Legacy Crane Cars

It is by far my favorite operating car, or accessory.

The sounds come out of the purchased separately boom car ..... the sounds of the operating crane, the engine, and the workers speaking. It really makes the crane car come alive. I turn off the "crew talk" on my Legacy engines, but I love hearing the men talking as they work the crane ... I get a kick out of it.

I set up things around the layout for the crane to pick up ... wheelsets, etc. At Christmas time, the crane removes a jeep with Santa driving, stuck on the rails.

I sold my previous crane/boom sets when I changed era/railroad. But, I'm eagerly awaiting the new sets to become available ... I have a MOW on order.

Its a cool little toy.

Good luck.

Most likely the best operating crane made so far. I have not used one of the sets(crane & boom) together. I have used the crane before they made the boom cars. I had the crane on a trestle lifting heavy items up that were about 2' below the crane. I have 2 sets and I two more on order. I was surprised not to see the Bethlehem Steel set in the 2015 catalog. I know some dealers are selling the set of 2 for about $510. I know that they will make a great addition to someone's fleet.

When this set works it's a great accessory for all the reasons others have mentioned above. One look inside of the crane reveals why it costs what it does; it's got multiple motors and a complicated cable and control system - I'd rate it a more intricate operating model than most locomotives. Take a look at the exploded view in the attached service documents and you'll see what I mean.

P.S. I imagine that they assembly of the crane is a very labor-intensive exercise, which is another factor relating to its cost.

There are certain problems with the TMCC version which have been discussed on other threads, particularly the sound cutting out and the operation of the outrigger supports. Lionel has put back the shipping date for the Legacy versions of the crane and boom car to Dec. 2015 and there has been reference in another thread to the sound system still being under development. I wouldn't expect Lionel to produce new hardware for this model although the outrigger mechanism, which is basically spring-loaded and I find needs adjustment to keep the outriggers in place, could really do with improvement. It's not a feature I use any more. (I'd be content if the Legacy version did not include it but it is cataloged as having it.)

If they made a Boston and Maine version, I'm in, and would get the Legacy system to boot.  I have seen this car on other people's layouts and it is VERY cool.

I have the Pennsy crane and boom car.  You just cannot get bored with all the features packed into this car.  You have control of both hooks, the boom, and cab rotation.  When used with the sound car you get all the matching sounds when using the crane.  Huge play value.  Inside the crane, its packed with 4 motors.  Each motor is for each of the functions of the crane.  Plus three circuit boards to control all the features.  Its truly a work of art.  If I did not own one I would have ordered one.

It also comes with 6 blocks.  When you deploy the outriggers, you can put the blocks under the out riggers to simulate extra stability needed for lifting heavy loads.  Finally, you have 2 headlights in the front and one at the rear.  All controllable by the remote.

Same here. I might even sell my MOW version for one of those!  Best piece of operating rolling stock Lionel ever made in my opinion. The price is not that much more than the original TMCC version when I got mine way back when. 

I have two earlier versions of the crane car the NYC crane and boom car and the Pennsylvania crane without the boom ( I am looking for the boom). About ten years ago I was at York and asked Todd ? If they could make the portal gantry crane with this new crane atop the structure. He said that it was in the planning phase. He was out of Lionel before the next York. I would love that accessory.

Don't kid yourself guys (OP and others), this is a great product, even a little underpriced if we are being honest here.

Where else where will find a highly detailed, operating, and decorated crane for close to this price?

A little known fact that tweaked the O scale guys... well not really tweaked because many O Scalers did not even catch that one of the contest items from last year started life as a Lionel crane and boom car.

http://marchmeet.net/Pix/2014/2014_winners.shtml

Truth be told, there were not many entries, but this one also did well, but did not win the "popular" vote.

Regardless, this is a beautiful piece. If you cannot afford that's fine, but to say it's not worth it? Well then I don't think you are living in the real world.

Charlie

IMO, the outriggers are pretty useless.  Since you have to manually retract them after deployment, what's the point?  In addition, you have to use the stands for them to be functional.  After getting mine adjusted to stay closed, I don't ever bother with them, they're one of the only things I really think is poorly done on this accessory.  Other than that, I love the crane, it has a great WOW factor.

