I Got the Lionel Vision Line Class A Steam Engine | Open it with Me!!

[@thatonecaledonian812]

RBP works out by lifting Lionel boxes

[@BrextonBarman-h4x]

Must be a very good workout 😂😂

[@jub856]

The Class A 1218’s whistle is hauntingly realistic. It can take you back to a time long ago. It just runs chills down your spine every time you hear that ghostly steam whistle.

[@louiskroening4975]

I believe the big boy whistle sounds more realistic.

[@aaron-prime117]

1218s whistle and 4014s whistle are both realistic in their own way. But from a distance they can sound haunting especially if you see them running in October

[@JamesSmith-nn5df]

@@aaron-prime117 got to see her in person last week she’s sleeping peacefully hopefully they wake her up soon

[@andyoutwesttrains]

I think the class A is the only whistle I've heard that can actually rival the Big Boy. Big Boy has my heart as I'm from Utah, and the Big Boy was built to pull the Wasatch mountains between Utah and Wyoming. But I think the Class A has a crazy haunting whistle. I gotta call a draw lol

[@michaelskidmore5086]

The 1217’s whistle wins the battle. You can’t go wrong with how Lionel actually got the sound very close to the real 1218.

[@NorfolkAndWestern611]

Don’t you mean 1218?

[@michaelskidmore5086]

@@NorfolkAndWestern611 I meant 1218. Sorry. Spell check on my part.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@NorfolkAndWestern611 I'm sure he does but 1217 would have sounded the same!

[@NorfolkAndWestern611]

@@wayneantoniazzi2706 yea I know lol

[@mratsfrailfan1894]

I mean for the price you atleast want the whistle to be accurate

[@birdseyeview1543]

When I was a boy in the 60's this hobby was already waning. We weren't interested in this old stuff, we wanted rocketships and racecars. But 60 years later, i'm amazed to see this still going and still loved. Maybe 70 is a good age for a new hobby.....

[@RealBelisariusCawl]

For what it’s worth, I’m in my 30s and I had a Lionel set as a kid. I loved it. I think it’s just a bit more niche.

[@spencerfesing4145]

UP 4014 has a very nice whistle but when I ran my Class A for the first time I was blown away by the sound and it's probably my favorite whistle. My vote for the whistle war goes to the Norfolk and Western #1218.

[@TrainTracker911]

It may be advisable to have an engine cradle for servicing your trains.

[@RBPTrains]

Great tip! I have one somewhere but did not want to halt the video to dig it out so I grabbed some cloths.

[@rudycarlson8245]

The winner of the whistle battle? Very very close! But I really think the winner is a 4014! Now I’m not counting the 1218 out it has an absolutely fabulous whistle! If you want to see a great video of the 1218 on KZbin, check out the haunting of the 1218 it truly has a haunting whistle imagine hearing that in the middle of the night!

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Check out videos of the Reading & Northern's recently restored to operation Reading T1. The T1's got two whistles, one of which is a "hooter" whistle very similar to the N&W version and just as haunting and evocative.

[@johnjornod6429]

I agree with Rudy. Personally I love the 1218 more. But in whistles, the Big Boy just has an amazing sounding whistle.

[@rudycarlson8245]

@@johnjornod6429 hopefully the museum will bring the 1218 back one day I know when the steam program ended at 12:18 was in the middle of a mandatory overhaul so when the steam program ended they put her back together enough to put her on display but I am hoping that they bring her back to life one day now I know it she will require a heavy overhaul, but it will be so worth it!

[@David_Mattox]

Both have great whistles, no doubt. But I like how deep 4014’s was, so I’m gonna have to give her my vote. Be sure to let us know who won!

