It's like finding a "needle in a haystack"

You have to remind the people at Lionel using their website, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Go to the offices in New York or North Carolina. If you do not tell the people working there in several different ways to make the standard NORFOLK SOUTHERN scheme on the GE ES44AC, they will forget about it.

Andrew

Seriously?Are you saying you are going to dismantle your entire railroad,get rid of everything and start over in another scale because you can't find a certain engine?

Sure taking an undesired paint scheme one and re painting it is not an option? There is bound to be a person you can find through your club that can do it.

SubwayLover, if you are truly in love with that engine and NS, you should give serious thought to having an MTH or Lionel model of a different livery painted in NS livery.  You'll get an engine that meets your expectations operationally, with the added benefits of having a paint job superior to the mass production market, and a unique model to boot.

Just my HMO.

A repaint of an AC44CW from LIONEL would have to be only if they made too many mistakes with the NS HERITAGE scheme application at the factory.

You would have to order an extra, undecorated or poorly decorated shell from the service department to have it repainted.

Andrew

I agree with Andrew. Perhaps you could find one and just have the shell repainted much better than dismantling your layout over one locomotive.

Patience, Grasshopper, I spent close to a year looking for a scale Dreyfuss Hudson, but I found one at a good price. If I find one, I'll post it.

They must have spent all their resources on the NS Heritage stuff? Maybe now that the Heritage market is saturated they will get back to making the real thing. Take option 3 from your original post, hang in there and wait them out, someone will make one someday soon I am sure.

Until you brought this up it always seemed like everything I was looking for in BNSF was always already available in NS and most all of the other Eastern roads and not BNSF. I guess that is really not the case as I am learning here. There have been some ES44's in BNSF road names. It was a true surprise to me that an ES44AC would be that hard to find in the NS road name. I will keep a look out and let you know if I happen to see one anywhere.

Dude, it's black (hardware store gray primer/satin black). There are NS decals available (Microscale; DaBay). Buy one in the wrong road name.

Remove the body. If you're lucky you'll find one in a paint scheme/lettering that the black paint will hide. Stripping is preferable, but not necessarily required.

===

There are custom model RR painters. Costs more, but that's not a problem, unless it's a problem. I'm sure someone here can guide you to one. I paint my own stuff, but not

others'.

trouble with that one is MTH listed it back in 2009 catalog. Either have to find it used, or tucked away somewhere and maybe surface with some luck and great timing.

 I would have bet MTH would re-released one with PS3, but with all the heritage releases around that may not be tomorrow??

http://mthtrains.com/content/20-2985-1

 I have said before that the NS releases seem to disappear quickly. If they are offered, you'd better pre-order. There were some SD70ACes in NS around, and they went after a little while longer than usual.

 I could give you a deal on a like new NKP, but I wouldn't re-paint it myself for you.

BTW, are you talking 3 or 2 rail? I'm guessing 3?

I know there are several here on the forum that have expressed interest about Lionel making Legacy ES44ac in the black NS paint scheme.  I would be very interested in purchasing one or even multiple ones if they make units in different road numbers.  I keep looking in each new catalog to see if they have one.  I believe there would be many interested in buying one; therefore, I believe it is just matter of time before Lionel will offer one.    

If you decide to get a differently livery for re-paint, make sure it is one that already has black trucks, etc.  That will eliminate another step in the painting process.

A couple of months ago several dealers were 'blowing-out' some of the less popular Heritage models.  Would be a great base for a repaint.

I would actually like to have one of the Heritage models (the Reading), but when they infrequently come up for sale they are in the $500 range!

Jim

I'm with Nick's Trains on this one.  Patience, patience, patience...and continue searching.  IMO the "thrill of the hunt"--and the subsequent joy derived from finding an item you've been searching a long time for--makes this hobby so much FUN!  Keep looking...eventually you will either find an older one, or one of the manufacturers will release a new one.  And enjoy the hunt!

I see that you have four options

Post on the Want to Buy Forum here if you haven't already done so.

Setup a search on eBay. you'll get an email when one gets posted.

Buy a non-NS version

replace the shell

or pop for a repaint. 

Good hunting...

Gilly

Easiest paint job in the world. Black and add some decals. I gave up on trying to give these importers any suggestions.

MTH for example does New tooling for SD45 and FAILS to produce the most / longest running paint scheme for that engine: Southern Pacific

I'm pretty darn sure I have one tucked away. My personal collection. NIB. Not displayed or run. I'll PM you later in the day with the particulars. Just checked for your email. Could not find it. Please email me at mzeigler4@verizon.net

Thank you.

Mark

SubwayLover, at times I too have problems looking for an item, which is already made, but is out of stock at my LHS.

In my case it's like a moving needle, in a moving haystack!!!!

Ralph

Patience Grasshopper - Is great advice.

Case in point.  In 2005 Atlas-O produced Santa Fe GP60M's.  The 60M's were part of the Santa Fe "Super Fleet" locomotives that Santa Fe used for their high-speed intermodal service.  

I wanted those puppies really bad, but at the time could not afford them.  MSRP for the powered units were $480 and $230 for non-powered units.  Time passed and I totally forgot about them.

As luck would have it I stumbled across two powered units and one non-powered units last Saturday.  EXACTLY what I wanted.  Total price $997 ($193 under msrp) all three units are mint condition, in sealed boxes and still in the original shipping cartons.  To sweeten it even more, the guy selling them lived 2 miles away so I picked them up at his house and saved $$$ on shipping and insurance.  

So, you never know.  You don't have to switch scales, but if you can wait, sooner or later your engine(s) WILL show up.  I hope you don't have to wait as long as I did.  But then again I was not looking for these engines at all.  If you view the Buy/Sell board on this forum and other forums regularly, keep an eye on the Bay you will find one or two.  And when you do you will enjoy a mild high.  

It has been two days and I am still grinning from ear-to-ear.  

GOOD LUCK.

SubwayLover

YOU really need to read Marks post to you. May make your day.

Larry

SubwayLover,

I checked my spread sheet and I do indeed have an ES44AC 20-2985-1 plain old black and white Norfolk Southern cab #8004. If interested please email me off list to discuss. mzeigler4@verizon.net Thank you.

Mark