This is another strong vote for getting a crane car - I have the TMCC B&O Chessie version and clearly it is the most popular operating car / accessory that I have.  Great sounds, flawless operations (except for the outriggers as GRJ mentioned).  I use it for picking up things like balsa wood crates to load onto an adjacent track. I don't often see them for sale on the buy/sell forum, so that tells me people who have them like them.  Is it worth it?  In my opinion, it is without any shadow of a doubt.  As with many items on our layout, these are not inexpensive toys that we play with, but this one pays back the investment with tremendous play value.

Gentlemen,

    I have one on pre-order, can't wait till they get here!

Guns my PC was completely destroyed last night, if you would please drop me your info again on my secure home computer Pine-Creek@Comcast.net.  I would appreciate it.

PCRR/Dave

Regarding the OP's comment about price, (a) most dealers are offering the crane and boom car for somewhat more than the crane would cost on its own at the catalog prices and (b) essentially what you will get is something as feature-laden as, if not more than, most diesel sets. The crane certainly has crowd-pleasing potential and I've found that youngsters can master the basic controls if you are running Legacy. Is it worth the (street) price for the new version? Yes.

It's interesting however that Lionel has only catalogued five Legacy models and they all have diesel/air horn sound effects. There were several more road names in the TMCC version line-up and the majority of them had steam/whistle sounds. I smell a conspiracy to make those collectors' items . . . 

NO, NO, NO - I'm only kidding!

I'm waiting for a Norfolk Southern version, then I'll get the set.

Here's a review of one from Eric's Trains from a few years ago. Don't know if the newer ones add anything to these or not?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RTxJ__IY-8

I would have ordered one from the current catalog myself, but the culvert loader-unloader set, log loader, coal loader and gantry crane cleaned me out before I got to the crane car and tender. 

Again?  What's going on with your computers?

I guess it's good that I have the steam MOW version.  Good for any RR and has the steam sounds.

Guns,

   See the other thread, Loss of a good computer.

PCRR/Dave

No smoke units in these cranes.

My Grandson-age 9 gets bored with the trains in 15 minutes, but he'll play with the crane and boom by the hour.

Thanks for the reminder about Eric's video - as always the gold standard of product reviews.

In it he makes clear why there's no smoke feature, which would also be obvious if you are really interested enough/take the trouble to look at the parts diagram: there's no room inside the crane for anything else besides the motors, pulley mechanism and electronics. Besides, a smoke feature would up the cost, which I thought was something some posters objected to.

New features? New sound, as already mentioned above.

IMO these crane cars were worthy of VL status 9 years ago when Lionel first offered them. Arguably the best TMCC/Legacy anything Lionel has ever offered including locos.

These are fairly accurate scale models with the accurate sounds to go with it.

I have one of the "steam cranes" heres video ( I believe this belongs to another forum member) so you can hear the steam crane sounds.

the crane and boom car are the SCHIZZLE!

   I've had guests preoccupy themselves for quite awhile on my Christmas Carpet Central.......the type that DO want to see the layout but their eyes sort of glaze over...until I ask them to pickup the container off the flat car.  How they ask?

  Well I show them by picking one up and transferring to another car on a siding.....Once the crane n' boom cars start going.....they honestly are "hooked"

 that is why I bought an extra TMCC 1 hand controller

You have a point; despite some operating glitches these cranes were an admirable innovation on Lionel's part with great play/entertainment value. I wonder whose idea they were? 

Come to think about it, after watching the videos I wonder whether the Legacy version will have similar crew sounds to the TMCC. On another thread Rudy from Lionel posted this comment:

"The legacy boom car will have the fun features of the original TMCC version, plus quilling whistle and a collection of motion sounds as the car moves along the track--rail clatter, wheel flange and bumping sounds. These are similar to what we did for the Vision tank cars. The forthcoming vision reefer boxcars will also have this sort of wheels-and-tracks sound effects."

