I read somewhere that MTH sued Lionel when the offered their T1 duplex back in 2000. Something about Lionel developing the T1 extremely quickly compared to their other models and mth thought someone from lionel stole the plans or a prototype for their own t1. Apparently the shipment of mths prototype t1s got tampered with along the way and 6 months or so later lionel offered their own t1. If this is true it might be a very long time untill lionel offers another T1 duplex
I'd say that the T1s would do really well if Lionel teamed up with the T1 Trust and donated a good chunk of the proceeds to them. A lot of people are excited about that one from what I'm aware, between its status as an icon of the PRR and the fact that it'll be the first new-build steam locomotive in North America in decades.
Great list Eric very fun choices My personal opinion we need more streamliner's! I'd love to see the Chesapeake and Ohio Yellow Belly Hudson and the New York Central Commodore Vanderbilt! Absolute classic engines from the 90s and early TMCC days, They would sell like wild fire and can do a great mix of sounds and fantasy schemes. Who wouldn't want a pacemaker Vanderbilt!?
I would LOVE one of these also. Different fantasy schemes, each with their own sound tracks. INCLUDING one for Halloween! And for each and every one of these trains, please include extra cars. Whenever I order a passenger set, I always get at least 12 cars for it, for a full train
I would love to see the earlier NYC Mercury train (upside-down bathtube). The only scale ones I have seen are from Sunset. Lionel and Marx had non scale ones way back. Not sure, but from pictures, it looks like the passenger car might be similar enough to the Hiawatha's that some tooling could be shared. 🤔 For scale subway, a DC Metro set would be cool. Maybe the changing marker lights could be implemented to change the line color signs (red line to silver line...).
Agree with your #1 and #2 - those are the only ones on your list that I would honestly consider buying. My top 5 wish list would be: 1. Scale Hogwart’s Express Legacy set 2. Proper N&W 611 with all the features plus matching Superbass auxiliary tender 3. SD40-2 with kinematic pilots 4. Scale Genesis with kinematic pilots 5. Scale Burlington E5 with fixed pilot - the prettiest diesel I’ve ever seen in person. It’s always gonna be the lead engine.
I’m surprised that Lionel hasn’t done a Rocky Mountaineer set like MTH did in recent years, seems like it should be on their list of scenic railroads to offer that would likely sell really well
Absolutely agree that LIONEL will offer a new vision line 700e New York Central Hudson for its 125th Anniversary! I would love to get one of those! I think the super set if made will cost $5000!!
If I were to guess, they're waiting for the 5550 T1 to be completed before they run that 4-4-4-4 model again. That way they can ride the hype train (pun intended) of it running for the first time and make bank on 5550 models.
I’ve been wondering where the gp38-2s have been! Lionel should really invest in a new tooling, I’m sure they’d sell like wildfire. I know I’d grab one or two.
I'd really love if they could bring back the Commodore Vanderbilt Hudson. They did just do the Dreyfuss Hudsons, but the Vanderbilt hasn't been seen for decades and could really do with another run with some more modern features. I'm a bit personally biased here, my dad used to restore old trains when I was a kid and he had several of the tinplate Vanderbilts up and running.
For me it's the C&O H7 2-8-8-2, Milwaukee Road Hiawatha A class 4-4-2 and matching passenger cars from 2006 like you mentioned the C&O F19 Pacific's which thankfully are now coming back, Baldwin Centipede diesels.
Honestly, I wish lionel would do some "narrow gauge" o scale engines and cars. I think it would be kind of cool. Although I could just be super weird. I was also thinking of them making a command controlled rotary snow plow that is steam powered with depleting coal load and aux water tender with sounds and a spinning blade. Of course it would need to be prototypical and be pushed by another engine to clear the line. Maybe even have/sell some kind of powder/stuff that you can have the plow clear off the line? Idk. Just a crazy idea. Lol. Another cool thing to see would be a modern day operating line of mow equipment, like for a rail gang: spike puller, speed swing, azer cribber, Grove/hyrail boom crane, a flash butt welder truck/thermite welder truck, a rail heater, anchor machined and spikers. Or maybe go and have a tie replacement line up, spike pullers, anchor spreaders, kickers/Tripp machines, tie cranes, nipper tanper, platers, spikers, anchor spreaders, ballast regulators and tampers. I used to work for mow for a major class 1 rr and this was the kind of thing I was around constantly and I think it would be kind of cool to see/own/operate on the layout. Especially if you could "lash up" or sync them up to run a program it would be down right awesome. Have them all back out of a spur or siding track, then track travel as a group with decent spacing and then when they get to their "work site" they each begin to do their own thing and move along running a programmed set of events for a certain period of time. Having them with sound and some basic moving parts. I have no idea how popular the idea is. But it would still be cool as heck to have something like that running on a layout. Would kind of make doing "track work" on the layout more fun if they're out there working with me as well. Lol. Oh the other thing i thought about, bring back the spotlight car with a spool of wire that allows you to move the light off the car and put it a little ways away from the car. That was always a cool feature that I would love to have had. Ties in well with using it for a wreck site clean up.
Eric, Lionel is going to do what Lionel wants to do whether it makes any sense to you or anyone else. My biggest complaint with them are their prices. It's getting down to the point that the only ones who can afford their offerings are the Kardashians.
Paul, while I agree the prices are pretty high, if you look at the price of Lionel back in the day and calculate it with inflation, it’s pretty much on par with itself. Lionel has never been “cheap,” not by a longshot.
I agree with you on the reasoning for the 700E and I hope you’re right because I could see grounds for them doing a vision line double release with the GG1 as well for the role it played in the post war and it hasn’t been done since the first release. Also the T1 may come in 2026 I think depending on the project T1 trust’s completion to celebrate that as a vision line model. They could also do it and do a 5550 with proceeds going to the trust I think that would be a hit as well
Thanks for the shout out Eric and great list! - just for clarification we used to be the Matt & Matt podcast, but have rebranded so check us out folks!
