When the Lionel Corp. produced its postwar nos. 1862 and 1872 Generals beginning in 1959, the 4-4-0 quickly established itself as a train set specialist where play value stole the show. In the toy train world, the General has almost always been associated with horse cars, bobbing-head stock cars, and western-bandit characters.
Lionel LLC’s 2003 entry is no different, and that’s a definite plus.
The no. 31939 Great Train Robbery set, featuring the General adorned in Union Pacific livery (no. 18723), follows a familiar theme. The set includes nos. 15166 U.P. old-time baggage car, 26036 U.P. old-time flatcar with horses, and 19694 Pony Express mint car filled with “gold” – all great scene setters and fun in their own right. But what really sets this outfit apart are the extras and new features not typical of other Lionel outfits – at least not before this year.
Lionel has included a no. 18467 train robbery bandit handcar, a motorized unit that can chase the train around the track. Equipped with red-masked bandits, it’s a practical and exciting accessory that fits in closely with the set’s theme.
The fun is aided and abetted by two new accomplices to Lionel’s starter-set line: an 80-watt one-piece transformer (see sidebar) and Lionel FasTrack.
FasTrack, a product line that Lionel will broaden to include switches and other track beyond the basic oval this fall, is much easier for a beginner to assemble than traditional tubular track (see the review in the September CTT). Sure, the time-tested tubular track remains an iconic favorite for us old-timers, but even we can admit it isn’t much fun squeezing two new sections of sharp, sheet-metal track together.
While the track and transformer are first rate, ironically, the set’s locomotive, the very thing that inspired the set’s robbery chase theme, is somewhat disappointing.
Like its General predecessors, this Union Pacific locomotive has a nice, slim smokebox and old-time qualities. But it’s a lightweight, lacking heft and perceived quality. Most of the locomotive, even part of the frame, is plastic. The ornamental whistle, always a fragile piece, still looks vulnerable as it stretches from the cab roof to the rear steam dome (also plastic). The faux brass coloring of the two domes, the bell, the lantern, and the pilot is hardly convincing.
Also, the locomotive is a bit too fast. At 15 volts, the little steamer travels at 172 scale mph. No bandits in a handcar will catch the train at that speed. The smoke unit on our first locomotive shorted out, but the unit on a replacement locomotive worked properly.
Then again, Lionel is marketing this set with a price in mind: $250. For that price, it’s clear that some compromises would be necessary. Despite my disappointment with the locomotive, the set overall is balanced, attractively priced, and is a winner for any young O gauge enthusiast.
Good comments from Larry and a worthwhile and insightful review. I'd also welcome a history of the Lionel 4-4-0 in its various colors, roadnames, etc., over the years. I'd be curious to learn if modern releases of the 4-4-0 have improved upon the lightweight feel and construction since the 2003 version.
It's amazing to look at these wood burners today and consider the giants that descended from them; they seem like almost a different species. What a shame color film arrived on the scene long after the prototypes vanished from the rails. The survivors in museum collections and old tv/movies are so colorful. I wonder if it was the switch from burning wood to grimy coal that ultimately did in the colorful paint jobs and decorative trim.
Some day it would be fun to see an article about the rainbow of colors Lionel has issued this locomotive in, along with a comparison of features and changes over time.