Lionel Pennsy M1a Coal Hauler Set

A review of the new Lionel 3-Rail O-Scale Pennsylvania Railroad M1a Coal Hauler Set! More videos available on the Eric's Trains KZbin channel and at www.ericstrains.com.

[@1940limited]

"BFIMO" of your videos is when you actually run the locomotive. That's the part I enjoy most.

[@Noah_Ciquera]

It's BPIMO (best feature in my opinion)

[@Noah_Ciquera]

@@JohnGTheEmperor oh yeah, you’re right

[@TheGhostRonin]

Holy cow that whistle is incredible

[@TheOneTrueDragonKing]

Wow... you're right about the whistle! It's so loud and haunting... I love it!

[@getmemybleach742]

Good old Pennsy. Too bad they got shut down, I always sat next to the tracks as a kid and watched trains fly by. M1s, GG1s, hell, The Trail Blazer would fly through every once and a while. I'm gonna miss those days.

[@spadesofpaintstudios1719]

GetMeMyBleach wish I could of seen them

[@hex6970]

they merged with New York Central and at the time NYC was going through financial trouble. (Thats just what I've heard) Maybe the Pennsy would still be around today (or survived longer then they did) if they hadent merged with their Rival (NYC). (Why you would merge with your rival, I don't know)

[@bhomas_real]

I wish I could've seen them but they are are all gone.

[@SilentHunter7]

@@hex6970 Penn Central was supposed to be more efficient than the NYC and PRR. There was a lot of overlapping lines and facilities between the two, and merging would've allowed them to cut the expenses of maintaining two separate lines going to the same places, but keeping the revenue. But they completely botched the merger. The computer systems of the two companies were incompatible, they had to pledge not to lay off workers to get the merger approved, and the front office was plagued by office politics. They couldn't even get all their execs in the same building. The former PRR executive staff stayed in their Philly offices, and the NYC staff stayed in New York, so there was a lot of miscommunication and chaos. So basically they merged without having any concrete plan of what to do afterwards.

[@Dinosorable]

The whistle actually sounds like a PRR 3 chime, and many of them are famously beautiful!

[@BXGUY73]

Beautiful Steam Engine Locomotive! The PA Keystone State Logo looks COOL, the coal hoppers and caboose are also great. @ERIC's TRAINS - Your MODIFICATION of the caboose for a bit more steam to come out and add more of a realistic touch to it is an AWESOME idea!!!

[@byates59]

FANTASTIC review as always Eric!!!!!!!!!! You are right, Lionel has definitely stepped up their game lately, lots of new tooling, whistle steam on most if not all of their new steamers, and their new modular engine specific detail tooling for their diesels! It is a great time to be in the hobby! Thanks for the video bud and have a great one!

[@Ericstrains]

+Bill Yates Thanks!

[@henryszubielski8601]

WOW!!! What a fantastic review of a fantastic set! While I am not necessarily a PRR fan, I will simply say WOW again!

[@Steven_Williams]

Sweet set Eric! As always, thanks for the backstory!

[@SteamKing2160]

I love the M1a. A nice train that went up against the NYC Mohawk's.

[@magform]

Another great review. Lionel has really upped it's game. I am surprised that with all the high end three rail products being pushed today that no one? has animated the bell to go with the excellent bell sounds these new locomotives have.

[@RailroadVideosofPA]

Awesome review! I'm a big PRR fan myself but, boy Lionel has stepped up their game with realism! In the past their realism was like "ah' but know it's "WOW!" The M1a and the GLa coal cars and the N5b are all splendid models. Thanks for an awesome review Eric!

[@Oskarsgaminglife]

My favourite steam locomotive is this one and a New York central Hudson

[@Oskarsgaminglife]

And I’m a big prr fan too

[@ertegunrex1]

Another fantastic train! so wonderful and detailed enjoy! Maybe i'll get one soon.....

[@rjmuir1769]

I have been watching ur vids since u did a review on the nyc mohawk and have got trains from ur reviews being so detailed so thx 😃

[@themangoesman5861]

Definitely going to have to buy this. Another great review as always Eric!

[@TheMonstertrucker]

I bet the PRR 0-6-0 switcher looks good with this set too. Great work thanks for sharing.

[@TrainWizardProductions]

Great set! I'm glad Lionel is moving away from the Built by Lionel marking on the sides. The whistle sounds almost exactly like my LionMaster Legacy T1 Duplex.

[@danielboone3770]

I love this locomotive!

