Lionel at Charles Ro

Thanks Marty. Nice report. 

 Wow. Great pics. I still haven't ordered a Legacy system or similar.

 I couldn't make it there so I just ordered a GT Bi-level auto carrier in G scale from them. Saved 10% for the sale today from their email ad.

 Looking at your pics I see the USA BNSF executive scheme in that display case, I've always wanted. Hmmm. 10% off today only......tick, tick, tick,....

Thanks for sharing Marty.

thanks for the report.

Hi Marty,

 

 Looked like a great time, I wish I was there. Thanks for posting

 

 

Alex

 Maybe I'm looking for the wrong thing? What is that remote you're describing? Is it the Legacy light version? or is that something else?

"the new LionChief Plus Remote Control System"

Marty,

 

Looks like a great day was had by all. I love Boston and will have to stop by C. Ro sometime. All of your pics are great--nicely composed.  My dad was a WWII Navy vet (Pacific theater) and I love the fact you stopped by the waterfront to visit the ships. Across the Delaware from Philly the battleship New Jersey is moored. Well worth a stop to tour it. I have also visited the Wisconsin down in Norfolk. Those 16" guns are something to behold.

 

Did Mike have anything to say about when the Legacy 990 command sets will be coming? This had to have been a frustrating year for Lionel, marketing all the premium Legacy stuff but unable to sell the essential components of it all.

 

 

Jim

Thanks Marty. Looks like a great time for all. 

Marty,

 

Great review and pics. Thanks so much.

Wish I could travel up there one day, but for now all those pics will have to do.

Thanks for the "interweb" and OGR forum

One of your typically fine reporting jobs, Marty (with, I'm sure, an able assist from Dotty)!

Joe, this will come in sets.  I have been told it will run an engine on the same track as TMCC at the same time.  Someone can run the TMCC and someone else can run this remote with their engine.  Here is the best I can do.  It is a pix off the brochure.  I am a DCS and sometimes Legacy guy.  I played with this all day and can say it works perfect.  I was very impressed.  The locomotive has a unit, great whistle, great bell, tower com, operating rear coupler, IR tether, fan driven smoke unit  and cruise.  Very cool. 

 

Jim, I am sure that question was asked and I did not hear anything I could pass on.  I am sure Mike will read this post later tonight and if he gives me a call, I will pass on any valid information I might hear.

Yes Allan, Able assistant Dotty is the photographer on our jaunts, forays, meets, and open houses.

Thanks marty, wish I lived back east. You guys have all the fun.
How was the slow speed on the lionchief engine? Did it have speed control? Can't wait to see one up close.

 Yes it has speed control.  Two taps on the whistle button opens the rear coupler.  Two more  things I did not mention----open spoke drivers and a die cast metal tender. 

 

Allan, Dotty is the best.  She is well known in our hobby.  I am very lucky.

How responsive was the throttle on these?

When you turned the speed knob on the remote did they respond right away?

 

On the Thomas/ Percy / James Lion Chief remotes you turn the speed control on the hand held and it takes a couple of seconds for the train to respond it makes it very hard to switch or stop at the correct spot at a station.

 

Is the model you tried responsive and suitable as  a good switching engine?

Do you know if the Hudson is the Hudson JR. type or the larger semi-scale "baby" Hudson? There has been some indication it is going to be the "baby" Hudson (length of 20-1/2"), but the info on the Lionel website lists the length of the Hudson JR. (18-3/4").

I tried the Hudson at Charlies open house and it is more responsive than the Thomas set as far as speed control.  I was very impressed with the sound quality and was surprised with the puffing smoke in time with the drivers. I think it would be safe to say this would make a very good switching engine with it's slow speed operation. I agree 100% with Marty that these are going to be a hit for Lionel for a lower priced but very nicely featured locomotive! I asked Mike R when these are expected and he said the diesels in February and the steamers in March.  It was another great open house by Charles Ro and Lionel and all the great friends and people who were involved.  I had left after a couple of hours and as usual some of my money stayed behind!

Marty.....you are THE best!!  The open house looked great and the pictures are wonderful....  Looks like everyone had a fun time....and what a beautiful scene with the ships and museum. 

