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In 1929, steam engines reappeared in the Lionel stan-dard gauge lineup after a five-year absence. The cat-alog introduced the new 390E top-of-the-line steam-er with typical Lionel modesty: "Just as LLiioonneellElectricLocomotives are recognized throughout the world as thelast word in Model Electric Railroad constructionÛsoLLiioonneellsteam-type locomotives are, by far, the most mag-nificent and perfect of their type that have ever beenoffered to the boys of America. You have never beforeseen a Steam-Type Locomotive that is so perfect, so real-istic, so striking a piece of mechanism as the New LLiioonneell.It transcends in beauty of design, in excellence of con-struction, and in electrical and mechanical perfection,any model Steam-Type Loco that has ever been made."Offered in both passenger and freight sets, the 390E waspromoted the following year as one of "The Big Three-Aristocrats of the Lionel Fleet of Super Trains," alongsidethe 381E and 408E electric engines. The 390E's time inthe limelight was brief, however, as in 1931 the new 400Ebumped it from the top spot in the steam lineup, and thefollowing year it was replaced as the second-tier steamerby the new 392E. The 390 had a momentary reprieve inthe 1933 catalog leading a low-priced passenger set("headed by a locomotive that has always been afavorite") Û perhaps to clear out old stock Û and thenthe once-perfect locomotive was gone forever.During its short tenure, the 390E appeared in no lessthan five paint schemes, one of the most attractive beingthe two-tone green scheme with Stephen Girard greenstripe shown here. Pair the 400EÌs little brother with thesmaller 500-series freight cars as shown here and in setsin the 1929 and 1931 catalogs Û ÏPowerful, large steamtype locomotive in combination with well modeled andbeautifully enameled freight cars. A realistic train thatwill give you hours and hours of fun.Ó
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