Lionel has reissued the U28C diesel locomotive for the first time since 2012. The model was announced in the 2024 Volume 1 catalog. This six-axle unit was not that common on prototype railroads, and its unique appearance will allow it to stand out on your layout.
The prototype was produced by General Electric between February 1966 and November 1966. A total of 71 units were produced during that time. GE was competing with EMD and Alco to produce a higher horsepower locomotive; but the U28C came in at 2800 h.p., which was slightly underpowered compared to the competition.
Inside the box, this model is packaged vertically inside the foam insert. Extra protective foam pieces secure the locomotive from sliding forward or backward. Once it’s removed from the insert, the Lionel plastic can be unwrapped and the protective foam behind the handrails is easily removed.
Run/program, Bluetooth, and smoke on/off switches are located under the hatch on the rear of the roof. After I programmed this locomotive, I used my Lionel SensorTrack to add it to my Cab2 remote. The sound set seems fairly standard compared to other recent Lionel diesel offerings, with five horns and bell chime options.
The locomotives shown here are Pennsylvania Railroad and the Metropolitan Division of the Train Collectors Association 1776 versions: each feature road-specific lighting and roof detailing. Lionel offered seven different roadnames for the U28C. Some of the more distinctive road-specific detailing is on the Union Pacific variation with a strobe light, and the Southern Pacific version with a forward-facing, red strobe light on the cab roof. Diamond-plated walkways wrap around the entire model with hinged drop plates above the front and rear couplers. The METCA engine has a red light on the cab roof. This light is activated by initiating the emergency stop sequence on the remote.
Measuring 17” long, this model is just under one inch longer than true 1:48 scale — the prototype measured 64’ 4” in length. It should be noted this model seems identical to the previously released U30C model. While the U28C and U30C are similar in appearance, the prototype U30C was a few inches longer. This puts this model closer in scale to the U30C prototype.
The U28C comes with all the standard features we would expect: Legacy RailSounds, front and rear ElectroCouplers, LED lighting, a fan driven smoke unit (filled by removing the exhaust grate and adding smoke through directly to the stack), and an IR sensor for automatic programming. can be operated with Legacy, TMCC, Bluetooth, or conventional control. The model does feature a refined transformer control allowing for slower starting speeds if you’re operating conventionally. Operators can also use the Lionel Voice Control through the LionChief app. This model can operate on the smallest layout, as it’s rated to navigate 0-31 radius curves.
Even though the prototype was slightly underpowered, this model from Lionel was able to demonstrate an impressive 3.5 pounds of pulling power with its dual maintenance-free motors which is more than enough for a classic Pennsy coal drag. A metal frame provides solid grounding for this model, which weighs in at five pounds, seven ounces. The details on the body is a mixture of molded-in detailing and some separately-applied parts.
Standard variations of this model offered from Lionel include Conrail (2433731, 2422732), Louisville & Nashville (2433741, 2433742), Pennsylvania (2433751, 2433752), Penn Central (2433761, 2433762), Southern Pacific (2433781, 2433782), Union Pacific (2433791, 2433792), Seaboard System (2433771, 2433772). Custom runs were done by a few dealers or clubs. METCA offered a “Support Our Troops” camouflage version (2401460). Mr. Muffin’s Trains did a Pittsburgh & Lake Erie version (2433741) for the PGHTrainFanatic YouTube channel.
Get more O gauge action on the Chris’s Trains & Things channel on YouTube.
Lionel Legacy U28C diesel locomotive
Features: TMCC, Legacy, or conventional control; Bluetooth control; Lionel Voice Control; O-31 operation; fan-driven smoke unit; IR transmittor for SensorTrack; two ElectroCouplers
Roadnames: See text above
MSRP: $649.99
Websites: lionel.com, mrmuffins.com, metca.org
