Lionel acela

Did a search here on the acela. ( duh a little late) oh well.  Saw where lionel maybe comming out with a legacy set. Jon z mentions the new improvments he is working on to correct the past issues with the set. Any new word on this and is it still in the works to reissue this set in legacy someday. If so maybe I will wait. Jon z knows his stuff. If anyone can make this set right its him. 

Lionelzwl2012 posted:

Did a search here on the acela. ( duh a little late) oh well.  Saw where lionel maybe comming out with a legacy set. Jon z mentions the new improvments he is working on to correct the past issues with the set. Any new word on this and is it still in the works to reissue this set in legacy someday. If so maybe I will wait. Jon z knows his stuff. If anyone can make this set right its him. 

I corresponded with Jon when Lionel actually catalogued a Legacy Acela set and it was he who eventually told me the set had been cancelled. I would not count on Lionel doing another version soon although I would have thought they'd want to recycle valuable tooling sometime.

Neither would I count on any of the previous issue Acela sets working straight out of the box. If you searched earlier threads you'll know the issues and suggested remedies. The set is very impressive when it works but you need a huge layout to run it and the odds are strongly against trouble-free operation.

How about a Conv./TMCC/L set for the usual loco control, but skip the rest?  Reuse of tooling at a lower cost.  

My friend had one-the best day he had with it was the day he sold it.  

I have wanted one for several years and I almost bought one back in 2012 however now I an scared to get one knowing all the issues they had and at some point soon any available parts supplies will be exhausted making the set a very expensive shelf decoration

Matt Makens posted:

I have wanted one for several years and I almost bought one back in 2012 however now I an scared to get one knowing all the issues they had and at some point soon any available parts supplies will be exhausted making the set a very expensive shelf decoration

I had one as well I saved up for it for months and it worked out of the box for about 2 times around the layout then nothing but problems I tried to fix many of the issues but could not get it working like it should so I sold it for a huge loss.. So my best advice is if you want one and can live with the problems then go for it but remember it has a lot of issues and if you find one that works out of the box then consider yourself lucky, I was hoping like many for the legacy version it could be somewhat scaled back in features to get more reliability, I would have been the first to buy it its a awesome piece and would be a nice addition to my layout so I wish you good luck   

I had one and it was such a frustrating time. Sent the set back three times and three times it ran correctly for a short period of time but then it would just start the problems all over again with some new ones thrown in. 

Avoid it like the plague. 

A shelf Queen ??

PARTSGUY posted:

A shelf Queen ??

No!

Ive heard that removing the wireless tethers and hard-wiring the cars with plugs solves a great deal of the issues. Maybe Marty Fitzhenry can confirm or deny this

a beautiful set but evidently not worth the trouble

Bob C.

I sure hope they reissue this set with better quality. It really is a cool set with great features. I'm just amazed that the prices on these used or new in the box sets haven't dropped like a rock. 

I believe the key elements of having it run well are very wide curves (as in wider than the recommended minimum) and avoid "s" curves at all costs. That of course does not address all of the issues, but at least it keeps it running. 

Matt Makens posted:

Ive heard that removing the wireless tethers and hard-wiring the cars with plugs solves a great deal of the issues. Maybe Marty Fitzhenry can confirm or deny this

If this is true maybe it is worth getting.

Heard the legacy one is shelved for now.

Matt Makens posted:

Ive heard that removing the wireless tethers and hard-wiring the cars with plugs solves a great deal of the issues. Maybe Marty Fitzhenry can confirm or deny this

I sure would like to hear more about this. Sure sounds like a simple fix.

I'm checking into this as we speak. ill let you guys know what I find out.

I had the set and sold it to Alan (Leavingtracks) and he asked for new traction tires.  I did this when the Legacy set was announced.   I live a stones throw from the Boston to New York main line.  I see an average of two Acela trains every day.  I hear them all all day long blowing the horn.  I have many Acela trips under my belt and love the train.  I advise every train lover to put it on your bucket list.  I have an Amtrak station (RT 128) in my town.  After the Acela leaves the station heading down stream it cranks up to 150 MPH.  Very smooth ride.  Enough of that and back to the model.

The big headache is the IR transmission line at the couplers.  Going through curves, many times communication is lost.  The cars behind the communications break at the IR co silent and dark.  I have an S curve on my main under the catenary and it happened every time.  Thank God for AUX-1-0.   After learning about the insides of the train I have done a few sets by replacing the IR and going to a male-female plug set.  All the communication issues are now gone.  The board sets inside the Acela are modular and not an issue.  The operating doors are an issue.  I first purchased the train as it was advertised with operating pans.  Yes they operated but would not hold the live wire.  They flopped around like a wet noodle.

We should see the Acela again but the highly updated Acela.  We are in luck with Ryan Kunkle working with Lionel and big Mike.  Ryan will make us happy.  I have some information on how things will be but am not able to converse about it as it belongs to Lionel.    If you have a current Acela, it is good property if you want to take time to dump the IR and hard wire it with plugs.  Do not try to put traction tires on unless you have lots of time.  Lionel charged $100.00 to do them and it was worth every penny.  I will never do another.

If you are going to do the rewire, the IR sensor has two wires to it.  The wires are ground and serial.  Pay attention to the path of the wires and have fun.

