Latest Lionel Big Boy “💥BOOM💥 “

Given the price and the number of times these get shipped it’s not a shock they arrive damaged. My UPS, FedEx and USPS treat boxes like footballs and just toss them onto my front porch. Thank god for my security cams as the record everything.

China to a customers clearance to Lionel to the distributors to dealer to us. A minimum of 6 shipping hops before we see them.

I have asked my dealer to double pack my items and I will pay the extra fees.

Just got the GWH Bush funeral train, want going to open it but I guess I have too now.

Better packaging goes a long way.

Packaging may very well be the cause of a number of defects, but I just got one of the new Shiny 4014 Big Boy's in from a customer and the pilot touches the center rail.  I disassembled it and it is the long frame piece that is the issue.  No way to just bend it back into place - have to get a RA and send it back to Lionel.  No way this was test run at the factory!

Interesting to see if anyone else runs in to this issue.

Jim

Checking to see the Excursion version in action.

@John Rowlen posted:

Checking to see the Excursion version in action.

There is one on the first page of this thread. It's a YouTube video with a link and it's not embedded in the post so you may have to look for it.

@Jim Sandman posted:

Packaging may very well be the cause of a number of defects, but I just got one of the new Shiny 4014 Big Boy's in from a customer and the pilot touches the center rail.  I disassembled it and it is the long frame piece that is the issue.  No way to just bend it back into place - have to get a RA and send it back to Lionel.  No way this was test run at the factory!

Interesting to see if anyone else runs in to this issue.

Jim

Wow.  Too many defects for something that costs this much $$$$. 

Looking for video or pictures of 2031261 Excursion without "Big Boy" chalk marks.

I have had that issue with the Engine Tab that holds the connects the tender on my Niagara and Hudson. I used electrical tap to prevent the tab from hitting the 3rd rail. Eventually I will cut it off - shorten it but in the mean time electrical tape works.

Interestingly enough, it does not always happen but I found that after watching it the grade and number of cars plays a role. in addition, strange, but it happens, the rail manufactures also plays a role. Bottom, line, that should not happen - it simply 1/8 too long.

I have the excursion version 4014 (2031261). The trailing trucks and tender are from the challenger with satin finish and silver caps. It is exactly the same as the First run without the chalk lettering and glossy shell. I added the chalk decal. If you look at the Lionel catalog the first run edition should be the only model with the challenger trucks and tender. It looks like Lionel made a production change or the catalog was incorrect. I haven't run it yet to see if everything is OK. The paint is perfect.

Is the decal included with the excursion version?

The decal was not included, I ordered on line from Circus City Decals. I purchased a full set. for $11.99.

@Mfradin posted:

The decal was not included, I ordered on line from Circus City Decals. I purchased a full set. for $11.99.

Thank you for the information. I ordered the decals for mine. 

@MDuppy posted:

Thank you for the information. I ordered the decals for mine. 

Ditto! Thank you for sharing! 

Circus City offers good quality decals. I used this set to reletter my 844. It has all the decals you need for the steam power used on the 4014 first run, both 4014 and 844.

Pete

@John Rowlen posted:

Looking for video or pictures of 2031261 Excursion without "Big Boy" chalk marks.

me too...  please post

Here are some quick pictures.

Michael, it’ s gorgeous!—Keith Levine

Wow thanks for posting!  My dealer cant get any, so looks like I am keeping my 1st run edition.  I pick it up today...

I actually ordered the first run edition and received this. the dealer was one of the larger forum sponsors. After opening and realizing it is the same except for the glossy finish, I was ok with it.

Here’s some more shots of the excursion version, 2031261.  Seem to run just fine on the rollers.  All functions are working, smokes like a champ.  FWIW, it was packed in the carton standing up, not on the side, as was the tender.  

Great pics and video.  Is the smoke synced to the chuffing?  Doesn’t look like it from the video.

Any sightings of 4005?

@superwarp1 posted:

Great pics and video.  Is the smoke synced to the chuffing?  Doesn’t look like it from the video.

Yes the smoke is synced.  The wheel slip demo doesn’t show it well as it increases speed quickly.

I just picked up mine...  Here is a compare with the Vision Line 4014...

The Satin Gloss on the 1st run tender looks more than the Vision Hudson in the background.

Super O Bob

now with (6) Legacy Big Boys on the Roster! 

4006 Vision, 4012 Greyhound, 4014 Vision, 4014 1st Run, 4018 Vision, 4024 JLC

@Rich Melvin posted:

Which diesel are you going to use to shove the Big Boy around the layout?

After all, that would be prototypical. 

I am pushing my BigBoy with a ES44AC. 😂 have to geek it real.

@PSU1980 posted:

1.  My UPS, FedEx and USPS treat boxes like footballs and just toss them onto my front porch. Thank god for my security cams as the record everything.

2.  I have asked my dealer to double pack my items and I will pay the extra fees.

3.  Better packaging goes a long way.

1. Wow, that sucks for you. Has having the "security cams" helped you file any claims? I just happened to be home yesterday, looked up and saw the Fed Ex person drop off something; she came up the steps to the front door, laid the package down, rang the doorbell (which completely freaked out my dogs!  , and that was that...no "footballing" involved.  

