What’s that coming down the track? Oh nothing, just another showcase of my weekly selections, and this week’s lead engine is a Pre-War goodie you won’t want to miss! I’ve got some Z-Scale action and a special G-Scale brass piece in tow as well. So power up those transformers, and get ready for another round of weekly quick hits!
Lionel 227 Vintage O Pennsylvania 0-6-0 Steam Switcher & Tender #8976
Kicking things off this week is a Pre-War engine that a lot of veteran collectors will probably recognize. The Lionel 227 0-6-0 Steam Switcher has been in circulation for nearly a century with each passing year seeing the number of both availability, and collectible appeal of this model gradually get smaller and more diminished.
For those of you unfamiliar with this locomotive, the 227 Steam Switcher is a Pre-War steam locomotive that was produced by Lionel from 1939 - 1942 and comes in a variety of variations. The original run featured rubber stamped lettering, and would later feature heat stamped lettering along with changes to the couplers and mechanical upgrades.
We’re very fortunate to have received such a well preserved model, and I just couldn’t resist showing off how good this Pre-War gem is– especially considering the journey this locomotive has been on over the last 80 some-odd years. If you’re collecting vintage engines, the 227 is up there with engines like the 700E that demand a spot on a collector’s mantle. The 227 you see listed above is mechanically sound, and has had its functionality verified by our team.
They’re not easy to come by in great shape, let alone working so this was a homerun find for me, and hopefully for one of you as well. I wasn’t able to nab the original box, but I’m sure all of you vintage collectors out there know that box hunting is half the fun when it comes to collecting. Though, I would’ve loved to have been able to pair the two.
I’ve got the listing for this locomotive posted here where you can take an in depth look at this Pre-War piece. The 227 isn’t alone on our pre-war shelves, and is accompanied by a number of vintage engines and cars that came in earlier in the week. Oh and if you’re after vintage Pennsylvania locomotives and rolling stock, I’ve got you covered.
Product Info
Manufacturer: Lionel
Model Number: 227
Road Name: Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)
Scale/Era: O Prewar
Model Type: Steam Loco
Marklin 8881 Baltimore & Ohio 4-6-2 Z Gauge Steam Freight Train Set
Ok Z-Scale folks, you’re up! And I’m especially excited here because we’re playing with a great paint scheme, and a powerful 5-Pole motor. That’s what this Z-Scale 8881 B&O steam locomotive from Marklin is working with, and it's working it well! If you’ve ever read some of my previous quick hits articles, then you’ll know it’s no secret that I love my colors. Especially pink! Ok sorry, back to the train.
The 4-6-2 pictured above is part of Marklin’s Mini-Club series, and is one of many great engines produced in the series. The B&O engine listed above breaks from the standard black color scheme; switching things up to a very aesthetically pleasing blue/gray paint scheme. The tender comes in the same blue design, but features gold striping that pairs wonderfully with the blue base. The red caboose is the cherry on top, and hey some extra rolling stock isn’t ever a bad thing. It’s Z-Scale, so I know you have room for the extra car!
The locomotive’s cab features a “President Harrison” road name, though B&O is the official railroad network for this engine. The engine is also packed with that 5-Pole motor so you won’t have any issues pulling freight and hauling passengers. Oh and it’s worth mentioning that Marklin’s Mini-Club series has a great reputation for reliability, so you’ll get plenty of miles in before it’s time to retire the engine.
The B&O set you’re seeing now can be found here, and we’ve got plenty more from Marklin’s Mini-Club series on our website. And while you’re here, be sure to check out our entire updated Z-Scale catalog.
Product Info
Manufacturer: Marklin
Model Number: 8881
Road Name: Baltimore & Ohio (B&O)
Scale/Era: Z Scale
Model Type: Sets Scale
Accucraft AC78-134 1:20.3 Scale BRASS Rio Grande Southern Inspection Car #1
Ok, sound the trumpets because it’s time to put on a show! This model deserves all the pomp and circumstance, so please allow me to introduce you to the Rio Grande Southern Inspection car from Accucraft.
