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What on Earth is a Green Progressor, you might ask? Oh, nothing, just a brand new locomotive gracing this week’s selections of gems! We’ve had a busy couple of weeks, so I had to step away from the selections last week. But, I’m back this week, and coming at you with a brand new locomotive design from Hornby and some Lionel HO scale that’s managed to work itself into the mix. So let’s get to it as we roll into another round of quick hits!
A Star-Spangled Story on Rails
Lionel HO GS-4 Northern American Freedom Train 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive and Tender #4449
Let’s kick off this week with a bit of patriotism, and nothing exemplifies freedom quite like the Freedom Train! In the mid 1970, Lionel had a short-lived HO run that produced some really nice EMD GP 30 models along with a limited number of rolling stock. My favorite piece from the HO run has to be this GS-4 Freedom Train!
I love trains that have a backstory, and this star-spangled 4-8-4 has a ton of it! In preparation for the Bicentennial in 1976, a series of locomotives was surveyed as candidates for the Freedom Train, which ran through stops spanning the continental United States. The selection would come down to three locomotives to lead the tour, and the Southern Pacific 4-8-4 sporting the #4449 road number was one of the lucky candidates. The 4-8-4 was brought in for restoration in 1974 and recommissioned for operation in 1975. Lionel would release their HO model of the Southern Pacific Freedom train shortly after in 1976.
The Southern Pacific #4449 would spearhead much of the West Coast tour, conducting a majority of the stops out of the 3 participating locomotives. The tour would prove to be a massive success, with the tour finally concluding in 1976. The Southern Pacific Freedom train would enter historical preservation shortly after and currently resides at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Southern Portland.
Lionel released a more recent version of this locomotive in 2016, though that model was only available in O Gauge and did not feature any HO reproductions – making this find that much sweeter. And if you’re feeling extra patriotic, we’ve got plenty of versions of the American Freedom Train on our website.
- Manufacturer: Lionel
- Road Name: American Freedom Train (AFTX)
- Scale/Era: HO Modern
- Model Type: Steam Loco
European Speed Meets N-Scale Precision
Kato K10910 N Scale TGV Thalys PBKA High Speed Train 10-Car Set
My second pick for the week brings us over the N-Scale side of things, and I’ve managed to pull something neat off the shelf! I knew the moment I picked up this 10-car Thalys PBKA High Speed Train Set from Kato that it would make my list for the week.
I’m a big fan of the Thalys PBKA locomotives, and its impressive network of railroads that stretch from Southern Spain all the way to Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. That’s A LOT of track, folks! And with 26 years of faithful service and 1 change in ownership, the Thalys PBKA has become a staple in modern European transportation. Chances are, if you’ve ever toured Europe, you’ve seen this burgundy-clad icon rolling down the tracks.
The set listed above is a massive 10-car set that immediately expands N-Scale layouts, and includes a locomotive designed for various terrains meaning you can stick this train in just about any themed layout. With the convenience of smaller scales like N, it’s also much easier to build and expand around this set if you’re doing some layout pre-gaming. With its DCC-friendly design, it’s a ready-to-go set, ready to have fun right out of the box! Don’t forget to stop by our entire N-Scale catalog – we’ve added quite a bit recently!
- Manufacturer: Kato
- Model Number: K10910
- Road Name: French Railways (SNCF/TGV)
- Scale/Era: N Scale
- Model Type: Passenger Cars
A Texas Special Worth Collecting
Lionel 6-58526 O Scale MLR LCCA Texas SP NW2 Cow & Calf Set
Chugging along right behind the Kato set is my third pick for the week, and this time I’ve decided to stray into some O Modern territory. The Texas Special locomotives have been released throughout a number of different eras and scales by numerous manufacturers. This modern set is from 2012 and was the second in a series of newly released Texas Special locomotives and cars, with different releases between 2011 and 2019.
The 2012 Texas Special set featured a pair of switcher locomotives, a mint car, and a couple of billboards, all sporting the Texas Special road name in the traditional red/cream paint scheme. It’s a set that’s also retained a ton of value with sets all over the internet crossing well over the $600 mark. Fortunately for our customers, we’ve managed to stay well below that.
I wouldn’t recommend this as a starter set, but I would for collectors – especially those fond of midwestern railroad networks. The locomotive comes with RailSounds and a baby fat-boy speaker so you’re fully immersed in the model railroad experience without waking up the entire neighborhood. I’ve got a slew of locomotives and rolling stock sporting the Texas Special Road Name on our website. Oh, and we’ve got O-Modern sets aplenty, if you need to expand.
- Manufacturer: Lionel
- Model Number: 6-58526
- Road Name: Missouri Kansas Texas (MKT/BKTY)
- Scale/Era: O Modern
- Model Type: Train Sets
Hornby’s Bold Take on the Class 66
Hornby R30151 OO Green Progressor GBRf Class 66 Co-Co Diesel Locomotive #66796
Well, we’ve gotten to my favorite pick of the week, and it looks like I’ve got a thing for OO this week, too, so we’ll just go with it. In June of 2023, Hornby released this vibrantly painted “Green Progressor” Class 66 diesel locomotive to commemorate an industry milestone for the HS2 London Logistics Hub.
The best part about the Green Progressor is that its name was given to it by a model railroad superfan from England. It's really cool to see model railroad companies maintain a close relationship with train enthusiasts. The result of such a relationship is this unique design, and a fun addition to OO collections. The Green Progressor isn’t alone on these shelves, by the way, and is being kept company by a number of Class 66 locomotives.
- Manufacturer: Hornby
- Model Number: R30151
- Scale/Era: OO Scale
- Model Type: Diesel Loco
Budget-Friendly with a Touch of Magic
Lionel 6-9660 O Gauge Mickey Mouse Hi-Cube Boxcar
Well, we’re at the end, which means it’s time to save a couple of bucks with this week’s budget pick. Modern MPC is in high demand, and I’ve got a gem for your collection – at under $50! Oh, and look who it is, everybody’s favorite mouse. I love boxcars with fun designs and animations, and this Disney piece is no exception.
Originally released in 1977, the Mickey Mouse Hi-Cube boxcar was one of 13 cars featured in Lionel’s release of Disney-themed rolling stock in the late 70s. The entire line-up is spearheaded by a Disney Diesel Switcher – bringing the set to a whopping total of 14 items (13 freight cars, 1 freight car).
If you’ve completed this set, please send us a picture to our Facebook page. I’d love to see it! This is one of many Disney-themed products we have on our shelves!
- Manufacturer: Lionel
- Model Number: 6-9660
- Years Manufactured: 1977 - 1978
- Scale/Era: O MPC
- Model Type: Freight Cars
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