Lionel's Santa Fe Gold Bonnet O Gauge Train Set: I Finally Got One!

[@LarryDickmann]

This reminds me of my boss. He just got back from a $20,000 Alaskan fishing trip and was bragging about it at our last meeting. We were all like "$20,000 is a lot of money! He said these days that's not much money for that trip. We all asked for a raise, and then a dollar more an hour was a lot of money 😂

[@Ericstrains]

20K for a fishing trip? Wow. I'm not saying $1,000 is a lot of money, just that it's not as much as it used to be.

[@LarryDickmann]

@Ericstrains Heck Diamond Jim, I carry a grand I my sock. I hide it there from the wife

[@Ericstrains]

Video Notes: 1) This video has chapters if you want to skip around. 2) Nicholas Smith Trains currently has the set for sale on their website for $899...which is even better than their price on Amazon. 3) The minimum curve for the locomotive is O-36, but the passenger cars require O-54. 4) I filmed the intro to this video before I cut my hair :)

[@CannonCountry]

I wish I could find one in G Scale

[@bxjibaro73]

Great side-by-side comparison. Will you be doing more side-by-side comparisons with other trains in future videos?

[@Ericstrains]

@@bxjibaro73 yes

[@antoniojmorales8875]

As a 42years years ,with SF& BNSF, so great to see this presentation, keep our rails forever. We need them AMERICA. ANTONIO.

[@TheLEMRR]

Nice explanation of cost/benefit vs 2019 and cool to see there are still brand new options out there for those that are looking. Thx!

[@thunderstruck5484]

Beautiful! Really impressive, I remember in the late 60s or early 70s me and my brother and grandma rode the Texas Chief train from Houston to North Texas around Gainesville, what a great experience especially for a kid , thanks Eric!

[@Ericstrains]

Very cool!

[@zachwheeler9846]

I thought it was a fantasy paint scheme also, but now that I know it's based off a real train makes it even better. Glad Lionel went ahead and did a obscure and forlorn paint scheme for a change, hope they do more things like this in the future. Great review Eric!

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks!

[@danielhemple8649]

I have mth version it is one of my favorite in my collection the chrome plating is awesome and the sound of that alco prime mover rumbling around the layout it's hard to beat

[@TheTrainboard]

Daniel, we will soon post an mth warbonnet f3 video and were surprised to see the new chrome plating, very, very striking. We have an original red mth warbonnet abba set from the early 2000's for a ready comparison. It didnt smoke back then and we really like smoke on our trainboard. So we bought a newer aa set, burned one engine out connecting the wires between engines wrong, a real rookie mistake, and bought a newer p3 f3 with that chrome shine as a replacement and with smoke and those very nice sounds. We agree, a very special set. Gary

[@Shipwright1918]

Know it's not prototypical, but a scheme I'd really like to see is an orange warbonnet, maybe in Lionel Lines orange and blue. Cool set, Eric, thanks for sharing!

[@johnnelligan4847]

Wow thats a beautiful set. Super unique.

[@tonyarsenault4256]

That Gold paint scheme looks just like May dads 1971 2 door Buick Electra 225 in Pueblo Gold ! ! ! ! Awesome color ! !

[@aidensypolt]

This is a amazing train set.

[@thunderstruck5484]

Beautiful! Really cool looking, thanks Eric!

[@challengerpat9810]

First. This is a beautiful set Second. You see mr powers I LOVE GOLLLLLLLLD

[@Ericstrains]

HA

[@davidstrainsandlego]

Such a unique set, I always thought it was very interesting, so im glad you made a video on it.

[@Ericstrains]

Glad you liked it!

[@randyluginbuhl9085]

Love the AMC shirt, and of course the Bonnet!

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks for noticing!

[@casstelles]

I was going to make a comment about fantasy schemes, but this one is real. Sometimes, the fantasy schemes can get gaudy, but this one would make it even if it wasn't real.

[@Northcoastrails]

That is a beautiful Santa fe

[@themanformerlyknownascomme777]

I think it's kinda ironic that they chose and ALCO engine to promote a GE product line (though ALCO and GE were working together at the time so it makes a little more sense)

[@Ericstrains]

yep!

[@kenmunozatmmrrailroad6853]

So funny… this set was sitting at my local dealer for years- they couldn’t get rid of it.

[@genemanno1533]

I can understand why. Limited market when such big curve is needed. Not everybody can accommodate the space. But gold & silver combo is neat, different from all else.

[@jsgtrains3176]

Great review! I worked foe GE power systems from 76 to 06, and did not here about this. Wish I had the coin right now to pick up, as I think yo are right on regarding pricing. Enjoy the set!!

[@Ericstrains]

Very cool!

[@ELWtrains]

Beautiful locomotive nice set looks great on layout good choice 👍

[@theracetrackroute]

I very much appreciate your review of a New-Old(ish) Stock set, Eric! Also, I feel it’s kind of ironic that an Alco make of locomotive was used in the Gold Bonnet to promote GE products.

