The Right Train At The Right Time - Lionel's Spirit Of '76 Set

Lionel Trains was at a crossroads. The Lionel Corporation had gone bankrupt, and trains were now produced under license the the Fundimensions Model products Corp - a division of General Mills foods. MPC first stuck with tried and true Postwar designs - with a few improvements such as new axles and more colorful paint schemes - but MPC was looking to take Lionel in new directions with new products as well.
Then - everything came together.
*As an Amazon Associate and a member of the eBay Partner Network I may receive commissions on qualifying sales generated from the links on this channel.**
Lionel was inspired and the 1974 catalog featured the firm’s first new road diesel model since the 1950s - the General Electric U36B - and one of these new U36 diesels was decorated to copy the Seaboard Coast Line #1776. In addition, Lionel also produced a Bicentennial N5C porthole caboose in a scheme based on a Frisco prototype. PLUS, there were three brand-new woodsided boxcars, each with special, highly-detailed graphics highlighting one of the original 13 US states. More cars would be released (4 in 1975 and 6 in 1976) until a complete 13-car commemorative train could be assembled in early 1976. This was Lionel’s first all-separate-sale collectible set, and its success would lead to more such items in the future.
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.
Handy Links:
Lionel Spirit Of '76 Set: ebay.us/fxe5VK
Lionel 1976 TCA Set: ebay.us/9IPPuj
Lionel "The Patriot" Set: ebay.us/teB3cq
Lionel Liberty Bell Special Set: ebay.us/x3pDO8
Lionel Jeremiah O'Brien Diesel: ebay.us/KUGuMH
Lionel N&W Bicentennial Diesel: ebay.us/57wYN8
Lionel Preamble Express: ebay.us/cUAYWQ
Lionel 7700 Uncle Sam: ebay.us/pub9zz
Keep the trains running!
Music: Vibin’ 53 by Peyruis | / peyruis
Music promoted by www.free-stock...
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommon...
Facebook: / ttttlocomaniac
#Promotion #Lioneltrains #Trainset #Trainrepair #Traincollecting #Ogauge #Oscale

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide 1901-2023 [Affiliate Link] New prices and expanded listings showing all new Lionel products for 2023! Featuring the latest prices on Lionel products for over 120 years of production, the Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide 1901-2023 is packed with: The latest market values for prewar, postwar, modern, and tinplate trains, as well as postwar boxes and sets. amzn.to/3MPG9Rs

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

As I model a prosperous Penn Central, my cutoff date is the bicentennial which allows me to run all of my bicentennial painted locomotive. I have the kaline gg1 and caboose set when you press the horn button it says God bless America. All of them are so beautifully painted I wish I had more room for a bigger layout.

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

I rember santafe had a patriotic spirit of 76 locomotives o still see them once in a while

[@danradjeski15]

Thanks for the video. I enjoyed it, and It was really informative. My grandmother surprised me with this train in 1976 and we continued adding cars for several years after. I eventually had amassed so many cars that I couldn’t fit it all together on the living room floor. The solution? Two ping pong tables, side by side, with trap doors cut into each one. (Just in case of an accidental derailment). As the collection continued to grow, it became my favorite way to escape into my own idyllic world complete with mountains, tunnels, a trestle over a river and more. The tables and landscape are long gone, but I managed to save my entire train and track from my mother’s massive purge after I went to college. And I still have them all. And in their original boxes. A wonderful reminder of what it was like to be a kid!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Priceless!!

[@davidwayneprins]

I remember a friend of my parents having this set behind glass at his hobby shop/model train museum. As a child I was bummed there was not a Michigan car, not realizing that only the Colonies were featured.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Lionel later made a series of I Love ____ cars. I think Michigan was one of the cars.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

www.ebay.com/itm/254567514514

[@davidwayneprins]

@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks it would make sense they did given the company's history of being in Mount Clemens. I know they made a Michigan 150 box car for the states sesquicentennial back in 1987. My dad had one. Think it was only available via Art Train when that rolling art gallery existed here.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

It's funny when you look at people's layout and you see something like the tide factory and it's like Menards buildings are everywhere.

[@henryszubielski8601]

You have a sweet train there! Enjoy. 😊

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thanks!

