Lionel 2027240 UP 2 Car Set Observation

In the catalog its pictured as the Lone Star Business car with the open vestibule.

I ordered the set to get this car. I hope thats what gets shipped. Some dealers are showing  the sets already.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...cture.aspx?id=723379

Pete

That's the one Pete.  I'll probably do the same and order the set.  Not that it matters but Nassau Hobby seems to be the dealer with the same catalog picture shown.  RICH

@rich64 posted:

The picture in the catalog shows a dome and an interesting observation car.  Most dealers, however, show a different picture, a coach type and a dome with what might possibly be tail lights.  I'd prefer to go by the catalog picture but we all know how that goes.  If it's correct I'm definitely in.  RICH

I think that the explanation for this is that a lot of dealers used what Lionel sent them in terms of catalog marketing photos, and as far as far as UP Excursion expansion pack 4 is concerned (the one with the Lone Star car), it did not match the catalog but appeared to be the same as pack 3. Pack 3 has a City of Denver dining car (without StationSounds).  I checked this with my dealer at the time of ordering last year and he confirmed the discrepancy. Last week when the sets came in, I got him to check what’s on the box of pack 4 and he confirmed it’s the Lone Star car included.

FWIW I have seen three major dealers use the incorrect image on their pre-order pages but the mistake was in those images and not (for once) in the catalog itself. It has been corrected on some dealers’ websites since.

I have not seen the cars yet because the parcel has not arrived and when it does I’ll still be involuntarily distant but I’m confident that the catalog image was correct.

If anyone gets this set soon photos would be appreciated.

Sounds like good news to me.  And yes if anyone can get a picture of the real product for us that would be great.  Thanks.  RICH

I just want the Lone Star observation car.

@Texas Eagle 77 posted:

I just want the Lone Star observation car.

So did I but that is not an option in this run. The other business/observation car of this kind, Kennefick, is part of a bigger/more $$ set. Anyway, at this stage I’d wait to see how well Lionel has executed this car, internally and externally. That’s a nudge for anyone whose set has arrived to photo and otherwise report on it.

UP 2027240 arrived today.  One car IS the Lone Star beautifully done, lighted drum but no passengers.  Interior same as the other exp sets.  The Harriman dome with it has three tail lights, a nice touch.  I'd  like to thank Nassau Hobby whom I had posted a question to about this set and they answered back within a half hour.  Took advantage of their weekend sale and free shipping.  Sorry no pics my photo skills are below zero.  RICH

@rich64 posted:

UP 2027240 arrived today.  One car IS the Lone Star beautifully done, lighted drum but no passengers.  Interior same as the other exp sets.  The Harriman dome with it has three tail lights, a nice touch.  I'd  like to thank Nassau Hobby whom I had posted a question to about this set and they answered back within a half hour.  Took advantage of their weekend sale and free shipping.  Sorry no pics my photo skills are below zero.  RICH

Thanks for reporting back. Meanwhile I looked around and found photos of a slew of new Lionel body shells on Lionel’s Facebook page, including the other business car they are making, Kenefick. A few of these are attached but they are not of a complete car and in particular there’s no interior assembly shown. 

So now I have one question: what is the seating/compartment arrangement inside the car  - is it anything like the prototype show in the first picture? I assume from your post that the interiors are plain color like other Excursion cars but I can’t see how they could have used standard coach seats, or any of the other existing Excursion car seating, in this car.

The configuration of the model is very close to your prototype diagram, but very plain and a dull yellow.  It would look great if someone got in there and detailed it.  I think it's a great looking car.  BTW the Harriman dome that comes with it has the silver trim that wasn't on the Columbine dome.  RICH

@rich64 posted:

The configuration of the model is very close to your prototype diagram, but very plain and a dull yellow.  It would look great if someone got in there and detailed it.  I think it's a great looking car.  BTW the Harriman dome that comes with it has the silver trim that wasn't on the Columbine dome.  RICH

Wow, that is very intriguing - somebody needs to get their camera out (no pressure)! I expected the dull yellow, BTW.

Mine showed up today here’s some quick pictures theses look very nice. I don’t know what’s with the 3 rail lights on BOTH dome cars tho. 

@zhubl posted:

Mine showed up today here’s some quick pictures theses look very nice. I don’t know what’s with the 3 rail lights on BOTH dome cars tho. 

Thanks for posting these. As far as I can see, Lionel has just used the City of San Francisco blunt end dome observation body shell (and interior) from the first run of Excursion cars for the Harriman dome car. Not accurate but I guess they just decided to “recycle” the parts.

The interior of the Lone Star car is an interesting representation of the prototype but in any case cries out for some color aside from yellow.

