Lionel ZW-L Baptism by Fire

I agree completely.  The ZW_l and remote Thomas are both home runs for Lionel.  They are on a roll - haven't seen any other manufacturers get anything more than a single so far by comparison.

Lyle,  What fun....  I love the story and I also enjoy my Grandchildren with the trains.  When they are coming I tweek everything to make certain they have fun.  Then I spend the next two days repairing all the "Train Wrecks...."  I never forget this is a toy to be enjoyed...

Good for Lionel!   I am in good shape with power, but would love to invest in the ZW-L.  I have heard so many positive things about this product.

Got the ZW-L.  Just waiting on a grandson or granddaughter to come along.  Great nephew loves to run the remote Thomas.

Neal Jeter

Have 3 grandsons but no ZW-L.  Using a very well worn KW.  Has anyone done a compare and contrast between the old PW ZW and the new ZW-L?

That is like comparing a Model T to a brand new Cadillac with all the features.

Yes is is a train transformer and has 4 power outlets and two levers and share a similar shape. Other than that there is nothing to compare the two against, they are totally different beasts

It would be very difficult to do a comparison between the P/W ZW and the ZW-L.  They're really very different machines.  I have both and use both.  Love them both.  The ZW-L is a beauty of 21st century manufacturing as was the ZW of 20th century manufacturing.

IMO, the ZW-L is the best toy train transformer out there.  I've been using two MTH4000s for the past nine years.  They're OK.  A little creaky.  The ZW-L just feels "modern" in comparison....and the 4000s will find a new homes soon.

I haven't read anything negative about the new ZW-L.  Who can sum up what makes it so good?  I'm an old school kinda guy with conventional everything but find the new technologies of our toys fascinating.  Grandsons DO love the new remote that came with the Thomas RTR set!  It's the grandsons that will end up having granpa buy a Legacy set etc.

POT...look here:

http://ctt.trains.com/en/Opera...Lionel%20ZW%20L.aspx

and, here:

http://ctt.trains.com/en/Video.../2013/03/ZW%20L.aspx

You MAY need to be a subscriber to CTT to access.  Don't forget:  OGR (I think Ed B.) has also reviewed this great transformer.

I have two ZW's and the new ZW-L.  I agree with the other posters that there is very little to compare other than shape, handles and posts on the back.  After hooking up and running with the ZW-l, I pretty have much put the old ZW's in mothball status.  I run entirely modern equipment in command control and really enjoy (ok, love) the new ZW-l.   Bo 

I read the OGR review.

The transformer is not compatible with a some boards and E units. As a conventional operator I will stick with pure sine waves which work universally. Simplifies things a bit. 

Second it is very expensive,I can use cheaper substitutions.

"I ALSO recommend watching the ZW-L demonstration video by Mike Reagan on the Lionel website as the printed manual has just the basics - and Mike's video is very helpful during the setup process! "

It was a good demonstration but the comparison to the PW 1033 was misleading at best.

"I have two ZW's and the new ZW-L.  I agree with the other posters that there is very little to compare other than shape, handles and posts on the back.  After hooking up and running with the ZW-l, I pretty have much put the old ZW's in mothball status.  I run entirely modern equipment in command control and really enjoy (ok, love) the new ZW-l.   Bo"

Glad you like it. However OGR shows a picture of the inside. A lot of electronic devices to go astray. Not sure Lionel will be supporting it in 10-20 years. The previous ZW with the bricks is not supported very well now. On the other hand with a bit of service and care the PWZW will still be working and running trains.

Dale H

Dale,

I agree, the new ZW-l is expensive and inside there is a lot of electronics.  However, as I run a number of newer locomotives with Legacy, it seemed that using Lionel's newest most advanced transformer was a good way to go.  In terms of support for the new transformer we will just have to see how Lionel handles things down the road.

I will note that in my earlier post I mentioned I put my ZW's (they are PW ZW's) in "mothball status", I have not parted with them.  Bo   

"Glad you like it. However OGR shows a picture of the inside. A lot of electronic devices to go astray. Not sure Lionel will be supporting it in 10-20 years. The previous ZW with the bricks is not supported very well now. On the other hand with a bit of service and care the PWZW will still be working and running trains."

Of course, this applies to nearly everything made in the past 20 years by MTH (remember PS-1), Lionel or whomever....  There are a few exceptions and I guess Williams comes to mind.

Nice story, glad it performed perfectly for you. From what I have read, this is the best transformer for O-gauge to date.

I am think of replacing mine but I am waiting to see if service issues  repeatedly come up. 

I would think so for almost $700!

Thanks to all who responded.  I just got the latest OGR and will check out that review.  Also CTT.  I may never buy one but I do like to see what all the fuss is about in the higher tech side of toy trains.

Starhopper,

Would you be interested in selling me the dead MRC transformer???

It has the best of Lionel Past (ZW) and the best of Lionel Future (Legacy) - all in one functionally beautiful package.

Maybe the current discount price will go higher but I picked mine up from Nicolas Smith at York for an even 6 bills.

My trio of ZW's.  The L is flanked by a Postwar 275 on the left and a 180 brick model on the right.  Both have amp/volt meters, are wired with individual grounds, and power the many lights and accessories on my layout.

One thing I really like about the new L is I can reset the handles using my Cab 2 from anywhere when I have an 'oops' moment on the layout.  No more running back to reset a brick.

By those criterion, you'd have a tough time buying a whole lot of things these days! Home appliances, cell phones, computers, cameras, TVs, power tools, electronic equipment of every kind, automobiles, every kind of toy and every piece of model train equipment made by any manufacturer....the list goes on and on. How many things we're surrounded by today have "a lot of electronic devices to go astray"?

I am not so sure that many of my Legacy and PS-3 locos, and the ZW-L, will last a long time. 

Not all electronics have to go bad,   I have an HP-85 desktop computer from 1980 that I dearly loved at work so much I bought it when Westinghouse surplused it in 1988.  Hard to believe it is 33 years old, but it is, and it was subjected to hard duty - checked as luggage in airplanes, left (turned off) in 130 deg plus heat and sub freezing temps, and it was knocked about a bit, but it still works flawlessly - CRT display screen, tape drive and tape cassette still all work, printer (paper is nearly impossible to find), even the optional TV driver board.  Only thing that no longer works with it is me: I once wrote electrical simulation programs for it . . . for fun!.  Now I can't remember how to even program it to write my name! 

Couple of thoughts-

1. Although it sounds like you undertook your own remedy, just to mention it, I heard Mike Regan say that for earlier Odyssey-lurch prone engines, he'd suggest just replacing the board with the later Odyssey board (I think the ones used after 1994 with the on/off control added) - that they work a lot better and it's easier/cheaper than installing ERR replacement parts.

2. Agree there are plenty of valid reasons not to pony up for a ZW-L. Certainly among those reasons are that for some, at least, it's overkill. It also requires a spare 7 c-notes, of course.

For an informed perspective, you need to talk to Scrapiron Scher.