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Hey, I've GOT the "Spirit of '76" series my self! And it's a testament to the old saying "Patience is a virtue!" Here's a story: Being a student of the Revolutionary Period I wanted a complete "Spirit" series not long after I got into O Gauge trains in 1990, but when I ran into a complete set around that time it usually had a price tag of $1100 to $1200 and I couldn't afford that. Around 2000 the price had dropped to around $675 or so and that was still too much for me. Then at a Chantilly VA Greenberg Show in 2016 there was the complete set for sale for $350. When the seller said "I'll take $325 for it I said "Sold!!!" It's a beautiful set and my pride and joy but there's one problem, the U36 won't pull the complete set even with me giving it a push! How did you get yours to pull all 13 cars? Did you ballast the engine? Anyway, when I DO run the set I don't bother with the diesel, I use an MPC Lionel "President Washington" Pacific steam engine! Makes sense to have George Washington pulling all 13 states behind him anyway, doesn't it? Oh, and NOBODY knows why the Virginia car is so hard to find, even Roger Carp of "Classic Toy Trains" magazine. I live in Virginia and let me tell you, they're hard to find here too! Fun video! Thanks for posting!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

1) eBay wiped out many collector prices. Things that you once saw once a decade at shows were online every day. 2) Most days my 1776 would top out at 8-9 cars. The only difference in the video is that I had JUST cleaned the track. Better traction???? I usually double head with the Preamble Express F3.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks Thanks for the response! Sure, double heading would do it! And take my advice, if you see a "President Washington" Pacific, grab it! You wont be sorry! A great puller and it looks just as good pulling a consist of Pullman cars.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

What was great about the new U,-36B WAS THE FACT THAT IT SHOWED THE COMPANY HAD FAITH IN THE FUTURE OF TOY TRAINS 🚂🚃🚃.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Indeed.

[@kellywhitlow8325]

I would love to own a complete set!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

I received mine as a kid. We would make regular pilgrimages to the local train stores to see when new cars arrived. No Internet back then!

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Keep your eyes peeled, they seem to be coming on the market now as prior owners downsize, they're not as hard to find as they once were. As with most collectibles prices range from reasonable to ridiculous. In my opinion based on condition (and condition seems to be excellent of all I've seen) aything from $350 to $400 is about right at this time.

[@thomasshannon3393]

Well done and well said, have a great 4th of july!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

And you as well!

[@chrisresor1893]

Another highly enjoyable vid Mike! Hats off to MPC for a beautiful train!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thanks for watching and Happy 4th!

[@richardsobieck9660]

I'm like #1! Well done!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thanks!

[@paulbervid1610]

Great video. Perfect for the 4th of July.. and my birthday. Thank you.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Happy Birthday!

[@paulbervid1610]

@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks thanks

[@mdeange3]

An amazing video with fantastic historical commentary. And the trains are an absolute winner!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thank you very much!

[@lucasquintanilla1673]

@@ToyTrainTipsAndTrickswhen the bicentennial era was happening how well did the American freedom train themed version of the scale model of the 4449 sell?

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

@@lucasquintanilla1673 The only AFT offering Lionel had at the time was in HO scale. It was quite popular.

[@lucasquintanilla1673]

@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks ok that makes sense now. Have you ever had or considered getting either a tinplate prewar o gauge set or one of the modern “remakes” of them?

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

@@lucasquintanilla1673 Never appealed to me. But my kids are all boys, so maybe under different circumstances.

[@coverdalemineoscalemodelrr7074]

Awesome Train 🇺🇸have a great 4th

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thanks! And you as well!

[@johnknippenberg-LandmarkYards]

Great info! I have the BAR Jeremiah O'Brien matching GP-9 and caboose, all geared up for Tuesday! 🇺🇲

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Great pair!

[@metalheadrailfan]

I actually found the TCA passenger set for this last year at a train show for $100, including the box and paperwork.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Nice find!

[@gusshadleythelunaticfromar7125]

I got one but paid 200 for the TCA bi centennial set.

[@plunkervillerr1529]

I remember 1976 so well, I was 27 and newlywed. Regardless of what you said, patriotism was high. The real question is, Will the U.S.A. exist in the year 2076? GOD HELP US!

[@rickcovert594]

Another great video, excellent use of B roll. Could not afford the set when I was 14 but have two now and the TCA passenger set. Thanks for the history lesson!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

You're welcome!

[@johnpontin9276]

Great vid! Thx

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thanks for watching!

[@donaldwiller9238]

Cool train set

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thank you!

