One of the holy grails for Conrail collectors is a special that Lionel made to commemorate the company's safety record shortly after it was split up. The set features an SD70MAC that for some reason can only run on traditional tubular track as well as a couple of well cars and containers bearing the names of a number of CR employees.
In Christmas of 1987 this became my first o gauge train set and first standard O loco and cars! I was thrilled and it quickly became a favorite. The engine is actually over scale, or too fat, so the old motors could fit the body! At the time it was something special, as there was not much scale sized conrail stuff out there, but it was quickly surpassed as the hobby took off in the 90s and MTH, Kline, and Lionel began importing trains from Korea and China.
Most of the freight cars from this set have been repackaged under the “standard O” line in the more modern catalogs. Exceptions being the boxcar and the caboose (duh).
So I just clocked out of work, and you’re gonna like this, I saw CSX’s Conrail heritage unit. I totally freaked out when I saw it, and I figured “what better way to tell him than to put it on his Conrail video?”.
Great video! I own the Service Station set with all of its add-on cars (there are 3 sets of twin packs) and it is one of the weakest engines I've ever owned. With only 1 pullmor motor and magne-traction, the darn thing struggles to pull its own set, let alone the addon cars. It also sounds like a bunch of angry hornets locked inside a Tupperware container when in operation. I got mine New In Box last year from Legacy Station, and despite it's miserable pulling performance, can certainly light up a room. Hope when you get to review yours, you have better luck than I did!
@@alexanderpoirier3350 The add-on packs came with two "overstamp" cars each. Pack 6-21756 includes both a green Penn Central (6-29233) and brown Erie Lackawanna (6-29234) boxcar are both overstamped for Conrail. Pack 6-29281 comes with a red CNJ (6-29279) boxcar and a white Lehigh Valley (6-29280) boxcar, both overstamped for Conrail. Pack 6-29286 came with a New Haven (6-29287) boxcar overstamped for Penn Central, and a brown Reading (6-29288) boxcar overstamped for Conrail. To say it looks impressive when put together is an understatement. They aren't too hard to find online, either. Mine either came New In Box or Like New for around $30-$50 from Trainz.com.
This might be Lionel's first SD-40 , These are all early Standard O Scale cars. So before this there were just a few Standard O cars made to go with the MPC Scale Hudson Locomotives, so a big deal in 1987, I bought the Chessie Set, still one of my favorites
Nice. I have the BN Limited set myself, the horn on that SD40 sounds a bit like a pig oinking, its so corny and campy that I kind of like it. Was hoping you would have sounded the horn in the video.
@@cobramerciless Mine's failed too. Has been for a few years now. While it is a fairly easy fix, all those components on the PC board inside are simple to desolder and replace, it is a very low priority project. So I think, like Mighty Sounds of Steam from the '70s, the circut boards aren't great.
Might do that, although I'm more of a sounds off sort of guy when it comes to O gauge. Something about hearing the mechanics of the motor and the sounds of metal wheels on metal track just makes me happy.@@modelrailpreservation
I really do hate the stupid .05 screw at the top of the motor that you mentioned. I had one on a Lionel SD-18 circa 1979 that got to where in would not stay tightened. The motor will not run if that screw isn't tight.
I do believe the caboose is based upon a Canadian National prototype, but was reused by Lionel in a variety of road names. Also, perhaps the title of this video should be ‘Conrail? Con-Fail!’ 😁
I'd like to post more often, but in between all the time I have to invest and my schedule, it's hard to fit it all in. I'm still aiming for once every 2 weeks, with enough motivation and video subjects that I could probably do weekly for a while if I had the time.
I love limited edition train sets like these so cool and this is my first time seeing your face and dude you look like you just hit puberty lol sorry if your older then that but you look maybe 14 or 15 at max to me lol
One of the holy grails for Conrail collectors is a special that Lionel made to commemorate the company's safety record shortly after it was split up. The set features an SD70MAC that for some reason can only run on traditional tubular track as well as a couple of well cars and containers bearing the names of a number of CR employees.
Huh. Maybe I should look into that!
In Christmas of 1987 this became my first o gauge train set and first standard O loco and cars! I was thrilled and it quickly became a favorite. The engine is actually over scale, or too fat, so the old motors could fit the body!
At the time it was something special, as there was not much scale sized conrail stuff out there, but it was quickly surpassed as the hobby took off in the 90s and MTH, Kline, and Lionel began importing trains from Korea and China.
