Trains.com

Review: 3rd Avenue Trolley by Lionel

6329 views
18 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
Warburton
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 250 posts
Posted by Warburton on Saturday, February 3, 2007 8:29 AM
Kooljock -- well, you sold me! Ordered one from Charlie Ro. Looks like a winner. I had to pay $59.95, but that seems reasonable for a nice piece like this.
Report Abuse Back to Top
laz 57
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Millersburg, Pa.
  • 7,607 posts
Posted by laz 57 on Friday, February 2, 2007 9:37 PM
 wrmcclellan wrote:

Buckeye,

It was the bear that got LAZ the discount Wink [;)]

YEP,  scared the H E DOULBE HOCKEY STICKS out of BARRY, he had no choice.

laz57

There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
Report Abuse Back to Top
wrmcclellan
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: North Texas
  • 5,707 posts
Posted by wrmcclellan on Friday, February 2, 2007 9:33 PM

Buckeye,

It was the bear that got LAZ the discount Wink [;)]

Regards, Roy

Report Abuse Back to Top
Buckeye Riveter
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Jelloway Creek, OH - Elv. 1100
  • 7,578 posts
Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Friday, February 2, 2007 1:02 PM
 laz 57 wrote:

JIM,  maybe cause I bought 3?  1 for me and 2 for my brother, I got the discount.

laz57

Laz, You never told us the BEAR was into trains.

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

TCA 09-64284

Report Abuse Back to Top
Dr. John
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • 1,774 posts
Posted by Dr. John on Friday, February 2, 2007 1:00 PM
Jon, if you can't get on at CTT, Lionel should hire you to write ad copy. I ordered the Trolley today. Maybe they'll give you a commission! Big Smile [:D]
Report Abuse Back to Top
Kooljock1
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Colchester, Vermont
  • 1,136 posts
Posted by Kooljock1 on Friday, February 2, 2007 11:45 AM
Dr. John,

I'd LOVE to work at CTT! I've got passion, marketing experience, writing experience, AND it would mean moving to a WARMER CLIMATE!!!

Jon Cool [8D]
Now broadcasting world-wide at http://www.wkol.com Weekdays 5:00 AM-10:00AM!
Report Abuse Back to Top
wrmcclellan
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: North Texas
  • 5,707 posts
Posted by wrmcclellan on Friday, February 2, 2007 11:08 AM
The Christmas version released this past season is the same platform - a bit less detail, and runs as nicely as Kooljock describes. Nice job Lionel!

Regards, Roy

Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 2, 2007 9:43 AM
 laz 57 wrote:

JIM,  maybe cause I bought 3?  1 for me and 2 for my brother, I got the discount.

laz57

I wish I was Laz's brother!

Report Abuse Back to Top
laz 57
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Millersburg, Pa.
  • 7,607 posts
Posted by laz 57 on Friday, February 2, 2007 9:04 AM

JIM,  maybe cause I bought 3?  1 for me and 2 for my brother, I got the discount.

laz57

There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
Report Abuse Back to Top
laz 57
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Millersburg, Pa.
  • 7,607 posts
Posted by laz 57 on Friday, February 2, 2007 9:01 AM
 jaabat wrote:
 laz 57 wrote:

JON,

  Got one on Sat. and yes it runs great also like the LED lite on front.  When lites are off looks real COOL.  Got mine for $52.

laz57

Where, Laz?!!! 

JIM, at my train shop,

BARRYs TRAINS                                                                                                       2West High St.                                                                                                    Elizabethtown,Pa.                                                                                               Phone is 717-367-4745

laz57 

 

 

There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
Report Abuse Back to Top
cnw1995
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Crystal Lake, IL
  • 8,059 posts
Posted by cnw1995 on Friday, February 2, 2007 8:40 AM

Very nice. Interesting to compare this to the Corgi Birney:

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

Report Abuse Back to Top
Dr. John
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • 1,774 posts
Posted by Dr. John on Friday, February 2, 2007 8:22 AM
Excellent review and photos, Jon! You ought to be writing for CTT! Thumbs Up [tup]
Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 2, 2007 8:18 AM
WOW that is awesome!

I just had my PostWar #60 Trolley completely rebuilt... $69.50 with shipping... the armature was rewired as was the field... runs like a champ now, even at 8-10 watts!  This one would look really nice on the two line trolley line with the PostWar #60... seeing that I'm going to need another trolley now! Smile [:)] Thanks for the review and the pics were awesome!

Brent
Report Abuse Back to Top
Jumijo
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Friday, February 2, 2007 7:00 AM
 laz 57 wrote:

JON,

  Got one on Sat. and yes it runs great also like the LED lite on front.  When lites are off looks real COOL.  Got mine for $52.

laz57

Where, Laz?!!! 

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

Report Abuse Back to Top
HopperSJ
  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Connecticut
  • 196 posts
Posted by HopperSJ on Friday, February 2, 2007 6:58 AM
Great review and shots!! I think I saw it at the show. I paused long enough to drool before my wife and kids were darting out of sight in the crowd. Did you enjoy the show? I did.Big Smile [:D]
Report Abuse Back to Top
laz 57
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Millersburg, Pa.
  • 7,607 posts
Posted by laz 57 on Friday, February 2, 2007 6:31 AM

JON,

  Got one on Sat. and yes it runs great also like the LED lite on front.  When lites are off looks real COOL.  Got mine for $52.

laz57

There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
Report Abuse Back to Top
FJ and G
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, February 2, 2007 6:00 AM
Nice review and price.
Report Abuse Back to Top
Jumijo
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Friday, February 2, 2007 5:39 AM

That sure is a beauty!  The added details look great. And the price is super! I'm not a trolley guy per se, but I could see myself getting one.

Jim 

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

Report Abuse Back to Top
Kooljock1
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Colchester, Vermont
  • 1,136 posts
Review: 3rd Avenue Trolley by Lionel
Posted by Kooljock1 on Friday, February 2, 2007 3:02 AM
I picked up this sweet little trolley at The Big E show in Springfield, MA last weekend:



She's a super-smooth runner, with many improvements over past versions of Lionel trolleys. Detail improvements include nicer looking bumpers, twin-sprung trolley poles on the roof with hold-down brackets on each end, and protection grates over the windows.



Here's a closer view of the added on window grates and new roof details.



Underneath is a single slider in place of roller pick-ups. While I'd certainly pay a little more for higher quality rollerss, this seems to do the job just fine.



Here's the new Lionel trolley pictured next to one using the original Post War tooling. The big difference here, and in the shot above is in the mechanical construction of the bumpers. On the original and it's off-spring, there was a mechanical slide that ran the length of the trolley that worked as a reversing mechanism. This required quite a "hit" to activate the reverse. On the new version the bumpers are separately applied, and activate a hidden micro-switch to reverse the unit. This allows for two major operating improvements: reversing at lower operating speeds, and therefor fewer derailments when hitting another motorized unit!







Considering the great leaps in detail, operating up-grades, and plain-old play-value, I found this piece to be a great addition to my layout. I ran her for over an hour with my PWC Fire Car and PWC Gang Car without a single derailment or pause in the action. This is MUCH better performance than either the PWC units or earlier trolley which would sometimes stall on the turnouts, or get stuck between directional modes by not gettin hit hard enough.

I bought this unit for $59 for Grzyboski.

Jon Cool [8D]
Now broadcasting world-wide at http://www.wkol.com Weekdays 5:00 AM-10:00AM!
Report Abuse Back to Top

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

SIGN UP
Watch our videos on YouTube Find us on Facebook Find us
on Facebook
More great sites from Kalmbach Media
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy