The Loneliest F3 - Lionel MPC's Preamble Express
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 มิ.ย. 2024
- In 1975, Lionel Trains produced an unusual uncataloged O gauge EMD F3 diesel. It was a single powered diesel. There was no matching B unit or dummy A unit to accompany it. There were no passenger cars made to run behind it - nor even a special freight train. Just a single F3 in a red, white, and blue color scheme with “Preamble Express” emblazoned upon the nose. Let’s take a closer look at this unusual model and the history it represents.
Jumping on board the publicity train, so to speak, Lionel decided to create a Preamble Express model of its own. With no E models in the catalog, Lionel used the closest model available - the classic F3 - to represent the real #951. Other than the much shorter length of the F3, Lionel’s model is actually a fairly good representation of the paint scheme on the #951. Lionel could conceivably have produced a 4-car “Baby Madison” passenger set to accompany the F3, but they decided not to do so,and the #8568 was an orphan. At shows I have seen B units and matching A units painted in the Preamble Express colors, but these are custom repaints - not original factory models. There may have been a prototype test model of a Preamble Express B unit produced, but the authenticity of the model is a matter of debate among Lionel collectors.
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Thank you for a great video, not only do I enjoy watching the old classic trains, I also appreciate the history behind it. I always learn something new watching your videos and I hope to see many more.
Thank you very much!
Awesome history and comparison, thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it
I had one of these for a while. I always got annoyed that the white paint would show fingerprints no matter how clean my hands were. Its nice to see a video about them, brings back good memories
Thanks for watching!!
Nice. I got to see the Freedom Train when it came through Toledo, Ohio. It was headed by the Reading T1, 2101. When it went west, they used a SP Daylight. I'm not sure if it was the 4449. It then proceeded to Archbold, Ohio, where it was on display and the cars were open to the public, to see all of the artifacts and historical documents. It is a great memory that I will always cherish. A great video, as always.
Fun fact: Archbold was the smallest town to host a full Freedom Train display stop. Yes. 4449 was used in the West and parts of the South. Ex Texas & Pacific #610 was also used for part of the route. NKP #759 was originally planned for the eastern segments but was sidelined and #2101 was remarkably retrieved from a scrapyard and restored in time for Freedom Train duties.
@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks Archbold has a long, industrial spur, with multiple industries. It was a good choice. There is plenty of space to park and walk around. They could have gone to Bryan, but it would have been another dozen miles from Toledo and more difficult to get to, with less convenient parking and walking areas.
@@johnandrus3901 I briefly lived in Bryan, and I am familiar with Archbold as well. I agree that there was no good location for a display in Bryan
@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks Yup. I retired from a nice career on the railroad, starting with Conrail. I worked both Bryan and Archbold, many times.
Great information and very historical.
Thank you very much!
Another enjoyable informative vid Mike!
Glad you enjoyed it
Keep up the great work.
Thanks!!
I picked up a Preamble Express recently for less than $100. I found a set of Lionel Philidephia Phillies Baby Madison passenger cars years ago for cheap. They're Polar Express style cars in MLB colors. I intend to repaint them eventually. They are probably going to run behind my Preamble Express. They're close to the right colors with a grey roof, white body and red stripe over the windows.
That should work!
It would have been a nice fit for Lionel to include the 2400 streamline cars (like the TCA bicentennial cars) with the F3 completing the set.
Personally, I think the 2500 cars are a better fit (as seen in the video).
I run mine with the TCA Bicentennial Cars as I see you do as well. Probably the best match up for this poor lonely diesel. Every locomotive needs a purpose. Another nice match up might be the Pennsylvania Presidential Campaign Observation cars like the 9828 Truman car. Thanks for your videos they are always full of some rich information.
As I recall, the TCA set is O27 type streamliners. These are regular Lionel Lines aluminum cars from the Super Speed liner Set (1953). Williams made a set of Bicentennial shells designed to accept the Lionel trucks and end pieces. Thanks for watching!
Thanks Mike! I've seen those "Preamble Express" F3's at shows over the years. I was never really interested in them but always wondered what the story was since I knew about the Bicentennial Freedom Train and that wasn't pulled by a diesel.
Thanks for posting!
Very welcome
Awesome Overview! I like it!!
Glad you enjoyed it
Dakman has the Preamble Express.
Lionel's original plans for the Freedom Train & Preamble Express were to have this F3 and a baby hudson, each pulling a set of baby Madison cars, similar to the real-life cars. The plan was canceled in favor of making the Freedom train in HO rather than O shortly after the engine was made.
Thanks for the info!
I love learning about the mpc era F3s. Think you can cover the Burlington(1980) or Union Pacific F3s (1984) from that time period?
Well, believe it or not, this is the only MPC F3 in my collection!
@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks at least you got an interesting one.
Mike, the country's 250th anniversary is coming up in 2026. I have not heard of a special train for that, have you?
I have heard very little about ANY celebrations. For the Bicentennial the buildup began two years before. In this political climate the values of the American Revolution are too "controversial".
Basic, I likem.
:-)