Here is the announcement video. (CAUTION: Music is LOUD; temper your sound system! LOL)
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
This reminds me of how Elon Musk said the Tesla Semi will be cheaper than rail. I wonder if this new technology could even the playing field?
Long on glitz, short on information.
Rusty
Is this locomotive being developed to operate in environmentally sensitive areas vs. diesel electrics? Or to operate in tandem with diesel electrics, which would provide electric power like a slug? Or to operate as a road locomotive?
Beautiful paint scheme!
This locomotive has been around for months. As soon as I saw a video on it I was hoping MTH would make one, then they announced their closing. So here's hoping Lionel will make it.
@0-Gauge CJ posted:This reminds me of how Elon Musk said the Tesla Semi will be cheaper than rail. I wonder if this new technology could even the playing field?
Pure self-promotion on his part. He was profoundly wrong.
Is this the WabTec plant near Ft Worth, TX? I'd sure like to see it.
Wow. If Lionel makes this, maybe it could be a Vision Line product. I think a Vision scale train set could include this engine. My ideas for the set (I hope the folks at Lionel will read this):
-BNSF ET44C4 with Vision features (like the GEVO Hybrid), or perhaps a new BNSF Vision GEVO Hybrid ES44AC
-Wabtec/GE Battery-electric loco
-Five or Six modern freight cars, including one or two Vision cars with Freight Sounds
I would totally buy the whole set if I can get larger curves on my layout.
@J. Motts posted:Is this the WabTec plant near Ft Worth, TX? I'd sure like to see it.
According to the information posted along with the video on YouTube, no.
Thanks cta4391, I don't live that far from the facilities over by Ft Worth and thought I could catch a glimpse of it in action.
@Dylan the Train Man posted:Wow. If Lionel makes this, maybe it could be a Vision Line product. I think a Vision scale train set could include this engine. My ideas for the set (I hope the folks at Lionel will read this):
-BNSF ET44C4 with Vision features (like the GEVO Hybrid), or perhaps a new BNSF Vision GEVO Hybrid ES44AC
-Wabtec/GE Battery-electric loco
-Five or Six modern freight cars, including one or two Vision cars with Freight Sounds
I would totally buy the whole set if I can get larger curves on my layout.
I so would buy this set too, as long as both locomotives are powered. If one is a dummy, then I'll pass.
@mark s posted:Is this locomotive being developed to operate in environmentally sensitive areas vs. diesel electrics? Or to operate in tandem with diesel electrics, which would provide electric power like a slug? Or to operate as a road locomotive?
Beautiful paint scheme!
It seems that, at first, some people didn’t think it could operate by itself and it was solely meant as a slug to complement another road diesel. But from the videos available online, it has been shown that it can move quite well under its own power. How long and to what degree seems to be info that is scarce at the moment (at least I haven’t seen anything). I am wondering if Wabtec is not sure of its capabilities and the continued testing is needed.
Let me qualify my above statements - I am by no means an expert, but just repeating what I have seen online and in videos.
It is a really cool loco though and, if cost effective, could cause a lot of changes in motive power in the coming year/decades.
