In January 2022, when Lionel released the Volume 1 Big Book, a few pages beyond the Visionline Class A you’d find an old, but familiar locomotive, the A5. Tooling from K-Line became the skeleton for this small 0-4-0 switching locomotive. However, even with good bones, it took Lionel two and a half years to deliver this model to dealers. What took so long?
When Lionel went to use the K-Line tooling for the A5, they discovered some issues which caused the initial production delays. Lionel’s team decided to re-tool the entire model. This allowed them to create a more detailed model. Additional brass add-on details were added and along with changes to the running gear. Due to the small stature of the prototype, there are still minor compromises with this new model; however, it’s a significant improvement from what I expected.
Packed in a small box, the locomotive and tender were tightly wrapped in protective plastic and sat upright in their foam shell.
The A5 is one of Lionel’s smallest locomotives with Legacy features and Bluetooth. With a total length of 17 inches, this model can operate on any layout with clearance around O-31 curves. These models weigh in at 4 pounds 9 ounces and have a solid pulling power of 2.5 pounds. The tethered drawbar allows for a larger electrical footprint with pickup rollers on the tender.
To perform switching operations on your layout, Lionel provides front and rear ElectroCouplers, which can be activated from your Legacy or TMCC remote and of course with the Cab3 app.
My only complaint with this model is the placement of the Run/Program, Smoke, and Bluetooth switches. These are located under the cab instead of under the tender coal load. This forces you to tilt or remove the locomotive to flip the switches, which can be more challenging with the tethered drawbar.
This model features fan-driven smoke in the stack. Due to the small boiler size, we don’t get extra smoke features like whistle steam in the A5. The boiler features exceptional detailing for its size, with add-on handrails, levers, steam and sand piping. Marker lights on the front pilot and the flying headlight illuminate the route with flicker-free LEDs.
This model has a variation of whistle and bell sounds, interchangeable by selecting the Aux1 key on your remote. The tethered drawbar allows for the SensorTrack IR transmittor to be placed on the tender, allowing this locomotive to be easily loaded into your Base3 or Legacy Base. A drop plate was a welcome addition to this model and not something we typically see on standard Lionel Legacy models.
These models tested for this review were both the METCA custom runs, a Halloween and Christmas version. It’s important to note that these two models also feature unique sound sets including cab dialogue and bell & whistle options. The Christmas version features a Santa voice, while the Halloween engine features a scary voice similar to that on the Halloween Triplex.
Lionel cataloged five models, Bethlehem Steel (2232050), Baltimore and Ohio (2232060), Army (2232070), Pennsylvania (2232080), and Long Island Railroad (2232090). Custom runs were done by METCA Halloween (2201380) Christmas (2201390).
Read a review of the MTH Premier A5-class engine.
Read a review of the K-Line Collector’s club A5-class engine.
Get more O gauge action on the Chris’s Trains & Things channel on YouTube.
Lionel Legacy A5 (METCA Christmas version, 2201390)
Features: TMCC, Legacy, or conventional control; Bluetooth control; Lionel Voice Control; fan-driven smoke unit; IR transmittor for SensorTrack, two ElectroCouplers, fan-driven smoke unit; adjustable smoke output; 0-31 operation; cab illumination
Roadnames: See text above
MSRP: $699.99