[@katherinemorey6517]

How can 4014 be a her when it is called big BOY? I think it should be a him. She or her or herself doesn't match the name big boy. I think if it is a her, then it should be big girl. Cory Mears

[@tomschlitter1594]

Thanks for another great run session, Chris. I really enjoyed it. My vote for the best whistle still goes to the 4014. I guess I'm biased, because the Big Boy has always been my favorite. But your new engine sure is sweet! Its whistle is also mesmerizing. It's like asking which classic car is prettier - a Duesenberg or a Packard? Arguments can be made for both. I looked for your "Mini Me" somewhere on your impressive and didn't see him. Where was he hiding? Keep the great content coming and congratulations on your second anniversary.

[@RBPTrains]

Thanks Tom! Mini Me was hiding on top of one of the buildings next to a big robot (gundam) model. Did not move him around as much during this video.

[@PhilBender612]

What an awesome steam engine Chris. Thanks for running it, along with others, for us.😄

[@trainlandia697]

Fun fact: I saw the real 1218 (along with 611) at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, VA. It’s a beautiful engine! If you ever get out to Roanoke, be sure to go there. I may be a G-Scaler, but Lionel makes some great high-quality O-Scale products including the 1218! As for the whistle battle, I still think Big Boy 4014 is the champion. In my opinion, 1218’s whistle, is a whistle that is like a mighty battle cry into the night. Big Boy’s whistle, is a whistle that says, “I AM THE KING OF STEAM!” If only Lionel would make these engines in G-Scale though……

[@vin6135]

Another great video. The upper line and reworked scenery make for some awesome views. I have a Mr Muffins custom run Pennsylvania. Love this engine. Looks great, sounds great and is a lot of fun to watch it rumble around the layout. The Big Boy whistle wins by hair. What would be an interesting test of the hardware - set the Class A to the Bog Boy whistle and compare the sound to the other engine.

[@MrDroidmonkey]

Love your videos. You ought to get one of those Impact train horns. Very cool. Keep up the good work.

[@darknessfalls_hellfire2551]

Fun fact N&W 1218 is the soul serving 2-6-6-4. Of its type. Like the videos man

[@michaelclifton5051]

Chris, your videos are always so much fun. You never fail to put a smile on my face. I still have to go with the Big Boy. Please keep these GREAT videos coming.

[@katherinemorey6517]

I agree with you. They are so much fun to watch. Keep up the kind comments. Cory Mears

[@ShineOrtiz2199]

My vote goes to 1218.

[@txrazorback6357]

Chris, love the vlog. The class A is awesome but I would give the whistle battle to the Big Boy, even though he is at a disadvantage of not having the new technology that is found in the class A. Having a chance to stand about 30 feet away from the Big Boy when it's whistle was blown, it was all too real for me. It was great to see the big guys running together, though.

[@tomrogers5516]

Thanks for this great video visit and unboxing, Chris. The N&W Class A is really an impressive example of engineering, both the model and prototype. It makes an 'I am here' statement at every turn on the rails. When it comes to the whistle challenge, however, I still have to go with the UP Big Boy 4014. That deep, haunting sound is always breathtaking. The Class A is great, but for me, the Big Boy's is unique and special. Congratulations on completing the 2nd year of your wonderful, friendly and imaginative site. May you have many more!

[@TheMarkaorso]

i must say i love the bridge. when i was at York i could of got me one but it wouldn't fit in my car. now if i got one i would have to change my layout soon to be running strong

[@TrainManIII]

I think the Class A’s whistle fits the engine perfectly, but you just can’t beat that big boy whistle, it almost reaches into your soul!

[@katherinemorey6517]

It really does fit the engine perfectly. Cory Mears

[@henkherta1vanzitteren50]

Fantastic what beautiful steam locomotives you have driving around Chris, You asked who had the cleanest steam whistle and that is the Big Boy what a sound . Just like hearing the steam whistle blowing in the mountains with the reverberation of the echo, How I would like your job want to see with my own eyes, But yes the distance is great Belgium/America, An hour or 10/12 flying, I don`t know where you are East-Mid-west of the country, But i fully enjoy seeing this driving Chris, MVGR Henk Belgium Border❤🙂😉

[@tommytorpey8482]

What an awesome engine! I usually prefer the British locos but I’ve been watching your videos lately and I just love how l magnificent and commanding these beasts look. Great review Chris!