Excellent choices. My top 3 on your list is the Subway, the PRR T1, & the Hiawatha. Some others I would love to see are the PRR K4, the C&O & UP H7 2-8-8-2’s, the Y6B, & the C&O / Virginian H8 Allegheny’s….. with some vision features.
Thanks, Eric. I'm not one who collects fantasy models unless it's a well-done paint scheme in an actual road name that existed at one time. I'm not snooty enough to only run roads that graced only our tracks either. I run anything that catches my eye that contributed to the actual historical significance of railroading in America. Even if it's painted in a fantasy paint scheme thats well done and believable or ran east of the Mississippi. I too find myself drawn to some of the obscure models, likely because I don't have one in my collection and the significance behind the meaning for that model because of it's role it played in the actual history of railroading. We are so blessed with innovation here in America that we have had such diversity that it's hard to collect them all. I would love to see Lionel bring out their first ever model of an Alco RS-1, specifically in the SantaFe zebra striped paint scheme. Talk about obscurity. It's a handsome engine with a great historically significant story and role it played to the advancement of railroading and deserves more recognition than its gotten. I like when a manufacturer brings out a model that's seldom seen before and wow's me like the diesel models from Baldwin and Fairbanks, and of course, any art deco steam engine would be great and I would love to see any scale model of an Atlantic. All that are preferably affordable in conventional only with sound and smoke. I enjoy running my trains, not spending my time chasing down parts and fiddling with electronics hoping I get a good signal and don't have blown boards. I like putting them on the track, with my hand on the throttle, just like the real thing knowing my trains will run each and every time, on time, and without fail. Just like the real thing.
OMG thanks for #11. My grandfather gave me a train many many years ago (early 80's) , it's been lost to time, but i couldn't one like it anywhere, at least now I know what it's called.
From Lionel themselves. The Berksire tooling is getting a complete re-fresh. This goes for NKP and SP versions. The SP tooling was starting to wear out. The NKP tooling got damadged, and therefore they are giving both an overhaul
Great video Eric! I wholeheartedly agrre with on GP38-2, the Hiawatha, and the Texas Special! Thanks for including the cameo appearance of my Texas Special! If you can't wait for Lionel to do it again you should order one from Sunset / Golden Gate Depot.
I worked with a train store in the 70's and have been in the hobby since the 60's. I've spoken with people everywhere who have gotten away from the hobby due to the pricing.
Bringing back the operating accessories in a big way along with more variety (and affordability!) in the Traditional O/semi scale line would be very welcome in my opinion. That being said, I'm actually more interested to see what Menards is going to cook up next now that the F-Unit is out. Maybe some Geeps or other 4 axle power on the same chassis with a new shell on top, or, and I'm really crossing my fingers here, a steam loco....Yes please!
I agree with you on the De Witt Clinton, and the other 1800's locomotives. I also agree on the 6344 Hudson, and Milwaukee Road Hiawatha set. The others are fine, but those are really classics!
Eric, definitely the subways. They are a must. They absolutely would sell, just look at the MTH sales. Sold out at least one year before delivered and the eBay pricing for their sets, the 4 or 6 car are out of site. Lionel needs to use sound files that represent the line they make. Then it's a truly great offer.
Eric, I waited for years to add passenger cars to my Neil Young set. I was fortunate enough to put together the ABBA with the original Set. They also had, I believe a add on full dome dome car. I just received the Anson B. Jones baggage car and the Tulsa passenger car. The red and silver is just stunning.
Another thing I think would be a good idea for Lionel to bring back, the railroad tugboat accessories. These tugboats came in Pennsylvania, Baltimore & Ohio, Santa Fe, New York Central and Lehigh Valley. They were last in the 2004 catalog and are very rare these days. If Lionel does decide to make them again, they could have Bluetooth, smoke and upgraded sounds.
Awesome list choices! I do agree with the lionel prr t-1 they do need to bring it back since they only made the scale model once and the lionmaster one twice. Same for the Hiawatha too it was an amazing set they made back then and it’s pretty hard to find nowadays.
6:37 This was my exact thought for the real locomotives. I remember seeing them a few times when I was a kid. I even saw one crossing paths with an Acela, and noted how similar the locomotive and power cars looked. But one day, they all disappeared. Turns out Amtrak decided to retire the HHP-8 in 2014 due to a number of issues. However, they’re not quite gone yet. Maryland Area Rail Commuter still has a working fleet, which were refurbished in 2018. And Amtrak may be bringing back some of their HHP-8s as unpowered cab cars for a short while. So, who knows? Maybe the HHP-8 will make a return as both a real locomotive and a Lionel model.
While the Veranda Turbine has been rebooted lately, I would love to see the Army and UP Verandas return as Vision products. I'd also like to see the Minuteman missile car and train set return as a pair of Vision products, perhaps a realistic version featuring the real-world inspiration for the train, the Peacemaker Rail Garrison. Standard GP38-2 or SD40-2 locomotive painted in UP or ATSF colors, and missile launch cars that look like standard box cars until the missile is revealed. With sound and smoke for the missile launch, command control operations and a realistic launch gantry that rises into position in slow motion, and stabilizers that deploy from the boxcar corners. Basically, a mobile version of their new Rocket Launch Pad accessory. Someone else suggested the railroad tugboats and I could see that as a Vision accessory too. Having them as actual RC boats that can float and have an engine in them would be nice, but they'd also need to have a base so you can stick them on your layout. Those tugboats would fit in VERY well on certain UA-cam layouts as well, such as the one owned by PGHTrainFanatic.
I need to add a t1 to my collection. Was one of my favorite steam enegines playing railroad tycoon 2 as a kid. A blue comet set is my dream bring back though living near the out of service line. it used to run.
