From Duds to Studs: 3 Lionel Models More Successful Than The Real Thing

Sometimes, the real object that Lionel Trains based its O gauge model on is a dud, but the model version is popular and successful. This situation is the focus of today’s episode - the models that didn’t do it in real life, but are popular and ubiquitous in the world of Lionel and other O gauge trains.
*As an Amazon Associate and a member of other affiliate networks, We may receive commissions on qualifying sales generated from the links on this channel.**
Visit Our Virtual Storefront! walmrt.us/3sIUMQu
Visit Our Sponsors:
Diecast Models Wholesale: www.jdoqocy.co...
Lionel Trains on Amazon: amzn.to/46tZiR5
Hobby Tools on Amazon: amzn.to/3rtRkc1
Toy Train Tips And Tricks is a channel devoted to the operation, repair, history, and collecting of classic 3-rail O and O27 gauge trains made by Lionel, Marx, K-Line, Menards, and other manufacturers.
Keep the trains running!
Music and Visual Effects Courtesy of Pixabay.com
Facebook: / ttttlocomaniac
Twitter: / ttttmike
Instagram: / mrmoore2001
#Promotion #Lioneltrains #Trainset #Trainrepair #Traincollecting #Ogauge #Oscale

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

This was a fun one Mike! Let me add just a bit. Some additional problems with the Pennsy S2 were firebox leaks caused by rapid boiler pressure drop when the throttle was opened. It took a little time for the turbine to "spool up" to operating speed and from a rest the steam blew right through the turbine. The rapid pressure drop scared the pants off the enginemen as well! Add to that the S2 was a maintanance headache and it was doom for the S2. Oh, I've got one of those Lionel S2's. I wasn't looking for one but there it was and the price was too good to pass up! The Santa Fe "Blackbonnet" was really due to a Kodachrome color freakout. Kodachrome was superb color film but sometimes if the light hit the subject JUST right there'd be an odd result, as in the silver side of the Sante Fe F3 turning black! It's suspected the catalog artist was given one of those freakout slides and not knowing any better copied what he saw. Thanks for posting!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thanks for the information!

[@jrmeindl]

Thanks for a great and informative video. My answer to running all the different equipment is, "It is my railroad and I run it the way I want!" It is amazing that the S2 model was more successful than the real thing. I have my dad's 1947 version of the 671. Still a great runner today for being over 70 years old.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ChrisBookeBass]

I love your videos. I watch every single one of them. Thank you for creating the wonderful content you do. Keep them coming!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thank you very much!

[@modelrailpreservation]

Agreed on the turbine and auto loader. Excellent video. While not a complete loco, I would personally add the condenser boxes on the pilot, like those found on the 2026 types. Almost never seen on real ones. Common as crabgrass in Lionel Land.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Good point!

[@jsrupert1037]

The N&W covered hopper was meant to haul cement, NOT concrete, otherwise the railroad would have never got the hopper emptied.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

The correction is noted on the screen "*cement*"

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

Diecast Direct has road signature that fits inside the MPC car carriers. Car tracks better when loaded. I love my PENN CENTRAL cars.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thanks for the info!

[@railchief74]

@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks I was hoping to see a video talking about this subject

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Details please? What scale does Road Signature state on this series? They make a lot of 1/18 and other larger stuff, but if you know the scale, you can search by scale at Diecast Direct, getting right to the correct ones.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

@@jenniferwhitewolf3784 Road Signature is the name of the manufacturer. Their autos will fit inside the MPC car carriers.They also fit inside the gas station ⛽ Plasticville. Beep people will fit inside the Road Signature cars W/0 amputation. Smaller Tonka trucks are 027 sized while the vans and ambulance are more O scale. I have a 027 size layout underneath my 0 scale layout. I have a beautiful 027 sized Big Boy . I collect orange 🧡🍊 trains like the 027 orange NYC,Baby Ruth box cars and the orange stock cars.l have an orange Lionel ALCO FA pulling Milwaukee Special pass cars with orange painted roofs. The smaller auto's fit the 027 sized trains. Road Champion car 🚗 s are true 0 scale. Very affordable as well.

[@johnknippenberg-LandmarkYards]

Great video! I knew the S-2 was going to make the Top 3.

[@chrisresor1893]

Another great video Mike!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thanks again!

[@paulbervid1610]

Great video

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thanks!

[@artiefufkin1705]

Really like the black bonnet.

[@rennethjarrett4580]

6:52 On the catalog picture of the Santa Fe, There are other very obvious differences as well. The front cowling/skirting is very different. The nose/hood is very short, they have marker lights on that page as well on both S F and NYC as well.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Excellent points!

[@modelrailpreservation]

Robert Sherman, Lionel's catalog artist in 1948, once said in an interview he had to go out and purchase an existing model to base his drawings on. That model was undoubtedly the Varney HO scale F3. Right down to the nose shape and 'falsie' fuel tanks, the 1948 drawing is spot on like a Varney. Varney's original tooling has been cloned numerous times, and at one point Model Power and Marx both offered F3s that were based on the Varney model. I don't know if Lionel has that F3 tooling along with the other former Model Power tooling, but I hope they can make an HO blackbonnet from it.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

@@modelrailpreservation Ironically, the Varney F# model is really a rare F2 model. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_F2

[@JeffMazdra]

Good video.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thanks!

[@Engine1988]

First of all, all of the 1948 steam locos were black, and maybe someone figured that the F3 would be similarly treated. The NYC F3 is black in the picture as well, but in the 1949 picture is dark gray like the real model. That, however, is less noticeable due to the minor color difference. For my opinion on trains that were "better as a model" (CTT has a series called that), I have to pick a large amount. Every single 2-4-2 locomotive. All of them. Why? The 2-4-2 looked big and impressive in some ways. However, the real one was not popular. There were very few 2-4-2s constructed for the real railroads.

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Love my Evans Auto Loaders.. got 2 with original automobiles. Black bonnet?🤮. Not for me, sorry.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Run what you like!

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

I've slowly been kitbashing a crude Bachmann 4-8-4 ($20, valve gear self destructed) into a 6-8-6 S-2 stand-in and it's been quite fun, and weirdly stress-free since, if the nylon gears do fail, I can pose the engine outside the roundhouse with some folks at work, replacing turbine blades. I always thought the 681 looked very nice alongside the 675

[@kathyjumper6991]

I really enjoy your videos. You come up with great subjects and ideas. I bought the K Line Midnight Chief set when it first came out. Boy, am I glad I did. They have become so popular that they are commanding astronomical prices on the open market now. As for the Black Bonnet sets from other producers, they are selling out just about as soon as they become available. Unbelievable how a printing error could spark such interest.

[@mypugsdad5366]

THANKS for the fun and informative videos. Keep up the good work.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

thanks

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

Lionel 'sfirst plastic locomotive. Cheap Cheap Cheap.