[@Ericstrains]

Yeah I wondered the same thing. A bit odd to say the least lol.

[@amkqld]

The PAs were built by a partnership of Alco and GE with Alco engines and GE electrical equipment and traction motors. I believe the locomotive's design was also done by GE.@@Ericstrains

[@theracetrackroute]

I’ll be darned, makes sense now and sure isn’t as ironic.

[@michaelsullivan1262]

Classy! I get the jitters when they run at max speed! 😅

[@ronhood7773]

Awesome T-shirt my friend. Love the gold livery scheme. Great catch!!!

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

I love the ALCO PA! Congrats on getting a wishlist train. I particularly like the add on antenna.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Very Cool Eric . Money Well Spent . 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇨🇦✨. $995.00 US is way too expensive - huge mark up I believe .

[@johnandrus3901]

Very nice. Lionel did a bang-up job on this set. The Lionel crew talk is still a bit cheesy, though. Hopefully, they offered a dome and an observation as extra cars. They are really long cars and need a larger layout like yours with some long straight runs. A ten car set with a couple of locomotives is about 20 feet long. I mentioned that to Zack on his channel when he reviewed some of these cars. As always, a fine review.

[@cu29640]

The Rock Island Quad Cities Rocket is accurate with only 2 coaches. It remained independent from Amtrak and ran on fumes up until the end of Rock Island in 1981.

[@johnandrus3901]

That is a very nice set. I know that this is an older video, but I'm catching up on some of the videos that I missed while on vacation last year. The gold paint scheme is quite fine and the cars are excellent, as well. Adding the passengers is nice, which is something that is difficult to do in my AMT passenger cars. The set needs and observation car and maybe a dome, but definitely an obs. I'm surprised that it stays on the tracks at top speed, especially without MagneTraction. The crew talk, while not too realistic, is much better than the new Lionel, so they seem to have regressed in that area over the last few years. Either way, it looks sweet going around the layout. As always, an excellent video.

[@Ericstrains]

I actually think the crew talk has gotten better over time, but that's just my opinion. Thanks!

[@ronstrainsandmore]

Very cool pretty neat Eric! GOLD BONNETT!

[@danybonsai0997]

Is that "Mini" Lisa by the track taking a selfie ? (16:42) Cool ! This FA paint scheme is beautifull good Investment Eric !

[@Ericstrains]

Sure, why not. Ha.

[@LostInTheIceOfLife]

Amazing model Eric!

[@ironriver117]

Great review as always and nice shirt Eric!

[@davielgeorge6924]

Also the story of that engine reminds me of CB&Q 5632 on the gold paint scheme

[@daivdwalker2374]

It's sure a beautiful set amazing Eric

[@ryanmannion9550]

Great video! I have the nickel plate road PA also, can never have to many alcos lol

[@cecilihfe6477]

That is a beautiful 🚆 train set

[@tonygould9027]

I pre-ordered it from the catalog cuz i liked the paint scheme. I found out later that it was prototypical

[@greyfoxtrains3244]

Great video Eric.

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks!

[@paulmorissette5863]

How about a fantasy "B" unit? More cars?

[@jakkrapholsingraksatrakul9378]

Midas Wheels of Steel.

[@tonygould9027]

This is a great looking set. So as a result I purchased it back in 2019 pre-order from the catalog

[@ericwilliams2619]

Extraordinary looking locomotive ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️👍🏻

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@thomasweekley9209]

I would join the Discord server if I still had Discord. I used to have the Discord app on my phone, but I got rid of it because life got in the way. I didn’t and still don’t have the time to get on Discord very often anymore purely because of my work schedule. Anyways, very beautiful set. I’m jealous that you have one, Eric.

[@maddogsteel]

Love this set and was able to get 1 and it runs great. Trying to find a close matching observation car to put at the end. Anyone have any ideas or part numbers/location where I can order a nice close match? Thanks for any feedback.

[@johnpandolfino8663]

Stunning 😊

[@davielgeorge6924]

Looks pretty shiny

[@Sir_Ram]

so cool wish i had it.

[@daivdwalker2374]

If you run out of smoke fluid while you're running your train is it ok to keep running it or do you need 2 put more smoke fluid in? Running it out of fluid while running will it damage it?

[@Ericstrains]

I always refill mine, but I think if it runs out it will automatically shut the smoke unit off. I've never tested that though. You can always turn off the smoke unit if you don't want to run it.

[@andrewcrane2786]

Nice video thanks for sharing cool train set they should did better job with the horn. Looks even cool with people in

[@Ericstrains]

Thanks for watching

[@andrewcrane2786]

@@Ericstrains You're welcome 😊

[@andrewcrane2786]

Do more video

[@newbright2629]

Wow Eric I think it looks great Eric and it a good thing it not shiny gold Eric because I'd it is you will get finger prints. And hey Eric do you know what a bout the new bright gold rush express train especially the 4 4 0 model that it can play christmas magic? Because l have mine dus to Eric. Wich there is a christmas model of it I think it called the new bright winter bell express train set. I don't have that train set but I will find soon Eric.