Absolutely agree with the T1, but instead of the 4-4-2 hiawatha, I want to see a modern hiawatha hudson F7. You can find Weaver models around, but I don’t know if one has been produced by Lionel or MTH recently enough.
Eric, I also have that cool set. Works great around the tree, especially if you have small kids visiting for the holidays and don't have to worry about the possibility of having your "good" trains damaged. What I thought was a great opportunity, was the promise of a new car each year. However Lionel only offered a new car at Christmas once. I would love the chance to add a new car every year. I too enjoy all the animation that set and car have. Merry Xmas to you and Lisa.
I have that set too including the add-on car. It is an outstanding set. However mine stopped working the second year and I've yet to find anyone that can fix it. And I understand I'm not alone in the fact that many, many of these sets just stopped functioning.
@Lionel Trains UA-cam Channel. @Eric's Trains, I believe the reason that Lionel is not producing the NYC MTA Subways. is because the Subway sets were produced under license from the New York City Metropolitan Transit Auth. If Lionel no longer has licensing permission from NYCMTA, they can't produce the Subway sets. Lionel would have to produce Subways, using the former MTH tooling, but only if Lionel acquired the Subway tooling. -JP
I would like to see a scale version of the North Coast limited passenger set,, which we haven't had a semi scale version since the 90s. It would be cool if they did more scale 19th century steamers like the Inyo or the General.
I'd like to see a scale 1652 0.4.0 steam switcher in TMCC. The one that I have/had was bought for me at Madison Hardware in 1948 when I was 8 years old. It has front and rear operating couplers and a bell ringing tender (that drove my parents nuts.)
My favorites that I would buy immediately are the DeWitt Clinton Stream Engine, the MU Commuter Cars and the BB1 Electric sets. Also, New York City subways.
7:07 *i really wish Lionel Modeled the Missouri Kansas Texas railroad's H-3a pacifics in vision line just seeing this gorgeous set* they did pull the Texas Special and The Bluebonnet, two passengers trains that the Frisco and The Katy jointly ran. The H-3a pacifics have also been pulling the Texas Special long before the first Frisco T54 mountain built.
What a great lineup for Lionel to bring back. All of them were great models. That T1 4-4-4-4 would be an amazing one to bring back. T1 is my favorite of all. I would be inclined to buy that one definitely. I model in HOn3/HO dual gauge the EBT. And collect others such as On30 and I have a few Lionel.
Love those choices, Eric. They need to put a link in the catalogue to a video of the new stuff running for those looking at the catalogue on a computer or cell phone.
Another good one they should bring back is the C&O streamlined Hudson, as a full scale model. Great video Eric, different kind from norm, you should do more of these top 10 type videos.
I think missed class one day. Why aren’t they producing aluminum cars anymore (other than that they are expensive, I just bought 6 on eBay and boy howdy that was a bill)?
Great list! Love your number one pick the Hiawatha as well! Fun fact … We live in Kansas and there is a Hiawatha, KS! Anyway if Lionel brought back the Hiawatha I would definitely get one. Loved several of your other picks as well. If anyone has some pull in this hobby your it Big Guy!
I'd like a T1 Duplex in LionMaster or because LionMaster seems to be defunct, Lionchief + 2.0. At least something that can navigate 048 minimum. They did a LionMaster run back in TMCC days.
Some solid choices here. Love subway stuff, know all of the variations of the NYC subway probably too well. 😂 the t1 may be coming back sooner than you think since they are building that real one from scratch.
All of us know that Lionel has a lot of Kline tooling that they do not want to re-issue. As a big Kline fan, I would like Lionel to issue a surf liner or super liner set. They can take the super liner and surf liner 21 inch passenger cars with a cab car with head end power sounds and cafe car with sounds. You can make a wide variety of sound cars and even make Santa Fe Cars to do an El Capitan set.
If I could choose what locomotives, Lionel would do a reissue of it might be the following as someone else has already mentioned here, the Pennsylvania T1 would not only be a item that a lot of people would buy but also it’s release would be very topical as the T1 trust is currently building a brand new Pennsylvania T1 and if Lionel made models of the T1 I could imagine them making models in several different road names as well as very possibly a special model for PRR 5550 which is the number of the new T1. Of course, there would be the obligatory fantasy paint schemes as well. My second choice would be one that isn’t a scale set and isn’t really all that well known but I guarantee that there would be buyers of it. The Lionel phantom set would do rather well for a modern release, especially with the modern Command And Control and sound effects that they could put into today that would really complement the already awesome sets they made in the 90s and 2000s. No idea what the paint schemes of a new version of it would be, but I guarantee it probably would be different than the ones they have released in the past if they were to make it. My third choice would be the New York Central Commodore Vanderbilt and we all know that if they re-issued this it’s going to sell extremely well. I don’t know exactly when the last time they sold this but if I remember correctly it’s been before 2010. In addition to the variations of the paint schemes, they have made in the past one interesting fantasy paint scheme, they could do would be to apply the New York Central lightning stripes paint scheme on it, like how it was used for diesels in real life. I wouldn’t be surprised if a model like that would be popular. Another set that I think is almost guaranteed to sell is one that many people may not remember as well but it definitely did sell decently. I’m talking about the polar Express FT diesel streamliner set from around 2010. While this probably wouldn’t be as popular as many other suggestions out there, due to the popularity of the polar Express brand, it’s a certainty that this would sell decently in a release. Not only that, but with modern sound effects, as well as some sound clips from the movie, it would be a nice addition to a layout that features either the regular Polar Express set for the Polar Express Acela high speed train set. Interestingly, when the set was released in 2010 it actually didn’t have any sound clips from the movie so that is definitely something that could be improved in a release. Finally, one set that I think Lionel could definitely do a modern release of assuming that they haven’t done one recently is of a MPC era set that was made for the bicentennial. The spirit of 76 diesel set was released in the 1970s and I know that a release happened at some point in the last 20 years. However, I don’t know if there has been a release within the last 10 years and with the nations 250th anniversary coming up in a few years. I guarantee that if a release hasn’t happened recently then it definitely would be a good thing to do for 2026 for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. A few honorable mentions of models that I suppose could be released, but might not for various reasons would be the postwar scale Hudson, although it might be a little redundant with a potential release of the prewar scale, Hudson. Additionally, one interesting idea that might technically not be a release, but rather sort of a modern reimagining of an early pre-war set would be to make a steam locomotive inspired by what is believed to be Lionel’s very first set all the way back in the early 1900s. It was a small electric train that was themed off the Baltimore and Ohio and it’s simply had the number one. It was before standard gauge was even released, and if a modern reimagining of this set in the form of a O gauge steam locomotive was done. It could be an interesting throwback to Lionel’s very beginning. However, I don’t think that would happen, but someone can dream!
