Is the NYC J3a set out yet? Has anyone gotten theirs?
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No not yet waiting on mine too.
Same here, waiting.
I receive the set the other day. Very nice set. Here's a few photos of the engine and some passenger cars.
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NICE! Engine performance?
Why can't Lionel lose those green Metra windows? Is clear plastic hard to come by?
RickO posted:Why can't Lionel lose those green Metra windows? Is clear plastic hard to come by?
It's not supposed to be Depression Glass is it?
RickO posted:Why can't Lionel lose those green Metra windows? Is clear plastic hard to come by?
I’m glad somebody else noticed this too.....so I’m not alone?....Pat
Did anyone notice the lettering on at least one car varies from the others? The first car pictured has the older NYC font and in the other photos the font is the "modern" font.
Nice set !
NYC Fan posted:Did anyone notice the lettering on at least one car varies from the others? The first car pictured has the older NYC font and in the other photos the font is the "modern" font.
No did not notice and looking at it having a hard time seeing any difference if there is one.
NYC Fan posted:Did anyone notice the lettering on at least one car varies from the others? The first car pictured has the older NYC font and in the other photos the font is the "modern" font.
Agreed two styles it appears from angle and lighting of photo. First coach matches tender lettering.
Gweedo posted:NYC Fan posted:Did anyone notice the lettering on at least one car varies from the others? The first car pictured has the older NYC font and in the other photos the font is the "modern" font.
No did not notice and looking at it having a hard time seeing any difference if there is one.
There’s both font styles used by the NYC on this set....Railroad Roman, which is early, and Gothic which is later!......YIKES!!!......guess they ain’t fixing that either??......goodness me oh my!!!............Pat
LOL I still can't tell one from the other.
NYC has had different fonts & different colors ! Do not Fret ! Just run the Trains & have fun !
WRGMILW posted:NYC has had different fonts & different colors ! Do not Fret ! Just run the Trains & have fun !
For 2 thousand dollars I’d expect a smidgeon of accuracy......Pat
Man, it’s a shame that it seems every time someone posts a pic of their newly acquired bit of model train, it gets picked to pieces for inaccuracies of detail, paint color, etc., etc. It’s got to be heart breaking, especially if you are saying it costs 2 grand. I lost interest when the whole shmeer went to Legacy. I’ll play around with my small collection of 90 + year old prewar standard gauge toys. This new stuff is too stressful to be any fun. That said, I hope you enjoy it anyway.
I agree $2000 is alot of money !
That set is out of my price range ! Based on the pictures , the set still looks good .
I thought the Pacemaker was a Freight Train ! not a Passenger ! I like NYC ! I have many Mth Railking NYC engines , freight & Passenger cars .
I hope the set runs well for those lucky enough to afford one !
WRGMILW posted:I agree $2000 is alot of money !
That set is out of my price range ! Based on the pictures , the set still looks good .
It does, and please understand, I’m in no way picking a fight with you, that’s why I replied.....but as a NYC modeler, I’d be pretty ill to have to rework a 2 grand train set that they easily could have gotten right off the get-go.....there’s different perspectives for everybody on the forum....,I sincerely hope the fella that pictured the set for us to see on here is as happy as can be....that’s absolutely fine!..no harm no foul, but for me...I wouldn’t be happy with mismatched fonts on a set that the Central was so proud of to put in the rails and compete against the Pennsy’s Trailblazer set......and thanks to the fella that took the time to post the pictures!,.........Pat
Gweedo posted:LOL I still can't tell one from the other.
Just look at the letter “N” in New. On the first car the vertical lines are much narrower in the middle than at the ends. Also the letter has short horizontal lines at both the top and bottom. On the other cars the vertical lines of the “N” are uniform from top to bottom and have no horizontal lines at the ends.
I thought it was odd the passenger cars from the same set would have different styles of lettering. Interestingly enough 1939 happened to be the year that the lettering began to switch over from Roman to Gothic. Could this have been intentional? In examining the photos of the set in the catalog, there is definitely a mix of the two styles. Thought I'd throw it out there.
To Harmon
No offence here , I hope you enjoy the set if you bought it or plan on buying it .
NYC Fan posted:I thought it was odd the passenger cars from the same set would have different styles of lettering. Interestingly enough 1939 happened to be the year that the lettering began to switch over from Roman to Gothic. Could this have been intentional? Seriously doubt it but thought I'd throw it out there.
Correct Skip, ‘39 is when the transition began on a railroad wide font change to existing equipment. The Pacemaker was all new in 39 with older cars, but they were all dolled up to to compete with the Pennsy’s Trailblazer.....All the pics I have of the 39 Pacemaker show it with the later Gothic font. If someone can show me different.....I’m all ears..(and eyes)
obviously, not all equipment was changed overnight, some didn’t ever get changed, but if the piece came in for rebuilding, shopping, or damage repairs, it got changed to Gothic....that’s why you’d see early 4-6-2 Pacifics for example, after a shopping wearing the the proud new font.......Pat
WRGMILW posted:To Harmon
No offence here , I hope you enjoy the set if you bought it or plan on buying it .
Thanks buddy, it is a pretty set, and I thought of getting it.....I didn’t pull the trigger, as I already have the Kline Pacemaker. Pete ( Norton) turned me onto a Pacemaker by Kline that came available so I snapped it up....but yes, definitely meant no offense, and I hope that those that bought it are delighted!,.......Pat
I didn't know Lionel made a Pacemaker set in 1939. 
I really do enjoy getting the history lessons here and on other topics on the forum. I ordered this set as well mainly because I didn't like the other Hudson's offered at the time. I did manage to get in on the Mr. Muffin's offering which I am very happy with as well.
