in there? I guess if you add too much track, you’d have to buy another transformer.
Regarding this Target Trainset, I would like to add a few things to this forum. First I read this forum as something that keeps me interested in the hobby, and hopefully when doing so I find things that interests me and helps me grow. Negative comments about transformers included doesn’t do anything for me. While I like the 80 watt transformers more than the 40s, the two we have have been good to us, and we have found uses for them when working with our trains. I have always used the old 40 watt transformers for operating lights, etc, and keeping that power draw off my running transformers. Call it distributed power. I also visited 2 different Target stores to look at this trainset. I am interested in getting it for my nephew to start out. The set evokes emotion with me. Not only is the train a nice “reproduction” of the 1958 set, but the packaging, etc. takes me right back to 1958. In comparing it to an origonal, Lionel did a nice job, and this set would be a good starter set. Also I have to think Target has more than one frieght car out, as I have seen a Southern tank car, and a Sante Fe hopper. They also had a track expansion pack you could buy. So lets keep our comments high and enjoy the season and Trains. After I came back from Target I took out my 1958 catalog and was paging through it. It is hard to believe my Texas Special was there too. Enjoy The Season, Train Fan
I guess this is a good place to announce that I don’t want to see any negative comments on the forum about lockons. I have Lionel CTC and K-Line K-150 and Marx lockons, the kind with blades that you stick into the bottom of the rails, and they’re all good. I would probably lose interest in the hobby too if I read anything bad about them. So indeed let’s keep our comments high. If you don’t have anything good to say about lockons, just keep quiet. And have a nice day.
Bob,
You know too much to lose interest in the trains, and I don’t want to think of what a LOSS it would be to the rest of us on the forum, if You did. You have helped MANY more of us, than You will ever know. Myself, and others have Thanked You many times, but we could never Thank You ENOUGH, for all the knowledge that You have shared with us
alank.
As far as NEGATIVE comments, well if worded POLITELY, and in HONEST criticisms of a product, that will help others make INFORMED decisions about products related to the Hobby that should be fine. No, just stating that a Power Puff transformer is *%#@! Garbage doesn’t help, but mentioning a products less than ideal aspects may help someone to choose a product better suited to THEIR needs, where the same item may work well for someone else in a different situation. Tell both the good and the bad (Politely) so we can choose what would be best for our own needs.
Doug
Doug, thanks for responding diplomatically to this. When I first read that reply, I wanted to fire off something extremely sarcastic and possibly harsh (I know, it’s hard to imagine me being sarcastic), however, upon reflection, I thought it was best to sit back and see what others thought. I read this board for information, good and bad, on a broad range of aspects of my hobby. I don’t want people holding back their thoughts and experiences because they’re afraid they may “offend” someone or drive them from the hobby. - Spank
Hi DJspanky,
I try not to offend, but I’m SURE that there are those out there who I have offended, at some point. I would think that we would be more likely to lose potential new members to the Hobby though, if we only tell the sugar coated side, rather than the truth(Remember kids, be POLITE )I personally REALLY like the much maligned CW-80, but the 30watt Power-Puff (Power Max) and the 40 watt Power Puff Plus, just won’t run much more than a trolley or the starter set 4-4-2. If we only tell the good aspects of the PM-30, PMP-40 and CW-80, which their near zero minimum voltage is a Great example, then some one might think “Hey, that sounds like a Great Transformer” and be disenchanted with it when they try to run a couple of Powered locomotives pulling half a dozen lighted pass cars, and just get the flashing overload indication, that to ME is more likely to drive away future hobbiests.
The Power-Max/CW-80 Family have their uses, just don’t try run a 300 square foot layout with them, that is what the ZW’s are built for. There are many other examples, where telling of a products weaknesses, could help someone avoid dissapointment, and ENJOY the Hobby more, which is the whole idea behind these forums, help others to avoid things that we have done, and don’t want to do again, as well as letting each other know what DOES work well.
Bottom line, tell us the GOOD or BAD about products being discussed, just be POLITE and OBJECTIVE about it, don’t give me a Lambasting that sounds like something that I would hear over the CB Radio while I’m at work (I’m a truck driver).
Smile Trains are SUPPOSED to be FUN [:D]
Doug
Good Morning,
Let me say Uncle and apologize if I offended you with my post. It definitely wasn’t supposed to sound that way. I too believe in honesty and contrustive wording to improve products and understanding of the hobby, other things too, as that is how my mother(age 94) became such a good cook; she asked us if we liked it and expected and appreciated honesty. We still speak clearly today. Lord knows I have had my thoughts and opinions, and expressed them the best I can to help this hobby. Not so much in this forum as I like to read it and look for ideas and how others enjoy it. I just thought the thread on the Target offering was going south, and I thought it is a nice starter set(too bad they didn’t use the original sytle tender). I don’t know what a different transformer would do to price point, and don’t want to pay to much more for a starter set.
Bob…how about the old OTC track clips? joking. I would like to meet you some day, as I think you and I are in the same business, but about 1800 miles apart. I have enjoyed your electrical talks, and it has a clarity to it. I enjoy working on my trains as much as I like running them, and also spend my fair share of the time at the train yard in our town. I do few train shows.
So sorry for my post and wishing you all a good Thanksgiving Season.
No hard feelings.