Anyone hear anything about ZW-L?

Did it say what year ?

 

doug

George Brown reviews the ZW-L in the next issue of OGR magazine.

My understanding is that it has shipped and we should see it shortly.

Thanks!

If you go by the other "rules" for the Lionel shipping schedule "published" by others here...that an item disappears from the shipping schedule when it has, indeed, shipped...(confirmed by the disappearance of the Lionel Auto Carriers...that have really shipped)...as long as you can see it on the schedule...it has NOT shipped.

 

Is it still on the schedule??

<<George Brown reviews the ZW-L in the next issue of OGR magazine.>>

 

Very timely.  That's one review I'll be sure to read.

 

Thanks Rich.

Just to whet your appetite a little, here's one of George Brown's photos from the article...

 

I am away from the store so I have not seen if they haves shipped but I believe they have according to my last emails

But the article will not be complete without a sillyscope trace and discussion on how well damped the meters are.

 

I for one really like the look of these.  And since I have had my little paws wrapped around the handles of the old ZW dating back to 1948 I am thinking on these.  But since have mostly MTH that like/need a near sine wave the wave form is most important.  Also want to be able to read the meters.  So this info is make or break for me.

They look nice but I haven't figured out why I would need one.    I'm quite happy running DCS off my two old ZWs.  Same reason I never bought a Z4000.

.....

Dennis

Even if you don't want or need one, wouldn't it be nice to have?

 

Pete

Pete,

 

The short answer is "YES".

 

Ed Boyle

My wallet is zipped.

.....

Dennis

Dennis,

   For many years I thought like you did, until I found out the full capibilities of the Z4K, with the side receiver you can control both P2 & Conventional at the same time.  Now I do not know if I am going to invest in the new ZW-L unless it expands my running capabilities in some way, but I must admit, it looks very interesting with the new control meters. 

PCRR/Dave 

That can buy a lot of cars, models, an engine for what that "door stop" weight costs.  The meters are nice but how many will pay attention to them once the novelty has worn off.  How many of us pay attention to our DCS remotes as our fingers move almost magically from button to button without looking.  If I need amperage or voltage, I just grab my clamp on meter and read. 

 

But each to his own taste.

Since when is a hobby a matter of need ?

 

 

>>>I do not know if I am going to invest in the new ZW-L unless it expands my running capabilities in some way, but I must admit, it looks very interesting with the new control meters.<<

 

Pretty looking transformer but for me its way over the top too expensive and offers nothing far cheaper 180 bricks can't do.

Besides, most folks want their power supply hidden away from view under the layout and few command operators, myself included have a need for voltage meters. 

Myself, since I operate both Legacy and DCS and rarely stand near the power supply the best place for the meters would be on the Legacy controller where it can be adjusted anywhere around the layout away from the power supply, not on the transformer itself.

Should votage need to be adjusted,  DCS operators have the meters right where it should be, on the DCS remote.

Joe

 

I'm not sure that is true.  I for one don't like anything but wiring hidden.

I hope this doesn't become the hobby's analogy to...

...with a similar 'legacy' (no pun intended). 

Bigger is better?

Bigger is badder?

 

...Looking forward to the review.

 

 

I am both a collector and operator and one of the things that appeals to me is the "coolness"" factor of the ZW-L.  All lit up it looks great and really projects a feeling of power, which is one of the things 3-rail is about.

 

As to practicality, that is important also now that I operate trains, but the retro collector in me says there is a lot to be said for the "coolness" factor and the ZW-L has it.

 

The "wallet factor" also counts in the price range of something like the ZW-L. Oh well...Ramen noodles are not bad twice a week for six months

 

Ed Boyle

 

They are in.  Just saw one at my LHS.  They look cool.

Great news!

Cool, I hope the article talks a bit about the  saga it took to get these to market, it's a good story

Better more economic solution to powering one's railroad--Command or Conventional operated from handheld remote with Panel Meters recording topside. 180 watt PoHos linked to TPCs. Aged technology working inexpensively and effectively. Tortoise turnouts on 12VDC wall wart, Ho DC PowerPak backup.

I was at the Western Depot in Yuba City, CA. And the owner told me that they haven't gotten their shipment of the ZW-L's yet. But he did say that they looked really nice and that all the features it has are good, but it still costs $700!

I have the Modern ZW with the 180w bricks and I added 2 135w bricks, which really are a bargain when you patiently look, and Legacy runs conventional very nicely through it. I do have mine on the layout on the control panel because my layout is toy train style so I like the looks of it. If had had the extra to spend I would seriously think about it soley of the meters and how cool they work and function.

Forum member Dave Minarik (Mercer Junction's owner) and I had a chance to see and play around with the new ZW-L at the Lionel Customer Service Center a week or so ago.  Mike Reagan has the 28-pound monster set up and operating on the center's large test layout.  He wanted us to see what could be done with a screwdriver blade to short the transformer in a variety of ways.  I must admit I was very impressed with the various "recovery modes" the ZW-L goes through to keep it and the trains operating smoothly.  Very cool!

