Lionel Santa Fe Train Sets
The lionel Santa Fe was the first streamline set of Lionel's postwar golden era. The Santa Fe F3 during this period would come to host such innovations as powerful horizontally (later vertical) mounted dual motors with some serious pulling power, magne-traction, a horn and a light.
The 1st Santa Fe set in 1948 was called the Super Speed-liner and consisted of 4 passenger cars with extruded aluminum bodies. As you will see, they looked great.
The Santa Fe Super Speedliner heralded in the golden age of Lionel Trains. If there's ever an icon of America's toy from that period, the Santa Fe with it's bright red war bonnet is it. The Santa Fe train set became apart of American culture. Everybody wanted one, from celebrities to the kid next door or his dad. Lionel had a winner on their hands and it was one of the most coveted toys of the time.
The red yellow on silver war bonnet and the Santa Fe sets are indelibly associated with the holidays for many. I myself remember looking at this train over and over in the Sears holiday Wishbook catalog, as if really staring at it would actually bring it into being.
After World War 2 was a boom time for much of America, the economy was back on track and the rail system was as vibrant as ever. It is fitting that since it's introduction in 1948, the Lionel Santa Fe has been an astoundingly accurate indicator of the health of Lionel as a company. It's evolution and quality has closely paralleled that of it's manufacturer. During the golden age for Lionel, the Santa Fe F3 sported dual motors, magne-traction and many details. During the 1960's the Santa Fe survived with a single motor. Into the 1970's, were tough and lean years for Lionel, the Santa Fe F3 was reduced to having less detail, only one motor and no magne-traction. As the Lionel company recovered, so did the F3, by 1996 the Santa Fe diesel F3 regained it's dual motor status as well as magne-traction with the addition of some new powers like digital sound and TrainMaster control. If this train is any indicator, Lionel is doing much better now as the modern Santa Fe F3 is larger (true scale size) with much more details, TrainMaster Command Control, a smoke unit, digital railsounds, cruise control, lit cabin interior and engineer figures.
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 Lionel new 7 11291 Santa Fe freight train set $175.00 Buy It Now --> Ends In 1h 18m <-- |
 Lionel 11900 Santa Fe Special Ready to Run Freight Set LNIB 1998 $150.00 Buy It Now --> Ends In 3h 53m <-- |
 Lionel 2343 Santa Fe F3 AA Set Nice $275.00 --> Ends In 5h 22m <-- |
 HALLMARK 2011 MINI LIONEL TRAIN ORNAMENT SET SANTA FE SUPER CHIEF $19.99 Buy It Now --> Ends In 5h 35m <-- |
 VINTAGE LIONEL SANTA FE TRAIN SET METAL TIN $22.99 Buy It Now --> Ends In 10h 34m <-- |
 Lionel Santa Fe 2353 Super SpeedlinerPass set 2190W $425.00 --> Ends In 1d 1h 9m <-- |
 LIONEL 6 29051 ATSF SANTA FE STREAMLINE 4 CAR PASSENGER SET $120.00 --> Ends In 1d 3h 46m <-- |
 NEW LIONEL REMOTE CONTROL RC SANTA FE FREIGHT LIGHTS SOUND CHRISTMAS TRAIN SET $99.95 --> Ends In 1d 5h 31m <-- |
 LIONEL 38342RE ISSUE SET 1959 SANTA FE ALCO FRT $389.99 Buy It Now --> Ends In 1d 16h 36m <-- |
 Lionel 1619W Santa Fe Alco Freight Set 6 38342 $399.99 Buy It Now --> Ends In 1d 17h 31m <-- |
 Lionel Santa Fe Flyer Train Set 6 30173 $343.52 Buy It Now --> Ends In 1d 18h 18m <-- |
 Lionel Trains Card Set Chromium C4 Santa Fe F3 Diesel $10.00 Buy It Now --> Ends In 2d 36m <-- |
So in summary, the Lionel Santa Fe F3 engine and train set is an icon in American culture as well as model railroading. Many versions of this train exist. Hopefully with the help of ModelTrainsYard.com you can find the highly sought after models and collectors items. Even if you're more of a casual collector, there is something for everyone and for a price that's lower than you think, you too can have some of the magic that a speeding Lionel Santa Fe brings.
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