Why do the Chessie cars retail for $499 and the UP cars for $399 in the 2020 catalog? They are both Heavyweights and 18" What am I not seeing? Thanks.
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rattler21 posted:Who's catalog? John
Sorry...Lionel
This question was posted before. Ask Lionel. We have no way of knowing.
Maybe it is due to the much more elaborate paint styling of the Chessie Steam Special scheme?
EDIT: Now that I read the subject title further, just what is a "Union Pacific Daylight Heavyweight" car?
When you say "UP" are you implying the "Lark" cars? If so these are a fantasy paint scheme while the "Steam Special cars are based on a prototype. I'm not sure if any copyright issues come into play.
Or, ( at least for Lionel) its more difficult to get the prototype correct.
Hot Water posted:Maybe it is due to the much more elaborate paint styling of the Chessie Steam Special scheme?
EDIT: Now that I read the subject title further, just what is a "Union Pacific Daylight Heavyweight" car?
Good catch it is Southern Pacific
It could be a licensing issue, the Reading and Boston & Maine heavyweights are $379.99 while the Chessie cars that use the same new tooling are $449.99.
The Chessie cars do include figures and the other cars do not state this, but are figures enough to justify that much of a price difference?
Jim R. posted:This question was posted before. Ask Lionel. We have no way of knowing.
Please send me the link.
Also, I do not think Lionel will be answering that question.
TrainHead posted:Hot Water posted:Maybe it is due to the much more elaborate paint styling of the Chessie Steam Special scheme?
EDIT: Now that I read the subject title further, just what is a "Union Pacific Daylight Heavyweight" car?
Good catch it is Southern Pacific
How about editing your subject title then.
TrainHead posted:Jim R. posted:This question was posted before. Ask Lionel. We have no way of knowing.
Please send me the link.
Also, I do not think Lionel will be answering that question.
Here you go.
The point is that only Lionel can answer the question. Everyone else would be guessing. And that’s exactly what’s happening. So ask Lionel if you want the answer.
I over looked this. it is a good question.
I rode on the Chessie Steam Special back in 1978 and for many years I wanted one in O gauge. About 4 years ago I bought the MTH Premier version (engine and six cars) and have been pretty happy with it. The actual Chessie Steam Special was a mixture of old heavyweight and lightweight coaches along with various head end cars to support the train and crew. It was a mash up of car types. All the MTH cars are lightweight streamlined cars including the boat tail observation. The actual Chessie Steam Special had an open platform heavyweight for the observation and I've wanted one along with some heavyweight coaches for my train.
Ever since Lionel did a version of the T-1 I was expecting them to soon release the matching heavyweight cars. When they finally did it in the last catalog I was also blown away by the price - $450 retail, around $350 pre-order for a 2 car set. IMHO that is just nuts for cars that were first produced around 2000. Lionel has added interiors, figures, and some detail which does justify a price increase but not done anything to improve the bodies or underframes. So I think the answer to the question as to why they are so pricey is because Lionel thinks they can sell them at that price.
Anyhow I did order just the set that includes the heavyweight observation and one heavyweight coach at a very good preorder price. If I ever want anymore heavyweight cars I will just wait for them to show up on the pre-owned market.
Ken
TrainHead, no offense intended, but do you know how to edit the title of this thread?
kanawha posted:I rode on the Chessie Steam Special back in 1978 and for many years I wanted one in O gauge. About 4 years ago I bought the MTH Premier version (engine and six cars) and have been pretty happy with it. The actual Chessie Steam Special was a mixture of old heavyweight and lightweight coaches along with various head end cars to support the train and crew. It was a mash up of car types. All the MTH cars are lightweight streamlined cars including the boat tail observation. The actual Chessie Steam Special had an open platform heavyweight for the observation and I've wanted one along with some heavyweight coaches for my train.
Ever since Lionel did a version of the T-1 I was expecting them to soon release the matching heavyweight cars. When they finally did it in the last catalog I was also blown away by the price - $450 retail, around $350 pre-order for a 2 car set. IMHO that is just nuts for cars that were first produced around 2000. Lionel has added interiors, figures, and some detail which does justify a price increase but not done anything to improve the bodies or underframes. So I think the answer to the question as to why they are so pricey is because Lionel thinks they can sell them at that price.
Anyhow I did order just the set that includes the heavyweight observation and one heavyweight coach at a very good preorder price. If I ever want anymore heavyweight cars I will just wait for them to show up on the pre-owned market.
Ken
Ken,
Here is my consist - I had taken Williams Heavyweights and re-decaled them for the CSS instead of the Safety Express. Since this video was taken, I've also painted the roofs of them gray to match the heavyweights and changed the car order to more match the prototype. After getting these 15 cars together, I really didn't even look at the new ones.
Allan,
I looked at the Williams 18" cars and decided that I didn't need another painting and decaling project now. The next best bet was Railking heavyweight 60 ft cars which I felt would look too short alongside the Premier 18" cars.
Your 15 car train looks impressive.
Ken
kanawha posted:Allan,
I looked at the Williams 18" cars and decided that I didn't need another painting and decaling project now. The next best bet was Railking heavyweight 60 ft cars which I felt would look too short alongside the Premier 18" cars.
Your 15 car train looks impressive.
Ken
Ken,
FYI - I hid two Railking 60 ft heavyweight cars in my consist. 
Thanks for the compliment - I just have to renumber the cars to ~match what the actual consist had (and I know the original did not have the dome until the Safety Express, so I'm making the exception).
