Based on the contents of their Canadian Pacific Grain Train boxed set, I’d think that the folks at Lionel LLC just might agree with me.
Lionel regularly catalogs several different premium train sets – top-of-the-line equipment bundled sans track and transformer. These sets have included passenger, mixed freight, and unit train consists, but I can’t recall any recent offering having such a dazzling array of equipment.
Simply described, the Grain Train set includes six, individually boxed cars and a dual motor diesel locomotive. But when you get a good look at the unique design and vivid graphics on the cylindrical grain hoppers or the refined details on the TMCC-equipped Dash 9 engine, you’ll see the qualities that could easily make this set one of your favorites.
As far as the Canadian government is concerned, grain grown in western agricultural regions is one of its favorite exports. Come harvest time in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, entire trains made up of government-owned hoppers are repeatedly loaded and whisked off to ports.
While this parade of unit trains goes largely unviewed by most of us in the lower 48, railroad mergers and acquisitions make it much more common for Canadian motive power and rolling stock to show up anywhere in the United States from Minnesota to Mississippi.
Lionel’s Dash 9
At the front of this train you’ll find Lionel’s model of a General Electric Dash 9 freight locomotive decked out in Canadian Pacific Railway’s (CPR) candy apple red décor. Under fluorescent lighting, the unit’s paint finish appears flawless and even has a pleasing warm hue – not too orange and not too pink.
CPR’s proprietary block typeface and large, embossed gold beaver icon are not easy to replicate but they’re remarkably well-printed on this model.
It’s also worth noting that the tiny lettering and numerous safety decals are sharp enough to see every word. Trouble is, the “AC4400” stenciled on the cab calls attention to the fact that the Dash 9 model is masquerading as one of the quite similar AC4400 units CPR actually operates. The difference is minor, but noticeable. An AC4400 (an evolution of the Dash 9) has an elongated electrical component box on one side of the long hood; a Dash 9 (and Lionel’s model) instead has a clearly smaller air-conditioner in the same location.
Call it a Dash 9 or an AC4400, but just don’t call it undersized. This unit weighs a hearty 5 pounds, 11 ounces and spans 181/2 inches or a scale 74 feet from coupler to coupler. If not for the oversized ElectroCouplers, the model measures out pretty darn close to the 73-foot, 2-inch length of a real Dash 9 or AC4400. No reason to split hairs here, especially when there are so many other details to highlight.
In the age of the well-accessorized vehicle, I don’t think it’s too much to expect a little “bling” to come along with the locomotive’s snappy red scheme. Here again, someone at Lionel seems to think likewise and included a factory attached snowplow on the front pilot; two-part, plastic intake grilles and vents; and a few other appropriately placed details on this latest iteration of its Dash 9.
Like many of the real Dash 9 and AC4400 units, the Lionel engine also rides on distinctive HiAd trucks. On the model, each truck has its own set of opposite-facing pickup rollers, with the pairs spaced 9 inches apart. While detail on the single-piece truck sideframes certainly isn’t bad, the addition of a few separately-applied items – springs or pipes – could’ve helped make the lower half of this unit look as dashing as the half that sits above the metal frame.
The rolling stock
All six cars in the set share the same tube-shaped plastic body and ride on die-cast metal sprung trucks with rotating bearing caps. However, each car sports a different bold paint scheme that calls attention to the train’s Canadian origin and purpose – hauling grain.
Even though Lionel previously issued this type of car for separate sale, this is the first set to combine various colorful liveries into a unit train.
At 14 inches or a scale 56 feet long, each Lionel cylindrical hopper measures up slightly shorter than the 59-foot length of a real 4,550 cubic-foot capacity grain hopper. Also, the cross-section of the O gauge hoppers doesn’t have the teardrop shape found on prototype grain hoppers.
The opening round roof hatches on the Lionel cars are a nifty detail. However, these hatches and the shorter dimensions reveal that these hoppers would more likely bear cement or potash, not grain, which typically loads into slightly larger cars equipped with trough-style hatches.
Depending on where you stand in the hi-rail world, these inaccuracies are showstoppers or they are of no concern at all. Regardless, these hoppers are attractive cars with bright paint schemes and precisely applied print.
And if that’s not enough, the set also keeps up with contemporary railroad practice by featuring a flashing red end-of-train device (ETD) fixed on the rear of the last car.
On the track
As great as this set looks sitting on the workbench, the locomotive’s performance is even better. Under TrainMaster Command Control, the engine runs exceptionally smooth at all speeds ranging from a scale 3.4 to 178.2 mph. Rather than attribute this to a single mechanism, the credit probably extends to multiple components, mainly two well-synched can-style motors with flywheels and the Odyssey speed control system, which includes an accessible on/off switch.
Even though the center axle of each truck has two rubber traction tires, the unit also features Magne-Traction. I doubted the effectiveness of this feature when my screwdriver didn’t adhere to any wheel, but the magnet must be doing something to help yield 3 pounds, 6 ounces of drawbar pull.
Even if this locomotive did nothing more than run well, I’d still be quite pleased with it.
Luckily, the unit also features gutsy RailSounds, a fan-driven smoke unit, operating ditch lights, white LED headlights, and most importantly, a train load of cylindrical hoppers to tow.
Have you figured out your favorite Canadian export yet? I sure have!
I liked it so much, that I bought two sets, so I would have two Dash9's and two sets of cars.
I run them lashed together, or run both on different tracks. They all look good.
…..John