Hi again Eric, I wanted to add that I tested my NS Genset to see if it would negotiate O36 curves, it does. In my review I stated that the genset could not pull freight around O36 curves, but that isn't entirely wrong. I've found that the right kind of rolling stock that has a wider swinging coupler can be pulled around O36's. I even called Lionel to ask if it was going to possibly break something, they said no but you may have derailments. This is important for poeple with tighter curves.
O, wow...you got BOTH of them!! You da man, Eric. I experimented with mine to see how many cars it would pull up my incline on my main line....it couldn't pull more than 20 cars all the way through...but since I'm a smoke unit fanatic, its still a great looking engine that will be just fine in my railyard.
This is amazing how this channel and layout has evolved over the years, from just track and a few locomotives, to a stunning real world layout with hundreds of locomotives and cars along with buildings to
I know this is a super old video at this point, but I just got one of these used for Christmas, and I was unable to figure out how to insert the optional 9v battery. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
@esiegel76 I don't blame you, and that is a good point. You don't want the finger pointed at you if something goes wrong. By the way I was viewing your website for the first time last night and its really nice! I can tell you have spent a lot of time and effort with it. Great work Eric! I can't wait to see your BNSF Ice cold express you have on order! It should be in by the end of December!
@aocruiser Hello there Mr. cruiser (lol).... I can tell you that I believe you are right. the NS Genset did not have a second brown box on the inside. Its a nice meeting you here! haha
Those LVL 3GS21B switchers are a favorite of mine now! I love their design and the smoke stack exhaust things open and closing when there is smoke used.
And I have a slightly modified layou from the fastrack book? That has a grade on it my layout uses 0-36 and 0-48 curves. The hill uses all the pieces from the fastrack graduated trestle.
Cool video Eric, I want one.. but have to wait, just got the U.P. 4-8-8-4 Big Boy #4011 keeping fingers crossed... next on the list... keep the video's coming... great job !!
I would recommend the MTH one, personally. It's less expensive, has 2 motors (which means you can pull more than a few cars up a grade) and has more smoke. I like this one but it is far more expensive.
the safety treads are put on by the engineers if they want them the ones that stop at the ethanol plant dont have them a lot even tho the do have diamond steel floor there
Just received my Vision Line UP Genset today. Just like the CP VL Hybrid that I also have, I got both engines mainly because of your reviews on them. Love em both thanks!
I'm proud to also be an owner of the NS 300! These engines are so nice, and in person they are even better. Your review was fantastic Eric! You are truly a master at making these videos! I fav'ed this one my friend. Have fun with those awesome switchers! :-)
hey eric i got a upy 2701 for christmas and it didnt come with the flappy smokestacks, they dont want to go in the hole all the way, the third smokestack doesnt smoke as much as the others, and the pop-off cab roof, the roof can come off but when you put it back on the lights dont work until 5 minutes of adjusting it. can you please help me out and give me some advice? please respond, thank you
MTH has a Genset as well and they are shipping in April, 2011. Unlike the Lionel Genset, the MTH has 2 motors and is able to pull more than 5 cars up a grade. The downside to the MTH line is that the cab is less detailed. Also there is only 1 smoke unit per engine. The upside is the $200 price difference. Either way, both models are going to be nice to add to the collection.
@littleevan99 I don't know. According to the specifications on the box, the answer would be no. In reality, however, it may run on O-36. I wouldn't spend the money until you're sure.
O, wow...you got BOTH of them!! You da man, Eric. I experimented with mine to see how many cars it would pull up my incline on my main line....it couldn't pull more than 20 cars all the way through...but since I'm a smoke unit fanatic, its still a great looking engine that will be just fine in my railyard. The sound of the diesel stack lid coming down when you throttle down is DEFINITELY amazing!
Thank you so much for taking the time to review your collection items. I love Lionel and Atlas O Products, and I find your reviews helpful, enjoyable, and most of all, informative, helping me decide what products I might choose to purchase next from these two given companies. However, as a side note, the NS Genset has a major detail flaw in that the Horsehead on the nose is backwards, as if it is a mirror image. I apologize if that has been covered in the video, as I only watched some of it.