[@JoelHudson]

Hi Eric @ericstrains, Lionel needs to animate the bell when it rings imho. I'd love to see an "active Bell" btw Sweet whistle!

[@peterszar]

After my tour in Nam, I worked as a Gandy Dancer, for the Erie Lackawanna RR, so I spent alot of time in switch yards and of course mainlines. Well I never saw pretty purple Crocuses or Peonies growing in the swales between the road beds, coal dust, oil, rotting grain, yes big time.

[@RailfanDude610]

The whistle on 6755 sounds a lot like the one TVRM 610 wore in the 90’s.

[@Zoomer3989]

you're right, that whistle is amazing

[@TheRealEasyA]

I don't think it was just the M1s. I think a lot of the later Pennsy steam engines had HUMONGOUS tenders. Especially the Q2.

[@sacredgenesis4777]

Alex Crawford don't forget the k-4, Lionel released one recently too

[@willhorowitz8806]

Big tenders were fitted to the M1s, J1s, Q1, Q2s, and bunch of the I1s.

[@mamanbear1]

Great set - the engine runs really smoothly. Lots of quality in the set - excellent video.

[@kevinmartin9940]

Was able to get this set today after weeks of looking for it.

[@andrewcrane2786]

That's Is Very cool locomotive sounds pretty cool I love the whistle when it smoke

[@MrDominick4950]

That model that Lionel offered in the set box is an M1 then later the PENNSY started to produce the M1-A’s then M1-B’s

[@ryanmatlosz9667]

Hey Eric this is a one of the best steam locomotives that I've seen in your video history and I thought this engine would have a swinging bell just like the Lionel Hudson you reviewed years ago, but this is still an amazing steamer. My first steam engine review was the Union Pacific Challenger #3989, but at first I thought it was #3985 and it wasn't and my favorite diesel engine review was the Lionel Burlington Northern U30C #1776.

[@Sebdamememan]

The bell did not swing

[@Ericstrains]

+Ryan Matlosz Thanks!

[@ryanmatlosz9667]

+ericstrains In the future will you do a review on The Blue Comet steam locomotive and passenger coaches becuase it was my color blue and it must be pretty fast becuase it well a Comet. I did see the review of the Southern Cresent Limited and passenger coaches and Berkshire celebrating Lionel's 115th anniversary with the crome silver finish which should be the #1 lionel steamer becuase some people that are fans of the Berkshire would like the silver finish eventhough it's reflective.

[@IVova6260]

perfect set.

[@hardflipsal3977]

Great review! I just bought this set and it is amazing!

[@TrainChamber]

Great Video! That whistle is epic

[@PeterCPRail8748]

Very nice set. And great review as always.

[@danielhekemian491]

really nice engine i really want one in live steam my dad actually has the m1 by the way they did a great job on that tender

[@allegheny48]

Hi Eric: A great and informative review as always. The M1a's whistle mimics what I believe was the standard Pennsy passenger 3 chime. Look on You Tube for a video of Pennsy K4 1361 on her shakedown run back in 1987. You will hear a very similar whistle. Those newly tooled hoppers are nice and on par with Atlas who, in my opinion, has always produced a high quality hopper. In regards to your comment about "Built by Lionel" I believe that Lionel opted not to include that logo on their high end O scale freight cars such as the PS (Pullman Standard) series and the steel sided reefers to name a few. I look forward to your upcoming review of the new Lionel ESE set and the scale 85' passenger cars.

[@MrWestburyiii]

Eric... As usual another fantastic review. Lionel sure evolved with the times. I just have one question. What is the purpose of the opening cover on the smoke box? It seems to me that the cover has springs in the hinges to help keep it closed, so having it on static display in a roundhouse is out of the question. Is there something in there that can be tweeked? My N scale engines don't have this, so naturally I'm curious about this. Keep up the great work... you are a true ambassador for this hobby.

[@shnimmuc]

Very nice indeed. Thanks for the review.

[@pauljohansson7697]

You were right about the wistle.

[@parts323]

Very nice. My favorite locomotive. I model HO and have (5) mountains from Broadway Limited.

[@aviationandsimulationbyber9244]

Me oh my! What a beauty!

[@Oskarsgaminglife]

Nice 4-8-2 prr M1a very realistic locomotive I think I need one myself

[@MrBillroetter]

I like that set,great job by Lionel

[@coopertroopa44]

I love this set. I was able to run the engine on O-48 Fastrack without any problem. The only problem I have with the set is I haven't figured out how to shut off the light in the dog house. lol

[@chrisross5370]

I've never recalled seeing a Pennsy steamer with those pretty extra marker lights. maybe you should do a bit on that next time you do a PRR review. It would be quite...illuminating.

