Lionel Die-Cast Metal ES44 Diesels

5 items in this collection

A total of 9 die-cast metal bodied ES44's were made by Lionel between 2009 and 2011. The first model was the Vision Line GE Evolution Hybrid ES44 #2010 (6-28306) that appeared in Lionel's 2009 Volume 1 catalog with a list price of $999.99. This price was later reduced to $874.99 in the 2009 Volume 2 catalog after much outcry about the high price, although in retrospect the nearly $1,000 price tag was worth every penny. But nobody knew that...yet. The next model was the Vision Line Canadian Pacific Hybrid ES44 #9860 (6-28320), which appeared in Lionel's 2010 Volume 1 catalog with the same $874.99 list price. Starting in Lionel's 2010 Volume 2 catalog, the die-cast metal bodied ES44 was demoted to a non-Vision Line model and the price was reduced to $849.99. The only features removed from the Vision Line model was the battery charge lighting (which would make sense for a non-hybrid diesel) and the road name and road number specific dialogue. All other features were retained and the result was a series of locomotives that were just as beautiful and amazing as the Vision Line models but at a slightly lower price. The 2010 Volume 1 catalog offered BNSF #6431 (6-28350), KCS #4655 (6-28351), and the rare and highly desirable Union Pacific Boy Scouts 100th Anniversary #2010 (6-28347), for which Lionel also sold several pieces of matching rolling stock. The final appearance of the die-cast metal ES44's would be in Lionel's 2011 Volume 1 catalog, where 6 versions were offered, although 2 of them were holdovers from the 2010 Volume 2 catalog: 6-28399 - KCS #4682 6-28351 - KCS #4655 (holdover from 2010v2) 6-28396 - UP #7454 6-28397 - UP #7459 6-28398 - BNSF #6436 6-28350 - BNSF #6431 (holdover from 2010v2) When the ES44 returned in Lionel's 2012 Volume 2 catalog, the tooling had been converted to allow for a far less exciting ABS plastic body similar to what Lionel uses on other diesels. While this had the benefit of a considerable price reduction for the ES44 ($850 down to $650), it also meant that the days of Lionel making the die-cast metal ES44's were done. Because the tooling modification is permanent, there is no way for Lionel to make the die-cast metal ES44's again without tooling it up as a brand new model. Because of this, it is extremely unlikely that Lionel will ever make a die-cast metal ES44 again.