[@RonnyTheEngineer]

Hi RBP Trains, yesterday was my birthday 🎂 I was wondering if you could do a Norfolk and Western running session of the class a 1218 and y6b articulated steam engine? I'm a super mega fan of the Norfolk and Western Railway. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Thierry787]

Vous avez un sublime réseau, je n'ose imaginer le nombre d'heures passées pour le réaliser, et pour les locos et matériel remorqué, juste wahouuu !!

[@lifewithroscoe6513]

I think that It's a tie on the whistles. it's like East coast vs West coast. I do think the N&W should be a bit louder tho.

[@claiborneeastjr4129]

It must be awesome being surrounded with such a layout! I think you could lose yourself among all those wonderful trains!

[@donaldfaris4798]

Class A whistle Chris! I got my Broadway limited N scale Y6B this week also understand the excitement

[@TheCreativeType]

5:00 That is so awesome! That must’ve sounded *even cooler* actually being there next to it!

[@ghosty6954]

1218 wins whistle battle hands down. That haunting hooter whistle just rings out like a bell telling you a beast is coming over the mountains of the blue ridge

[@GuretoSefirosu]

Not sure why your video was suggested to me by Google. I have some OLD O-gauge stuff (1937 that still runs, 1950's era that works flawlessly) but don't have a layout and have not been searching for this stuff. I have two VHS videos. One is of the real 1218 and one is of 611. My great-grandfather worked on the N&W. I have a black and white photo of him and his crew on a bridge they had just built back before 1920. That's a good-looking model though. I have some stuff from The N&W as well, from Radford. By the way, and I mean no offense by this, but when I first saw you, all I thought was of you using a shotgun against zombies in the past. Hope you get the reference!

[@fastjazz]

Love these vids but all I keep thinking about - aside from enjoying the trains and awesome layout and the super enthusiasm from Chris - is how the heck much money am I looking at here?!!!

[@katherinemorey6517]

Hi Chris, I just made one of my gondolas even taller and more spacious than ever to have more room for the freight. I have also been cleaning out the trash from my firewood to make it look like a good load. I have been thinking about recommending the PHANTOM CORSAIRS for your layout. That's the best car in my opinion. I have two of them. They are so awesome. If you do get them, can you put them on the most visible road so your viewers can see them? I think it would be great to see them easily. I absolutely love the looks of the engine that is being made except the horizontal headlights. I am just not a fan of that type of light. I like the vertical headlights. Cory Mears

[@blythegimble2576]

Like you said, the whistles are haunting. But would you reckon that whistles on trains known as New York Central actually by comparison usually seem traditional and friendly?

[@tumbleweed5656]

Class A whistle for the win! Great video and congrats on your two year anniversary!🎉

[@JH-qi7fz]

Big boy won the battle, but both sound amazing!

[@TrainLover-wt9ix]

In some categories, Big Boy is the biggest, but in tractive effort, the Y6B is better.

[@Sir_Bill]

When you want to prank your neighbor hood just use 1218.Id say 1218 is the winner for its design and whistle on how it sounds so haunting👻

[@Tmstrains]

I think big boy still wins the whistle battle. Great video though

[@gordonsnell6735]

Very nice Chris, I also like the fact that you have the N&W 611 as well, that was always my favorite 😊😊

[@mrtrain6118]

This may be controversial, if I’d rather have the 1218 without the glossy paint.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Not controversial at all. For some reason a matte or semi-matte finish looks better on models even if the prototype has a high-gloss finish. Modelers of all kinds figured that out long ago. But hey, if people like the high-gloss look on the Lionel 1218 and Lionel sells 'em like hotcakes who are we to say they're wrong?

[@joeystrains.9316]

Super nice steam engine! The whistle is incredible. If that was my Locomotive, I’d turn the lights off and play, “My endless love”.

[@Countrykid1229]

The big boy has that aggression and strength in its whistle and the class a was a little bit sad but overall they are beautiful engines but I think big boy has this one

[@marblox9300]

Um, real trains don't have a middle rail. This outdated setup should have died years ago.

