1999 Erie Lackawana Phoebe Snow F3

[JamesShannon]

hey guys, does anyone know if the Phoebe Snow F3 set from 1999 is scale or traditional size? The other TMCC F3's from the same era seem to be more traditional size which is what I prefer. Any impressions of this set will be helpful.  thanks,  Jim

[Train-O]

James,

From what I can make of the add. is it might be 'O' Gauge, but in the add. it shows: 'Minimum Radius' as 'O-31 Curve.'

http://www.grahamstrains.com/store/product.php?productid=1861

I hope this helps.

Ralph

[nickaix]

All Lionel F3s are full-sized O scale. However, not all have the fine detail that many associate with the word "scale".

To give a number, an A-A or A-B set of F3s, whether postwar, LTI or new production, is about 26" long.  Also, the passenger cars in this set are 16" long (including couplers).

In other words, if you already have F3s, the ones in this set will match them.  Also, because of the year it was made, I would guess that they are fundamentally similar to postwar F3s in appearance (i.e., smooth "passenger" pilot, not a lot of extra applied details, won't make your older trains look bad by comparison).

Lionel F3s are significantly larger than Lionel Alco FAs, most of which are the undersized "traditional O"--though some of the very newest ones are full O scale.