It’s time for the Quick Hits, folks! Last week was a little busy for us at Trainz with tons of new inventory rolling in from all over the country, so I had to step aside for a little bit to help bring it all in! But fear not, I’m back with a pretty sweet haul of modern O Gauge and some extra special HOn3 pieces. Crank your transformers all the way up to eleven for this one, because these quick hits are rolling strong!
A Heritage Series Powerhouse Leads the Charge in O Modern
Lionel 6-28334 Norfolk Southern Heritage SD70ACe Diesel Locomotive #1982
I’m kicking things off with a bang in the O Modern category with this beautiful Norfolk Southern SD70 from Lionel! Part of the highly acclaimed ‘Heritage’ Series, this diesel engine first hit Lionel's catalog in 2009 and has been catching eyes ever since. Packed with Legacy audio, this Norfolk Southern SD70 boasts one of the most realistic sound systems I’ve ever heard. I’m not saying this engine is built better than the rest, but the quality of the Legacy system is so incredibly crisp and clear – take a look at this demonstration on Youtube posted from a fellow collector that goes by the username RavenHawk6910.
In addition to great operating features, this SD70 got its own custom design courtesy of Lionel. I'm not sure where to start with this beautiful design. For starters, the glossy blue finish on the center of the shell, trucks, and corner steps delivers a wonderfully cool blue luster with functioning ground lights. The white base paved the way for a ton of fun ideas, ranging from the blue striping on the cab and the upper end of the shell to the darker blue finish on the hood and the red accents on the cab’s windows. I wasn’t the only one crazy about this look – model train and O Gauge forums all over the internet included threads and showcases of fellow collectors who either owned or were on the hunt for this particular SD70.
You may also notice the E.H. Harriman award stamped just behind the cab. The E.H. Harriman award is given out every year to a railroad company that exceeds both safety and labor practice standards. The award itself has become a controversial topic within the railroad industry that I won’t touch too much on here, but will mention it has become associated with both shady safety practices and industry corruption. The award was discontinued in 2012, with Norfolk Southern winning its 23rd consecutive E.H. Harriman Award. Maybe the critics are onto something with that one.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t stop us from having a blast with this thing on our own O Gauge layouts. This SD70ACe is a top of the line model that was only featured in the 2009 Lionel catalog, and hasn’t seen a re-release despite its massive popularity. Somehow, I happened to get two that fell into my lap this week. I’ve also got a ton more Heritage series and SD70 locomotives that came in along with this beauty. Oh, and if you’re tired of Norfolk Southern winning everything, I’ve got plenty of O Modern Diesel engines with a variety of road names from Santa Fe to New York Central that are ready to rumble!
- Manufacturer: Lionel
- Model Number: 6-28334
- Road Name: Norfolk Southern (NS)
- Scale/Era: O Modern
- Model Type: Diesel Loco
A Classic GG-1 Brings Big Energy to Z Scale
Marklin 88490 Z Pennsylvania Class GG-1 Electric Locomotive #4935
Rounding the corner just behind our O Gauge pick is this Z-Scale Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1 electric locomotive, made by the German giant Marklin. I love the GG-1, from its design to its reliability (boasting 50 years of service). They may not have been as big as the Union Pacific Big Boy, but these electric locomotives definitely carry Big Boy energy.
Marklin captures all of the great features of this vintage icon in microscopic Z Scale size without missing a beat. It’s a vintage look paired with modern engineering, all coming from one of the most reliable manufacturers in the game. If you’re running a Z Scale layout, it’s an engine I’d always recommend having handy and ready to go. They blend in beautifully with any layout, and I’ve personally witnessed this little Z Scale engine handle curves like a champ!
Don’t lie, I know you’re a little tempted looking at this Z Scale beast. If it's diesel or steam-powered locomotives you’re after instead, we’ve got plenty more in our Z Scale catalog.
- Manufacturer: Marklin
- Model Number: 88490
- Road Name: Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)
- Scale/Era: Z Scale
- Model Type: Electric Loco
A Rare HOn3 K-27 Steamer Steals the Show
Blackstone Models B310126W-S HOn3 D&RGW K-27 Class 2-8-2 Steam Engine #456 w/DCC
Taking the third spot on this list is one of our less common scales – HOn3. I don’t get a ton of this scale in, and was pretty excited to see several model trains come in from BlackStone Models due to the limited availability of these trains. Once you unbox one of these models, you’ll see why I had to include this K-27 steam engine.
