There's nothing quite like seeing behind the curtain to the guts of the model railroading manufacturing process, and Lionel has given us a closer look at prototypes of one of their latest products.
If you're looking for a new maintenance-of-way vehicle for your layout, then you might be interested in reading Lionel's latest new product spotlight on their Command Control 1955 Trucks. You can see the details and prototype images below, or check them out right on the official Lional blog.
New Product Spotlight – Command Control 1955 Trucks
Maintenance-of-Way is hard work, but these new trucks will be all play on your layout. Made from all new tooling, decorated for thirteen popular railroads, and operable on Command Control, these new trucks may be small models, but they’re big on fun.
Railroads have used trucks for decades to assist in inspecting and repairing tracks, signals, structures and other elements of the right-of-way. They could be found just about anywhere on the system. Some were equipped with special wheels that would let them travel on the rails as well as beside them.
These all new models feature command control so they can be operated on a LEGACY, TMCC or Conventional transformer controlled layout. The trucks also feature working headlights and a flashing strobe light on the roof. All of these electronics and the motor are carefully housed in the body of the truck and beneath its tarp-covered bed to allow a clear interior in this 1:48 scale model.
The models will be available for Canadian Pacific, Great Northern, Missouri Kansas and Texas, New York Central, Nickel Plate, Northern Pacific, Pennsylvania, Rio Grande, Santa Fe, Southern, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific and Weyerhauser. They will be a great complement to the Command Control Inspection Cars as well as our other vehicles, work trains and accessories.
The trucks retail for $ 179.99. They will operate on O-27 curves – perfect to bring command control to any layout. The trucks are expected to ship in May and should be ready to go to work on your railroads just in time for the busy summer work season.
Despite how cool it is to see unpainted prototypes, I can't say I'm entirely impressed by the execution of this piece. You can see that it's much more square and angular than its more-curved digital design above. There are definitely some finer details worked in, but as an entire vehicle something just doesn't sit well with its appearance. And at $ 179.99 for a single small vehicle, I'd expect a much stricter adherence to its mockup.
If you're still set on adding this piece to your layout, it should be available anytime. I'd love to see one in action to make sure I'm not being too harsh. Until then, I'm not going to get my hopes up.
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