1998 saw the second year of Lionel's Heritage Program. This would be the only Heritage catalog released that year, and what a year(A combination of hits and misses in Lionel's collector line). A 24 paged paper catalog with fantastic artwork illustrations by famed train artist Dave Snyder. This catalog would announce Lionel's new "Odyssey" open-frame brushless motor(which we wouldn't see until 2000), and new RailSounds with trainbrakes, towercom, crewtalk, and more. All the engines featured TMCC. The hits included; Union Pacific Veranda Gas Turbine(truly a winner, very tough to find today), Southern Pacific SD-40 Warhorse Coal Hopper set, Boston & Maine GP-9 lash-up 3-pack set, Milwaukee Road F-3 AB set, Southern Pacific 4-8-4 Daylight Locomotive, 3435C TMCC Aquarium car, 6464 Boxcar series #7, U.P. maintenance vehicle, U.P. die-cast ore car 4-pack, and an assortment of add-on premier passengers(C.V.Heavyweight 2-pk, Lionel Lines Madison car 2-pk, and G.N.Aluminum 2-pk). The misses included; NYC 4-8-2 Mohawk L-3A(great catalog illustration and beautiful looking detail, terrible running engine), 342 Culvert Loader with TMCC(they don't work, period), 6342 Culvert Gondola(the rocket scientist's at Lionel pictured the rare 3562-1 black barrel car?), and the infamous Lionel Premiere Locomotive Backshop at $599.95(27" long and made of detailed litho tin plate, with operating die-cast interior motors, simulated hearth fire, and sound. This huge accessory was also one huge expensive bomb. Once again it looked great, just didn't work). All in all, this was still a solid selection of great items. |