The TMCC crew voices just strike me as more authentic than some Legacy offerings. I swear one of the crane crew is the same guy you hear on the Vision tank cars!

Got a grandson the same age, that's the main reason I want the crane car, and hopefully I will get to play with it too.

I can not wait to get the CSX CRANE AND BOOM CAR SET!!! Hopefully it will be a Merry Christmas....Wow...Great Post, Fun Machine!!

Great piece of equipment!

My sound in the Boom Car went out.  GR John repaired it for me and all is running well.

I will echo the statements here that this piece is a lot of fun......even if just developing new loads to move.........

They are far more enjoyable as a set in my opinion......the sounds really add to it!

Dave

Hey thanks everyone. With so many votes for this being a great operating car I think I might just pick this thing up when it becomes available. Regarding the price, Eric's trains vid is only 4 years old and MSRP at that time was like $500 for both cars.  Now it's like $750. Any idea why the 50% bump in price for basically the same items?  

You are looking at the prices Lionel catalogs the Legacy version of these cars for, which I agree runs to about $750 for the set but is essentially meaningless because that's NOT what you'll pay at retail. For example, Charles Ro lists the set for $510 and at that price the Legacy version is only about $10 more than the TMCC version sold for. I've ordered mine from Charlie Nassau and his price is just as good as any other main dealer at only marginally more than $500. 

P.S. I don't know why the substantial "bump" in the catalog price although it has been 7 years since the last TMCC issue and 10 since the original one. It does strike me as odd for Lionel to hike up the catalog price of the crane by almost half (to $499 from $339) although the boom car increase was much less (around $30) Whatever the thinking behind this however the actual price you pay for the set new from a dealer has hardly moved at all since 2008.

Hancock - not that it really matters because a discussion on price or whether people think the bump is justified or not - is academic.  But if I think you're comparing apples to oranges. Charlie Ro's 2015 actual price against 7 year old Ro actual price is a fair comparison. Not Ro's 2015 actual pricing against 2008 MSRP.  Presumably, Ro pricing 7 years ago was also less than MSRP at the time.

Anyway, at around $500, this is a pricey car set - but now that I know what's involved and seeing how many people think it's the best operating accessory, it does seem justifiable.

I paid $500 for my set several years ago, no regrets given the complexity of the features with the synchronized sound that work great. Keep in mind the crane is all diecast as well, very heavy.

Again, IMO,its more worthy of the $500 street price than most $500 locos. Theres nothing else like it in O guage or any other scale that I'm aware of, outside of the prototype.

I had the same experience - paying $500 for my PRR set, which was in the aftermarket some time after it was issued. And I agree that it's far better than most locos that retail for that price.

That's really the end of the story; either you think it's worth the price that you will actually pay, which is the only relevant price, or you don't.

Does anyone know if there's much difference in operation between the older TMCC versions and the Legacy versions?

Since the Legacy models have not shipped, that would be hard to say.

I've heard that the crane car itself works pretty much the same way, the improvements are in the boom car sounds.

I think it would be hard to implement any new mechanical features because the crane is already stuffed with motors, cables, pulleys, boards and wiring and indeed no such new features are advertised for the Legacy version. The main difference is expected to be in the sound and as mentioned above there will be sound effects while the set is in motion and not just when the crane is being operated.

I just hope they don't substitute some totally anodyne voices/dialogue for the TMCC version, which you can hear on the videos RickO has linked to. (If I could remember Rudy from Lionel's - "Railsounds'" - email address I think I'd ask what's intended.)

Thanks, John. My mistake - I thought there might have been a previous run with Legacy, but I was basing that on a Lionel video (which happens to use the same BN crane Eric Seigel has in his video) which demonstrates using the crane and boom car with the Legacy controller. Looking more closely, they indicate it is a TMCC crane.

I'd like to pair a Legacy boom car with my crane, but I suspect I'll have to replace the whole thing with the Legacy version to get the proper operation.

I think the only thing "Legacy" would be the boom car. The crane doesn't know any different and since both are programmed under one id..... It may warrant an email to Rudy.