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

All of the toy train companies had bicentennial trains just like so many of the railroads had bicentennial locomotives the first one was to seaboard coastline in Florida where I live now. I had a set of the Tyco bicentennial train but it got stolen from my storage unit when I was in the Air Force. I still remember the jingle from the TV the Spirit of 76 the red-white-and-blue the Spirit of 76 for me and for you. Of course it wasn't a thought crime to be patriotic back then. We thought those times were bad. We're good times compared to now. MPC was my era of Lionel. MPC saved Lionel and kept train production in America for 20 years. As soon as they sold it they plan to move it to China. Where we pay american-made prices for chinese-made trains.

[@markslioneltrains]

Excellent Video Mike.!😊Well Said.! 👍

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thanks! Happy 4th!

[@markslioneltrains]

@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks Thanks Mike.! You too.! 🇺🇸

[@goldenmanuever1176]

My favorite Corp. engine is the Santa Fe F3...from the MPC era the U36B is my favorite. Specifically the 8650/8651 from 1976-77.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Good choices!

[@hammers1518]

Great video. I have the diesel, Maryland car and caboose shown in your video. Living in Virginia now, good intel on the Virginia car as I never searched for one. I grew up in Maryland and sought out that one.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Happy hunting!!!

[@ldever3]

One of my favorite sets. I bought mine for $600 from an original owner. Everything is in very good condition. At the time it seemed a good price as they had once sold for over $1,000. Now $600 is a high price. Oh well, it’s still one of my favorite sets. I also bought a new Lionchief version of the engine that has a horn, and engine sounds. It struggles a bit pulling the 14 cars, so I just purchased a second Lionchief 1776 to double the pulling power. It will be renumbered 1777. They both work off of the same remote. For those wanting to pull with steam, the Presidents set engine looks great with this set as well.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Ultimately, the value of any item is whatever value it holds for us. While we may be disappointed when today's prices are less than what we paid a decade ago, the important thing is the enjoyment we have with the items rather than whether they will put our grandkids through college. Thanks for watching!

[@civicfreik]

I just picked up one of these locomotives a couple weeks ago off eBay

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Cool!

[@paulmatulavich7321]

As I write this, I am expecting in the next few hours delivery of the 1776 set from Weiss auctions. The set is complete, boxed, and unrun. Paid $250 for it, which I thought was a good deal. Naturally there were associated fees, so actual price was $325. Again, mint condition, in master carton. But I bought it to run it!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Great deal!!

[@huntercoleman460]

Awesome. This is a very popular MPC set. Do you have the Mickey Mouse Express as well? Happy 4th of July.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

No. My family collected the Spirit of 76 when I was a kid. We didn't have the funds for two collector sets and the Mickey set is out of my price range now.

[@CadenParker]

I hope this doesn’t sound too dumb haha but I just recently got into trains and I actually won the locomotive for the spirt of 76 on a bid on eBay for my first one and I’m not sure what I need to get it to run. I know I need a transformer for power, but I just don’t know which one for that older model. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Awesome video

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Congratulations!! Any conventional AC output transformer made by Lionel, MTH, K-Line, etc. will work. A few good choices for beginners (good reliability/"bang for the buck") would be Lionel's 1033 or RW Postwar types, or modern CW80, any MTH Z-750 or higher,. K-Line's Power Chief is also excellent if you can find one. DO NOT USE A TRANSFORMER MADE FOR HO or N SCALE as these are DC a have insufficient output for O motors. After you have a transformer, choose a track system and you're ready. If you just want a basic oval, Menards has traditional O track still in production which is cheap and reliable. For a more complex layout, Lionel's FasTrack is in current production, is generally reliable, and readily available. If you have a local dealer or show, O27 track also works and it's CHEAP! I hope this helps!

[@CadenParker]

@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks this helped a ton!! Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

@@CadenParker I'm glad it helped!

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

I would buy a 250 years yet but I would be disappointed that it would be made in China and not in the USA.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

I think railroading is the only major industry that people love who become railfan and or model railroaders. I can't think of any other industry that is emulated as a hobby. Matthias Baldwin saw the poor quality of the locomotives that the promoters were showing and decided he could do better. He carved the wood patterns to make the shield parts and had a foundry make the steel parts and he put them together and made a circle of track in his yard so he and his friends could ride around on his own train. He was asked to rake locomotives for other people and when the orders became too much for him to handle himself he started Baldwin locomotive works. Baldwin locomotive works exist because of its founder being a model railroader in a big scale

[@allendykstra9339]

It's too bad lionel didn't start making american flyer until 1978. it would have been cool to see a set in s guage. Hint Hint lionel for 2026

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Interesting idea!

[@huntercoleman460]

They actually started in 1981. It was the first time Lionel actually made AF trains since they bought the brand and tooling from AC Gilbert.