Info for Vision Line Reefer Owners.

That's a bummer, the hatches on the PFE reefers are VERY fragile, I can see that.  I may just use my Museum Wax and stick them down to avoid future damage.

No Parts! Nothing makes me more angry than no replacement parts.
Are not parts available for other steel sided reefers released earlier?

Have you tried ordering one for an older reefer?

Lionel has made lots of reefers over the years, should be easy to find one.

Agree, parts should be available.

May have to make one as a last resort. 

I had a broken plastic pin issue with the little folding step on the front of a diesel once. I channeled a V cut along the bottom edge of the step parallel to the axis of rotation and glued an appropriate size wire on it...with the ends of the wire sticking out the right distance as pins. Works fine.

I'm not having much luck chasing down "alternative" hatches.

Keeping in mind they would need to be a colour match.

Lionel's web site, at least to me, is not as user friendly as the old one was.

I will figure out a repair option for my issue but I believe replacement parts not being available is not reasonable given the Vision Line status.

Dave

Checking the Lionel parts site, it looks like you cannot purchase these hatches. You can however purchase the shells for ATSF Map and Slogan reefers which are black for $60.

It's something I guess if you're in a pinch.

Why not plead with Lionel service for some Vision Line service and replace the reefer. It's not reasonable that you wanted to break it trying to fix a defective hatch you received. So it could be time for a station house adjustment around the standard warranty.

You could swap the shell with an older PFE reefer(?).

I know none of these are great options, just trying to give you some!

Some one should be able to 3D Scan and Print one.. you just have to find someone.

Alternatively you could cast it in resin.

Hatch covers should always be available in the parts dept.

   Bill T.

Appreciate all the suggestions Guys.

If Lionel is going to tout Vision Line as the Standard, then surely, a few extra plastic parts on hand should not be a stretch for them.

I'm not going to lose any sleep over this ...........however, if Lionel sees this and is prepared to exchange my two hatches for two new ones.....hey!  That would be nice!

And I'll pay for shipping.

Interesting to note that the Vision Line Tank Cars (I had a set and sold them) have parts available.  Checked the Lionel site last night.

These cars are expensive and being north of the 49 th.......my final bill with exchange and shipping was $430.00.

So.......i think I deserve two new hatches

Dave

I'm not sure what it is, but these recent offerings of steelsided reefers just don't feels as durable as previous ones.

I'm not sure if its the makeup of the plastic or what. I have 25 of the previously offered reefers in various roadnames and the details look the same but aren't as delicate. The whole car feels of better quality.

These new steel reefers "feel" cheaper, remind me of those old K line refers that were delivered with broken hatches because of the flimsy plastic.

Parts available for previous reefers is next to nothing.

Steelsided Reefer Parts