[@blackrocks8413]

This is the bomb. Super nice.

[@the_mavwreck]

Great new video!!!!!!!!!! I just bought an old Marx set for my dad but i ended up using it more than him. I had a n scale layout but I am slowly making a O gauge layout. keep the videos coming there very interesting to watch:)

[@Ericstrains]

+That Typical Talkshow Right on. Thanks!

[@diamonddog257]

...Superb video .............

[@SouthernPacific-jb9ew]

That is such a great set! Thanks for the great review!

[@saxonaudio]

Ya still have that N&W Y6B, weaver models coal hoppers, and the NYC water level freight set.

[@saxonaudio]

Just asking.

[@mrlionel1965]

Just a beautiful engine, and that whistle.. WOW! Great review.

[@shorthoodforwardproduction7133]

I love that whistle!!

[@jasondecristoforo4882]

I think Pennsylvania had the best looking Engines. Being from Pennsylvania only makes sense for me to love them.

[@HighballHenry]

that locomotive has some really good sounds!

[@JimsPlanesandTrains]

Great review Eric! I love the whistle!

[@PedroPerex]

Eric, Your videos are the best! When will you review the MTH Proto 3.0 Big Boy?

[@mattsmocs3281]

Defiantly a beautiful set. I have seen the M1a at the PRR railroad museum. It is in really bad shape, some one should try to get it not just under a roof but a whole restoration, one so good it might be some thing that can be run.

[@lauriesarquis]

I saw the real thing in the museum

[@luckyrail23]

Laurie Sarquis there is one at Strasburg railroad

[@spadesofpaintstudios1719]

Liam Bryant they have everything there

[@MPT_Productions]

except a big boy :(

[@MPT_Productions]

no guy yeah.

[@RealCoop]

I have the mth proto 2 version! Its AWESOME! The only thing I have a problem with is that I want to change it to a passenger train.

[@steffenrosmus1864]

Wow, the Waldschaerts gear loookd so prototypically 😉

[@RealCoop]

Awesome video!

[@Tom-zp9bc]

Eric, Great review and great set!You Mentioned the Empire State Express set. I bought it and the add-on cars. I love the engine, but I have some serious criticisms about the new 21" cars. Especially the Roosevelt observation car. The back end is all wrong. I actually sold the Lionel 21" cars, and kept my 21" K-line cars as they are more prototypically accurate. I am going at add LED lights to them though.I live in Syracuse NY, and the Empire State express use to stop here twice a day. Our club has many pictures of the Empire State express and the passenger cars.That is why I have been super critical of the new Lionel 21" cars.Hope to see you at York in April.

[@Ericstrains]

+Tom 4 Thank you

[@Chessie1985]

Great review Eric!

[@colinmcgovern6302]

Its rrrrrreeeeaaaalllyyyy detailed

[@danbucci5861]

M1s are my new fav

[@saxonaudio]

Looks so young.

[@mariebcfhs9491]

M1a? Hell, they should name this class "Abrams"

[@NOVARailandWeatherEnthusiast]

Marie BCFHS LOL

[@thundervalleycbshop6362]

great video and awesome train set thank you, can you please tell me what you did to modify the smoke in the caboose thank you.

[@maxrailroad]

Nice review Eric. You need to get more hoppers though, four doesn't cut it.

[@Ericstrains]

I have loads of coal hoppers in my collection (at least 30 or 40) but I didn't run them here because I'm reviewing the set, not the rest of my coal hoppers.

[@elijahglasser1421]

Excellent train

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks

[@elijahglasser1421]

@@Ericstrains your welcome

[@Rebel9668]

Cool locomotive!

[@BigTexJohnson]

Okay hear me out… the M1A pulling the USATC passenger train during WWII. When the cars ship… because the M1A was also a rifle used by the US military in WWII

[@ScottDowneywoundedbear]

Great steam set.

[@sparky107107]

you are very in depth with your reviews , that's the second thing I like about watching your channel ,, the first thing is that you do some home work and tell about the history about what you are reviewing , and too me that puts you above most reviews , this set is great , I am a HO guy but want to no , can you set up a O gauge layout outside ? would it do ok in rain and snow , I am Canadian eh ,, lol ,, thanks eric , great review , and a great buy for you

[@Ericstrains]

You can set it up outside if you get track that's meant for outdoor use. The Atlas track I use can be used outside.

