Lionel Pennsylvania Flyer Set

[Anonymous]

These sets are going for rock bottom prices. I'm going to pick one up. Any of you own one, how's the quality?

[Anonymous]

Loco has two speeds, stop and fast.

You reallyneed something bigger then the 027 they give you, or if a newer set the 0-36 in Fasttrack.

[brianel027]

I have a couple of this type of loco. I run with a DC converter, but you don't have to worry about that one. I don't know how well the new Lionel transformer with that set works, but the older Lionel 1033 has several settings. The B-U setting puts 0-11 volts to the track, perfect for this kind of loco. Also the cheaper older no-frills K-Line transformer starts at 0 volts to the track. I run with 027 track and have no problems, but my outer curves are banked a little. I also don't run a high speed. With a bunch of cars behind the loco, that will slow it down enough and help with smoke output.

You can also use the Model Power and Bachmann brands of smoke fluid... they're cheaper in cost and work just as well as the Lionel stuff by my experience.

The steamer in that set is a very fine no frills basic Lionel loco. A pleasing level of detail that you won't have to worry about breaking off. The air whistle is a throw back to the older postwar days. It would have been nice if Lionel had designed the inner chassis as one piece as many MTH steamers are. So it's a little bit of a pain to change the light bulb when needed, but certainly not impossible by any stretch.

If you don't mind less than scale size and detail levels, this Lionel steamer will serve you just fine. The only thing you will likely have to replace at some point is the traction tire.

The PRR gondola in that set is very nice looking too... I'm sure painted. It appears to me the box car doesn't look to be painted, but molded plastic color. I could be wrong, but that's how it looked to me when I inspected one of these sets.

I'd still recommend it as a fine beginner set. The loco will pull anywhere up to 10-12 cars comfortably depending on whether or not the cars have die cast trucks and frames or plastic trucks and frames.

[pbjwilson]

My first set had the 4-4-2. It's a fine loco that gets better with age. Smokes good, nice strong headlight. Ive had mine now for ten years and other than a light oiling now and then have done nothing to it. It just runs and runs. It's also taken a couple falls to the basemenrt floor and came up with just a scatch or two.

I' ve also purchased the Alien 51 train set at a bargain price. The paint finish and quality of that set is superb. Lots of operating cars.

Although you have to realize these are "toy" trains. Not true to the prototype etc. But thats what I like about them. I play with them - My kids abuse them and they just keep on workin.