 

Mike is giving the ZW-L all the punishment he possibly can to make sure everything is up to par.  He said he's really not interested in seeing these heavy and bulky things come in for repair, so he wants to uncover all the "bugs" he possibly can now--at the earliest possible stage.  Now there's a guy who's using his brain!

 

I have and use an MTH Z4000 now, and that's about all I will even need for the modest-size layout I have.  So, it's not likely that I will be investing in a ZW-L, but I must admit that it really is one impressive beast, and I'm confident those who have one on the way, or who may be contemplating a purchase, will be very happy with what they get..

Allan,

   I did not realize it was going to cost $700.00, if I need more power I am afraid

it will be from adding another original ZW, for a lot less money.

PCRR/Dave

 

Just got our invoices, a few ZW's are shipping now

It is a costly bugger, no question about that.  But folks looking for a high-end transformer have a couple of choices, and they'll just have to make up their own minds in weighing costs and features.  I would be happy with either one, but the choice was already made for me, kind of by default, in this past year.

If you watch this video it will answer a lot of your questions about the ZW-L.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN5S7X6y9sM

SantaFe Jim,

    Thanks for the video on the ZW-L, it answered a lot of questions I had.

The ZW-L is definitely a beast and should be a serious power supply for those running

Legacy & TMCC.  For runners like me using DCS, I can't see the investment cost at this point.  The transformer is super cool however, Lionel has engineered a serious piece of equipment.  I can see why the cost, the purchaser no only gets a new transformer but an up grade in Legacy Engineering also. 

PCRR/Dave

If you think this one looks cool, you should have seen the prototype. The meters were much more old fashioned and "Buck Rogers" looking.

Alan Miller said, "Mike is giving the ZW-L all the punishment he possibly can to make sure everything is up to par.  He said he's really not interested in seeing these heavy and bulky things come in for repair, so he wants to uncover all the "bugs" he possibly can now--at the earliest possible stage.  Now there's a guy who's using his brain!"

 

I agree Mike Reagan does use his brain.  However, to those of us who don't...it would seem the type of testing Mike is doing now...should have been done long ago.  If there are bugs in the new ZW-L...they are already in there and are being shipped to consumers already...per the Charlienassau post up above.  So, if he finds them...how will they get fixed before the consumer has to ship the 28lb monster back to Canfield, OH???

 

Maybe I just misunderstand how it works??

SD60M. Mike is just getting to know the product so he can advise folks when questions arise. The design was thoroughly tested in engineering even before prototypes and production units were manufactured.

Thanks for THAT clarification, Jon (directly above).   Crazy to think that Lionel had done otherwise on this piece of equipment....

 

I have one a comin'...and it will replace the Z4000 that I have (and will soon be for sale).  While the Z4000 has been adequate, the features are no longer necessary and the new ZW has the power, features, look and feel that I want for my layout that runs exclusively with Legacy/TMCC.

 

Early adopter???  Yep.  Can't wait.

Jon,

 

Thanks for the clarification...though the statement was a little confusing...I didn't figure Lionel had not "battle-tested" the ZW-L before production.

 

Larry

Roseville, CA

I have a lot of confidence in Mike Reagan and hope he really wrings them out. One thing I wonder about is the "grandchild" test. For example, the handles on the ZW's that Lionel made in the late 1990's (I guess technically a controller rather than a transformer -- the ones with the bricks) couldn't stand up to it. The handles apparently had plastic gears and a 4 year old slamming them (fast, slow, fast stop, fast, you get the idea) just didn't work. By comparison,  the postwar ZW is bulletproof.

 

I don't know if Mike is child enough to do that, but I suspect George is. Please tell us how they hold up to children, George.

 

Gerry

In my earlier post, I didn't intend to imply that Mike and his crew were doing pre-production testing of the transformer.  Rather, he's "punishing" the product in a cause-and-effect attempt to duplicate and resolve operator-induced glitches that may come up over time (and which tend to be the cause of many if not most repair issues, as most any repair technician will tell you).

 

Everybody who is buying a ZW-L, or who is considering doing so, should be absolutely delighted that Lionel has a guy who will take the time and effort to submit a new item to the kind of experiences that the average operator will likely never confront.  I know I was sure impressed, and can assure folks that nothing I saw being done to the transformer caused it to falter or fail.

 

Gerry Morlitz wrote "I don't know if Mike is child enough to do that (mess with the thing like a kid might do)...."  Well, I can personally assure you that he is.    He's an awfully big kid, but he's quite competent at foreseeing all the unusual circumstances these products might be subjected to.  He knows these trains inside and out, to a level that is nothing short of amazing.  I know, because I have seen him in action often enough, not just with the ZW-L, but with all sorts of products where he can just take a brief look at the thing and determine exactly what is wrong.

 

That said, this is not a kid's toy.  A child using this or any similar electrical device should be supervised at all times and instructed in its proper and safe use.  I trust that everyone here realizes and accepts that most basic of premises.

 

If I needed or could use one, I personally would have no hesitation whatsoever in buying this new transformer because I have seen it in action.