I would love to see the Centipede (modern and better designed, with many diff schemes), a GG1, the Hiawatha (fantasy and real schemes, each with a different sound set, and extra add-on cars, including Halloween and Christmas), the engine from that trust, etc. Oh, and those advanced work cars that someone was suggesting. Would LOVE to see those. And the US Army Set, again, with extra cars. Plus that G scale set for under the tree, with each year featuring two or three more extra cars to expand it with, the ability to buy the set always, and the ability to purchase previous add-on cars as well. With that, have the cars include electronics and sounds and animations as well. Modern, advanced features and better reliability
Eric Lionel; for top end passenger cars. Needs to bring back Scale extruded Aluminum cars with "true" hidden couplers. Not those cheep pull down buttons. Thanks for listening.
This is a rather good list! Im suprised its been that long for the hiawatha and Prr t-1. Those are some major pieces that would sell well i would think they know that. I present one other pick lionel has never dared to touch for some reason... a vision line Reading Crusader. The best model was by Weaver and in terms of electronics its quite outdated and with lionel's additional features it would be i believe a fantastic seller.
I would like to see a scale Commodore Vanderbilt. It's been over 20 years. I would love to see the reissue the Standard Gauge Vanderbilt set, this time offer it cruise control. Obviously Lionel no longer understands the tinplate market when they made this last time. It's a great looking set however tinplate is about COLOR. They would have done better with it if it was painted in Blue (Blue Streak) or red (Red Comet). A re-released standard gauge Hiawatha would be great as well. MTH made a Hiawatha version in O-Gauge that was white with red and blue. Releasing that in standard gauge would be great as well.
GENERALLY speaking for the hobby, I’d like to see MTH offer some of the European steam engines again….with the swinging bell/steam whistle/blowoff action.
I just want to see a new Erie Lackawanna set brought back I grew up alongside tracks in Pennsylvania. I have looked online at sets so far and some look good but my luck on used stuff is limited.
I would love to see Lionel run the California Zephyr in 21 inch passenger cars as a set and then offer CB&Q, D&RGW, and WP passenger motive power separately to go along with it and enable people to run it with one or more of those three railroads. I, like some others in the comment section, would hope (and expect for that matter) that Lionel runs the T1 to coincide with the T1 5500 trust project.
I did hear you correct I need to find the Lincoln funeral vid. Oh man the T-1 4444 duplex. Our did I not seeing Lincolns funeral, not showing up in a search. TY
I read somewhere that MTH sued Lionel when the offered their T1 duplex back in 2000. Something about Lionel developing the T1 extremely quickly compared to their other models and mth thought someone from lionel stole the plans or a prototype for their own t1. Apparently the shipment of mths prototype t1s got tampered with along the way and 6 months or so later lionel offered their own t1. If this is true it might be a very long time untill lionel offers another T1 duplex
That T1 4-4-4-4 would be really cool to release along with the T1 trust project. That would be awesome for sales
Would have to a reasonable price
@@kevinmartin4697 $2,000 and not a penny more
@@kevinmartin4697 hopefully under 1000😭
I'd say that the T1s would do really well if Lionel teamed up with the T1 Trust and donated a good chunk of the proceeds to them. A lot of people are excited about that one from what I'm aware, between its status as an icon of the PRR and the fact that it'll be the first new-build steam locomotive in North America in decades.
I've got a hunch that they have a Vision Line T-1 in the works for 2026 for exactly thay reason.
Great list Eric very fun choices
My personal opinion we need more streamliner's! I'd love to see the Chesapeake and Ohio Yellow Belly Hudson and the New York Central Commodore Vanderbilt! Absolute classic engines from the 90s and early TMCC days, They would sell like wild fire and can do a great mix of sounds and fantasy schemes.
Who wouldn't want a pacemaker Vanderbilt!?
I was actually gonna put both of these engines as well. Id love fully legacy versions of both those engines
I would LOVE one of these also. Different fantasy schemes, each with their own sound tracks. INCLUDING one for Halloween! And for each and every one of these trains, please include extra cars. Whenever I order a passenger set, I always get at least 12 cars for it, for a full train
I would love to see the earlier NYC Mercury train (upside-down bathtube). The only scale ones I have seen are from Sunset. Lionel and Marx had non scale ones way back. Not sure, but from pictures, it looks like the passenger car might be similar enough to the Hiawatha's that some tooling could be shared. 🤔
For scale subway, a DC Metro set would be cool. Maybe the changing marker lights could be implemented to change the line color signs (red line to silver line...).
It would be cool to see a T1 release that has a portion of sales go to the T1 Trust working to build the 5550. What a stunning looking locomotive.
You should do a list like this covering brand new trains the company has never done! For example I would love to see a Lionel Pennsylvania Q1 duplex
I would like to see them make the following: E33, E44, E60, metroliner, Prr / strasburg 1223 & Prr 7002.
I would love to see the 700E return. It would give me a chance to maybe get one.
