Lionel Coal Tipple

Rumor has been the tipple wasn't going to happen.  I was hoping they'd still do the loader.  Oh well...

 

I've got the first run Tipple that I need to repair, it smoked itself.  Someday....

 

Jim

I figured that would happen again.  Over the Summer, I was able to get a new/old stock at a great buy.
The tipple is such a neat accessory.

That's a shame, I had one on preorder.  It's funny if you look at the description in the catalog it says back because they had so many requests, yet they cancel it.  

Did they change the factory where they were built and/or the technical specifications, leading to a big production delay.

 

Andrew

If they are not making new Coal Tipples or Coal Dumpers, then will they still have their supppliers make more new Coal Gondolas in other paint schemes. It would be appreciated if Lionel had also made a Trinity Railcar or Railcar America Five-Bay Rapid Discharge Coal Hopper with rotary couplers for use in previous Rotary Coal Tipples. 

 

Andrew

Oh well, a few more items that I can cross off of my pre-order list. I already have a tipple so I'm lucky there and I really would have liked a loader.

 

What I'm really surprised with is that the bascule bridge is still on their list to be made and that was 1st announced in 2010. 

 

I believe that my smoke fluid loader is on its way from Charles Ro and it will be Tuesday.

 

I now can't wait to see what new items will be coming our way this year, now that my pre-order list is down to almost nothing now.

Is this item really a "rotary coal dump" misnamed or is it really a "coal tipple"?  We had discussions on here some years ago when Lionel made an item that was so misnamed.  Just curious.

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Dennis

Yes.  Proposed enhanced design of original unit.  (Would have been same basic form/fit/function)

 

-Dave

Bummer!!! What a great piece to have on the layout.

 

It sure seemed like enough people had this on order to make it happen. I have an extra few dollars to spend now!

 

I hope we get a true story on why this happened again. It seems like a lot of issues for every manufacturer right now in getting items to market.

Crap!  This is so frustrating.  This is a great accessory, I was looking forward to the enhanced version.

I imagine we are discussing the "Rotary Coal Tipple" 6-37979, correct?

 

FRUSTRATING! (I know I am not alone.)

 

When I designed my current layout, I included the Rotary Coal Tipple, and preordered it. It was cancelled by Lionel , so in its place I installed a Millhouse River Studio 34" turntable  and I am so glad I did.

 

But then Lionel again listed the Rotary Coal Tipple in the 2012-V2 catalog, so I made room for it, and re-preordered the tipple  - - - only to see it cancelled again.

 

I guess I better give up on the idea of a rotary coal tipple. . . or make my own!

 

Alex

I believe that one is made by this company.  The web site is not necessarily the most up to date in terms of including this product (though there is a pic of the prototype under "Model Pictures").  They've been demonstrating this unit and some other pieces for at least a few years at each York meet.

 

I think they have been offering this for at least a few years now.  I don't know if the price is anywhere on the site, but I believe it is approximately double the list price of the Lionel version.  It probably is a more elegant engineering achievement however.

 

-Dave

Would love to hear why it was cancelled.

There is a beauty being shown by a mfr. at York if you have a lot of cash to spend.  it is really a whole system that advances the train, positions the car, rotary dumps it, and moves the train on and posiitons the next car etc.  He also has a tipple that loads the cars.

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Dennis

When you say the loader has been cancelled as well, are you talking about the, I believe, #297 loader they showed in the catalog, similar to the old 397, but "completely redesigned?"

 

I had that one on preorder.  Bummer!

That is who I was referring to and provided the link. 

 

Last meet he also had a very large lift bridge on display.  This was large enough that it could actually be used as an access point to the interior area of a layout, as it was probably at least 4-5 feet tall from the top of the table it was sitting on.

I'm pretty sure Charlie means this.  I had one on order too.

 

-Dave

Yeah, "tipple" is incorrect, and a little silly-sounding. It is a "rotary coal dump". I

have the original; nice model, actually.

Any problems when using it?  I was really looking forward to the new dumper and loader.  I just cant believe that there was not enough interest in it. Lionel already produced the new style coal that was to go with it. I guess I have to try to find one of the older ones now.

Yep, that's the one I meant in my post, couldn't find a link to it quickly before I posted this morning and was working from memory.

 

It was a nice-looking item at a great price, I think I was supposed to pay $69 or $79 for it on pre-order.

Every time this comes up I am reminded that "a long time ago" I worked on a remedial design for the rotary coal dumper when I was an engineer with Sargent & Lundy in Chicago for Com-Ed.

 

I never thought any model of that dumper would sit on my layout. As I recall the only way this thing works was if the calipers set the loaded car exactly in the center of the rotation. Otherwise the torsional forces would be too great for the caliper and it would bend and there would be a mighty big coal mess to cleanup!

Yes, Dave has the Website posted of AAA Precision Turntables which is the company displaying the superb rotary coal dump at York.  The Website is not up to date so the dump is not displayed there.  The O-gauge turntables are priced at $2000+ and doesn't even include accessories so you are looking at over 3 big bills to get what you want.  The rotary coal dump is similarly priced but is a beautiful, precisely operational thing to watch.  If I won the lotto I would buy one.

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Dennis

MLAT,
I have one and haven't had any issues with it.  Operation is perfect.  I've heard the old style coal could cause a jam so I'm using the new style "rat turd" coal.  I haven't had any jams with it.  It is not currently on my layout as I am reworking a section where it will be.  It has been operated quite a bit by me though.

If you do look for a Lionel Rotary Coal Tipple, check out choochoo auctions.com. I have seen them on the site a few times.

From the AAA Precision Scale website.

Thankyou for the feedback.  It is greatly appreciated.  Now the hunt is on for one.