New Lionel Whistling Tenders

[Jumijo]

I picked up one of Lionel's new Post War Celebration Series whistling tenders this weekend. When I got it home and ran it, it sounded exactly like the one in our Polar Express set, which to me is a pleasing, semi-realistic sounding whistle. But if I remember correctly, one of the few knocks I heard about the Polar Express set was the sound of the whistle. People complained that it was too "high" a pitch. Has the whistle in the PE set been changed? I was thinking it would sound like Thomas' whistle, but it's fine.

By the way, my new tender looks different from the one shown on page 93 of the latest catalog. The lettering is san serif, smaller and spread out wider. I honestly think it looks much better than the prototype. Now my 2025 has a tender. Ideally I would have liked one in the style of the PE tender, but I've been told that they aren't available as separate sale items.

I hope that this tender is a success for Lionel and that they market other styles in the future.

Jim

[1688torpedo]

Hello Jim ! I also picked up one of those NYC Tenders last week and am pleased with it. I'll be using it for a 646 Hudson that will be matched with a set of PWC Cars. The 646 is a pile of parts now,But. I'll have Fred Paint & re-number it and it will look like new..............Keith

[Jumijo]

I'm sure that Lionel's motivation for offering this tender was to finally give all those Hudson owners a tender with New York Central on the sides instead of Lionel Lines. Much cheaper than Williams tenders!

Jim

[ChiefEagles]

Thanks for the info Jaabat. I think I'll try to pickup one. My old ones work great but the new ones seem not to slow the old engines down.

[Jumijo]

You're welcome, Chief. It's not often I get to contribute anything useful!

The tender is listed at $62.99 in the catalog, but I only spent $47.95 for mine at Treasured Toys in Salem, NH (they have an online store). You might find it even cheaper elsewhere online from one of the larger retailers.

Williams' tenders are $80 - $100 if you can find a version that's not sold out.

Jim

[dougdagrump]

Well here's a question for everyone, I was thinking of ordering the Lionel, #6-18730, halloween 4-4-0 but it has no sounds. I wonder if the tender body would be interchangeable with any other tenders that have sound, or possibly find a steam sounds boxcar in a 19th century style. [?]

[Kooljock1]

Doug,

The General engines have no room in their tenders for sound. However this may change, now that LIONEL is cataloging the little slope-back tenders with whistle. As a General rule [:D], General sets had the whistle in the baggage car. If you search eBay, you may find a loose whistle baggage car for sale. I did this for my wife's MPC Dry Gultch Set, and just swapped the body off one for the other.

Of course in the case of the Halloween General, they haven't produced a 19th Century style baggage car yet, have they?

Jon [8D]

[spankybird]

I had this from before, the top engine with tender is MTH with PS2 and sound, the bottom engine is Lionel witout sound.



you can see the difference in lenght