[@Ericstrains]

I have the gold rush set, I think I did a video on it years ago

[@jacobmaurin7549]

There was a missed opportunity for the Santa Fe. Instead of using a General Electric locomotive, they used an Alco.

[@Pontiacse93]

I never knew the Santa fe did the back then in gold for few weeks

[@Maximilian7992]

I’ve seen War Bonnets, Blue Bonnets, Yellow Bonnets, and the mythical Black Bonnets, but never Gold Bonnets

[@imcaptainobvious3079]

I've been wanting one for a long time but didn't feel like paying a lot for a muffler.

[@BLWorks1982]

Cool train Eric!! Did Lionel made any add on cars for it?

[@Ericstrains]

I don't think so, probably because the real train only had 4 cars. Their regular Santa Fe cars would be an exact match except for the lack of gold trucks.

[@alconk7129]

Why is it that O scale locos lower front nose is attached to the truck? Looks great on straight track but on turns looks goofy.

[@Ericstrains]

It's a common thing in O gauge for the pilots to be attached to the truck. It allows the engine to navigate tighter curves that people have on small layouts.

[@Dbodell8000]

It’s not O scale true O scale is prototypically correct. I just can’t bring myself to like O gauge stuff it’s too much like a toy.

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Cool video 😊

[@harrycallahan692]

Pulling some mighty G forces at max speed around those corners. Those poor passengers.

[@andrewmunczenski3632]

I like it. To bad I just bought a set of the older aluminum passages cars.

[@Ericstrains]

Enjoy!

[@pearsooo6972]

Wow just wow

[@jamesa6272]

My dad got me and my brother this set for Christmas today. I’m not even going to open it

[@asteroidrules]

I get that they're more scale accurate, but it's been kinda disappointing that the majority of Lionel's recent passenger coaches have been O-54. This is an absolutely beautiful piece, but I can't do anything broader than O-36.

[@Ericstrains]

They make smaller semi-scale passenger cars that will run on O-36

[@TheTrainboard]

Sometimes adding a line of the shorter 15 inch cars...maybe 8, makes them set easily just as nice as those 18 inch cars. And although we have 072 curves on our trainboard, we prefer 18 inch or 15 inch cars not those 21 inch long guys. Gary

[@PhilBender612]

Boy O boy , Eric, your hair grows fast! lol Seems like just a few weeks ago you cut it all off. JK ...really a beautiful set. Thanks

[@Trainz3YT]

NICE!

[@charlesmcclure5994]

Sweet 👍👍

[@SleeperBBQ]

something about that long bonnet nose I guess it would grow on me . TY

[@MarkCinque-q9z]

Wow!,Cool ,0:24

[@SchaeferOGaugeLoggingRR]

Very cool

[@TrainMedia00]

The locomotive and the whole train is gorgeous✨✨ (´✪ω✪`)♡

[@Dbodell8000]

Sorry but the 3 rail stuff just doesn’t cut it once you’ve seen true 2 rail O scale.

[@Ericstrains]

I’ve seen 2 rail O Scale and, sorry, but it just doesn’t cut it once you’ve seen true 3 rail O scale.

[@johnevans9355]

Cool eñgine

[@DanielTheTrainNerd]

Nice 👍

[@joeyBirskovich]

this set got Discontinued?

[@Ericstrains]

In manner of speaking, sort of. It'll be back again one day.

[@joeyBirskovich]

@@Ericstrains sorry

[@matthewsiglow5815]

Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me, but the paint doesn't look right. Toward the back of the cab where the paint rounds down, it looks like Lionel goofed up. It looks straighter than it does round.

[@Ericstrains]

it's your eyes lol :)

[@garyjust.johnson1436]

Beeeeeee U tifil!

[@snakeyez150]

hey Eric can you do the pghtrainfanatic challenge?

[@Ericstrains]

what's that?

[@snakeyez150]

it’s were you can show your favorite engine or something you want to show in your collection or favorite whistle

[@ronwade5646]

😊

[@dad7087]

“Oh it’s not prototypical” 🤓

[@Brays0]

Hi. Buy some European train as well

[@Ericstrains]

Already done

[@thomasharroun8068]

a guy walking his dog too close to the tracks

[@RandiRain]

Only got two stars by that one person on Amazon...

[@Ericstrains]

ha

[@JohnJ.Crunchalot]

First Edit: 😭😭😭😭😭😭I wasn't first no

[@Ericstrains]

It'll be ok lol

[@michael61985]

The blue locomotive isn't even the same as the other two

[@Ericstrains]

They're all ALCO PA's

[@briannorman952]

Very cool.