Lionel and MTH announces NS Heritage series

[Bob Keller]

From a press release from Lionel:

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March 13, 2012

 Lionel Electric Trains Announces Norfolk Southern Commemorative Heritage Series

Norfolk Southern fans!

 Like you, we were excited to read about Norfolk Southern’s plans to produce a series of locomotives dressed in the famous liveries of its fallen flags.

 Lionel is proud to announce that it will produce its SD70ACe and ES44AC models in the commemorative Heritage Series decoration in 2013.

 Details to follow in our 2012 Volume 2 Catalog this Summer!

 Heritage Series Roster (as selected by NS)

 ES44AC Locomotives

• Central of Georgia Railway

• Conrail

• Interstate Railroad

• Lehigh Valley Railroad

• New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad

• Norfolk & Western Railway

• Pennsylvania Railroad

• Southern Railway

 SD70ACe Locomotives

• Central Railroad of New Jersey

• Delaware, Lackawanna and Western 

• Erie Railroad

• Illinois Terminal Railroad

• New York Central Railroad

• Norfolk Southern Railway

• Reading Company

• Savannah & Atlanta Railway

• Virginian Railway

• Wabash Railroad 

From an MTH press release (added March 15):

 

M.T.H. Electric Trains To Offer Norfolk Southern Heritage Series Locomotives March 14, 2012 - M.T.H. Electric Trains will be promoting three series of locomotives based on the recently announced Norfolk Southern Heritage Series of real-life SD70ACe and ES44 diesel locomotives. The locomotive series will be featured in M.T.H.'s Premier Line O Scale SD70ACe and ES44 locomotives and RailKing Imperial O Gauge SD70ACe locomotives beginning in the 2012 Volume 2 catalog slated for release in April 2012. In addition to the Premier and RailKing releases, M.T.H. HO Scale SD70ACe locomotives featuring the same Norfolk Southern Heritage paint schemes will be promoted in the 2012 HO Volume 1 Catalog slated for release in late Spring 2012. Norfolk Southern is releasing a total of 18 different SD70ACe (10 paint schemes) and ES44 (8 paint schemes) diesels in special livery depicting past railroads found in Norfolk Southern's history. Unlike a similar program created by Union Pacific, each of the Norfolk Southern Heritage paint schemes used on the SD70ACe and ES44 locomotives will be based on a real-life scheme of the depicted railroad. Because of the sheer number of locomotives, the Premier and RailKing releases will be spread out over several catalogs. The 18 RailKing releases will all be SD70ACe models. Only the 10 SD70ACe schemes will be recreated in the M.T.H. HO SD70ACe model. Delivery of the Premier, RailKing and HO models will begin in late 2012.

[fifedog]

As a railfan, this is big.  Often have I been envious of UP fans with their heritage units (which simply don't seem to come east of the Mississippi).  Bob, is there any advance artwork out there yet?

[Bob Keller]

I don't think Norfolk Southern has released it yet. We did ask Lionel to send us artwork when they finalize that they are going to produce.

[srguy]

Sketches are on the NS website

 

[DMUinCT]

NS Color, try this link!   You've got to love this, something for everyone!!!

 

http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Media/images/heritage_images.html

[Seayakbill]

That Interstate RR  would be tempting

[overall]

I live in CSX territory. The closest the NS comes to me is Decatur, Alabama. I haven't been railfanning down that way in a while. Spring is here. Hmmmm... I feel a railfan  road trip coming on. What a wonderful idea I just had.

George

[Train-O]

Don,

This is TERRIFiC!!!!!!!

Thank you,

RALPH

[anjdevil2]

Can't wait for the PRR & CNJ paint schemes!

[Andrew Falconer]

MTH has announced them as well.

The RailKing Norfolk Southern SD70ACe diesels will most likely be the first ones to ship since MTH has such a quick production line.

Andrew Falconer

[fifedog]

Don - Thank you for the link.

I think the PRR will look most regal in fresh tuscan.

[8ntruck]

Might have to spring for the NYC version.

[Seayakbill]

Since we see NS and UP combinations quite frequently through Columbus hopefully there will be unpowered units offered so we can build some mixed consists. I already have the UP Heritage units so I would bite on some unpowered NS units.

[Andrew Falconer]

They would be able to sell more if they offered both Powered and Un-Powered versions of the NS heritage diesels.

Andrew Falconer

[fifedog]

Wow! CONRAIL 8098 has already been seen roaming central Pennsylvania!

[laz 57]

I'll BEE on the BEE LINE SERVICE for sure.

laz57

[fifedog]

Wow (part 2)!  SOUTHERN #8099 in revenue service around Bristol, TN.

[fifedog]

Wow (x3)!  Nickel Plate #8100 (ES44AC) is posing outside of the Altoona shops.

[fifedog]

CENTRAL OF GEORGIA #8101 (ES44AC) has emerged in Chattanooga, TN.

[fifedog]

NORFOLK AND WESTERN #8103 has emerged from the Altoona paint shop.

[fifedog]

Grab your cameras and head to Altoona!  PENNSYLVANIA #8102  has emerged.

[dougdagrump]

Seayakbill

That Interstate RR  would be tempting

 

Me Like !

[11th Street]

The ultimate in a duplicating me-to-me-to flood.  Can hardly wait until Williams get into the act & undercuts both. The retained value of each, with all the expect follow on rolling stock, will be what in 5 yrs?

[Seayakbill]

Yep, that is a sweetheart, I have the MTH Interstate RS-3 in the same color combination.

 

 

 

Me Like !

[fifedog]

LEHIGH VALLEY #8104 (ES44AC) has emerged at Altoona.

[fifedog]

NORFOLK SOUTHERN #8114 has appeared in Chattanooga.  Not so exciting looking as its sisters.

[Seayakbill]

MTH has their first group in their latest catalog, 4 in the Imperial RailKing version and 6 in the Premier version.

[fifedog]

SAVANNAH AND ATLANTA #1065 (SD70ACe) has just emerged in Muncie, Indiana.

10 down, 8 to go.

[fifedog]

SD70ACe #1066, NEW YORK CENTRAL, is in Muncie, Indiana.

BK will be most pleased.

[Bob Keller]

Yeah, I'm thinking they need two of those babies ...