At its peak, the Wabash maintained 2,500 miles of railroad and mustered a locomotive fleet of 660. The demise of the Wabash wasn’t one of financial failure. Ironically, in 1963 the Pennsylvania RR owned most of the company’s stock. It needed to divest itself of the Wabash to make way for approval of the New York Central-Pennsylvania merger, so the Wabash found a home in the successful Norfolk & Western/Nickel Plate Road merger.
The three-car passenger set is dubbed the Blue Bird because it honors one of the premier trains of the Wabash, The Blue Bird. Running between Chicago and St. Louis daily, the streamliner was launched with four dome observation cars; due to popularity, a fifth dome was added later.
The locomotive and cars
The 1,350-horsepower Electro-Motive Division FT diesel was the product that launched the assault on steam locomotion, resulting in a new way of propelling America’s railroads. More than 1,000 A and B units were constructed between 1939 and 1945. Once wartime restrictions were eliminated, EMD rushed newer and larger F units (such as the F2 and the ubiquitous F3) into production.
The FT was slightly smaller than these later cab units (47 feet, 4 inches compared to an F3 at 50 feet, 8 inches – about ¾ of an inch in O scale), so this slightly more compact size may be why the FT, not the F3, was selected for an entry-level train set.
Detail is satisfactory and virtually all cast-in. Major reference points for an FT are present, including the large square dynamic brake housing topside and four closely placed portholes.
This is a conventional-mode only locomotive. No TrainMaster and no Legacy command-control or sound systems. Operation is strictly with the good old throttle!
Our low-speed average was 13.6 scale miles per hour, and our high-speed average was 71.1 scale miles per hour. Drawbar pull was 1 pound, 5 ounces.
The model does have a nice version of Lionel’s TrainSounds, which provides a decent, basic sound package with horn, bell, and locomotive sounds. There did seem to be a bit of sound distortion, but the overall effect of the system wasn’t lost. A kid (and probably most adults) would find this just dandy.
The cab is illuminated, and both the headlights operate. Though the number boards appear painted, they too illuminate. Locomotive graphics were well done.
I do have to note that of all the passenger car designs Lionel has offered over the decades this one has the least appeal to me. I think the three cars in this set would have been more pleasing (to me, at least), if the sides had been totally flat and not ribbed below the window line. I think the ribbing visually emphasizes the shortness of the car.
Nevertheless, the cars are well made and should be quite durable, with plastic shells and die-cast metal trucks and couplers.
The rolling stock features interior illumination and seats, and the lighting is very bright. Thanks to the large windows, you get a great view of the passenger compartment. On some snowy weekend you may be of a mind to break out your modeling paints and do some decorating.
The lighting is provided via a single power pickup roller on each truck. The cars have a roller footprint of 8 inches, which should help keep the car lights flicker-free.
I was a bit surprised to note that the rear observation has a large red lens marker light atop the rear, but that it does not illuminate. That would have been a cool bonus.
The cars have rubber diaphragms between them. The trucks mount thumbtack couplers, which can be activated using a remote operating/uncoupling track section (not included).
Running in the dark, the bright, even illumination of the train accentuated by the large car windows makes this a pretty nifty sight to see. It really lights up the track as it rolls by.
The set gear
The CW-80 transformer seems to be Lionel’s standard set transformer. This is a decent performer, and you have the option of hooking both track and accessories to it. You also have the option of setting the power output for the accessory line in a range from 0 to 18 volts (the factory default is 12 volts).
First-time operators will note that the two locomotive motors and all the car lights need more electricity than a non-illuminated freight train, so amping up too much juice for lights and accessories may put a crimp in power available for running your trains.
Lionel FasTrack has found a fervent base in the O gauge community. While it may not be as flexible as traditional tubular track (trying to create a custom-fit section with the rigid plastic roadbed of FasTrack is certainly a challenge), it’s a sharp-looking product.
FasTrack connects and disconnects easily, and it stays connected. When I first experimented with FasTrack many years ago, I made a loop of track and hung it in the air for several weeks; it stayed as tight as when I originally connected it.
Even if you eventually move on to another brand or style of track, this is a good place to start.
To sum it all up, the Lionel Blue Bird passenger set presents a secondary player in Midwest railroading in a format that will introduce the Wabash to a new generation of hobbyists. The FT diesel locomotive is a satisfactory runner, and the passenger cars are durable and should still be running years from now.
Features: O-27 operation, two-can-style motors in locomotive, TrainSounds, three illuminated passenger cars, operating couplers on all equipment, 40 x 60-inch loop of Lionel FasTrack, and a CW-80 80-watt transformer
I grew up 1951 to 1970 two blocks from the Wabash train station in East central Illinois. I rode the "Blue Bird" passenger train to Chicago and St. Louis as a boy several times. Always got a seat in the dome. What a view! I am new to the hobby and Lionel's Blue Bird passenger set is my first purchase. For $360 I got a lot for my money! Way to go Lionel. Enjoyed the article.
It would be great if a "B" unit was available and some extra cars, or even an "A" dummy.
Wow! Pretty neat, might consider getting it.