I'm sure you can find one somewhere, but I wouldn't know where. It's been a while since this was shipped, so that makes it harder to find one. Keep searching though.
Lionel only made 2 Vision gensets: Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. All other gensets were not vision line, though they were still very nice engines. The main difference is that the vision line gensets have a separate smoke unit for each smoke stack whereas the regular gensets only have a single smoke unit that puts smoke out of all 3 stacks.
Eric, I noticed in one of your earlier comments...you noted you had ordered the new vision line Challenger. Any ideas when they are supposed to start arriving at stores? Great review!
@atsf3415dbr Yeah, it's hard to do more than one scale at a time. I dabble in Standard Gauge and G Gauge, but I pretty much focus all my attention on O because I don't have enough money to do much more than that.
They've made a lot more than 2 gensets. I think they've made 6 or 7 different roadnames...maybe 8. Only 2 of them are vision line, the rest are standard O-scale.
@esiegel76 Yep. A good number of the new locos out on the rails today have an e-bell. There are quite a few of the new ones though, that still have a legit bell on them.
both are phenomenal builds,and great detail.i personally like lionel,as it is just my favorite. mth has extremely great ones aswell. i think ill get both.
The electronic bell is a new generation of locomotive tech instead of having a freeze of a pneumatic bell on a locomotive engine its powered by an electrical power-source BUT personally I preferred the older pneumatic bells with the classic clacker
yes i want one! lol too bad its O gauge...I only have HO >T3T< I wanna up to O...and i will soon...with the train set my grandfather had...its OLLLDD....might need work to get to TCC or Legacy control. I don't know what engines he had with it either or if they are in running condition....ohh these are drool worthy
Erik' not knowing how old you are, Do you remember "Seaboard Coastline" (now CSX) I live in Jacksonville FL. hat Norfolk Southern reminds me of that former rail company. Also have you heard of "FEC" (Florida East Coast RR)..runs on tracks on the East side of the St.Johns River. Just courious.
I'm sure more will come out in a few years from now. I don't plan on building my est. $3800 layout anytime soon so It's not a biggie that they don't offer such engines at this moment. Is vision line not compatible with standard O scale? I plan for my tightest gauge to be O-32. I know vision line probably has 10x's the detail and features while being slightly more to scale, but I though any O gauge engine would run on any O gauge track IF it was the right rail and the Gauge allowed?
Nice review Eric! Those genset switchers by Lionel are great. I am saving up right now for the Lionel 460 E6 Atlantic. It has the vision steam whistle. Anyways, the technology in those engines is absolutely awesome! I love the way it sounds and the smoke like you said, is really cool. I have heard about people having problems with their power supplies not having enough volts to run the three smoke units. Have you had that problem? Also, I don't think they have safety tread on the walkways.
Eric, That was a awesome review!! I agree The Vision Line products are the best on the market!! Did you notice that the NS genset did not have a cardboard box around the inside Vision Line box like the UPY?
I spent probably 2 hours looking through all of Lionel's online catalogs, and I found only those two NRE Gensets, like you said. I did however find multiple ALCO S-2 switchers if I remember correctly in some older catalogs. I don't know why I like the NRE Gensets and ALCO switchers so much. Mainly their unique look. If I had to choose something other then a switcher, I'd go with a GP9/ GP35/38. Dash-9's are ok but are so big.
@PghTrainFanatic Yeah, I saw your review. Sounds like running it on O36 is possible, but there's a potential for problems. I wouldn't feel comfortable telling someone with O36 or smaller to buy this engine as there are potential issues like the ones you described. That's a lot of money to spend just to have derailments and other issues and I wouldn't want someone saying "hey, Eric said this thing would run great on O36!". I don't want to take the blame. :)
Hi again Eric, I wanted to add that I tested my NS Genset to see if it would negotiate O36 curves, it does. In my review I stated that the genset could not pull freight around O36 curves, but that isn't entirely wrong. I've found that the right kind of rolling stock that has a wider swinging coupler can be pulled around O36's. I even called Lionel to ask if it was going to possibly break something, they said no but you may have derailments. This is important for poeple with tighter curves.
@Trainmaster189 The MTH Gensets have not shipped yet.
@slimjimandpepsi If it's not working right, send it in to Lionel for service.