[@ShineOrtiz2199]

My first time seeing the 611 was back in 2019 when myself, my fiancé and a group of buddies met up for the first time at Strasburg. The second time was when I went to Strasburg alone in 2021.

[@louisletourneau3429]

The 611 whistle is unbeatable , I don't know how the LIONEL one sound but the real one is quite something .

[@TrainLover-wt9ix]

“Because clean trains, and well lubricated trains, are happy trains” Famous words by RBP

[@mikeyanello3664]

Class A has a higher pitch than big boy. Class A better sounding

[@blakemullin1023]

1218 as a hunting whistle, it sounds amazing

[@jeffburch3]

Excellent locomotive model! Regarding the 1218 whistle: It takes me back to chasing the 1218 when it was operating as a excursion train in the Shenandoah Valley in the early 1990's. I must choose the 1218.

[@robertmartin4942]

First time viewer here- I think the Big Boy won by a decimal or two- I’m the proud owner of a 1955 train set my dad got me when I was 5 years old! Great channel!

[@nileswilson577]

Sweet , Too Sweet, love its whistle and sound effects. Way to go Lionel 😃👍

[@larrybarnes5258]

Gotta Say Big Boy is the Meanist

[@Nicetrains]

Both nice whistles. I like the big boy just a little more. But hey, I will take both.

[@gregking7926]

I'd say the 611 has the best whistle sound of the real prototypes. I have heard both the 1218 & the 611 out on the rails here in Roanoke Va. Both can be heard across the valley when they would come in when doing excursions. If you are in Roanoke, drop by the Va Museum of Transportation and see them both. May 13th is National Train Lovers Day..

[@TheCreativeType]

I honestly can’t pick a whistle, both whistles really accentuate the presence of their respective locomotives, they both make them feel like forces to be reckoned with. But I think if I personally had to make a choice, it would be the Class A, for having that 2-tone whistle, which makes it feel even more powerful when going the next step up.

[@lane9084]

I love the big boys whistle it demands passage, so it just has a deep tone to it and that three chime is the best whistle I ever had heard

[@105C09]

There are no words. That 1218 is a materpiece. It does everything except have the engineer head on back to the coal pile to.............well to do what they do when on the coal pile!

[@johnconway2549]

Class A 1218 is a great looking engine, with great sound and features. I think the vision line Big Boy has a better whistle.

[@raymondhatton6877]

it`s gotta be the big boy for me, as good as the new loco sounds, just that haunting wail of the big boy hits different, have been a fan of that for a long time, if im not mistaken, 5 chime hancock? whittle, i cant remember if its a 5 or 6 , but i think its a 5

[@ARUSApacecarHAMPTON]

Being from Norfolk it was cool to see the old N&W coal cars. My father grew up next to Lamberts Point coal piers and his uncle worked as a scale house operator at the terminal.

[@seanblanck819]

1218 is definitely more accurate.

[@jurigelato4366]

Congrats on your 2nd anniversary. There was a lot of traffic on those rails. I am once again amazed to see long passenger trains. Your train room must be (almost) as big as a town hall.

[@BUTCRDAC]

I want to see the big 2-10-10-2 ATSF 3000 run again.

[@RBPTrains]

Will do!

[@Itsjustcat2.0]

The visionline Big Boy 4014 is my fairy whistle of the whole layout but the class is kind of my favorite but the Big Boy 4014 is my favorite because it came to Colorado and I live to in Colorado

[@patrickbolmeyer9515]

The Class A 1218 wins hands down!

[@H.O.Scalemodeler4501]

Class A is a beast but nothing can match the Big Boy whistle. It made me jump the first time I heard it in person.

[@djahearn]

The 611 has always been my favorite N & W locomotive 🚂

[@Calebro4]

Enjoyed all of the train action towards the end of the video! Glad to see Lionel used a gloss finish on the tender this time, unlike the big boy.

