Lionel Booth?

Yes They will be there.

GG1GUYY

excellent!

😎

Harold

John Rowlen posted:

Will there be any people at the booth?  I want to see the Missiouri Pathetic engine in person and hear the articulated sounds of the new Challenger.

I heard they were just going to drop their stuff in the corner and leave this time.  (sarcasm, in case anyone can't tell)

In a more serious note, if they are bothering to come and set up, yes, there will be staff there.  The intentionally did not participate in the Spring, that is not their stated position for this fall.

As to the specific items you want to see, that depends on if they are far along enough to have at least an engineering sample, or if the items are close to shipping.  If it's new for the catalog that orders were just due this past week, there is not much chance any product from that offering will be running.

If they do just put their stuff in the corner is it first come first choice 

Vegas has the over/under for the closing of this thread at 8pm.

I hope Lionel employees who attend York this Fall will be wearing Kevlar body protection after all of the quality issues that have arisen lately. How unfortunate, as it should be a time to celebrate (and learn more about) all of the innovative things that Lionel has developed in recent years.

I hope folks that approach the Lionel employees can be respectful. Some of the keyboard warriors can be real jerks here. You get better results being an adult. 

One thing for sure. Being disrespectful to the Lionel guys and gals will certainly help them in making a decision to end participation at both York meets altogether. Nobody needs the aggravation. Their budgeted money spends at other places also. 

Dave Olson won't be there unfortunately as he is busy elsewhere. He did tell me that he likes coming to see the folks(us train guys). I enjoyed talking with him back in 2017's October York when the Niagara was the centerpiece. I enjoy talking to Ryan as well and the other folks at the booth. It's always a good thing to remember, they're people just like us, and they have to do their best to put up with everything that is throw at them including facing difficult questions. It may be in everyone's interest to think on what they want to ask before yelling it out.

MartyE posted:

I hope folks that approach the Lionel employees can be respectful. Some of the keyboard warriors can be real jerks here. You get better results being an adult. 

The ones making all of the bad decisions at Lionel won't be at York anyway....they never have been.

Being respectful goes allot further than yelling.  As a former manager when somebody approached me and started yelling or using unsavory language lost thier right to talk to me no matter what thier problem was. It made no difference if it was a customer or a employee and in some instances my boss. 

Respect goes a long way,

Dave

david1 posted:

Being respectful goes allot further than yelling.  As a former manager when somebody approached me and started yelling or using unsavory language lost thier right to talk to me no matter what thier problem was. It made no difference if it was a customer or a employee and in some instances my boss. 

Respect goes a long way,

Dave

I think I will take a different approach.  I purchased some very ice engines and products from Lionel.  I hate to think of the layout without them.  Flawless out of the box.  No.  Flawless after some minor fiddling?  Yes.  I will also thank them for standing up and addressing the legacy ALCOs & Challenger.  Should they have arrived perfect.  Yes.  But it is what it is and move on.  It ain't gonna get better.  We improvise, adapt and overcome.

Bryant,

"It ain't gonna get better."  Do you really mean that?  Really.  They have little stickers for boxes, and now they have Quality Control.  Tell me it will get better. 

Sincerely, John Rowlen

John Rowlen posted:

Bryant,

"It ain't gonna get better."  Do you really mean that?  Really.  They have little stickers for boxes, and now they have Quality Control.  Tell me it will get better. 

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Yes I do mean that.  I have said on other topics, that we are now the final QC and for the most part final assembly or fine tuner of our products.  Don’t like it that way, but have accepted that roll it I want to add to my collection.  On balance, I think that 50% of my purchases need attention.  50% of that fixed by me.  The other 50% by manufacturer.  Once returned and fixed, fine.  That has been about my track record.  I can not change it, I accept it as the status quo.

Not saying it is right or desirable, but that’s what I accept as the normal for me.  I still buy it if I like it.  I do say, the QC sticker was spot on as my Challenger arrived fine, and only my desire to address the sound cause me to send it back. 

John, I don’t think it will get better.  I think our knowledge of how our trains operate will keep getting better, because we are the final QC and final adjustments.  Maybe the next step on the new norm.

It should be a dunking booth.

Bryant Dunivan 111417 posted:

Yes I do mean that.  I have said on other topics, that we are now the final QC and for the most part final assembly or fine tuner of our products.  Don’t like it that way, but have accepted that roll it I want to add to my collection.

With such low expectations, why should Lionel try to do better? You are the ideal customer.

On balance, I think that 50% of my purchases need attention.  50% of that fixed by me.  The other 50% by manufacturer.  Once returned and fixed, fine.  That has been about my track record.  I can not change it, I accept it as the status quo.

Is there any other product in life that you purchase for over $1000 that has a 50% failure rate??.....not me.( and I certainly wouldn't keep buying any brand of anything if they did) Not to mention, other train manufacturers have a far better average.

Not saying it is right or desirable, but that’s what I accept as the normal for me.  I still buy it if I like it.  I do say, the QC sticker was spot on as my Challenger arrived fine, and only my desire to address the sound cause me to send it back. 

If the sounds were incorrect, then it really wasn't "fine", was it?  The lack of articulated sounds was also a shortfall when compared to the previous run.

 because we are the final QC and final adjustments.  

Maybe Lionel should leave the sticker on its backing and put it loose inside the box. Then WE can put it on the outside, ,when its passes inspection 

Sheep are meant to be sheared. 

Brian,

That was  "Baaaaaa-d".

Here is a video of my Southern Pacific AC-12 that went into Lionel Service for a jerking movement that was diagnosed as a traction tire in the inside linkage. The engine was returned to me with the entire lower front end missing.  The cow catcher and scale coupler are gone.  They were there when I sent it in for service.  The engine was returned to me when my mother was in and out of the hospital.  I opened the engine this weekend to put one of Gunrunner John's YLB Batteries in the engine.  This AC-12, along with my Allegheny #1604 now need service again after Lionel fixed them, and they are both out of warranty.  Inspect everything Lionel fixes immediately.

Of course, Lionel is so busy. It looks like it will be another year before the two engines get fixed, if ever. $3800 go bye, bye.

I sent my Lionel 1931250 Greyhound Challenger #3977 back to the seller. Too many issues. Side work light on engineer's side rear did not light, no Steam Generator smoke, and it needed new articulated sounds.  It was a "Baaaaaa-d" experience.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Why was this thread even started?  You (Harold) started the same thread back in July and the question was answered. 

-Greg

Mallard,

The thread is still open... and growing. Not only Missiori Pacific, but now Southern. Add the Challenger and PA1 and the list gets longer.

When will Lionel finally have time to take my Non-warranty work?  It now appears that if you buy it, you die with it, once the warranty is over.

Does anyone know of a service station that is not fully booked for the rest of the year?

Sincerely, John Rowlen

"Does anyone know of a service station that is not fully booked for the rest of the year?"

If I had out of warranty work on a Lionel product (I haven't), my first choice would be TW Trainworx (Mike Reagan), if they have the time.   One hears good things about Gunrunner John and GGG on this forum as other options.

I can personally recommend George Kosanovich at SS #224 in S Louisiana. Good man, created our service department when I had my hobby shop back in 1989- 1996.    http://www.unclesamstrains.com/