Awesome thanks for reviewing those for us!!!
@TheGordon4 I don't recall saying anything about an "e-bell". What are referring to?
the genset is a gp(general purpose) style locomotive wich means both swicher/mainline locomotive
@KBurkitt2 Yes, I've ordered several of the MTH gensets.
Cool.
It is going to be interesting to see how they compare.
@TheLionelKid Yes, I know that.
O, wow...you got BOTH of them!! You da man, Eric. I experimented with mine to see how many cars it would pull up my incline on my main line....it couldn't pull more than 20 cars all the way through...but since I'm a smoke unit fanatic, its still a great looking engine that will be just fine in my railyard.
This is amazing how this channel and layout has evolved over the years, from just track and a few locomotives, to a stunning real world layout with hundreds of locomotives and cars along with buildings to
Where can I buy these 2 genset switchers.
the little lid on the muffler is called a rain cap
@james1234434 Are you talking about the models or the real life engines?
@TheGordon4 I'm not sure what you're talking about, but yes, the engine has a bell sound that you can activate if you want.
I know this is a super old video at this point, but I just got one of these used for Christmas, and I was unable to figure out how to insert the optional 9v battery. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
@esiegel76 I don't blame you, and that is a good point. You don't want the finger pointed at you if something goes wrong. By the way I was viewing your website for the first time last night and its really nice! I can tell you have spent a lot of time and effort with it. Great work Eric! I can't wait to see your BNSF Ice cold express you have on order! It should be in by the end of December!
No i ment a new one just make it only 4 min. And can you do it tomorrow please respond?
@aocruiser Hello there Mr. cruiser (lol).... I can tell you that I believe you are right. the NS Genset did not have a second brown box on the inside. Its a nice meeting you here! haha
@mjc6184 Their site says December 2010.
Those LVL 3GS21B switchers are a favorite of mine now! I love their design and the smoke stack exhaust things open and closing when there is smoke used.
And I have a slightly modified layou from the fastrack book? That has a grade on it my layout uses 0-36 and 0-48 curves. The hill uses all the pieces from the fastrack graduated trestle.
Cool video Eric, I want one.. but have to wait, just got the U.P. 4-8-8-4 Big Boy #4011 keeping fingers crossed... next on the list... keep the video's coming... great job !!
awesome review dude! yea these things are beast! ur the first to show me how the smoke works! great job Eric!
Thanks!
I would recommend the MTH one, personally. It's less expensive, has 2 motors (which means you can pull more than a few cars up a grade) and has more smoke. I like this one but it is far more expensive.
That’s awesome!
the safety treads are put on by the engineers if they want them the ones that stop at the ethanol plant dont have them a lot even tho the do have diamond steel floor there
that lid is called a rain cap
when urs next update vid for ur layout
Just received my Vision Line UP Genset today. Just like the CP VL Hybrid that I also have, I got both engines mainly because of your reviews on them. Love em both thanks!
By any chance could I get this to negotiate 0-36?
I'm proud to also be an owner of the NS 300! These engines are so nice, and in person they are even better. Your review was fantastic Eric! You are truly a master at making these videos! I fav'ed this one my friend. Have fun with those awesome switchers! :-)
hey eric i got a upy 2701 for christmas and it didnt come with the flappy smokestacks, they dont want to go in the hole all the way, the third smokestack doesnt smoke as much as the others, and the pop-off cab roof, the roof can come off but when you put it back on the lights dont work until 5 minutes of adjusting it. can you please help me out and give me some advice? please respond, thank you
@esiegel76 , It will not come in until after December but, are you still going to review it?
MTH has a Genset as well and they are shipping in April, 2011.
Unlike the Lionel Genset, the MTH has 2 motors and is able to pull more than 5 cars up a grade.
The downside to the MTH line is that the cab is less detailed. Also there is only 1 smoke unit per engine.
The upside is the $200 price difference.
Either way, both models are going to be nice to add to the collection.
@littleevan99 I don't know. According to the specifications on the box, the answer would be no. In reality, however, it may run on O-36. I wouldn't spend the money until you're sure.
Who else would save up for 5 years just buy Erica’s layout and trains present day
@Trainmaster189 Yes, I will review MTH's gensets when they arrive.
