How Many Visionline Big Boys Were Made?

Only Lionel knows.

You could try General Product Questions, on their web page.

at see what they say. A good brick & mortar, Lionel Store may know, A Lionel Rep. may have told some of the dealers.

   http://www.lionel.com/ContactUs/     Click art work to enlarge.

 

I maybe wrong but I would suspect that even if they told their dealers, those dealers won't be telling us.  That would be poor form.  I doubt Lionel will even say.

 

Charlie Nassau early on I believe suggested that this was one of their biggest pre-orders.

Any guesses?

 

Bob C.

 

My guess would be around 1000 based on some of the numbers thrown around here by some dealers and those who attempted to count boxes on palettes.  Again only a guess.  If anything, I think I may be a hair low when the dust settles.

Based on postings here on the forum....not enough...

 

Alan

For the first Legacy Big Boy from 2007, the number the accidentally slipped out from Jerry C. was 1800 pieces.  Wonder how this compares to the Vision Line Big Boy ?

Whoa.  I'll bet I'm way low then.  I suspect that there are the same if not more of these made.  Especially with multiple road numbers.

Marty has the best answer.

 

I for one am glad they aren't saying.  I'm even happier they did not serial number each..

Don't worry, if they sell out I suspect that Lionel just may have a second offering down the road, say 3-4 years, maybe sooner.  After all,they have been selling F-unit warbonnets for nearly 70 years.

 

What additional feature(s) and or improvements would you like to see?

Only Mr. Hitchcock and his barber know.

 

Pete

I agree, it is better that this is not public knowledge. Makes it more special to the lucky purchasers.

When I used to collect 1:18 scale die cast automobiles,  the manufacturers almost always disclosed how many were made.   Never caused a problem.

I don't understand the big secrecy with train manufacturers about their runs.

Maybe the difference is that if a train item sells out rather quickly they can produce more without angering those who "collected" the item based upon a limited run?

Regardless for some odd reason I would love to know if I have a low-production item.   Maybe if I did and they ran it again it would anger me!

interesting about the serial number.

is this fact because on another thread you state you have not received yours yet.

My guess is that Lionel probably doesn't want the public to know how relatively "large" these production runs are.

 

Interestingly, at least to me, is that other manufacturers (mostly brass engines) have been very open about the number of engines made.  Could be in part due to the relatively small production runs of 75, 150, or 250 engines.

 

Jim

Morning bigdodgetrain!  You seem active on the forum this morning!

Thanks for answering my TMCC/Cab-2 question.

 

To answer your question about the serial number;  No. It doesn't matter to me if I have the first or the last VL BB, as long as I have one!

 

If you're really interested, e-mail me off line and I'll tell you why.

What does it matter?

Well darn!!!!       Another LOGICAL response.

From a weekend guest who had thought of buying one. This for all engines:

Cylinder steam at the start with the MTH starting sounds?

Powered tender with all sound in the engine?

Color changing class lights?

Real coal in the tender?

 

He did recall reading that the Lionel engine is actually short an inch or so?

True?

 

A little bird told me the answer

But he may be wrong

From some large dealers here saying it was the most they have ever sold of any one engine, I would guess a great many were sold. Way more than I would have guessed when they were announced. Although it's fun to guess at, we will probably never know the exact count.

I think the only reason Lionel would release that info would be to tout the success of the BTO program, but absent of that, they will keep it to themselves

I was told the number of the AA centipedes built and it was low but seemed to be a appropriate number for a more exclusive product. Then again since it seems to have been the least popular VL engine perhaps that is a good thing

There is, probably, a warehouse in China full of them.

My own personal guess is the total number of VL Big Boys produced is more than one.

 

I have a hunch my guess is the most accurate so far.

 

Marty and John have the best answer so far!

It's a little off topic it I figured I could share this picture of my VL BigBoy with a N&W coal drag

Back during the "Happy Days" I was told by one of Lionel's big dealers that they would make 3000 of the big exclusive engines.  Lionel was slow in adjusting their production quantities as the demand slowed with the economy, and we saw blow-outs.  I expect that the most of the blow-out engines had their production numbers set when their contracts were signed and could not be changed. 

 

Does anyone remember the production numbers mentioned in the MTH/Lionel suit?

 

Jan

It DOES matter.  If you bought one out of a run of 25 or so, then you truly have something special that will hold its value for the ages.

 

If Lionel made 25000 units then you will soon have an oversized doorstop on your hands.

 

I do not have any idea of the number of units really sold,, but, I do feel Lionel was Successful with this really Award Winning Offering. For us folks that bought one for the Pleasure of Running the Wheels off of it, I hope there are few to no issues with it. It just baffles my mind that SO MANY Train Guys bought this Locomotive.  I actually waited until the last minute.  In reality, it does not matter the number, it matters that they made the BUILD TO ORDER Come True.  Happy Railroading

I believe it does matter also.  A possible indication on how the hobby is doing....

I didn't order one, did not want one but I hope they sell out-good for the hobby. Anyone who buys something like that expecting it to become a rare "collectible" is due for a disappointment. Run them and enjoy.

 

An even 2500 were made.  Mr. Hitchcock and I share the same barber.

-Greg

 

ma

 

Maybe Lionel should conduct a contest on this !

Imho how interesting it is the number of forumites who purchased this engine and it's high price.

It doesn't fit in with what I hope to accomplish on my layout,  and I don't think I would spend that much on an engine,  but It is a very nice piece and I hope all those who bought one get years of enjoyment out of them.   I'm certainly enjoying the pics and videos being posted.

All it would indicate was how many people wanted the VLBB, not how well the hobby was doing.  The hobby is so much larger than one locomotive release.

 

Rusty

Ages? Thats a bit of a stretch, maybe the next 3-5 years, until Lionel does another run of bigboys.

 

After that it will still do a nice job( for a doorstop) of pulling scale reefers or whatever o guage freight cars one might have.

 

IMO the "something special that will hold its value for the ages" type stuff was already made decades ago including items outside of toy trains.

the serial number issue?

 

or the number of units made?