I heard somewhere that the reason Lionel used a wooden caboose was that they were wanting to use up tooling they had laying around
Most of the freight cars from this set have been repackaged under the “standard O” line in the more modern catalogs. Exceptions being the boxcar and the caboose (duh).
THE MILWAUKEE ROAD
I don’t know if that’s a testament to how big the box is, or how small my car is,” It’s probably both.
He owns a mini
So I just clocked out of work, and you’re gonna like this, I saw CSX’s Conrail heritage unit. I totally freaked out when I saw it, and I figured “what better way to tell him than to put it on his Conrail video?”.
Great video on this set. The Conrail trailer train set with B40-8 would be a neat one for you to get next.
Great video! I own the Service Station set with all of its add-on cars (there are 3 sets of twin packs) and it is one of the weakest engines I've ever owned. With only 1 pullmor motor and magne-traction, the darn thing struggles to pull its own set, let alone the addon cars. It also sounds like a bunch of angry hornets locked inside a Tupperware container when in operation. I got mine New In Box last year from Legacy Station, and despite it's miserable pulling performance, can certainly light up a room. Hope when you get to review yours, you have better luck than I did!
That’s interesting. Might make for a good upgrade project? 👀
I’m curious about the add-on sets. Must’ve looked impressive! One of the LionChief diesel or electric locomotives would look good pulling it.
@@alexanderpoirier3350 The add-on packs came with two "overstamp" cars each. Pack 6-21756 includes both a green Penn Central (6-29233) and brown Erie Lackawanna (6-29234) boxcar are both overstamped for Conrail. Pack 6-29281 comes with a red CNJ (6-29279) boxcar and a white Lehigh Valley (6-29280) boxcar, both overstamped for Conrail. Pack 6-29286 came with a New Haven (6-29287) boxcar overstamped for Penn Central, and a brown Reading (6-29288) boxcar overstamped for Conrail. To say it looks impressive when put together is an understatement. They aren't too hard to find online, either. Mine either came New In Box or Like New for around $30-$50 from Trainz.com.
This might be Lionel's first SD-40 , These are all early Standard O Scale cars. So before this there were just a few Standard O cars made to go with the MPC Scale Hudson Locomotives, so a big deal in 1987, I bought the Chessie Set, still one of my favorites
Look at early 9800 series and early 17000 series cars , the cars in this set were special at the time it was made
Unremarkable is Conrail and I love it.
How else would you get these somewhat realistic basic Conrail cars at the time?
I'd to see your review of the Lionel Conrail special set with the patch evolved cars.
Great set! and great looker
Nice. I have the BN Limited set myself, the horn on that SD40 sounds a bit like a pig oinking, its so corny and campy that I kind of like it. Was hoping you would have sounded the horn in the video.
I was hoping for that too, but unfortunately I just could not get it to work. Might need a better transformer :/
@@cobramerciless Mine's failed too. Has been for a few years now. While it is a fairly easy fix, all those components on the PC board inside are simple to desolder and replace, it is a very low priority project. So I think, like Mighty Sounds of Steam from the '70s, the circut boards aren't great.
Might do that, although I'm more of a sounds off sort of guy when it comes to O gauge. Something about hearing the mechanics of the motor and the sounds of metal wheels on metal track just makes me happy.@@modelrailpreservation
I really do hate the stupid .05 screw at the top of the motor that you mentioned. I had one on a Lionel SD-18 circa 1979 that got to where in would not stay tightened. The motor will not run if that screw isn't tight.
I do believe the caboose is based upon a Canadian National prototype, but was reused by Lionel in a variety of road names. Also, perhaps the title of this video should be ‘Conrail? Con-Fail!’ 😁
I think that's the wooden NYC caboose, high cupola version. The more famous one is the low cupola.
that's really old school
Not only would I like to see Conrail service station set. I also know a train store in Ohio that is selling one.
Would it happen to be Dixie Union Station? That's where I picked this set up lol. Also from one GP30 fanboy to another, nice username
U need to post more often I love your channel!
I'd like to post more often, but in between all the time I have to invest and my schedule, it's hard to fit it all in. I'm still aiming for once every 2 weeks, with enough motivation and video subjects that I could probably do weekly for a while if I had the time.
We that makes sense but don’t ever stop posting!
I love limited edition train sets like these so cool and this is my first time seeing your face and dude you look like you just hit puberty lol sorry if your older then that but you look maybe 14 or 15 at max to me lol
I don’t like that you aren’t the only person to tell me that this week
@cobramerciless lmao I'm sorry, if it makes you feel any better when I shave my beard and mustache I get told the same thing and even carded lol
I like you videos man. But please slow down and do multiple takes.