“Christmas in July” is always a fitting time for Lionel Trains to release their Volume 2 catalog, and the 2024 edition continues to hold tradition. Much like the Classic Toy Trains team and contributors, I’ve decided to throw my hat into the ring with some thoughts and a fun, little wish list from Lionel’s 2024 Volume 2 Catalog after a look at what the new 115-page catalog has to offer.
The 2024 cover arts serve as an excellent commemoration to The Polar Express film’s 20th anniversary. Complementing the head-on shot of the train’s front end in January’s Volume 1 “Big Book” catalog, Volume 2 shows the tail end of the always-unique observation car. A nice touch! Keep in mind that this catalog doesn’t offer any Polar Express products as all can be found in the “Big Book” from January. Lionel also has a Polar Express section on their website.
VisionLine
Last released from the 2016 Volume 1 “Signature Edition” catalog, the VisionLine GG1 returns with a smorgasbord of paint schemes and train sets. It’s a fitting time to help commemorate the 90th anniversary of the celebrated electric locomotive, and Lionel is pulling out all the stops.
In addition to the multiple liveries over the years on the Pennsylvania Railroad, you’ll also find a mixture of Penn Central and Amtrak while sprinkling in Nos. 4902 and 4800 in their Golden Spike Centennial Limited and Conrail paint work, respectively. Add-on passenger cars and train sets offer the same variety and eras as the locomotives with a mixture of 18-21” models. A freight set with a GG1, five cars, and caboose is also available. All in all, the VisionLine section is an impressive lineup of locomotives, rolling stock, and train sets.
Though my preference has also been toward prototypical scale, the postwar-inspired 2124W set is a standout for me. I find the colors and “LIONEL LINES” lettering on the 18” Madison-type cars to fit like a glove while following behind the GG1 in its Dark Green color (my favorite scheme on the locomotive, thank you kindly). It’s a beautiful set that pays homage to its 1947 predecessor.
Legacy
“Something old and something new” headlines the Legacy section of diesel and steam in the catalog. Models from past runs have their comebacks with new features and liveries.
The modern EMD SD70 series returns with the SD70ACE and SD70M-2 diesels, with a heavy focus on replicating Norfolk Southern and Canadian National’s heritage units. Streamlining the diesel section are the C Liner and Alco PAs with add-on, non-powered SuperBase B units. EMD SW1 switchers and SD40-2s top off the selection with a healthy mix of liveries from modern railroads and fallen flags.
The Legacy steam section kicks off the return of the Y6b-class 2-8-8-2 Mallets with an additional safety valve steam effect to go with the now-common whistle steam. If you prefer something a bit smaller, but not too small, 4-8-2 Mountains and 2-8-2 Heavy Mikados are also back in the lineup with specific models from the former offering brass tenders. The smallest you can find in the catalog will be the 0-6-0 switchers with the swinging bell – unexpectedly introduced in the first run a couple of years prior.
Perhaps cautiously optimistic due to the defective Legacy boards from the 2018 run, I still find the Nickel Plate Road “Bluebird” PAs stunning in the iconic blue and silver. The steam side for me is all about the versatile Heavy Mikado, specifically Soo Line No. 1003. That’s a no brainer as the 1:1-scaled steam star resides nearby in Hartford, Wis.
Rolling stock highlights
You’ll never find the rolling stock section in Lionel’s catalogs to be a barren wasteland as the offerings are always vast. While I won’t go over every product, there are a couple worthy of being highlighted while added to the wish list.
Hotbox reefers are packaged with sounds, lights, and smoke effects for different scenarios. For those interested in the latest offerings, you won’t be disappointed as you’ll get the usual loading/unloading sounds and the sometimes unusual “hot box” emergency set offs on your slow freight and hot-shot express trains. Hitting closer to home for me are the renowned rib-side boxcars of the Milwaukee Road. The six variations range from 1939 to the late 1960s time periods. The “Route of the Hiawatha” lettering is so far a favorite of mine.
Traditional O Gauge
Despite my previously mentioned preference toward O scale, the traditional O gauge section of the catalog has some eye-opening, semi scale products. The Lionmaster J3A Hudson 4-6-4 looks great as well as the Beetlejuice boxcars – fitting for the latter as “It’s Showtime” for the long-awaited sequel later this year. However, it’s the CPKC Maxi Stack set being the center of attention from the lineup. Unveiled in Kansas City early this year, the railroad’s new livery makes its debut on a Lionel product. It certainly won’t be the last time.
The Wishlist
With the Volume 2 catalog covered – cover to cover – here’s what the wish list looks like for this staff writer:
- Pennsylvania Vision postwar inspired 2124W Madison set
- Nickel Plate Road Alco PA Nos. 184 and 185 and SuperBase B unit
- Soo Line USRA Heavy Mikado No. 1003
- Illinois Central hotbox reefer No. 51000
- Milwaukee Road rib-side boxcar (Hiawatha) Nos. 22370 and 23729
- CPKC Maxi Stack set
Let us know your thoughts are on the announced products, and if you’ve put together a wish list.
Other looks at recent Lionel catalogs:
- Senior Editor Roger Carp’s look at the 2024 Volume 1
- Roger’s look at the 2023 Volume 2
- Contributing Editor Chris Montagna’s look at the 2023 Volume 2