[@frankrazzagone2766]

Chris, another fantastic video; I really enjoyed seeing all your N&W engines. If you're into DVDs, watch a video call "Hooters On Blue Ridge." In the Video, they show a Y coupled to a Class A pulling a military train. The N&W Hooter's whistle is also clearly heard throughout the video.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Nice Choo Choo Train . 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃✨✨✨✨🇺🇸✌🏻

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Congratulations Chris! That's a great aquisition! Yeah, you just know when a big fat box shows up there's gonna be a cool big fat steam engine inside, and that unboxing was fun to watch! The whistle battle? While my heart's in Roanoke I've got to give the win to Schenectady. Talk about divided loyalties! I'm from the North but now live in Virginia. What are you gonna do? (Good thing I wasn't around in the 1860s!) I'll say this much, the old-timers down here say hearing a N&W "hooter" whistle echoing through snow-covered hills at night was a eerie but magical experience that they never forgot. Those same old-timers say if they were chasing Class A's down the N&W "racetrack" between Petersburg and Norfolk along parallelling Route 460 the Class A's would run away from them, even pulling a 100 car coal train! (Chasing trains along 460 would be good for speeding tickets too if you weren't careful!) We were lucky enough to ride behind 1218 several times during the NS Steam excursion program 30 years ago and it was quite a thrill. When I got up close to 1218 I was surprised just how compact and relatively small it was compared to a Big Boy that I'd seen several months earlier. A lot of power in a small package! Great video! Thanks for posting!

[@allegheny48]

Interesting that Lionel is using gloss black paint on some of their Vision Line Engines. It certainly looks good. In so far as comparing whistles I much prefer the Hancock 3 chime on the Big Boy yet the single note hooter and the A were made for each other and we couldn't imagine any other whistle on her. O. Winston Link immortalized that with his recordings of N&W steam. Do enjoy running your new A.

[@zachwheeler9846]

I think the Class A is awesome I love the wide and stubby look of the boiler and the gloss finish on this one is nice too, reminds me of your black bonnet 2-10-10-2 and 4-8-4 Northern. The whistle sounds fantastic, very high sheril and hunting, kinda gives you goosebumps, though I don't think it beats the Big boy, it's very close though, it was a very tuff choice, but I had to go with the Big boy, hard to beat it. Great video and thanks for waiting to unbox it with us.

[@chuckmaddison2924]

For a moment I thought I was watching Jim Carrey. Big Boy won

[@heleti0000]

I was waiting for an “alrighty then !” 😂

[@NW-gi1cp]

It's Beautiful 🥺🥲

[@dapro2848]

Best model train whistle's I have ever heard.

[@happymark1668]

That’s a beautiful steam engine

[@edconway9072]

Big Boy always wins! I live on the UP canyon subdivision, the old WP Feather River route. I grew up next to the SP main coastal line so I root for my home teams. Great video. I wish I had space ( and a spouse) that would allow me to build a layout. Thanks, Ed.

[@perrykirschbaum4075]

Class a north folk and western

[@RonnyTheEngineer]

That class a is one of my favorite articulated steam engines on the Norforlk and Western Railway! It is super awesome!

[@jamesgreen5298]

I may be biased, but I just love Norfolk and Western's whistles. Lionel got this one really accurate, so my vote goes to the Class A.

[@barry3573]

That class A has awesome whistle steam RBP. For me it's a draw for the whistle, both are just to great to call a winner for me. Great video and love your channel

[@stevenbullock9276]

Looks like a nice engine with a lot of cool features. Great N&W run session- really liking the Trainmaster. Of the two, I vote for the BB whistle. The deep pitch just sounds more menacing. Are you out of storage space for all the trains you have yet? 🤪

[@RBPTrains]

I am very much out of storage!

[@byronpeterson795]

Happy Birthday RBP trains. What an amazing engine to celebrate with.

[@RBPTrains]

Thanks Byron!

[@ethanarmitage5611]

N&W 1218 Steam engine.

