Would it be nice if Lionel brought back out the service Station Special sets again? Only available to authorized service stations with a limit of only 2 per station. Also in the set a special car never produced by Lionel. I would buy one.

MTH has been successful with their DAP programs, so I think Lionel should ive it a shot again

I was collecting these sets in the 90's. I always enjoyed seeing what the next one would be.

quote:

Would it be nice if Lionel brought back out the service Station Special sets again? Only available to authorized service stations with a limit of only 2 per station. Also in the set a special car never produced by Lionel. I would buy one.

Two per station?
That would kill any remaining collectability of modern era Lionel because it would be impossible for most folks to collect these sets.

quote:

That would kill any remaining collectability of modern era Lionel because it would be impossible for most folks to collect these sets.

Wouldn't an actual limited production make it a true collectible?

Fred

Was there a limit per dealer on those MPC SSS sets?

There seem to be quite a few still around if they were a limited item!

Jim

I might buy one if I liked it,not because it was a SSS item. The same with the DAP stuff I buy it because I like it.
Do you guys think any of these trains made today are Collectable?? I don't think any of it is.
Just look at what SSS sell for today even if they are unrun.Less that what they cost when they came out.So how is it collectable. There is way to much of this stuff. I buy it because I like it. If you ever sell it,you loose money.

So do I think SSS sets would sell. Sure But become collectable. NO

You can collect anything. Just do it because you like it.

quote:

Was there a limit per dealer on those MPC SSS sets?

No, there wasn't really a limit on trains.
The only severely limited items of which I am aware were:
1970's Service Station Clock (white plastic)
Large round Neon Service Station clock
Rivet Press outfit made for Lionel by Hobby Horse.

Some folks might remember that most service station offered "breakups" of the sets. I have paperwork that illustrates that at least some of the "breakup" pieces were actually sold in case lots by Lionel.

The service station sets were meant to generate some extra business for service stations. I know a few folks who do collect them. I think bringing them back is a good idea, but not limited to two per service station. If an item becomes unobtainable, then people are turned off.

Do people collect newly made stuff? I don't understand the attraction myself, but appearently some folks do.
Live and let live.

quote:

Wouldn't an actual limited production make it a true collectible?

As I posted just above, in order for an item to be collectable, there has to be a reasonable expectation that it can be obtained. IMHO, a limit of two per service station is too low.
In the earlier days of the Modern era, Lionel thought they would get smart, and put cars from some of the series that were popular with collectors into sets, to force people to buy the sets. One example was the billboard reefers. I guess some folks bought the sets. Others paid inflated prices for the pieces broken out of the sets (not necessarily service station sets). And others decided to quit collecting those particular items.
Was the net result what Lionel expected? I don't know.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: C W Burfle,

Anyone know what the "last" SSS item was when the program terminated?

The last thing I remember was the D&H U30C.

Was that it, or was there something else?

Fred

Fred,
The D&H was an RS-3 in 1991. It was a big hit up here in D&H country.

There was a Soo Line GP38 set a bit later (in 1993 maybe?).

I'm not sure if that was the last one, but it had to be close (?).

Jim

A friend of mine who is a Lionel dealer could only get a few SSS sets. Availability was based on the volume of sales the store did.

At one time I was trying to compile a list of the SSS sets from Lionel as I saw them for sale. While the list is incomplete, here's what I came up with:

YEAR CAT # NAME
1973 1350 Canadian Pacific SSS

1975 1579 Milwaukee Road F-3 Diesel Freight SSS
1976 1672 Northern Pacific 6 car Freight SSS
1977 1766 Baltimore & Ohio Budd
1978 6-1868 Minneapolis & St. Louis

1992 11733 Feather River Western Pacific GP9 SSS
1993 11738 SOO Line SSS
1994 11744 New Yorker Passenger/Freight SSS
1995 New York SSS
1996 11912 Lionel Steel Ore Car SSS
1997 11918 Post Merger CONRAIL SSS
1998 21753 Fire Fighting SSS
1999 21758 Bethlehem Steel SSS
2000 21952 Service Stations SSS
2001 21789 Norfolk and Southern SSS

Did a little quick research.

In addition to Joe's list I found:

1974: Rio Grande #1450
8464/65 Rio Grande F-3 AA, plus, 9177, 9144, 9739, 9863, 9166.

1986: Santa Fe Work Train #1632
8635 SF 0-4-0, plus, 6593, 6272, 5745, 5760, 6496

1987: Southern Freight Runner #11704
18802 Southern GP-9, plus, 16102, 16402, 16707, 16701, and 16504

1988: Dry Gulch Line #11706
8702, Va. and Truckee General, plus, 16010, 16011, and 16012

1989: Desert King #11758
18809 Rio Grande 2-6-4, plus, 16105, 16206, 16616, and 16509

1990: Great Lakes Express #11712
18611 Lionel Lines 2-6-4, plus, 16027, 16028, 16029, 16030

1991: Coastal Freight
18814 D & H RS-3, plus, 16109, 16335, 19324, 16407, 16525

Jim

quote:

The D&H was an RS-3 in 1991. It was a big hit up here in D&H country.

Jim,

I'm definitely talking D&H U30C. Scale TMCC, Railsounds and Odyssey. Available only through Service Stations - Jules Ermel had it in his store J&B Trains when it was in Maple Shade, NJ.

Came out the same time as second run scale U-boats in Chessie and SF liveries in 2002.

Model is number 6-28200. Clip of text from Lionel Product Finder:

quote:

The Delaware & Hudson U30’s in their brilliant blue, gray and yellow livery fought the tough uphill grades of that railroad’s Pennsylvania division, and won. The D & H U30C is only available at authorized Lionel Service Centers.

