Has anyone received their Lionel S-2 Turbine?

Somebody responded on the other thread that he saw them at a LHS, and was impressed.  Though he did mention the coal load wasn't "real"... Said it looked plastic, but it wasn't a show-stopper.

When I spoke with Charles Ro at one point last week, they hadn't received their shipment yet.  And an email I received later in the week highlighting Lionel new arrivals didn't include the S-2.  Whereas it would appear dealers in the mid-Atlantic / NYC area had received theirs.

Lionel shipping nuances notwithstanding, S-2 news seems rather quiet here on the forum.  Let's see what we hear after the holiday weekend. 

David

The LHS mentioned on the other thread was ModelTrainStuff (MB Klein). I saw where the posted lived, which is also in the area where I live. I then went and checked out ModelTrainStuff web site and there it was the 11416, listed as a new arrival with 1 in stock. I have the my 11416 on order from Charles Ro. A few weeks ago I saw the new North Pole Central GP-35 listed as a new arrival with 1 in stock on MTS site. A little over a week later I got my NPC GP-35 from Charles Ro.

Baltimore is closer to NC then MA. So I know someone around me has at least one of them. But I do know that I will have mine shortly, and I have been wanting one of these engines for a very long time. Christmas is coming.. Christmas is coming.. I can't wait...   

Dave, that was me. They are absolutely beautiful!!! Yes, the coal load was plastic. But in my opinion it still looks good. Double checked the catalog and it didn't mention that these would have a real coal load. This was at Nicholas Smith. I can't wait to get mine. Between this engine, and the NS Heritage ES44's, I haven't been so excited to get new trains in a while!!

Bill

One thing I noticed when I unwrapped one for display in the store is that it comes with an orange module to load info into the Legacy base.

Thats rediculous, I thought Lionel was done with plastic coal loads on scale steamers 7 or 8 years ago?

It seems they can't help but cut a corner or fall short somewhere. No wonder future locos will be "made to order", then folks will be stuck with whatever the final product is.....or isn't.

That is somewhat of a regression, my S2 (6-38028) from a decade+ ago has a real coal load.  But, there is always a but, the chunks are huge most measuring 1/4 to 3/8-inch.  Scaled up that would be 1 to 1 1/2-foot, can you imagine a stoker handling coal this size.

What the heck is Lionel thinking using a plastic coal load! If I had preordered this loco I would not take delivery. Good thing I waited. Now I'll wait for the blow out. 

How could they let this happen? Geez!

If the plastic coal looks good, who cares?  Are you going to burn the real scale coal?

We haven't even seen this model and people are getting all wound up.  I just think we need to see it before it gets thrashed.

The tenders also house the sound system.  The decision to go back to a fake cast load may have more to do with cutting down vibrations than simply cutting costs/corners.

I prefer plastic coal loads, when done well.  They look quite realistic and make the tender so much easier to handle and work on.  There are, after all, model trains and it is not necessary for a model to emulate the material as long as the look is done well.

For all the sticklers who insist on a real coal load, I hear Lionel has a new product coming out just for you: the five-car Natural Fertilizer Hopper-car set -  with a real manure load in each car!

They are in stock and on our web site

Charlie,

if it's not too much trouble, do you think you could post some pics? Some of us are salivating, waiting for delivery!

Well said Lee. I couldn't have put it better myself. 

I'm not getting wound up Marty, it just seems silly. A real coal load at this point (however minor some may think) should be/ and has been standard issue on scale steamers for years as I mentioned.

All of my current TMCC/Legacy steamers have a real coal load, anything I've had or seen in the past with a plastic load was night and day difference in appearance.

Again maybe its minor, but IMO its a really basic feature that adds to the realism of the model, and there are no risks of a bad fan motor on a coal load.

It appeared that past offerings had some variations in the heap of the coal piles from loco to loco, I liked that...... just like the real thing.

To make it look "right" typically you need to cut out the plastic load first or the tender looks overfull.

I imagine most folks are reluctant to take a dremel to a new tender.

Kinda doubt that, hence you would have heard of such problems long ago...bottom line: a profit margin enhancement by cutting back on a more realistic look. I haven't been in the hobby as long as most of you, and I can tell a plastic versus a real coal load a mile away...it even has a sparkle under certain lighting conditions...

Mine has just been sent from Charles Ro and I should have it Thursday.

No shortage of that material here, either, is there?