Agree with your #1 and #2 - those are the only ones on your list that I would honestly consider buying. My top 5 wish list would be:
1. Scale Hogwart’s Express Legacy set
2. Proper N&W 611 with all the features plus matching Superbass auxiliary tender
3. SD40-2 with kinematic pilots
4. Scale Genesis with kinematic pilots
5. Scale Burlington E5 with fixed pilot - the prettiest diesel I’ve ever seen in person. It’s always gonna be the lead engine.
Why are fixed pilots such a big deal?
Scale Hogwart's Set would be a huge seller
Wouldn't mind the hot box reefers, breakdown B Units, and jet snowblowers making a comeback
I’m surprised that Lionel hasn’t done a Rocky Mountaineer set like MTH did in recent years, seems like it should be on their list of scenic railroads to offer that would likely sell really well
or union pacific 2001 and 2002
@@jacksonrailroadIreland is that the Olympic torch relay paint scheme diesels?
@@Doc.6466yes it is
Absolutely agree that LIONEL will offer a new vision line 700e New York Central Hudson for its 125th Anniversary! I would love to get one of those! I think the super set if made will cost $5000!!
If I were to guess, they're waiting for the 5550 T1 to be completed before they run that 4-4-4-4 model again. That way they can ride the hype train (pun intended) of it running for the first time and make bank on 5550 models.
I would like Lionel to bring back the Postwar Celebration Series and have them fitted with Lionchief. I think that would sell pretty well.
Yes, the vision line hudson.
However , I think Lionel should use the rest of the K Line J1e tooling, for a highly detailed more accurate model.
Some very nice picks, I'd personally love to see the scale blue comet & southern Cresent return, last offered in 2013
I agree
Great ideas
Absolutely!!
I agree - I have the Blue Comet.
Would love the MP54’s comeback as well. Not to mention the Stourbridge Lion set.
I’ve been wondering where the gp38-2s have been! Lionel should really invest in a new tooling, I’m sure they’d sell like wildfire. I know I’d grab one or two.
I'd really love if they could bring back the Commodore Vanderbilt Hudson. They did just do the Dreyfuss Hudsons, but the Vanderbilt hasn't been seen for decades and could really do with another run with some more modern features. I'm a bit personally biased here, my dad used to restore old trains when I was a kid and he had several of the tinplate Vanderbilts up and running.
For me it's the C&O H7 2-8-8-2, Milwaukee Road Hiawatha A class 4-4-2 and matching passenger cars from 2006 like you mentioned the C&O F19 Pacific's which thankfully are now coming back, Baldwin Centipede diesels.
Honestly, I wish lionel would do some "narrow gauge" o scale engines and cars. I think it would be kind of cool. Although I could just be super weird. I was also thinking of them making a command controlled rotary snow plow that is steam powered with depleting coal load and aux water tender with sounds and a spinning blade. Of course it would need to be prototypical and be pushed by another engine to clear the line. Maybe even have/sell some kind of powder/stuff that you can have the plow clear off the line? Idk. Just a crazy idea. Lol.
Another cool thing to see would be a modern day operating line of mow equipment, like for a rail gang: spike puller, speed swing, azer cribber, Grove/hyrail boom crane, a flash butt welder truck/thermite welder truck, a rail heater, anchor machined and spikers. Or maybe go and have a tie replacement line up, spike pullers, anchor spreaders, kickers/Tripp machines, tie cranes, nipper tanper, platers, spikers, anchor spreaders, ballast regulators and tampers.
I used to work for mow for a major class 1 rr and this was the kind of thing I was around constantly and I think it would be kind of cool to see/own/operate on the layout. Especially if you could "lash up" or sync them up to run a program it would be down right awesome. Have them all back out of a spur or siding track, then track travel as a group with decent spacing and then when they get to their "work site" they each begin to do their own thing and move along running a programmed set of events for a certain period of time. Having them with sound and some basic moving parts.
I have no idea how popular the idea is. But it would still be cool as heck to have something like that running on a layout. Would kind of make doing "track work" on the layout more fun if they're out there working with me as well. Lol.
Oh the other thing i thought about, bring back the spotlight car with a spool of wire that allows you to move the light off the car and put it a little ways away from the car. That was always a cool feature that I would love to have had. Ties in well with using it for a wreck site clean up.
What about a Legacy Phamton? WITH ALL THE BELLS, SMOKE, AND LIGHTS.......SET
Eric, Lionel is going to do what Lionel wants to do whether it makes any sense to you or anyone else. My biggest complaint with them are their prices. It's getting down to the point that the only ones who can afford their offerings are the Kardashians.
Paul, while I agree the prices are pretty high, if you look at the price of Lionel back in the day and calculate it with inflation, it’s pretty much on par with itself. Lionel has never been “cheap,” not by a longshot.
I’d love a Texas special set. Also would like a AC9
I agree with you on the reasoning for the 700E and I hope you’re right because I could see grounds for them doing a vision line double release with the GG1 as well for the role it played in the post war and it hasn’t been done since the first release.
Also the T1 may come in 2026 I think depending on the project T1 trust’s completion to celebrate that as a vision line model. They could also do it and do a 5550 with proceeds going to the trust I think that would be a hit as well
Thanks for the shout out Eric and great list! - just for clarification we used to be the Matt & Matt podcast, but have rebranded so check us out folks!
Excellent choices. My top 3 on your list is the Subway, the PRR T1, & the Hiawatha. Some others I would love to see are the PRR K4, the C&O & UP H7 2-8-8-2’s, the Y6B, & the C&O / Virginian H8 Allegheny’s….. with some vision features.