Mine showed up yesterday as well. Haven't had a chance to check them out yet. One will get relettered for Kenefick and the drumhead will get replaced with this. If you have a laser printer and some clear transparency sheets this image can be used. Credit another forum member for taking this picture.

Pete

@Hancock52 posted:

Thanks for posting these. As far as I can see, Lionel has just used the City of San Francisco blunt end dome observation body shell (and interior) from the first run of Excursion cars for the Harriman dome car. Not accurate but I guess they just decided to “recycle” the parts.

The interior of the Lone Star car is an interesting representation of the prototype but in any case cries out for some color aside from yellow.

I was going to say, "The interiors of those cars are just screaming for major upgrades/modifications."

Sorry to be obsessive but although my set has shipped I won't see it for some time owing to travel restrictions. It would be nice to know what the views of the interior through the windows on the other (right, facing forward) side of the car are; the ones posted above are through the left side. The right would mainly include (1) the two staterooms and (2) whatever detail Lionel has chosen to put in the compartments either side of the dining room (probably crew quarters and/or a gym).

This is the plan I have worked up showing in blue the window placement and adjoining rooms, which in Lionel's shell is pretty close to the prototype:

My interest in this is that I had already decided to go the whole 9 yards (or 10) on detailing this interior on the assumption that I'd have to do what I did with one other Excursion car, which is gut about 50% of Lionel's interior molding. Maybe I can get away with less demolition although I have already laid in a stock of O scale parts for the purpose and planned to fabricate others. 

All in all they are pretty close. Interesting the Lone Star comes with a scale coupler on the rear. I would have installed one anyway. These cars will get my usual upgrades of couplers moved inward and new diaphrams closer to prototype.

Pete

@Norton posted:

All in all they are pretty close. Interesting the Lone Star comes with a scale coupler on the rear. I would have installed one anyway. These cars will get my usual upgrades of couplers moved inward and new diaphrams closer to prototype.

Pete

Wow. Thanks much Pete; that is better than I hoped for. As a matter of relatively minor detail, it's the Kenefick room arrangement, not Lone Star, but I can work with that. Well, when I actually look at mine I'll know for sure.

Dunno what K-Line put inside its series of business cars but in any case I do not think that any of them were scale length. 

That actually works out better for me as its the Kenefick I really wanted. Mine will get painted but no plans to put a lot of detail like you do. Doing a 20 car train is a hobby in itself.

Pete

@Norton posted:

 Doing a 20 car train is a hobby in itself.

Pete

Tell me about it - a while back a pal sent me this clipping, which has been noted here before:

I'm excited to pick mine up from Legacy Station. 

@zhubl posted:

Mine showed up today here’s some quick pictures theses look very nice. I don’t know what’s with the 3 rail lights on BOTH dome cars tho.

Hi Zhubl

I have the same Lionel 2027240 UP passenger car set. I wanted to ask you - for the lights on the end of the Lone Star car - mine lights up just like yours does - one of the two red lights above and the drum. Is the other red light above not supposed to light up? I ask because there are two red lights above and only the left one is lit - exactly like your photo.

Thanks

Robert

@DILLI posted:

Hi Zhubl

I have the same Lionel 2027240 UP passenger car set. I wanted to ask you - for the lights on the end of the Lone Star car - mine lights up just like yours does - one of the two red lights above and the drum. Is the other red light above not supposed to light up? I ask because there are two red lights above and only the left one is lit - exactly like your photo.

Thanks

Robert

I'd be surprised if both of the tail lights on your Lone Star are red - on mine one is red and one is green and only the red one is illuminated. I have taken my Lone Star car apart and there is only an LED behind the red lens. I assume that this was intended to represent the lighting when the car is at the end of a consist.

Although it does not show it particularly clearly, see the below photo of the stock tail light assembly on mine - but ignore all the other changes from stock such as the marker lights which I added to mine as well as other interior/exterior details:

@Hancock52 posted:

I'd be surprised if both of the tail lights on your Lone Star are red - on mine one is red and one is green and only the red one is illuminated. I have taken my Lone Star car apart and there is only an LED behind the red lens. I assume that this was intended to represent the lighting when the car is at the end of a consist.

Although it does not show it particularly clearly, see the below photo of the stock tail light assembly on mine - but ignore all the other changes from stock such as the marker lights which I added to mine as well as other interior/exterior details:

Hi Hancock52

Great photo!

You are correct - I stand corrected. One tail light is red and the other one is green. The red one is lighted along with the drum below, as you say. Now that you mention it, I do remember reading somewhere that only the red one lights to represent in real life when the car is at the end of a consist.

Thank you for clearing this up so quickly!

Robert