Galy (Pat) got the ball rolling with a quick review of the new Lionel Alco FA Green set. I took some time today to take some detailed pictures and a short video. I apologize in advance for starting a second thread, but I did not want my 20+ picture getting buried in another thread.
Hopefully I address some of the issues that Pat noted in his thread (link below)
https://ogrforum.com/...passenger-set-review
This is the master carton.
This is the set box, same look and feel as the Conventional Classics from several years ago.
The box has Velcro to keep the box closed.
The manual was the only document in the box. Everything fit nicely. No insets.
This is the engine box, as Mike W. noted, they are very thin. Once I take the engine out, I won't put it back in, ever. The passenger cars will go back.
To get the engine and dummy out, I try and push it out so as to not tear the box.
Love that Paper! I remove all of the paper and try and flatten them out.
spare traction tires are included.
The rivets on the front and back are painted. That is a nice touch.
Here is the underside. Two powered trucks, each with a pickup.
As a comparison, this is the underside of the Conventional Classics UP Alco FA from 2012, it has a Pullmor motor. Both are heavy units, the new Green Alco weights 3 pounds 2 ounces, while the Yellow UP weights 3 pounds 6 ounces. The dummy unit for the green Alco is 2 pounds 10 ounces, or about 6 ounces more than the UP dummy.
The volume control and direction lock are underneath the front truck.
I opened up a passenger car, there are two lights, this is the same as the CC UP passenger cars and just as dim, as Pat noted.
The manual says that the set has LEDs, but the cars use the 18 volt mini bulbs. A spare is included with each car.
As Pat noted, the coupler sticks upwards. The reason, I believe is that the trucks on the green Alco sit higher which does not allow for the coupler to clear the frame. These are different trucks because the engine uses can motors. Both engines use the same coupler.
Here is the page from the manual regarding LED lights.
This is the top of the unit, note the open hole. I suspect that this is the same shell that will be used for the LionChief Plus FAs that will have smoke.
Regarding the thickness of the shell, its actually a bit larger than the 1950 UP Alco. Its a different plastic material, and given the weight of the Green Alco units, Pat's recommendation to pick them up by the frame should be followed.
This is the front of the cab, there is a board to manage the LED. Its the same in both units.
There is one LED bulb in each unit. It lights the headlight, the number boards and the cab.
The shell is off the powered unit. Two motors and all that electrical stuff.
a close up of the electrical board.
All four axles have Magne-Traction!
Here is the close up of the coupler. If it did not have that metal bracket on the bottom, it would probably clear, but Pat noted that it would just stay open. Lionel should provide a coupler that fits properly. I suspect that the coupler for the LionChief Plus FAs will fit ok.
For those that are not aware of how beautiful the original PW 2400 series passenger cars are, this is the money shot below of the open vestibule on the left.
The Conventional Classic and the new Green passenger cars have the window insert in the door (similar to the look from 1950 as shown below). That is a nice touch. Unlike the 1950 model, the silver roof vents are just bolted to the roof from the underside, as such they do not open the roof if you try to unscrew them, there are screws on the bottom under the trucks. How to open the roof is not explained in the manual, because the manual thinks there are LEDs in the passenger cars. The trucks look good on the new cars as well (please disregard the difference in height for the couplers).
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The yellow car on the left below, is an MPC era car, note that the door window is filled in. I think the bulbs are 14 volt minis, they are much brighter. I switched the bulbs, and the green cars lit up brightly. So, I think if I replace the bulbs with 14 volt minis the cars will be brighter.
Here is a close up of the MPC era passenger car on the left and the new green cars on the right. Notice no silver roof vents on the MPC era car.
Below is a family portrait of the 2400 trucks. The only one that is way different is the one on the far right which is from a Northern Pacific car (note the thumbtack coupler). On the far left is the car from 1950, it has a magnetic coil.
Here is the engine all lit up. It runs very smoothly. The horn is loud.
This is the catalog ad from 2012 on the UP Anniversary set (there was a two car add on set as well). The retail price was $459.99
This ad for the 2017 Alco set is below. It retails for $549.99 or about $90 more than the UP set. My preorder price at Eastside Trains was $479 versus $389 for the UP set from 2012.
Thankfully, those thumbtack couplers were not used on the passenger cars. The maintenance free motors are a plus.
(those rivets in the front are painted green on the actual car)
I have had way too much fun with my Lionel Five Star General with the Bluetooth. If I can swap the shells of this set with the LionChief Plus FA set, that may be the way to go.
Hope this helps, Dave