Hiawatha all the way!! Each with their own sounds too
Thanks, Eric. I'm not one who collects fantasy models unless it's a well-done paint scheme in an actual road name that existed at one time. I'm not snooty enough to only run roads that graced only our tracks either. I run anything that catches my eye that contributed to the actual historical significance of railroading in America. Even if it's painted in a fantasy paint scheme thats well done and believable or ran east of the Mississippi. I too find myself drawn to some of the obscure models, likely because I don't have one in my collection and the significance behind the meaning for that model because of it's role it played in the actual history of railroading. We are so blessed with innovation here in America that we have had such diversity that it's hard to collect them all. I would love to see Lionel bring out their first ever model of an Alco RS-1, specifically in the SantaFe zebra striped paint scheme. Talk about obscurity. It's a handsome engine with a great historically significant story and role it played to the advancement of railroading and deserves more recognition than its gotten. I like when a manufacturer brings out a model that's seldom seen before and wow's me like the diesel models from Baldwin and Fairbanks, and of course, any art deco steam engine would be great and I would love to see any scale model of an Atlantic. All that are preferably affordable in conventional only with sound and smoke. I enjoy running my trains, not spending my time chasing down parts and fiddling with electronics hoping I get a good signal and don't have blown boards. I like putting them on the track, with my hand on the throttle, just like the real thing knowing my trains will run each and every time, on time, and without fail. Just like the real thing.
Lionel: please reissue the standard gauge fantasy Hiawatha set with optional Legacy electronics.
Absolutely love my T1 Duplex, so I would buy a new one in a heartbeat if Lionel released a new one
Good stuff here. I would love to see the scale Zephyr sets come back! Make a Flying Yankee version for us Northeast folks too
YES YES YES!! Plus the option to purchase extra cars for a nice, long and realistic train, and Northeast as well!!
Great list! I agree with all of these choices, but would add a Commodore Vanderbilt streamlined Hudson alongside the 700E.
Not sure if anyone's ever made an o scale Baldwin 60000, but making that in prototypical and fantasy roadnames would be cool too!
I think the Hiawatha Scaleset would definitely sell.
OMG thanks for #11. My grandfather gave me a train many many years ago (early 80's) , it's been lost to time, but i couldn't one like it anywhere, at least now I know what it's called.
From Lionel themselves. The Berksire tooling is getting a complete re-fresh. This goes for NKP and SP versions. The SP tooling was starting to wear out. The NKP tooling got damadged, and therefore they are giving both an overhaul
Great video Eric! I wholeheartedly agrre with on GP38-2, the Hiawatha, and the Texas Special! Thanks for including the cameo appearance of my Texas Special! If you can't wait for Lionel to do it again you should order one from Sunset / Golden Gate Depot.
Need some Pennsy and Long Island G5’s with Legacy
I worked with a train store in the 70's and have been in the hobby since the 60's.
I've spoken with people everywhere who have gotten away from the hobby due to the pricing.
Danm, I remember salivating over some of this stuff in the catalouges when I was a boy.
Bringing back the operating accessories in a big way along with more variety (and affordability!) in the Traditional O/semi scale line would be very welcome in my opinion.
That being said, I'm actually more interested to see what Menards is going to cook up next now that the F-Unit is out. Maybe some Geeps or other 4 axle power on the same chassis with a new shell on top, or, and I'm really crossing my fingers here, a steam loco....Yes please!
I agree with you on the De Witt Clinton, and the other 1800's locomotives. I also agree on the 6344 Hudson, and Milwaukee Road Hiawatha set. The others are fine, but those are really classics!
Eric, definitely the subways. They are a must. They absolutely would sell, just look at the MTH sales. Sold out at least one year before delivered and the eBay pricing for their sets, the 4 or 6 car are out of site. Lionel needs to use sound files that represent the line they make. Then it's a truly great offer.
They should bring back the Shakespeare express
Eric, I waited for years to add passenger cars to my Neil Young set. I was fortunate enough to put together the ABBA with the original Set. They also had, I believe a add on full dome dome car. I just received the Anson B. Jones baggage car and the Tulsa passenger car. The red and silver is just stunning.
“Yellow Belly” Hudson with passenger cars. That was 1995 I was 13 yrs old I wanted that so bad!
I wonder if we will ever get a Royal Gorge Route set? That train is beautiful
4:40 If they bring back those MU cars and you get them then you might be tempted to put up the wiring for the pantographs!
I wonder if Atlas will re-release their Amtrak Dash 8 models, or do a new run using MTH's toolings
Another thing I think would be a good idea for Lionel to bring back, the railroad tugboat accessories. These tugboats came in Pennsylvania, Baltimore & Ohio, Santa Fe, New York Central and Lehigh Valley. They were last in the 2004 catalog and are very rare these days. If Lionel does decide to make them again, they could have Bluetooth, smoke and upgraded sounds.
I would definitely say make some vision line SOU PS-4 and Berkshires. Haven’t had them in a long time..
Holy hell, that's my buddy Ricky's set!!! And that's our club's layout too!
I would love to see the Lionchief 2.0 bigboy for us that have smaller layouts!!!!
I believe that the pennsy cc2 and the scale polar express needs to come back. The original run with the correct placement of the lettering on the cars
Awesome list choices! I do agree with the lionel prr t-1 they do need to bring it back since they only made the scale model once and the lionmaster one twice. Same for the Hiawatha too it was an amazing set they made back then and it’s pretty hard to find nowadays.
6:37 This was my exact thought for the real locomotives. I remember seeing them a few times when I was a kid. I even saw one crossing paths with an Acela, and noted how similar the locomotive and power cars looked. But one day, they all disappeared.
Turns out Amtrak decided to retire the HHP-8 in 2014 due to a number of issues.
However, they’re not quite gone yet. Maryland Area Rail Commuter still has a working fleet, which were refurbished in 2018. And Amtrak may be bringing back some of their HHP-8s as unpowered cab cars for a short while.
So, who knows? Maybe the HHP-8 will make a return as both a real locomotive and a Lionel model.
While the Veranda Turbine has been rebooted lately, I would love to see the Army and UP Verandas return as Vision products.