[@vitale6633]

Both Engines sound Fantastic. I had no idea that the Lionel brand was still cranking out new engines - I'm Definitely going to be checking out the Vision Line. Thanks for posting.

[@RBPTrains]

Lionel is still rolling along after all these years and making some really cool stuff! Thanks for watching!

[@bigdaddydiecast3529]

#1218 is my vote for the whistle battle! She's my favorite steamer of all time! I had the privilege of riding behind here with my dad on a excursion run in the early 90's ans it was wonderful!! Great memories I will never forget!! Great video and content thank you for sharing!!

[@evansampson1034]

Hey Chris, love your videos. Many of your reviews helpes me start my set and pick out a few of my engines. I say the UP Bigboy won that battle. That whistle sounds like an unstoppable machine is coming down the track. Move or else.

[@will_wx8279]

The big boy won the whistle battle

[@TheKickass227]

I think both engines won. The Class "A" 1218 has such a haunting whistle, like it's saying "I'm back, don't forget me, Always remember the Legends of The Rails" While 4884 Union Pacfic "Big Boy" has a strong and powerful whistle, like it's saying "Here I am! Make way, High Priority Freight coming through! Clear the track!"

[@davidmaust1415]

The class A has a great whistle, but Big Boy still King of Whistle wars

[@katherinemorey6517]

Hi Chris, I have just made a very big gondola for my layout and it is very light weight and it is a very high capacity gondola that is as tall as the biggest engine in my fleet. I made it from a growth hormone box and then thickened the walls to increase strength. The gondola was built after my plastic gondola broke on me. I was carrying the plastic gondola in my pocket and it was hanging out and when my Gamma saw it, she didn't say anything about it and she went to the post office and shipped the packages and while I was walking, it fell out of my pocket and crashed on the sidewalk and it was messed up and I was upset about it at first. But then I realized that I didn't actually loose anything, I could just make a new one. I now have the best gondola I have ever had in my life. Cory Mears

[@katherinemorey6517]

Hi Chris, I have just made a second gondola for my ROCK ISLAND engine. It has a very colorful fuel tank on the bottom between the bogies. The bogies have 6 wheels each. The engine is very light on the top and very heavy on the bottom to keep her on the track. Her name is HANNAH. I absolutely love her name. I am a very big fan of that name. HANNAH is one of my absolute favorite names. I think it sounds so beautiful and I think it sounds strong. I think it sounds better than Lilly or Tracy or Rosie. Those names don't sound as strong. Sorry for going off topic. HANNAH has two HUGE gondolas with so much space for freight that she can haul almost enough to fill three normal gondolas. I like to pretend that she is so powerful that she can haul over 88,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 gondolas with 120 tons of gravel each and the same number of cars loaded with coal and the same number of cars loaded with sand and the same number of cars loaded with sludge all at once and not even struggle a tiny bit! She wouldn't even feel a single milligram of weight. She would feel nothing. Cory Mears

[@prairierailproductions6737]

If only ho engines had that kinda soundscape, it would be so cool to hear that level of detailed sound in that small of a space!!

[@jacksharples5415]

I’m speechless. That was beautiful.

[@TouchoftheBrushModelWeathering]

Beautiful model Chris!

[@thetrainseekers1]

Awesome pick up and congratulations on your 2nd year! Keep up the great content Chris! Cheers

[@Ikindaenjoytrains]

1218 definitely wins, the N&W hooter is my favorite steam whistle. “So today I filled the layout with N&W locomotives today, please ignore the NYC switcher in the corner there.”

[@davidfortney2970]

Another great video, I wish you all the best with this engine, great looks, great sound. It gets no better than this. Can't wait to see the ES44AC. amazing color scheme you guys picked out. Btw best whistle, 1218

[@RBPTrains]

Thanks David! I am excited about the custom run. Still cannot believe we were actually able to make it happen

[@johngoldschmidt5335]

You have a great channel...always puts a smile on my face. I go with the Big Boy..,, The 1218 is awesome but the Big Boy is incredibly amazing.. Thanks for your great work and videos.