This really may have been the "final" installment of the Service Station "Sets".

Fred

BTW, there's one on e-bay right now going for a ludicrously low $137.50.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Policastro:
Fred,
The D&H was an RS-3 in 1991. It was a big hit up here in D&H country.

There was a Soo Line GP38 set a bit later (in 1993 maybe?).

I'm not sure if that was the last one, but it had to be close (?).

Jim

I'm thinking you and Fred are definitely describing different items. I am not 100% certain on the year or engine classification, but I suspect Fred is very warm if not on the money. I'm thinking it was maybe 2000-2002 time frame the last item was offered, and it was a single D&H engine, not a set that year.

-Dave

Oops. Fred typed faster than me slowly reading over several pages.

Sounds like we are discussing the same item, and I guessed close on the year.

-Dave

Thanks for the info, guys.

I didn't realize these sets were produced through the turn of the century.

Learned a lot today.

Jim

Stored somewhere is the 1987 "Southern Freight Runner" which I don't believe I have operated but a couple of times since acquiring it.

Wasn't there a NYC Hudson offered as a SSS in the seventies?

quote:

Wasn't there a NYC Hudson offered as a SSS in the seventies?

I think it was a Boston and Albany Hudson sold directly from Lionel. Had a lot of dealers miffed as I've been told since it bypassed them completely. There was a matching caboose as well that is supposed to be on the hard to find side. Not sure if it was a direct sale though.

Fred

I have every Service Station Set ever made, and I wish they would continue. I even have the very first 2 from 1971 and 1972. The very first one was an Illinois Central GP with 5 Boxcars and a caboose. The second one was with the 8206 NYC Hudson, the very first small Hudson by MPC with the new Sound of Steam and whistle at the time. It came with several freight cars, track and transformer.
I have to go look at mine to give you all the numbers of the cars.

Mark

quote:

I think it was a Boston and Albany Hudson sold directly from Lionel. Had a lot of dealers miffed as I've been told since it bypassed them completely. There was a matching caboose as well that is supposed to be on the hard to find side. Not sure if it was a direct sale though.

Fred The items were available from Lionel direct to individuals and this occurred in 1984-85 following the release of the 783 Hudson which was sold through dealers. The circumstances concerning the 783 were that some sealers hoarded these engines and sold them at several times the price Lionel suggested, and in Some cases , only with other locos and cars that Dealer packaged with the 783.

There were many complaints to Lionel from disappointed customers and to Satisfy the complaints, Lionel offerred direct to customers , the 784 B&A Hudson and three freight car packages. Package 1 was woodside cabooses, one NYC and one B&A (matching the engine), Package 2 was 4 scale freight cars, a Railgon Godola, CP flatcar, a Box Car and A Steel Reefer, package 3 was a set of 2 two bay cylindrical covered hoppers which was a first release of this car style I believe. The complete package, Loco and 8 cars could be had only by direct order from Lionel for about $925 or so. The order period was very limited, only about two months.

Some dealers may have been upset about this but there was a reason for Lionel's action, to satisfy the customer complaints about dealer hoarding. Other than coupon deals, the next time there were direct to customer sales by Lionel was in the Late 90's, early 2000's which involved the century club issues. Lionel allowed its dealers to sell the memberships to the century clubs but orders, payments and delivery of items was direct to the customer by Lionel.

I have 3 and I like them all:

D&H Coastal Freight
NYC Passenger/Freight (this set made me a fan of branch lines and peddler freights)
Conrail Post Merger Set

I'd be up for more!

I believe the 1995 SSS was a WM GP-20 set, with 4 gray covered hoppers, two black hoppers, and caboose. Then in 1996 Lionel offered 2 more sequential matching black hoppers as a 2 pack.

Rod

My favorite is the NYC Passenger/Freight set. My forum call sign is the same as one of the passenger cars.

Possible heresy, but where feasible, I've replaced most of the Lionel locos in the SSSs with MTH DCS models. NYC RS3, Soo Line RS27, WP GP40, WM GP40, D&H GP38, SRR GP9, NP RS3, and so forth.

The 1997 set was Conrail with the post-merger cars and the N5C caboose with plated windows, which I believe it's the only one I've seen with plated windows.

quote:

Originally posted by Bob Karas:
Would it be nice if Lionel brought back out the service Station Special sets again? Only available to authorized service stations

This may happen sooner than you think.

Maybe it will be limited to only those shops that have taken the 3 day service training course, not that I know any specifics or anything.

Stu
http://www.LionelNation.com/
All Lionel, All The Time

Andy - pls. explain - what are plated windows? Photo would be nice.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark V. Spadaro:
Andy - pls. explain - what are plated windows? Photo would be nice.

Plated windows are windows that were covered over. Plates welded on. Conrail did this alot in some cases they plated the windows on a cupola caboose and added a bay window. It made for interesting frankenstien beasts.

I really like the overstamp post merger boxcars I have a almost complete set. (Missing CNJ and Lehigh Valley.)

quote:

Originally posted by Mark V. Spadaro:
Andy - pls. explain - what are plated windows? Photo would be nice.

See the portholes that have been plated up.

http://i.ebayimg.com/20/!BTQJ6...)BKHbe(0Jjw~~_12.JPG

Stu
http://www.LionelNation.com/
All Lionel, All The Time

Thank You

quote:

This may happen sooner than you think.

Maybe it will be limited to only those shops that have taken the 3 day service training course, not that I know any specifics or anything.

Maybe not a MPC style set but I can imagine a few boxcars.
Joe

quote:

Originally posted by Mark V. Spadaro:
Andy - pls. explain - what are plated windows? Photo would be nice.

Mark, here's pics of mine.