I'd also like to see the Minuteman missile car and train set return as a pair of Vision products, perhaps a realistic version featuring the real-world inspiration for the train, the Peacemaker Rail Garrison. Standard GP38-2 or SD40-2 locomotive painted in UP or ATSF colors, and missile launch cars that look like standard box cars until the missile is revealed.
With sound and smoke for the missile launch, command control operations and a realistic launch gantry that rises into position in slow motion, and stabilizers that deploy from the boxcar corners. Basically, a mobile version of their new Rocket Launch Pad accessory.
Someone else suggested the railroad tugboats and I could see that as a Vision accessory too. Having them as actual RC boats that can float and have an engine in them would be nice, but they'd also need to have a base so you can stick them on your layout. Those tugboats would fit in VERY well on certain UA-cam layouts as well, such as the one owned by PGHTrainFanatic.
how about lionel gets the colors right for once
Nice video Eric
I need to add a t1 to my collection. Was one of my favorite steam enegines playing railroad tycoon 2 as a kid. A blue comet set is my dream bring back though living near the out of service line. it used to run.
Get the MP54s that Sunset made. You can get them relatively cheap and they are all brass.
Absolutely agree with the T1, but instead of the 4-4-2 hiawatha, I want to see a modern hiawatha hudson F7. You can find Weaver models around, but I don’t know if one has been produced by Lionel or MTH recently enough.
Eric, I also have that cool set. Works great around the tree, especially if you have small kids visiting for the holidays and don't have to worry about the possibility of having your "good" trains damaged. What I thought was a great opportunity, was the promise of a new car each year. However Lionel only offered a new car at Christmas once. I would love the chance to add a new car every year. I too enjoy all the animation that set and car have. Merry Xmas to you and Lisa.
I have that set too including the add-on car. It is an outstanding set. However mine stopped working the second year and I've yet to find anyone that can fix it. And I understand I'm not alone in the fact that many, many of these sets just stopped functioning.
@Lionel Trains UA-cam Channel.
@Eric's Trains, I believe the reason that Lionel is not producing the NYC MTA Subways. is because the Subway sets were produced under license from the New York City Metropolitan Transit Auth.
If Lionel no longer has licensing permission from NYCMTA, they can't produce the Subway sets. Lionel would have to produce Subways, using the former MTH tooling, but only if Lionel acquired the Subway tooling.
-JP
I would like to see a scale version of the North Coast limited passenger set,, which we haven't had a semi scale version since the 90s. It would be cool if they did more scale 19th century steamers like the Inyo or the General.
I'd like to see a scale 1652 0.4.0 steam switcher in TMCC.
The one that I have/had was bought for me at Madison Hardware in 1948 when I was 8 years old.
It has front and rear operating couplers and a bell ringing tender (that drove my parents nuts.)
My favorites that I would buy immediately are the DeWitt Clinton Stream Engine, the MU Commuter Cars and the BB1 Electric sets. Also, New York City subways.
I really Miss the Lackawanna MU cars that Lionel offered in 1992. My future plans for a future layout is too model the Eric Lackawanna rail line
7:07 *i really wish Lionel Modeled the Missouri Kansas Texas railroad's H-3a pacifics in vision line just seeing this gorgeous set*
they did pull the Texas Special and The Bluebonnet,
two passengers trains that the Frisco and The Katy jointly ran.
The H-3a pacifics have also been pulling the Texas Special long before the first Frisco T54 mountain built.
What a great lineup for Lionel to bring back. All of them were great models. That T1 4-4-4-4 would be an amazing one to bring back. T1 is my favorite of all. I would be inclined to buy that one definitely. I model in HOn3/HO dual gauge the EBT. And collect others such as On30 and I have a few Lionel.
Love those choices, Eric. They need to put a link in the catalogue to a video of the new stuff running for those looking at the catalogue on a computer or cell phone.
Lionel made a Texas Special passenger consist in 2015. Honestly, I would love to see all of the items return.
Wow the Hiawatha sets are for sale on eBay for 5 thousand! Thanks you for sharing this video!
Agreed on Hiawatha. Been bugging them for a few years on that one.
Great column, and you're looking terrific!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Eric!
Another good one they should bring back is the C&O streamlined Hudson, as a full scale model. Great video Eric, different kind from norm, you should do more of these top 10 type videos.
There are some great choices that I've forgotten about. Great job Eric ! 👍👍👍
I think missed class one day. Why aren’t they producing aluminum cars anymore (other than that they are expensive, I just bought 6 on eBay and boy howdy that was a bill)?
I think the T1 was one of the engines involved in the MTH lawsuit. I've been hoping they'll make a brass hybrid of all 3 versions of it.
Great list! Love your number one pick the Hiawatha as well! Fun fact … We live in Kansas and there is a Hiawatha, KS! Anyway if Lionel brought back the Hiawatha I would definitely get one. Loved several of your other picks as well. If anyone has some pull in this hobby your it Big Guy!
I also say they need to bring back the Destination Adventure movie and finally go through with Frontierville as well as the Battle Train game app.
I'd like a T1 Duplex in LionMaster or because LionMaster seems to be defunct, Lionchief + 2.0. At least something that can navigate 048 minimum. They did a LionMaster run back in TMCC days.
Well, a part of the video aged well.
I need another Lionel southern Atlantic mine derailed and now it has a software bug
Very well done video Eric! As time goes on the prototype engines will defiantly be remade. The fantasy ones similar ones will be made possibly
Some solid choices here. Love subway stuff, know all of the variations of the NYC subway probably too well. 😂 the t1 may be coming back sooner than you think since they are building that real one from scratch.
All of us know that Lionel has a lot of Kline tooling that they do not want to re-issue. As a big Kline fan, I would like Lionel to issue a surf liner or super liner set. They can take the super liner and surf liner 21 inch passenger cars with a cab car with head end power sounds and cafe car with sounds. You can make a wide variety of sound cars and even make Santa Fe Cars to do an El Capitan set.
