MTH ELECTRIC TRAINS

During model railroading's early history, standard gauge tinplate locomotives ruled the day. Immensely appealing for all their color and flash, these giant locomotives consumed vast amounts of real estate in their owner's homes. The call went out to pre-war model railroad manufacturers for smaller model trains. Soon thereafter, O Gauge model railroading was born.

First appearing in 1936, the tinplate 263E steam locomotive replaced the O Gauge 260 engine and was decorated in two colors; blue or gray. The blue versions headed up the tinplate O Gauge Blue Comet passenger cars while the gray version originally headed two versions of 800 series freight sets.

Today, the 263E returns to the Lionel Corporation Tinplate lineup but just beneath the graceful lines of the tinplate boiler, lies the excitement of Proto-Sound 3.0 whose revolutionary electronics control a smooth-running chassis capable of running at just a few scale miles per hour. Cracking open the throttle and bringing the locomotive forward releases the first blasts of smoke from the engine's stack enhanced with the realistic sounds of chuffing. As the engine picks up speed one notices that each huge puff of smoke is timed to the driver's revolutions. The wail of the whistle and the clang of the bell further stimulate the senses until the realization that the flash and color of yesteryear is but a faded memory when compared to a Proto-Sound 3.0 equipped Lionel Corporation Tinplate locomotive.