Checking out the new Lionel Santa Fe GP30's - END OF THE LINE WITH LIONEL SERVICE (SEE 3/11 POST)

Reading between the lines about the production methods, I suspect that Lionel has no real control over the final form of the design they submit, they do NOT manufacture the item and therefore have no control over the execution of the production, and the market demand is forcing them to distribute prior to having gotten caught up with the changes.  It is a sad situation inevitable given the fact that they threw away their control over the process.

You can see the old pilot looks nothing like the new ones. As I stated in my 3 rail converson thread, even if you were to move the pilot back so that it's even with the walkway, it wouldn't clear the truck sideframes on a curve. The only reason mine clears is because I removed the outter brakeshoes on all the sideframes.

It looks to me like the mounting holes were out out towards the end of the new pilot because of the clearance issue. The question is, why is there a clearance issue? The frames have to be different, causing a shortened distance between the trucks and the pilots and the trucks and the fuel tank on the rear.  

Look on the bright side, at least the engine has a front and rear pilot.  Remember the JC Penney traditional size GP from a few years ago that came without a front pilot ?

Anyone can correct me if I am wrong, but operating couplers are different from Electro Couplers.  Operating couplers open and close either by an external electrical devise, or by hand.  Electro couplers open as part of the internal engine controls.  I have the GP 30 Chessie Legacy and Dummy unit.  They run perfectly, look great, and the couplers are the correct height.  For anyone who has had complaints or reservations about Lionel Quality, my suggestion would be---Don't pre-order.  Wait until they show up at your hobby store, check them out, and if you like what you see--Buy it.  The disappointment stuff (and justified) pops up on this forum all the time.  I would think that it would impact ordering decisions.  If you choose to ignore the warnings, ultimately,  it was your choice and decision.

To be clear about the couplers, the couplers on my non-powered unit are completely nonfunctioning; they do not open or close.  The box and catalog both state the nonpowered units were to have operating couplers, by which I understood them to mean couplers that could be opened by hand (as is the case with my conventional powered unit).

To SPSF, love that CP unit.  I would really like to get a dummy.  If you have one, does it have operating couplers?

Chris Dunn