 

Enjoyed very much talking to you Friday afternoon....I'll be calling you soon!

 

Alan

Marty Thanks for the update

That store is on my must see list if I ever visit Boston.  I am helping Lionel and Ro celebrate by adding a Lionel Norfolk and Western RS-11 and American Flyer Union Pacific SD70ACe to my fleets.  Ro has some great pricing on Lionel stuff in connection with this open house!

  Thanks for the great reporting and photos, Marty!  How I long myself to board and tour what Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., termed "the eagle of the sea" in his successful effort to save Old Ironsides.

 

The plaque memorializing the heroes serving on the Young shows the second attack was far deadlier than the first (occurring on the same date that FDR passed).  The first attack resulted in the kamikaze exploding some distance from the ship as it struck high into the foremast but the second attack saw an impact into the fire control room resulting in many casualties.  May their service and sacrifice be forever remembered.

Marty;

Looks like it was a great day!

Wish I could have been there. Thanks for posting.

Did Mike or Phil announce any new products coming along?

Doesn't Mike ever smile? (Just kidding.....)

 

Rod

Wonderful report Marty. Thanks for posting all the pictures that make us feel like you were there. Charles Ro makes it easy for us train guys to shop for what we WANT.

I love the look on Mike's face!    The captions we could put on that!

We all know that "customer".

 

Lew Schneider

One thing I made an observation of yesterday.  A very large number of people were buying American Flyer trains.  Charlie has everything Flyer in stock, both new and old.  His Flyer repair man Michael told me last week people are showing up very often to have Flyer trains rebuilt.  Michael is the best in the business for rebuilding old American Flyer.  I have observed some of his rebuilt locomotives and they did not run as good back in the day as they do when Michael puts his hands on them.  I take care of the Legacy Flyer and can say those big steam engines are fantastic running trains. 

What a coincidence.
My 10 year olds two favorite places to visit.
Charles Ro and Charlestown Navy Yard to see the Uss Constution and Cassun Young.

Of course buying something is mandatory at both.
lol. No so bad because both have free admission.

I am sorry I missed it.
Fred

Laidoffsick, Mikes look was aimed at me. I was all over the place with the camera all day. I took lots of pix of him and Phil, as well as the Charles Ro crew and all the happy customers.

Marty, along with the open spoke drivers, did Lionel upgrade the rather simplistic running-gear on the Hudson?  Thanks, Ken.

       
       

I figured he was looking at the camera person, thats why its so funny.

Ken, this engine looked great with valve gear detail.  As for running, it was as smooth as any other engine on the market.  I played with it crawling and with the speed control, it was awesome.  It was something I did not expect.   The big things that impressed me were the fan driven smoke unit, open spoke drivers and IR tether.

 

I have been lucky at train shows not to lug the camera around.  I gave my camera to Dotty and I never have to tell her what to photo.  One thing I learned on my job was to document everything and take every photo when it is available. 

Looks like a great time. I wish I had been there. I had a great time at the NJ HiRailers show today. I wish I were a photographer. To watch some of the little kids (3 to 6, I would guess) look in awe at those trains is really neat.

 

Mike, if you ever want to see a ship that would be more difficult for you and Phil, go to New London, Conn. and take a tour through the Nautilus. It was the first nuclear submarine, and you have no idea how cramped and small it was. Yet by the standards of the day, it was large when compared with the diesel/electric subs of WWII. One can only be amazed. It really is worth a trip.

 

Gerry

Marty,  Great reporting and glad you got the Army guy on a Navy ship!

 

It is interesting that the Lionel website video does not show the remotely operated coupler, and the online documentation I have seen has not talked about the Die Cast tender.  Are these definite features for production models.  The MSRP of the LC is $40 less than the conventional set.  Interesting trade off for a CW-80, certainly makes the LC a steal.  G

Great Thread!
Thanks for Posting...

K.C.

 Thanks for the great post Marty, and all the answers.

Thanks very much Marty, I am going to pre-order a Hudson.  -Ken

A face only a mother could love! Now we need Mike to do some subtitles! LOL

How about "Why am I listening to this MTH repair guy?"

Chris, that could go both ways.  Mike Reagan has also gone to the MTH schools back in his TAS days.  The man is a wealth of knowledge.