Lionel N&W Pocahontas Set

Yay!!thanks Eric

Again Eric, super job on the review. Always look forward to your next review!

That is a GREAT looking train, Thanks for the history of the 611

Great Job Eric,  thanks

Your typical great job, Eric.

 Great video,Eric. I always enjoy them. They are first rate. Tom

What a great review, so nicely done. Thanks Eric

 

 

Alex

Thanks for another great video review, I enjoy every one.

Thanks. Have been looking forward to this.

 

Your usual great job!

Another great video and review.

WINDOWS!

 

Jon

No mention of the engine-tender striping not lining up. 

I noticed that, and it is plainly obvious on the video review. Maybe Eric missed it?

Eric missed a lot!

But, in my opinion, this was not an unbiased review. It was more of a long-winded infomercial for Legacy Station.

Being a "Forum Sponsor" maybe he can do that?

 

 

Maybe he can do a video turorial on putting washers under the cab.

I like the reviews.

Eric is clearly a runner.  His fantasy schemes, pilot locomotives, and mixed era roster demonstrate to me that he's in it for the joy and fun of the hobby.  I get the impression he likes the details and appreciates the accuracy of things but he buys what he "likes" more than what is "Correct".  More so than a fine scale modeler would.

That's why I'm not surprised that his reviews are generally positive but honest.  I believe they add value to generating overall interest in the hobby.

I find his reviews visually comprehensive. Meaning I can see for myself a lot what is or isn't acceptable to me. I can then make a sound judgement about buying. I also enjoy when he does his research to better describe the prototype.

As far as his "advertising" goes...I hope he gets a solid additional discount!  I wish I had his train budget!

Looking forward to the next one Eric. Keep 'em coming.

Great review as always, thanks.

APPRECIATE THE REVIEW ON THIS REALLY NICE ENGINE

Uh oh, you're yelling again.

Boy you are not kidding on both counts. 

 

 

 

 

Eric,

 

Thank you for the detailed and well done review, it is very helpful. Please continue to do this!

Ditto.  Love the reviews as well as the blog posts.  Very informative.  Can't wait for the next one!

Another enjoyable review! Thanks for posting Eric!

I have known Eric for many years and your assessment in my opinion is correct.  He clearly states that he buys what he likes even if it is not 100% prototypical.  He definitely likes high detail, and for stuff to look as realistic as possible, but that doesn't mean he is a rivet counter in anyway.

 

I don't think he shows a bias to the manufacturers like many of the media do when they do reviews.  He tries to be fair and honest.  He doesn't try to hide anything either or be dishonest.

 

I don't know why he didn't call out the tender / locomotive stripe being slightly misaligned, but he didn't try to hide it in anyway.  You can clearly see it in the video.  My guess is he didn't notice, it didn't bother him, or thought it was a big deal which it isn't.  

 

The forum has already addressed this, and someone has come up with a fix for it with a spacer in the locomotive so it's not a big deal to correct if it bothers someone.

 

Eric makes the reviews look natural and easy in the finished video, but if you ever watch the his webcam when he is videoing, you can witness how much hardwork he puts into each and every one sometimes well into the night.  He does research, takes notes, takes measurements, and then does many takes over several days just to make one video review.

 

Personally, I enjoy his reviews, especially when I'm traveling or I'm on the fence about a product I'm thinking about buying.  His review of the last vision line freight sound tank cars made me not miss out vision line freight sound PFE cars this time around.

 

I encourage others to do their own reviews.  There are tons of products out there and/or having contrasting reviews or opinions is just good for everyone.

 

Thanks Eric for what you do for the hobby, and looking forward to the next review whatever that may be.

 

 

 

I also enjoy Eric's reviews. They're especially helpful for me as there is no longer a hobby shop nearby where I can see actual product so having these videos allows a detailed inspection of product I will rarely see in person.

 

Regarding the Pocahontas set however, I can't agree that the cars are the best feature of the set. To me they look like the same cars that were released years ago with a slightly different N&W paint scheme. The cars still ride way too high, there is that major gap between the diaphragms, and the outside mounted windows are still there not to mention the cars are less than prototypical. If I was into N&W I would save my money and buy the upcoming GGD passenger set.

 

Ken

Eric is obviously not a rivet counter like some and totally enjoys the beauty of the train as is. If something doesn't meet your standards it's your choice whether or not to purchase.  Great review Eric.

Rod

romiller

I just viewed this review.  Great job once again Eric!  Thank you for doing such a great job!