2. Good idea.

3. Very true...although I will say (and this has nothing to do with "factory packaging"), I've had a couple items bought through eBay where the seller, in their over zealous attempt to minimize shipping damage, has wrapped the item so tightly as to cause (usually minor) damage even before it gets boxed up!   

Mark in Oregon

The replacement greyhound is spot on! No issues or broken parts. Picture of it and the tender together.

So I’m curious as to the exact function of this “stack cover” on the 4014 Excursion version(2031261).  I’m sure all versions came with this piece.  But was it used frequently or even necessary?  BTW, smoke is set on “low”.  All this is assuming I have it installed correctly, had to bend the pins slightly to make it seat flush.  Thx in advance for the help.

@TedW posted:

So I’m curious as to the exact function of this “stack cover” on the 4014 Excursion version(2031261).  I’m sure all versions came with this piece.  But was it used frequently or even necessary?  BTW, smoke is set on “low”.  All this is assuming I have it installed correctly, had to bend the pins slightly to make it seat flush.  Thx in advance for the help.

 

 

That is the "Exhaust Deflector" for deflecting the exhaust rearward when inside a tunnel on an ascending grade. It is split in 2 halves, which fold down on either side of the twin exhaust stack arrangement. Thus, the force of the exhaust is NOT blasting vertically against the inside of the tunnel lining (roof). Both the UP 3900 class (Challengers) and 4000 class locomotives were equipped with those deflectors, where were closed & opened by air cylinders, manually operated by the Engineer when so required.

Interesting HW.  Thanks again. Did the deflector store recessed into the “tub” surrounding the stacks?  Before asking, I searched vintage UP Big Boy photos to check if I could find that part, and with many to view didn’t see the deflector deployed or the “halves” hanging off the side.

@TedW posted:

Interesting HW.  Thanks again. Did the deflector store recessed into the “tub” surrounding the stacks?

Yes.

 Before asking, I searched vintage UP Big Boy photos to check if I could find that part, and with many to view didn’t see the deflector deployed or the “halves” hanging off the side.

Since the halves fold down (retract) downward beside the exhaust stack, but hidden within the surrounding sheet metal "tub",  they are thus pretty difficult to see when retracted.

Just going over everything I was VEREY happy that there was no locomotive damage especially since the box had a big hole punched in from the shipping carton all the way to the styrofoam. (Need to start telling my dealer to double box no matter what). Anyway happen to notice that the builders plate has a incorrect serial number for 4014 or at least different from the VL issue. You know how small this is so the pictures aren’t great but the “first run” has a serial of “69587” and the Vision version has “69585” witch from what I can tell is the correct ALCO serial. Just thought it was interesting it’s so small no big deal 😜

pretty unrelated but i must ask 

where do you get rollers like these from? would be super nice to test engines on.

@acrking76 posted:

pretty unrelated but i must ask 

where do you get rollers like these from? would be super nice to test engines on.

Micromark

Another thing I noticed is this time we actually got kinematic drawbar. Only on the tender side but still nice. 

My new First Edition Big Boy looks, runs, and sounds great except smoke output is weak. The owner’s manual says, “DO NOT EXCEED 20 DROPS per stack”. Since the Big Boy has 2 stack holes, does that mean that the initial prime of the smoke units should be a TOTAL OF 40 DROPS OF SMOKE FLUID? I’m reluctant to add more than 20 drops total, for fear of overfilling the smoke units. Anyone know how many drops of smoke fluid to start the new Legacy Big Boys?

@Peter C I reread the manual like 5 times to make sure I understood correctly. They don’t say it but while it has “2” smoke units they are 1 for the main stack and 1 for the whistle. This is another dual smoke unit. So filling the stack fills the whistle but the whistle has its own element. The dual stacks funnel down to the same spot. Hope this clears that up

I ordered two versions - the "First Run Edition" and the "Greyhound."  

They are spectacular - here are two close up run by shots of each - hope you all enjoy! 

First Run Edition #4014

Greyhound Edition #4012

From a QC perspective - they arrived in excellent shape with the exception of the following issues/items to note:

• 4014
  • Front bell was missing from the boiler, only to be found under the tender in the box - simple fix and I re-attached
  • The tender itself appears to be a VL Challenger style tender - it is different in weight relative to the BB tender as well as some few small aesthetics in addition to the location of the master volume knob 
    • For some reason, the master volume was turned all the way down upon arrival (which I have since turned back-up to max volume )- you can actually hear the difference in the two in my videos above
• 4012
  • Firebox Glow does not work - not a deal-breaker for me - is what it is 
  • Small broken hand rail on the front pilot - used a little gorilla glue and has been fixed

I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during these times. 

Best,

Michael 

How much firebox glow should there be from an oil burning steam engine?

@John Rowlen posted:

How much firebox glow should there be from an oil burning steam engine?

Lol. I know we had this discussion over the oil burning challengers last year😂. In this case doesn’t look like Lionel changed the tooling (shocker) and the two big fire box doors are still in these with the firebox flicker. No ash pan glow that I’ve noticed but there’s still ash pans 😂

@superwarp1 posted:

LMAO.  Rich keep that up you are going to get banned.

Yep...he has been a problem child for a while now.  Looks like it is time to get that heavy handed moderator on to him!