Lionel 2322070 O Scale Legacy Rock Island Quad Cities Rocket Set

No Track or Power

While they were a mere shadow of what the trains had been in their heyday, the Rock Island’sRockets were still unique and interesting trains right up to the very end in 1978. Limping along on worn out track, struggling with aging and failing equipment, the trains were both loathed and loved. They lost too much money to keep, but cost too much in government support to abandon. So the Rock Island kept the Rockets rolling through the 70s, well aftermost roads had completely abandoned their passenger trains or turned them over to Amtrak. By 1976, only two Rockets remained: the Peoria and Quad Cities, which connected Chicago with Peoria and Rock Island respectively. Dining car service ended in 1975 when the last diner’s frame gave in.

The trains were down to an E8 and a pair of coaches with food service handled out of one of the cars. Stopping the train to run to a local diner for passengers when Chicago hadn’t stocked enough sandwiches was one of the quirky stories that helped define the character of these never-say-die trains. Despite all the poor conditions and average ridership of 17 people per day, the crews of the Rock Island did what they could.

For all their faults, the final years of the Rockets make interesting trains for a model railroad. The 652’s Bicentennial paint scheme was certainly a bright spot and was just one of a variety of colorful liveries to pull the train in the end. Short consists make it perfect for smaller layouts. And the stories told of the trains unique service, like stopping the train a few blocks from the station to give a passenger a shorter walk home, just add to the charm. Short and sweet, this Lionel train includes everything you need to model the Rocket, including a LEGACY E8 652 and a pair of 21” coaches.

SET INCLUDES:

LEGACY E8A #652
21” Coach “Duncan”
21” Coach “Herington”

LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

LEGACY® Control System equipped – able to run in LEGACY® Control mode, in TrainMaster® Command Control mode, or in Conventional mode with a standard transformer
Bluetooth® Control – Operate with Universal Remote or LionChief® App
Lionel Voice Control (LVC) – run your locomotive by speaking commands into your phone via LionChief® App
Odyssey® II Speed Control
IR Transmitter for SensorTrack™
Dual powerful maintenance-free motors with momentum flywheels
ElectorCoupler™ on front and rear
Traction tires
Refined Conventional Transformer Control mode with lower starting speeds
Fan-driven smoke unit in both locomotives
Adjustable smoke output
Directional lighting including LED headlights
Marker lights on front and rear
Illuminated number boards
Lighted cab interior
Die-cast trucks, pilot and fuel tank
Metal frame
High levels of separately applied metal details
Engineer and conductor figures
Track IR in lead locomotive
Mars, roof or ditch lights
LEGACY® RailSounds® sound system featuring:
- CrewTalk™ dialog with different scenarios depending on whether the locomotive is in motion or stopped
- TrainSounds that mimic realistic radio chatter when the locomotive is in motion or stopped
- Six official railroad speeds with CrewTalk dialog
- Eight diesel RPM levels
- LEGACY® “Real-Time Quilling Horn” control with instant response for realistic signature “quilling” and correctly timed warning signals
- 5 different horns to choose from for a more customized experience
- Single hit or continuous mechanical bell sounds
- 5 levels of bell pitching for customized sounds
- Sequence Control: Plays the sound effects of an entire trip, including warning sounds and announcements, based on the movement and speed of the locomotive
- Current speed and fuel dialog, refueling sound effects