Eric, Keep up the good Work, I would like to visit your Layout when in the Legacy Station Area. Wow, Your Videos, are Feature Oriented, and Your Historical Knowledge makes us see more about how these engines changed America. Thank You for your Contributions to this wonderful Hobby. Happy Railroading

Ordinarily I'd agree with you on the passenger cars. The main reason I selected them was because it's quite possible that we won't be seeing any more aluminum passenger cars from Lionel for a quite a while.

 

-Eric

 

I cannot really understanding picking the cars as the best feature because they are likely to disappear. That just doesn't compute. I love Eric's reviews and find them most illuminating but, to be honest, the failure to align the striping and those horrific windows are simply amazing on a $1900 set.

 

The key feature of the J is its classic streamlining. As any artist knows, nothing breaks up a streamlined look more than lines that are not "streamed" or, in this case, that disconnect. So, to issue a streamlined loco for this price that has such a powerful visual impact as to "break up" the streamlined effect is to make its value zero. I would buy a "J" if it successfully achieved what it was set out to achieve which is, in this case, it's streamlining. For those who say put a gizmo in the loco to line up the stripe I would respond that is crazy. Mess with the loco to make its lines straight? Nuts.

 

Worse for me are those absolutely horrifying windows on the passenger cars. Protruding windows are one thing. Those windows stick out so far it is like Jimmy Durante's nose right in front of you. A totally horrifying proboscis. It looks to me like double thick eyeglass lenses stuck onto the outside of the car with glue. They are the ugliest windows I have ever seen on a passenger car. I had to watch the video twice to make sure I was not seeing things. Yeow ! If I got that set for free I would sell it that day. Ugh.

 

In this case I thank Eric heartily for the review even though I see the features differently.

I thank Eric for taking the time and making the effort to be so comprehensive and it is his effort which enables me to make a good judgement about the set. My critical comments are directed solely to the set. I hope Eric, and OGR Forumites know, I applaud Eric for his efforts. Sometimes we disagree on the subject, but not with the effort of the reviewer.

 

 

 

 

Love your comments; love Eric's reviews and read them all.

 

Stripes not align - inexcusable.

 

Windows - horribly ugly.

 

But, and I hate to say this, if you go to the Virginia Trasport action Museum and check out the passenger cars, two have these windows. No, they are not quite as bad as Lionel's rendition but they are just plain ugly and I have to say, the worst I have seen.

 

A better day is coming soon... Now, do we keep our Pocahontas or not? Don't see it being produced again and I used to ride the thing ugly windows and all.

Not only don't they not line up but as usual the graphics on the web site show them as doing so.

 

I wonder what forum members would say about this set if the windows and stripes were the way they want them and perhaps the engine had the whistle smoke.

That is a question that has no answer, isn't it?

Hot Water is correct, but I will add that I am very sorry I sold my TMCC J, which I loved and which Lionel hit for a home run !!

 

Sometimes I do really dumb things. That was dumb.

 

If this loco had properly aligned striping and whistle steam I would buy it.

The cars, no. I would try to get Golden Gate Depot cars to match it, if possible.

 

But this, below? Somebody never checked the factory test shot and let this through.

Clearly, it must have been a merchandising genius who never grew up with trains and became a bean counter extraordinaire. Please. In a $1,900 set? Ayyyy, God.

 

I will never forget the kid (about 28 years old) at York that Lionel sent out and called a "Marketing rep." When I asked him why no whistle steam, he told me, and I quote, "We cannot fit it in the boiler." C'est la vie.

 

 Scrappy

 

Which is precisely why Lionel has not yet earned the confidence of buyers to be a purely BTO business model.  The Vision Line Big Boy was clearly a successful venture, but there are still enough hiccups in the product line that leave many folks thinking they'd rather "see" the product before committing to it.

 

Many large dealers offer pre-ordering without deposit, but nobody here really wants to leave dealers holding merchandise that doesn't meet their expectations.  Lionel needs to stand behind their product when this stuff happens.  I still see dealers trying to unload Lionel's recent California Zephyr, but who takes the hit when dealers can't move product(s) perceived to be less than expected?  The dealer?  Lionel? 

 

If Lionel management thinks they're gonna flip the switch overnight and become a purely BTO-based business, they may discover their own "new reality" that many toy/model train enthusiasts may decide they already own more than enough trains to last a lifetime and then some.    So it's a tricky line to walk.

 

David

"" So it's a tricky line to walk.""

 It's a good thing Lionel has so many smart people who do it so well..

That's a leap of faith not everyone is willing to make.    Scott Mann has openly discussed the challenges importers face when trying to get stuff manufactured overseas nowadays.  Lionel can learn MANY lessons from Scott before they move further into the BTO space.  They may choose to not admit it, but they'd be foolish not to follow in Scott's footsteps. 

 

David

Did anyone mention that the N&W did not label any of the red passenger cars for the "Pocahontas"?