Lionel Die-Cast Metal Genset Switchers

10 items in this collection

Between 2009 and 2012 Lionel released a total of 10 beauitfully crafted die-cast metal bodied 3GS21B Genset switchers. The first two entries, Union Pacific in 2009 and Norfolk Southern in 2010, were part of the Vision Line and contained the full suite of Vision Line features. The remaining 8 units were rolled out between 2011 and 2012 and consisted of Canadian National, Conrail, CSX, Army, Pacific Harbor Lines, Santa Fe, BNSF, and KCS. These were slightly downgraded units in that they no longer had 3 individual smoke units and the road name and road number specific dialogue was replaced with more generic dialogue. They still retained the die-cast metal bodies of the original Vision Line units, however, and as such were incredible models. The 3GS21B Genset switchers would not return until Lionel's 2020 Volume 2 catalog, at which time the tooling had been permanently altered to make the bodies out of ABS plastic instead of die-cast metal. For this reason, unless Lionel decides to create all new tooling it is highly unlikely the die-cast metal Gensets will ever be made again.