This G-Scale inspection car is masterfully designed and equipped with a modern engine system paired with a smooth vintage look. I really can’t get over how well the paint is, and I’m really not surprised that Accucraft calls it a “museum quality” paint finish – it’s well deserving of the compliment. And though I’m not a huge fan of the ordinary black design – I must admit the muted tone of the shell provides versatility in the sense that it can blend into just about any layout.
In addition to a great look, Accucraft packed a 0-24V DC motor so you’re able to get around the railyard or even down by the mountain for some railroad inspection. Oh and I’ll brag on pricing here a bit too, we’re coming in a little lower compared to some of the models I found on the private market when I was doing my research on the car. I know, weird flex, but hey it’s worth mentioning.
The Inspection car’s listing is here, and be sure to take a close look because it’s in fantastic shape! We’ve also got tons more G-Scale products on our website, with some really nice Fine Arts Models sharing shelf space with this inspection car. I’m mentioning Fine Arts Models because I have something special coming up for them, so be sure to stick around for future posts.
Product Info
Manufacturer: Accucraft
Model Number: AC78-134
Road Name: Rio Grande Southern (RGS)
Scale/Era: G Scale
Model Type: Operating Cars
Woodland Scenics BR4921 N Built-&-Ready Harrison's Hardware Building
So the last couple of editions of quick hits haven’t featured any layout accessories, and for that I apologize. But no fear, I’m bringing it back with some N-Scale action today, yall! I was originally going to feature the Middlesex Manufacturing plant from Atlas, but I happened to stumble upon this 2-story brick Hardware building from Woodland Scenics instead, and the rest is history.
The Hardware store is built and ready to go, and showcases a ton more detail than the Middlesex building – so it’s a no brainer. My first big take-away from this building is how designer friendly it is. And what I mean by that is how much you can build around it. The simple urban ensign blends in just about anywhere, and can serve as a great starting point for somebody looking to expand their layout.
The design is especially advantageous because while N-Scale accessories may be easier to build up and fit on a layout. This comes in handy when dealing with smaller scale layouts – where getting a big picture image of what you want in your head can be a little difficult because of the smaller size. That's where a piece like this Hardware Building comes in the clutch as a fantastic starting point for a layout design.
Our N-Scale catalog is huge right now, and deserves a look while you’re checking out the Hardware building. Oh and here’s that Middlesex plant I was going on about earlier, it’s worth a look while you’re browsing the catalog.
Product Info
Manufacturer: Woodland Scenics
Model Number: BR4921
Road Name: **** No Road Name
Scale/Era: N Scale
Model Type: Buildings
IHC 1952 HO Great Northern E-8 AA Diesel Locomotive Set
And now it’s time for my favorite pick of the week – the Budget pick! That’s right, a goodie for under $100, and I’ve got a pair of engines for all of you HO runners out there. This 1952 Great Northern Set E-8 AA Diesel Locomotive set is quite the eye-catcher.
IHC may not be the giant that Lionel is, but that doesn’t stop them from producing great quality products at an affordable price. And this AA diesel set is plenty of bang for your buck.
The locomotives are sporting the classic Omaha Orange/Pullman Green paint scheme originally introduced during the summer of 1941. The design was massively popular, serving as the go-to scheme for a solid 15 years before later iterations would get the “simplified scheme” without the gold stripes. The Great Northern road name also comes packed rich with history, which usually makes for great conversation with your buddies as the locomotive rounds the track.
It’s the perfect set to get a new layout started, and makes for a great addition to established layouts thanks to a smooth design that fits in just about anywhere. I’ve got the link to this HO set here, and another link to a slew of newly arrived HO products you can check out on our website.
Product Info
Manufacturer: IHC
Model Number: 1952
Road Name: Great Northern (GN)
Scale/Era: HO Modern
Model Type: Diesel Loco