Lionel Great Northern Glacier Route Set-Review

[Anonymous]

Why this set?

a. How does it meet the requirements of an entry level Lionel Set on ease of setup and use, price point, and performance/ features/ value, keeping in mind it may be for a first time operator.

b. Introduction to Fastrack, how it compares with traditional O-31 and O-27 Lionel tubular track.

c. Attractive GN colors on locomotive, availability of additional searchlight car and flatcar with bulkheads as add ons.

Let's take price point first. Although familiar with Lionel Trains, I wanted to approach this with a clean slate, as if I were purchasing a Lionel Train set for the first time. Some good editorials have indicated how important entry level sets are to introduce the hobby to a new generation, so price will be a consideration. Someone new to the hobby may invest cautiously until a real interest develops. Therefore the first impression a starter set makes can have a significant impact on continuation with the hobby.

The Great Northern Glacier Route Set seemed like a good choice at a very reasonable price. The colors on the locomotive are certainly appealing and it includes a horn and headlight; all metal wheels and axles in case insulated sections are utilized for accessory activation, operating couplers and available add-on cars available.

Although I purchased mail order through CTT, the retail price suggested in the Lionel catalog for a customer in a hobby shop is still reasonable and affordable.

When the shipment arrived, naturally the first impression comes from the artwork on the set box. I'm happy to say it was very impressive and depicted the set accurately. Although the artwork was a dramatic illustration, it suggested imagination and fun. It covered the front of the box and seems more inspired than a photograph.

On opening, the set loco and rolling contents appear first. They were well packaged and protected with two layers of heavy corrugated stock with cutouts for each individual piece, which were separately packaged in sturdy plastic bags with desiccant packets. In addition, the locomotive had a foam strip buffer for the body and handrails. Although a youngster 8 years or older could probably remove the items without problems, careful handling should be exercised so as not to catch couplers or wheels on the cardboard.

The top portion of the box with the loco and rolling stock lifts out and below are contained the curved and straight Fastrack sections in individual compartments, bubble wrapped with twist ties. The transformer and controller are in a separate box, along with the GN set instruction manual, Lionel dealer and service station list, a mini Lionel catalog and Railroader Club subscription offer. All items are extremely well protected with very strong cardboard.

The instructions were easy to understand, the catalog informative, and the subscription to the Railroader Club includes free Lionel catalogs.

Now, the Fastrack. Very impressive, attractive, sturdy. Compared to the traditional Lionel tubular O-27 and O-31, its appearance suggests more "model railroad" than "electric trains". It requires more space than traditional track due to increased radius and molded roadbed, and assembly with gloves is strongly recommended, as the edges of the roadbed are sharp. It probably takes the same amount of pressure to assemble new pieces of Fastrack as it does new pieces of tubular track. A technique soon develops of leveraging one snap-in at a time to assemble the sections.

Once assembled, there are no gaps between sections. The track in this set had a dark center rail. This may be an issue as I'm reading how center rails are now the same color as the outside rails. This may account for the fact that once the transformer was connected, the train did not operate.

I tested the locomotive on tubular track, and all its features were operating; motor, horn, headlight, e-unit. The Fastrack seemed to need some prodding of the train and then the e-unit would not cycle although I exercised the switch located underneath the engine.

Here is where the new customer may have doubts; all hooked up for the first time and no go without a little persuasion. I hope the center rail issue resolves this.

After some tinkering, the set completed many turns around the oval and performed satisfactorily. All couplers engaged and held easily and no derailments occurred. The horn sounded a very realistic and appealing tone that had a gradual fade off as the activation button was released.

This set was ordered with the add-on GN searchlight car, and it also operated correctly and smoothly.

There is no doubt about the quality of the paint and graphics on this set; it is superb. The delicate serif typeface has no gaps and is clear and legible. The colors, logos, quality and decoration of the rolling stock along with the impressive RS3 locomotive makes this a great value. Consider it a very easy way to put trains around the tree at Christmas time with the Fastrack. As an introduction to the hobby for a first time user, all elements score high, as long as the center rail issue is addressed and gloves are suggested to use when assembling the track.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the detailed review. It will be helpful to those who purchase the set. Too bad the Fast Track created a problem.

[brianel027]

Arkimede, very nice review. A very thoughtful review from a beginner... well maybe not, but a beginner to the CTT Forum. Welcome.

I witnessed an interesting exchange while visiting a train shop out of town a maybe a couple years ago tops. A father and son were looking at one of the separate sale Lionel RS-3's: same model type included in the current GN set above. Seemed the dealer at first was almost trying to discourage the sale asking about the customer's layout and what kinds of cars they had. Was there a track elevation? But he then proceeded to explain because of the all plastic construction and single motor, the RS-3 is a poor puller. He then showed them a K-Line MP-15 with caboose for not much more money and explained it was a much better bargain and a much better engine for not much more money. "That the MP-15 will easily pull many more cars than the budget RS-3." They may have been new to the hobby, but they made the smart choice in this case and bought the MP-15 combo.

I have heard other complaints in the same vein that those light weight all plastic starter set RS-3's basically pull the set and one or two more cars. Maybe Lionel figures that's all a beginner wants or needs.

Such a shame that a nice looking engine like the GN one (the past couple RS-3's have all looked nice... the ATSF black one was also sharp) reviewed above isn't the kind of engine you'll be able to really expand a layout with.

Arkimede, if you have trouble with traction or pulling power, you may want to remove the shell and add some self-sticking automobile tire lead weights to the inside above the motor truck or in the fuel tank if there's room (I assume the horn speaker may be in the fuel tank).

I don't know if there's been specification changes, but I was told some time ago by a tech at Lionel that the DC motor in the Industrial Switcher (another very light-weight all plastic loco) was the same DC motor in all the other low-end Lionel engines, like the die-cast 4-4-2 starter set steamer or the dual motored Alco. So the motor can handle some extra weight being added to the RS-3.

[Anonymous]

I also purchased this set for my son. In general I thought that the remarks were right on the money. The set was a great value for the typical starter.

I agree heartily with the assessment of fasttrak. It's great for operating on carpet, but it doesn't have the conductivity of tubular 3 rail. This becomes abundantly clear if you run some postwar stuff on there - speed is in inverse proportion to the distance from the power connection - and this is with a small loop. At least it's easy to add a power connection with some wire and a few connectors from radio shack. I think you would need to jumper every section to do it right, however. What's up with the square section rail? Once again I like the tubular better. I also recieved the fasttrack with the black center rail. I don't think that should be the problem as I own tubular track with a black center rail and it works better. I do like the 36" dia. turns. I like the built-in roadbed.

The GN RS3 that comes with the set is really pretty to my eye. Mine pulls 6 or 7 modern cars around a loop, but there's some wheelslip on acceleration. It would be easy enough to add some weight (perhaps some lead shot in the fuel tank), should you want to pull more. Lionel should definitly consider offering a "power up" kit to add a 2nd motor to these pretty units.

All that said, it's a wonderful starter set good for hours and hours of fun.

Have fun,

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