If I could choose what locomotives, Lionel would do a reissue of it might be the following
as someone else has already mentioned here, the Pennsylvania T1 would not only be a item that a lot of people would buy but also it’s release would be very topical as the T1 trust is currently building a brand new Pennsylvania T1 and if Lionel made models of the T1 I could imagine them making models in several different road names as well as very possibly a special model for PRR 5550 which is the number of the new T1. Of course, there would be the obligatory fantasy paint schemes as well.
My second choice would be one that isn’t a scale set and isn’t really all that well known but I guarantee that there would be buyers of it. The Lionel phantom set would do rather well for a modern release, especially with the modern Command And Control and sound effects that they could put into today that would really complement the already awesome sets they made in the 90s and 2000s. No idea what the paint schemes of a new version of it would be, but I guarantee it probably would be different than the ones they have released in the past if they were to make it.
My third choice would be the New York Central Commodore Vanderbilt and we all know that if they re-issued this it’s going to sell extremely well. I don’t know exactly when the last time they sold this but if I remember correctly it’s been before 2010. In addition to the variations of the paint schemes, they have made in the past one interesting fantasy paint scheme, they could do would be to apply the New York Central lightning stripes paint scheme on it, like how it was used for diesels in real life. I wouldn’t be surprised if a model like that would be popular.
Another set that I think is almost guaranteed to sell is one that many people may not remember as well but it definitely did sell decently. I’m talking about the polar Express FT diesel streamliner set from around 2010. While this probably wouldn’t be as popular as many other suggestions out there, due to the popularity of the polar Express brand, it’s a certainty that this would sell decently in a release. Not only that, but with modern sound effects, as well as some sound clips from the movie, it would be a nice addition to a layout that features either the regular Polar Express set for the Polar Express Acela high speed train set. Interestingly, when the set was released in 2010 it actually didn’t have any sound clips from the movie so that is definitely something that could be improved in a release.
Finally, one set that I think Lionel could definitely do a modern release of assuming that they haven’t done one recently is of a MPC era set that was made for the bicentennial. The spirit of 76 diesel set was released in the 1970s and I know that a release happened at some point in the last 20 years. However, I don’t know if there has been a release within the last 10 years and with the nations 250th anniversary coming up in a few years. I guarantee that if a release hasn’t happened recently then it definitely would be a good thing to do for 2026 for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
A few honorable mentions of models that I suppose could be released, but might not for various reasons would be the postwar scale Hudson, although it might be a little redundant with a potential release of the prewar scale, Hudson. Additionally, one interesting idea that might technically not be a release, but rather sort of a modern reimagining of an early pre-war set would be to make a steam locomotive inspired by what is believed to be Lionel’s very first set all the way back in the early 1900s. It was a small electric train that was themed off the Baltimore and Ohio and it’s simply had the number one. It was before standard gauge was even released, and if a modern reimagining of this set in the form of a O gauge steam locomotive was done. It could be an interesting throwback to Lionel’s very beginning. However, I don’t think that would happen, but someone can dream!
I would love to see the Centipede (modern and better designed, with many diff schemes), a GG1, the Hiawatha (fantasy and real schemes, each with a different sound set, and extra add-on cars, including Halloween and Christmas), the engine from that trust, etc. Oh, and those advanced work cars that someone was suggesting. Would LOVE to see those. And the US Army Set, again, with extra cars. Plus that G scale set for under the tree, with each year featuring two or three more extra cars to expand it with, the ability to buy the set always, and the ability to purchase previous add-on cars as well. With that, have the cars include electronics and sounds and animations as well. Modern, advanced features and better reliability
Also, bring back the Amtrak Bombardia, and the BB1 Electric Sets as well
I really wish Lionel or MTH would do the Unstoppable AWVR 777 & 776.
I think you should do a 3rd rail electric train once , it would fit the 3-rail O Scale
i Wish they would bring back the alleghney 2-6-6-6 scale model some thing about it makes it my fav!
Eric
Lionel;
for top end passenger cars. Needs to bring back Scale extruded Aluminum cars with "true" hidden couplers.
Not those cheep pull down buttons.
Thanks for listening.
This is a rather good list! Im suprised its been that long for the hiawatha and Prr t-1. Those are some major pieces that would sell well i would think they know that. I present one other pick lionel has never dared to touch for some reason... a vision line Reading Crusader. The best model was by Weaver and in terms of electronics its quite outdated and with lionel's additional features it would be i believe a fantastic seller.
I would like to see a scale Commodore Vanderbilt. It's been over 20 years. I would love to see the reissue the Standard Gauge Vanderbilt set, this time offer it cruise control. Obviously Lionel no longer understands the tinplate market when they made this last time. It's a great looking set however tinplate is about COLOR. They would have done better with it if it was painted in Blue (Blue Streak) or red (Red Comet). A re-released standard gauge Hiawatha would be great as well. MTH made a Hiawatha version in O-Gauge that was white with red and blue. Releasing that in standard gauge would be great as well.
GENERALLY speaking for the hobby, I’d like to see MTH offer some of the European steam engines again….with the swinging bell/steam whistle/blowoff action.
I agree with most all of those. It seems a bit like Lionel has been running alot of the same models recently. Need #1 and #4.
I just want to see a new Erie Lackawanna set brought back I grew up alongside tracks in Pennsylvania. I have looked online at sets so far and some look good but my luck on used stuff is limited.
I would love to see Lionel run the California Zephyr in 21 inch passenger cars as a set and then offer CB&Q, D&RGW, and WP passenger motive power separately to go along with it and enable people to run it with one or more of those three railroads. I, like some others in the comment section, would hope (and expect for that matter) that Lionel runs the T1 to coincide with the T1 5500 trust project.
I did hear you correct I need to find the Lincoln funeral vid. Oh man the T-1 4444 duplex. Our did I not seeing Lincolns funeral, not showing up in a search. TY