With the lettering off, it doesn't bother me about it but makes me wonder if the other sets made are going to be all over the place or be uniform. Given how things usually turn up, I guess we'll see what comes along. Hopefully the lettering is the only issue.
I guess when I get mine, I can bluff that that particular car was rushed or not touched in the car shop because they had the bum crew working that week.
I'm happy it says New York Central! Don't forget the set that came from Lionel in 2002 with the beautiful, scale sized, highly detailed TMCC NYC J3a Hudson pulling Lionel Lines Madison Cars.
NYC Fan posted:I'm happy it says New York Central! Don't forget the set that came from Lionel in 2002 with the beautiful, scale sized, highly detailed TMCC NYC J3a Hudson pulling Lionel Lines Madison Cars.
This is most true Skip!...I’d reckon we just count our blessings and move on huh?......Pat
harmonyards posted:NYC Fan posted:I'm happy it says New York Central! Don't forget the set that came from Lionel in 2002 with the beautiful, scale sized, highly detailed TMCC NYC J3a Hudson pulling Lionel Lines Madison Cars.
This is most true Skip!...I’d reckon we just count our blessings and move on huh?......Pat
Absolutely right Pat. I'm more interested in knowing how this came about.
1. Is there a photo history of the Pacemaker having mixed lettering?
2. If so, would you have expected Lionel to carry out this level of detail?
NYC Fan posted:harmonyards posted:NYC Fan posted:I'm happy it says New York Central! Don't forget the set that came from Lionel in 2002 with the beautiful, scale sized, highly detailed TMCC NYC J3a Hudson pulling Lionel Lines Madison Cars.
This is most true Skip!...I’d reckon we just count our blessings and move on huh?......Pat
Absolutely right Pat. I'm more interested in knowing how this came about.
1. Is there a photo history of the Pacemaker having mixed lettering?
2. If so, would you have expected Lionel to carry out this level of detail?
Those are great questions Skip. I just wonder if we'd ever get an answer. Maybe Ryan would be able to answer, but would he?
I'm surprised no one notice the passenger car trucks on the photos I posted above. Lionel has offered both 6 wheel trucks and 4 wheel trucks on the passenger cars. Its in the description for this set. The varying fonts correspond to the trucks.
4-wheel trucks:
6-wheel trucks:
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I had not noticed the trucks until you mentioned it!
The NYC stationsounds diner car catalog image has early font with 6 wheel trucks.
The 2 tone grey heavyweights from 2006 all have 4 wheel trucks with later font.
To be honest, there’s a lot of grey area ( no pun intended) as to the what the actual consist of the 39 Pacemaker actually was.....some say it had lightweights in the original 39 consist, others say it was a strictly a heavyweight set until 1940 .....then lightweights were added. The two-tone grey cars were switched out some time in 40 for the smooth side green cars. The Coach Yard offers both sets in HO scale brass.(39 & later) in their 39 set, there are no lightweight ( 4 axle cars) and all lettering is Gothic font. I’ve looked at all I can see in my books, and on line.....the only certainty I can gather from every piece of information I’ve found is the Central hurriedly put this set together to get at that particular market share that the Pennsy was enjoying an exclusive of. That’s from reading other forums, and what I’ve seen in the books I have here.....
The Hudson 5410, aside form the markers, I’d have to say in fairly accurately depicted....I have a photo in one of the books depicting her brand spanking new in Dec. of 37, so she’d still been a youngster at the head of the Pacemaker....
Pat
RickO posted:
Well, Norton is an expert; I just know some stuff.
Mixed lettering styles in most RR equipment is/was not rare, as in the real RR world their equipment does not all come out in "sets", at least after the initial introduction. Things are done as they can be done. I do not have any specific knowledge of the real Pacemaker equipment in question, but I have a suspicion that Lionel did this right - lettering and trucks. Pretty nice, if so.
GregM posted:Gweedo posted:LOL I still can't tell one from the other.
Just look at the letter “N” in New. On the first car the vertical lines are much narrower in the middle than at the ends. Also the letter has short horizontal lines at both the top and bottom. On the other cars the vertical lines of the “N” are uniform from top to bottom and have no horizontal lines at the ends.
OK took me a while but now I see it.
Most probably sold for 1799 not full price, and at that price it's a great train. Looks great next to the Vision 700E.
- Lionel 1922050 - LEGACY J3a Pacemaker Passenger Set "New York Central" - Includes Baggage; 2 Coaches; and Observation - Just in - 2 Left - Regularly $1999.99 - Sale Priced at $1799.99
- Lionel 1922050E - J3a Pacemaker Steam Engine "New York Central" #5410 (Engine Only) - Just in - Sale Priced at $1259.99
WRGMILW posted:I agree $2000 is alot of money !
That set is out of my price range ! Based on the pictures , the set still looks good .
I thought the Pacemaker was a Freight Train ! not a Passenger ! I like NYC ! I have many Mth Railking NYC engines , freight & Passenger cars .
I hope the set runs well for those lucky enough to afford one !
Wait a year, you'll find that set on ePay for half of the retail price, or less. Patience!
george posted:WRGMILW posted:I agree $2000 is alot of money !
That set is out of my price range ! Based on the pictures , the set still looks good .
I thought the Pacemaker was a Freight Train ! not a Passenger ! I like NYC ! I have many Mth Railking NYC engines , freight & Passenger cars .
I hope the set runs well for those lucky enough to afford one !
Wait a year, you'll find that set on ePay for half of the retail price, or less. Patience!
Looks like a nice set, I'm thinking you are overly optimistic on getting a deal in 2020! 😊
