LCT shipping in, July 31, 2012

As usual, thanks for posting the list.

Anybody getting one of these trolleys?  I don’t remember much buzz about these when the catalog came out. Then again, that was winter 2010-11 so it’s been awhile.

They interest me but I'm rather broke right now.

Was wondering:  I assume Lionel originally made the #8 with one motor and the #9 with two motors.  Was the single motored-version not powerful enough to pull itself along?  It's not like you're going to have it pull anything?

I have a Williams reproduction of the #8 (one motor, traditional of course) and it just glides around the layout effortlessly - including up the 2% grade.  I like trolleys anyway, but there's something (the long wheelbase?), that gives this a very smooth ride and no lack of power.  No doubt the second motor would give it more snap, but certainly not needed. 

Whatever may have been the original reason for the double-motored #9, I believe the issue wouldn't exist with the modern motors.  Like the whole 381 State set debacle: modern reproduction 381's can tow a whole string of cars.

I also prefer the #8's green over the orange creamsicle.

I have one of the Green MTH #9's.  Runs really smooth.  I have different flavors of #9's including an original and several flavors of repro.  I still run the MTH just because of the sounds and absolute smoothness.  Only one minor item is that the inside has a huge black box where the motor and sound system electronics sit.  Kind of odd and not like the original.  But I'm ok with it, it runs so well, I just can't complain.

Marc, that is really interesting.,  I have only ever seen the 8 in green and the 9 in orange, whether vintage or reproduction.  Just goes to show, there's always more to know.  Thanks.

I've been looking forward to these for some time and will definitely be getting one, probably the #8 with Proto-Sound. Does anyone have experience with the DCS trolley programming capability? I imagine it can't be too sophisticated - probably just bopping between a few stops with callouts at each one, but it seems like the kind of thing that could add a lot of interest to a layout.