[@sparky107107]

cool thanks I have a big back yard and I don't want to go to the massive models , way to expensive

[@jessebeatty9696]

did you ever post that video on how to mode the caboose smoke

[@michael_young]

I love it!

[@evancarter3702]

You should make a movie out this pecie of art

[@theduck3876]

i dont know why but its steam trains models that are the coolest

[@guyholloway8677]

that's a great engine

[@westtexasrailfan]

That whistle sounds very familiar to me but I've never been near one of these..........

[@MonsterModelRailfanMattP]

Hi Eric! First off, nice collection of engines you got there. Second, I have a Lionel CSX SD60-70 diesel electric engine and I used to be able to blow the horn but now I can't blow the horn. Do you have any ideas about what could have caused this issue? Thanks! Great vids btw!

[@Noah_Ciquera]

Too bad the Pennsy was retired, It would have been nice to see it restored in a railroad museum.

[@willhorowitz8806]

I can confirm that is a Pennsy whistle.

[@kaydendye244]

OMG THAT WHISTLE!!!!!!!!!!!

[@cincykid992]

Great video Eric! I was just curious, it sounds like the whistle has two different octaves. Does the train just naturally do that or does that have to do with the controller?

[@trainlover9943]

The whistle is quillable using the legacy controller.

[@mptmpt08]

Hey Eric, one word WOW! Great video keep up the tremendous work and I can't wait to see the NYC EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS SET. I have a question. I have a brand new LIONEL LEGACY LIONMASTER UNION PACIFIC 3985 CHALLENGER 6-82694 everything works but it won't move forward. I set it tried resetting it factory defaults and reprogramming it too. Can you please help me on how to fix it?

[@Ericstrains]

+M Turkovich Thanks!

[@emiliogreenwood8190]

I wonder if you got some of those engines that had the steam come out the sides

[@sleeves_rail_archives]

Awesome review Eric! This is certainly one of the greatest sets Lionel has made recently! Great job with this video! P.S. Have you decided what you want from the new 2016 Lionel Catalog?

[@Ericstrains]

+Sean Gildersleeve Thanks, and yes.

[@sleeves_rail_archives]

+ericstrains cool! Will this list be posted on your FaceBook page?

[@Jeremythebluetankengine8154]

I like the steam locomotive

[@rf8481]

Why is there no radio anttenna on the coast to coast to tender? Did not the Pennsy use these on the M1As and M1Bs. I note that the caboose has the antenna but not the engine? How would the engineer communicate with the dispatcher or brakeman or the caboose crew without the radio antenna in the mountains???

[@forrestnelson1882]

I have seen a caboose exactly like that

[@brandonburneyt2931]

They should make a savanna and Atlanta 750

[@billbraden4874]

I love Pennsylvania rr

[@ecpcharles]

wait, if there is a raidio on the caboose(you can see the antenna) where is the raidio atenna on the tender of the loco?

[@Total_Solitude]

Are you sure you got the shipping date right? I'm pretty sure this was one of the engines that you showcased in one of your episodes back in October, but I could be mistaken.

[@oliverbalk1287]

he has been doing this for six years

[@Marshal6000]

additional coal hooper?

[@Ericstrains]

Yes, named after Sir Edward Hooper, the inventor of coal.

[@rileye.hearnikzov6029]

+ericstrains for the next prr locomotive, it should definitely be a lionel legacy baldwin 4-6-2 wheel arrangement k4-class pacific type steam locomotive.

[@algorithm1193]

I laughed so goddamn hard at this

[@trainsimulatorfan7656]

they should restore the 6755 to working order

[@michaelcarter5222]

What do the rollers do I Have the old polar express and a old Budweiser locomotive plusses two shunters

[@marcsoscaletrains]

Beautiful Engine indeed. However, the value of any of these sets/engines we buy are not a value in way shape or form.. We buy them because we enjoy the hobby so much. But worth $1800.00? Absolutely not. However, I keep buying $600.00 engines that make me shake my head at the price, but smile intensely when its running around the layout.

[@chrisross5370]

that's why I joined a museum ;P the cost of playing with trains is not more than the cost of the gas it takes to drive there and back!

[@kevinsweeney2810]

Eric can you order the mth premier pennsy 4-6-2 k4s o scale steam engine and the mth o scale overweight Pennsylvania passenger cars?

[@TheBestTrainsAreReal]

It is strasburg not Stroudsburg