What is the general impression of this set's performance? Any major red flags? THANKS in advance!
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Tinplate Art posted:What is the general impression of this set's performance? Any major red flags? THANKS in advance!
Art,
There have been several threads on this set which I'll paste in below.
I love this set and have run it every day for the last month. My only 'con' is that the 18v lights in the passenger cars can't be seen without cranking up the voltage way past where its safe to run the train. I swapped them out for some 14v bulbs (much better results) and may eventually do a conversion to LEDs.
THANK YOU for the links!
GREAT REVIEWS! It is definitely NOT cool about the engine coupler issue! Lionel should have caught that, and LED lighting should have been included. I will pass.
The coupler does not cause any operational issues plus its a super easy fix to make it level for cosmetic purposes. Ultimately, the market will decide and if these don't sell and they sit on shelves for a long time, they may get discounted.
Brewman1973 posted:The coupler does not cause any operational issues plus its a super easy fix to make it level for cosmetic purposes. Ultimately, the market will decide and if these don't sell and they sit on shelves for a long time, they may get discounted.
The market has decided. Like the girls set of 1957, it has returned to the catalog for a second year so Lionel can rid itself of the inventory. Apparently folks don't want a can-motored postwar engine today, anymore than they wanted a pink postwar engine in '57. I would have bought a set if it had a proper Pullmor motor. Additionally, if it had a Pullmor motor, we wouldn't have had the increased frame height caused by the can motor conversion that caused the coupler issues.
Williams should jump in with a set of these can motors and all. Look at their clone of the No.208 Blue & Yellow 'freight' Santa Fe Alcos they did a few years ago. A quality piece with the attributes and 'feel' of an early PW 027 Alco. Lionel did a reissue for the LCCA that was a faithful copy of the 'cheap original' that can hardly pull any cars!
C.sam, I believe Williams already did a Luxury Lines version of the green Alcos. Someone posted pics of them on another thread. Slightly duller color and too large of a font on Luxury Lines, but otherwise very nice engines.
I really like the O27 Alcos as a non/semi-scale guy. My PW 2023 UPs are a fan favorite. Can't bring myself to add ERR to my grandfather's prized UP Alcos, so I'm eyeing a WBB set for ERR upgrade OR a set with LC+.
The only detail I don't care for is the pilot. It seems that there is more openness around the coupler than the post-war version.
GregR posted:The market has decided. Like the girls set of 1957, it has returned to the catalog for a second year so Lionel can rid itself of the inventory. Apparently folks don't want a can-motored postwar engine today, anymore than they wanted a pink postwar engine in '57. I would have bought a set if it had a proper Pullmor motor. Additionally, if it had a Pullmor motor, we wouldn't have had the increased frame height caused by the can motor conversion that caused the coupler issues.
That is a good point about being in the 2018 catalog again. No extra cars either. I think you are right about the pullmor, especially if the cost was lower.
I finally unpacked and ran my set today. Runs smooth as can be. Very nice! The only issue is the dim car lights which is pretty minor to me. Glad I got the set, and it was a relative bargain by today’s prices.
FWIW, You can obtain a 20% increase in lighting if you line the roof interiors with Aluminum foil! Plus the Aluminum Foil will act as a heat sink esp if you run command with those 18V bulbs!
It's a nice looking set.
If a pair of locomotive shells became available, I'd be tempted to get them to put on a pair of original Postwar chassis. Or maybe a 18119/11820 UP chassis (1994)
I'd personally put LEDs in the cars and move on.
MartyE posted:I'd personally put LEDs in the cars and move on.
My plan exactly.
Reminds me, of one of those cheap MPC also could starter sets. But, at least the couplers were at the same height.
The catalog price is high for a conventional set. No LC+ or sound..so no sale for me. I do like the set AND the DC motors.