One thing I left out is the Lionel recordings are one hundred percent accurate with the real Acela.

Myself and Jim Barrett at Boston South Station with an Acela pulling into the station.

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

 

We should see the Acela again but the highly updated Acela.  We are in luck with Ryan Kunkle working with Lionel and big Mike.  Ryan will make us happy.  I have some information on how things will be but am not able to converse about it as it belongs to Lionel.    If you have a current Acela, it is good property if you want to take time to dump the IR and hard wire it with plugs.   

Well, that's very intriguing indeed - but I'm not holding my breath.

The thing is, despite all the issues with the original set there was strong support for the Legacy version when it was announced. It dropped the "tilt" feature but frankly I don't regard that as essential in view of the other features, especially the sound, doors and great detailing both inside and out. 

I can't imagine that the Legacy version was dropped because of a lack of pre-orders. At the time I thought technical issues and price point were more likely to be the cause. 

I am all in on the tilt.   Not a fan myself.  I was getting ready to modify my Acela with Atlas AEM-7 pans.  I wanted it to run hot from the wire.   They were still bringing good money at York.

It would be great if Lionel made a conversion for those of us that are long-suffering and still have the train. Was supposed to be a three year wait but took almost four as I recall. Run it now as a forward only with no doors, pantograph, lean features. Built an elevated loop for the Acela while waiting. Still enjoy the loop and added more fun to my layout.  Toy trains are fun.

So marty can you conferm a legacy acela set is going to be made some day( if the big l will let you). Dont need a date just a yes or no. If so I will wait. Having one done right by ryan and jon would ultimately be the best route to having one.  Now back to the original one produced. you say the boards are modular. If one has a board failure say in one of the cars can you still get repacements being its so old?

Also would you be interested in doing another tether job if I were to get an older set? Because of the cost of the set I would be looking down the road a couple of years for the ir fix. Sounds as if fixing the tethers solves most of the problems. What ever you charge would be worth it. Besides I know you do excelent work. 

Thanks for the info Marty! Saving up my pennies for the Legacy version!!!

I can not say or confirm when anything will be released.  That has to come from Lionel.  I fix trains and that is where I am at.  The tether wiring is very easy to do.  All boards are available.  The existing Acela is still a great product.  I remember the day I picked my Acela up from Charlie Ro.  I drove right to South Station and walked the platform with my power car in hand to compare the two.  Lionel nailed that one.  I have tried several times for Alan to sell it back after the first Legacy Acela was dropped.   No luck.  

I am busy now but have promised a friend I will rewire his Acela.  When I get at it I will take pictures for the guys.

For many years many people who come to Boston want to visit CHEERS.  I find many want to go (the men) to South Station to see the Acela.  At any given time you will see between 1 to 5 Acela trainsets in South Station.

Marty, having been inside these models, what do you think of the possibility of 2 railing a set? I have converted many things and thought about ordering this set back in the day. I was overwhelmed with other purchases and actually dropped off on this product. I had considered a special three rail track just to run this set. I waffled back and forth and forgot all about it.

 I'm still impressed at the attempt that Lionel made in producing this modern state of the art product. Sometimes the engineering, doesn't work out in real life. Putting plugs between the cars would be a simple fix. I have never seen them or anything more than just hearing about a tilt feature that did not work. I wish I could have got a set. This tilt feature intrigues me.

 I still love the modern Legacy tank cars with sound as simple as they are. I 2 railed mine and enjoy the simple rolling sounds alone. I hope they make more.

Thanks marty. Maybe you could document the tether install when you do it? 

Marty do you have the manufacture and part numbers for the wire connectors?

I have this set and spent two hours changing the traction tires. Not the best design for repair but it can be done.

Next is fixing the pantagraphs, leveling mechanisms, and of course the swapping out the IR couplers.

If you get this set working, its a jaw dropper, especially with the 3 car add on set.

I was able to get all the doors working reliable, but again w/o communication to the head end they start to blink.

If you want one, don't wait... buy it.

Joe, I have not done one but think it can be done.  

JDaddy,  I actually picked up several at York.  I have no numbers but know Dallee makes a set for the job.

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

I can not say or confirm when anything will be released.  That has to come from Lionel.  I fix trains and that is where I am at.  The tether wiring is very easy to do.  All boards are available.  

I am busy now but have promised a friend I will rewire his Acela.  When I get at it I will take pictures for the guys.

Marty it would be great if you could post photos of the hard wiring project; I for one would be interested in trying this.

I have checked the Acela parts for the cars I have that need work and yes, the electronic components and many other replacements appear to be in stock at Lionel. I've already laid some in like the pantographs and their revised PCBs.

Not to raise a negative issue but will Lionel still repair these sets or are they outside the statute of limitations (or whatever you call Lionel's new no repair policy for older trains)? If so (a) that's a reason in itself to avoid the TMCC set and (b) I'm kicking myself for not shipping the cars I want made functional back to Lionel before now. 

In any event, does anyone know of an independent tech person who will undertake these repairs? 

Not relevant to model RR'ing, but it is Acela-relevant:

A few weeks ago I accidentally caught part of the news on CNN (I try to avoid TV news whenever possible) as they were discussing the then-current presidential primaries in some of the East Coast states, and I heard one of the commentators refer to the upcoming "Acela primaries" in the area.

New term to me, anyway.