Awesome switcher to run. What about the MTH Geneset?
Very cool. How many hours average do you get of running a locomotive until the smoke juice is gone and you have to replace it?
O, wow...you got BOTH of them!! You da man, Eric. I experimented with mine to see how many cars it would pull up my incline on my main line....it couldn't pull more than 20 cars all the way through...but since I'm a smoke unit fanatic, its still a great looking engine that will be just fine in my railyard.
The sound of the diesel stack lid coming down when you throttle down is DEFINITELY amazing!
Hey tomorrow can u make a video of the hudson (if u have time) because i really want to see it please respond?
Are the UP and NS the only VisionLine age sets?
@wilbur265 I just made one a couple weeks ago. Wont' have another until probably January or so.
Wow this video is 10 years old
Thank you so much for taking the time to review your collection items. I love Lionel and Atlas O Products, and I find your reviews helpful, enjoyable, and most of all, informative, helping me decide what products I might choose to purchase next from these two given companies. However, as a side note, the NS Genset has a major detail flaw in that the Horsehead on the nose is backwards, as if it is a mirror image. I apologize if that has been covered in the video, as I only watched some of it.
Awesome, thanks!
Hi Eric, I just watched a video of an Amtrak Genset, and judging from the sheen on the walkways I would say the do not have safety tread (Anti skid).
I'm sure you can find one somewhere, but I wouldn't know where. It's been a while since this was shipped, so that makes it harder to find one. Keep searching though.
Did you find the website to buy these engines.
@esiegel76 The e-bell is what we're hearing on fairly recent diesels. Instead of an actual bell, they have a speaker
Can you take a video of Kansas City southern genset switcher 12:30PM.
@trainfann1 The Vision Line Hudson? Did that ship already? I didn't order one. The only vision line steamer I've ordered is the UP Challenger.
@Bassfanatic94 I haven't had any power problems, but then again I'm running 4 180W powerhouse transformers. Good to know about the walkways.
@santoro2020 I've never timed it, but it'll last for a good while.
@esiegel76 i orderd it from the western depot. do you get stuff from there? do you know why it didnt come with the flappy smokestacks?
@KingofTomedy Yes to both questions, although the MTH version won't hold a candle to the Vision Line version.
Never mind, I saw the answer in your comments - 2 only - UP and NS
Well in the future I would upgrade my curve anyway. But I mite get one still get one regardless.....
I'm trying to choose an engine to buy. My two candidates are the Genset and the CP 4-6-0. Man, this is gonna be a tough decision!
Lionel only made 2 Vision gensets: Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. All other gensets were not vision line, though they were still very nice engines. The main difference is that the vision line gensets have a separate smoke unit for each smoke stack whereas the regular gensets only have a single smoke unit that puts smoke out of all 3 stacks.
@slimjimandpepsi You did? Cool I go there all the time for trains huge store nice people.
@amtrak101 Oh, are you talking about on real life diesels? They just have a speaker these days instead of a real bell?
eric, is the lionel vision line gensets(up and norfolk southern)different from lionel's other gensets, let me know because im thinking of getting one.
Eric,
I noticed in one of your earlier comments...you noted you had ordered the new vision line Challenger. Any ideas when they are supposed to start arriving at stores?
Great review!
@gvtfan I hadn't even noticed that, but you're right. Well, nobody's perfect.
i wish he could do a review of Lionel Legacy Union Pacific 9088 one day
I will PM you about the genset details!
@atsf3415dbr Yeah, it's hard to do more than one scale at a time. I dabble in Standard Gauge and G Gauge, but I pretty much focus all my attention on O because I don't have enough money to do much more than that.
Yeah, I remember SCL from way back in the day! Yep, I've heard of FEC too. Thanks!
@trainfann1 I already did.
@atsf3415dbr Get both. Layaway is a great thing.
@PassionForTrains Yes. Pretty much all Lionel diesels do that these days.
@TrainBrain9 MTH gives you more for your money. If you're tight on money, I'd go with MTH.
They've made a lot more than 2 gensets. I think they've made 6 or 7 different roadnames...maybe 8. Only 2 of them are vision line, the rest are standard O-scale.
