Lionel marks 100 years of Lady Liberty
Train Master set recalls American freedom
Train Master set recalls American freedom
THE NEAR-SCALE BOXCAR GLEAMED WITH ITS SPECIAL MARKINGS AND LADY LIBERTY HERALD.
The Statue of Liberty has inspired countless dreams in the hearts of immigrants to the U.S. since October 1886, when that gift from the people of France to the U.S. was dedicated to mark the centennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Toy train enthusiasts know the monumental copper statue inspired a great-looking but often overlooked diesel freight set from Lionel in 1986.
The tale behind the unnumbered “Miss Liberty” Jersey Central Commemorative set began in May of 1982, when President Ronald Reagan appointed Lee Iacocca, chair of the Chrysler Corp., to head up an effort to restore the statue, whose copper skin and interior iron structure had deteriorated due to time and weather. At a cost of $87 million, workers replaced the skin and repaired the interior skeleton.
To raise additional funds, the Stroh Brewery Co. of Detroit sponsored a Run for Liberty II on October 12, 1985. All finishers received a medal made from the original copper skin and placed in a sealed case with a certificate of authenticity.
On July 5, 1986, the newly restored Statue of Liberty was reopened to the public during Liberty Weekend, which celebrated its centennial. Lionel acknowledged the event by releasing the Jersey Central
Commemorative set. It had the nos. 8687 Fairbanks-Morse Train Master locomotive, 7404 boxcar, and 6917 extendedvision caboose, all painted dark green and lettered for the Central RR of New Jersey.
The Train Master was a big, rugged, and powerful engine equipped with a pair of Pullmor motors as well as MagneTraction. The road diesel featured operating headlights at both ends, illuminated number plates, metal wheels and trucks, a sheet-metal chassis, and self-centering operating couplers at both ends. The transformer-controlled diesel operated in forward, neutral, and reverse.
The near-scale boxcar gleamed with its special markings and Lady Liberty herald. Lionel added with metal wheels, operating knuckle couplers, and opening doors.
Pulling up the rear was the extendedvision caboose. The model, which came with die-cast metal trucks and wheels as well as operating knuckle couplers at both ends, looked great running in the dark, thanks to its interior illumination.
The Jersey Central Commemorative set still wins applause, despite being cataloged for only one year. Hobbyists whose ancestors came to America from Europe and sailed past the Statue of Liberty have deep feelings for the O gauge train, which Lionel vowed “will become part of our memories of the Year of Miss Liberty.”