BlackStone Models started making trains in 2016, and haven't released much since 2020. Their locomotives come DC- and DCC-ready and are among the most intricately designed models to hit the market recently. It’s a bummer that production issues from the Covid-19 pandemic have slowed BlackStone Models down because all of their products are top-notch. Their hauling power and ability to handle tight curves are second to none.
Another great thing I’ve come to learn from both researching and observing HOn3 is how incredibly realistic the experience really is. The narrow gauge tracks are just spread apart enough at the rails so that each locomotive and freight car align perfectly. It really creates a nice aesthetic and looks especially dynamic when you see the locomotive rounding a particularly sharp curve. Each model also comes packed with a Tsunami Digital Sound Decoder by SoundTraxx, and the speakers in these locomotives sound incredible.
Now that production is halted, the availability of these models is dwindling. And, without any recent news as far as future models go, you may just be on the verge of having a one of a kind piece as far as this Mikado goes. Oh, and you’re going to need some narrow gauge track to go along with that – no worries, we have plenty of options for that too!
- Manufacturer: Blackstone Models
- Model Number: B310126W-S
- Road Name: Denver & Rio Grande Western (DRGW)
- Scale/Era: HOn3 Narrow Gauge
Lionel’s Route 66 Dino Cafe Brings 90s Nostalgia to O Modern
Lionel 6-22993 Route 66 Sinclair Dino Café
Oh man, this one hit me with a whirlwind of childhood memories and nostalgia. I’m going back to O Modern for the accessory pick, but can you blame me? This Route 66 Sinclair Dino Cafe from Lionel has everything you love, from a great 50s Americana aesthetic to dinosaurs! The Dino Cafe (model # 6-22993) was first released in 1999 and jumped on the Dino-craze of the 90s, which saw blockbuster franchises like Jurassic Park take the world by storm and childhood favorites like the Flintstones finally get their live-action debut on the silver screen.
Oh yeah, it was a good year to be a million year old extinct lizard. Plus, I don’t know what kid didn’t grow up with a love for dinosaurs, even if your primary focus was on model trains. The Dino Cafe is a neat little model that comes with interior illumination, and features an American staple, Route 66, and tons of signage for a great overall design. Next to the Smiley Face water tower, I think this is Lionel’s greatest accessory, and one worthy of being on your layouts!
And if you're not after the Dino Cafe at this particular time -- I've got plenty more O-Modern layout accessories for you to decorate your layouts with!
- Manufacturer: Lionel
- Model Number: 6-22993
- Years Manufactured: 1999 - 2000
- Scale/Era: O Modern
- Model Type: Buildings
Big Value Meets Classic Style in This Budget GP7
Proto 2000 23014 HO Scale Western Pacific GP7 Phase II Diesel Locomotive #713
Oh baby, it’s time for my favorite pick of the week! And this one is all about delivering quality for even the tightest budget – that’s right, folks, it’s time for the budget pick of the week! We’re not going with dinky little freight cars for five dollars, no, we’re going to find something great under a Benjamin, and I managed to stumble upon something nice for all of you HO runners out there. This Western Pacific GP7 diesel engine sporting the #713 road number is what’s being served up today, and this beauty is a main course coming at the price of an appetizer.
The original EMD GP7 cost right around $171,00 to make in the 1950s, which translates to just over $2.1 million today. The budget pick HO Western Pacific GP7 you see listed above is sporting the famous yellow/silver paint scheme that became the main design for locomotives following the appointment of executive Al Pearlman in the 1970s.
The 50s and 60s versions of these locomotives featured a beautiful silver/green scheme that I preferred more than the yellow/silver – it’s worth mentioning because Pearlman is credited with being the voice that did away with the silver/green scheme. Personally, I think it was less a color preference and more Pearlman coming in to revitalize the Western Pacific Railroad by starting with a fresh look for its fleet of locomotives. Alfred E. Pearlman was notorious for helping railroad companies scale their business, and in 1970, Western Pacific made him the head honcho.
We’ve also got tons more HO rolling stock and a variety of locomotives under $100 on our website.
- Manufacturer: Proto 2000
- Model Number: 23014
- Road Name: Western Pacific (WP)
- Scale/Era: HO Scale
- Model Type: Diesel Loco
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