@esiegel76 Yep. A good number of the new locos out on the rails today have an e-bell. There are quite a few of the new ones though, that still have a legit bell on them.
@esiegel76 No problem I sent you a PM about them so you could see for yourself.
both are phenomenal builds,and great detail.i personally like lionel,as it is just my favorite. mth has extremely great ones aswell. i think ill get both.
i am buying one of these for my layout.i love and model norfolk southern.
Eric, I've never heard of a Lionel train with an e-bell before. I don't really like that sound, but what's an e-bell?
The electronic bell is a new generation of locomotive tech instead of having a freeze of a pneumatic bell on a locomotive engine its powered by an electrical power-source BUT personally I preferred the older pneumatic bells with the classic clacker
@qmtrains WHAT!!!!!!!! I can get one that works on 0-36 then!
yes i want one! lol too bad its O gauge...I only have HO >T3T< I wanna up to O...and i will soon...with the train set my grandfather had...its OLLLDD....might need work to get to TCC or Legacy control. I don't know what engines he had with it either or if they are in running condition....ohh these are drool worthy
@esiegel76 yep
@esiegel76 Don't have enough money for both, considering that I have to spend money on an HO layout, a new O gauge layout, and a Legacy system.
am i the only one that noticed the front horse logo is mirrored?
No you are not!!! It annoys me to no end!
Same
I didn’t
Hello mr Eric my name is ChanHa first you say Hello my name is Eric Siegel and this video is special for Chanha who knows about Lionel Trains.”
How much are these Gensets? Lionel has them for $799 but I can't tell if those are vision line or not.
Well I am getting one I asked Lionep
Erik' not knowing how old you are, Do you remember "Seaboard Coastline" (now CSX) I live in Jacksonville FL. hat Norfolk Southern reminds me of that former rail company. Also have you heard of "FEC" (Florida East Coast RR)..runs on tracks on the East side of the St.Johns River. Just courious.
@slimjimandpepsi - Yes they are different Lionel stripped many features from them I sa one at a place and man there not worth even $600 in my opinion!
Hey Eric, what is the most you've pulled with one of these before? Thank you.
I'm sure more will come out in a few years from now. I don't plan on building my est. $3800 layout anytime soon so It's not a biggie that they don't offer such engines at this moment. Is vision line not compatible with standard O scale? I plan for my tightest gauge to be O-32. I know vision line probably has 10x's the detail and features while being slightly more to scale, but I though any O gauge engine would run on any O gauge track IF it was the right rail and the Gauge allowed?
Ns got rid of the gensets
Nice review Eric! Those genset switchers by Lionel are great. I am saving up right now for the Lionel 460 E6 Atlantic. It has the vision steam whistle. Anyways, the technology in those engines is absolutely awesome! I love the way it sounds and the smoke like you said, is really cool. I have heard about people having problems with their power supplies not having enough volts to run the three smoke units. Have you had that problem? Also, I don't think they have safety tread on the walkways.
Eric,
That was a awesome review!! I agree The Vision Line products are the best on the market!! Did you notice that the NS genset did not have a cardboard box around the inside Vision Line box like the UPY?
I spent probably 2 hours looking through all of Lionel's online catalogs, and I found only those two NRE Gensets, like you said. I did however find multiple ALCO S-2 switchers if I remember correctly in some older catalogs.
I don't know why I like the NRE Gensets and ALCO switchers so much. Mainly their unique look. If I had to choose something other then a switcher, I'd go with a GP9/ GP35/38. Dash-9's are ok but are so big.
@PghTrainFanatic Yeah, I saw your review. Sounds like running it on O36 is possible, but there's a potential for problems. I wouldn't feel comfortable telling someone with O36 or smaller to buy this engine as there are potential issues like the ones you described. That's a lot of money to spend just to have derailments and other issues and I wouldn't want someone saying "hey, Eric said this thing would run great on O36!". I don't want to take the blame. :)
Ahhhh iPhones more like iPhowned I ment to say Lionel said it wood but with sum derailments like cars I have six heavy cars so no problem!
Bell is great. A million times more accurate than any of the HO scale ones I've heard...
Absolutly amazing engines, and great vidio!