.........from the guy who cut the cab roof off of his brand new berkshire to raise it up because he felt it didn't look right

Yep. As I said above some of the best coal loads I have are plastic, and some of the worst "real coal."  If my S2 arrives and it has a coal load made of anything - plastic, coal, metal, or wood - and it looks good, then I'm happy.  If it does not and the difference is at all annoying to me, then I will intervene and change it.  I'm just surprised so many here are so quick to rush to judgment before they take delivery of theirs (I'm assuming all those commenting have ordered or intend to buy one).  I'll wait until I get mine and if it does not please me then everyone will hear from me here and I will be the harshest critic.

By the way, after all this time with the new cab, that Berk is absolutely without question my very favorite loco - there isn't even a close second.  A great looking (now), great running, and all around perfect loco for my layout's type and time period.

I know we have heard that line already.  I forget exactly when, but I want to say maybe 8-10 years ago when Lionel was maybe dragging their feet a little on making this a standard feature on high end steamers.

If it wasn't for the worse condition the paint/deco sometimes arrives in that has nothing to do with minor scratches from small pieces of dislodged coal, I'd be on board with it.  For the current level of QC we experience on a normal basis, the coal would not significantly add to those issues, IMHO.

-Dave

You know, we hear the word prototypical used more than probably any other word on this forum...people will weather their tracks and engines for the sake of realism and this word. They will count rivets, debate colors, etc.  To make a case for plastic loads over real coal loads just seems so contrary with the spirit of "prototypical".  IMHO it's just a train maker on the cheap to maximize profits. 

OK folks... unfortunately, I don't have our studio set up for product photography right now... so I had to settle for a very quick iPhone photo comparing two tenders.  Even the make-shift lighting is just one halogen track-light shining downward on both tenders to give the coal loads some "sparkle".  Admittedly, the lighting is far from perfect, and the photo lacks the detail I'd prefer to shoot with our studio cameras.  But hopefully this will give you an idea of what we're dealing with. 

The tender in the upper portion of the photo (with molded coal pile) is from Lionel's new Pennsy S-2 locomotive.  The tender in the lower portion of the photo (with detailed scale coal pile) is from Lionel's DM&IR "giant" locomotive. 

There ya have it...  What do you think?  Is Lionel cutting corners on the cheap?  Is this gonna be a showstopper for your (future) purchases?  You be the judge...  have at it!!! 

While not a show stopper, now that I see it for myself, it is disappointing.  I plan on adding a layer of real coal to offset that poor excuse of a coal load.  Not sure what it would take to remove it but that may also be in the cards.

When it was said to be plastic, I thought maybe the little pieces of coal were plastic, not a molded coal load.

Can someone post a picture of the entire engine? Maybe a video too as I would like to hear the sounds.

Thanks

JohnB

Nope not a show stopper, with trains whizing buy on the layout, you will never notice.

On some older engines I just glue a layer of the real stuff on.

And yes...Now we need a video.  iPhone or not.

Disappointing...however, not a deal-breaker. Hope to share 671 pictures in the near future.

Saturday pick up!

I think it looks like crap. Whats next? Lionel going to go back to using the old fashioned "puffer" smoke unit?

I'm beginning to think they figure we'll by anything that comes in an orange and blue box.

Here ya go...  From the Phantom Shooter. (Dave Slie)

Unedited.  And the coal load is die cast not plastic just like the previous runs.

The coal load looks even worse in Martys photo, and they reused the K4 whistle.  Blowouts anyone?

I agree and I am Really disappointed that Lionel would take a step backwards on such a high end locomotive. 

I believe allot of buyers will not take delivery of this engine. It's a shame, it could have been a great locomotive to have but now I will pass. What was Lionel thinking?

I'll pick up mine.

Mine arrived a few hours ago. I took a few photos of it outside since I have no layout or display area. Yes, the tender is disappointing....

From what I am hearing, this is the same coal mold used on the previous S-2.

So what was Lionel thinking?  We have the scale tooling, let's put Legacy in it and sell it.  Right or wrong, they produced a Legacy Version of the previous scale model.

While I agree the coal load is a disappointment it is worth bearing in mind that this current engine retails for the same price as its predessor (6-38028) cataloged in 2001.  I speculate that adding the "real" coal load would have increased production cost and someone at Lionel determined that the requisite increase in MSRP would hurt sales.  Personally I would have paid more for that feature, but that is just me.

Hopefully I will be able to glue some "real" coal on top of it.  I am sure many will try to do so.

Hey RickO, is this the wrong whistle?  I have no idea, but I would prefer it be the correct one. 

In my limited experience I have found that very few if any Pennsy steam engines make it to blow sales.  I will be picking mine up despite its imperfections.

And the video I received, was not being operated under Legacy.  TMCC only.