Lionel N&W Pocahontas Set

Well Guys, I completely understand the Pro's and Con's of all the comments, if Your a Rivet Counter, and a Scale Modeler, maybe this model missed a few Rivets and Washers.

However, if You are an Operator, and Thats What I Love to do, Then This Set is a Fun to Run Beautifully Colored Train. I really like the Legacy Quilling Whistle, The Chuffing, Crew Talk/Towercom. the passenger cars are beautiful, the people inside are having the ride of their life, and to me, That's the fun of the hobby. We are Blessed to have a Company step out on a Limb (so to speak) to please us with Fun Trains To Run. 

I Personally thank Eric for his Great Reviews...I would like to meet him when I get into the Atlanta area....By the way, Legacy Station is a Truly Great Train Store....

Happy Railroading....

Even though I don't do passenger trains (yet), I still watched and enjoyed Eric's review. They're all fun to watch.

Very helpful ..... slowly showing everything from different angles ..... operating features .... sounds .... etc.

I'd really enjoy seeing Eric's layout during one of the layout tours.

OK, so I think it's fair to say that the Pocahontas set is the NOT most prototypically correct set in the world. I, however, like the set because it looks nice and it's fun. Lionel is not exactly known for making the most prototypically correct models in the world, but they sure are fun to run and they sound better than anything else out there. If I was looking for more realism, I'd be into 2-rail modeling. For me, part of 3-rail modeling is letting my imagination do some of the work.

I think it's easy for people to forgot just how difficult is is for Lionel and the other companies to get these models made. I don't envy their job and I am very grateful for what they do. They don't get it right all the time, but they do the best they can with the what they have (tight budgets, small staff and razor thin profit margins). From what I've heard it is not at all an easy task to get these trains made over in the China and it's only getting more difficult as time goes on. I think it's a small miracle that we get these models at all. The folks who get these train made, regardless of which company it is, walk a thin line and try to do their best. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they fail. That's life.

Speaking of life, mine is stressful enough as-is, and trains are my happy place. In short, I don't lose sleep over things like details and mistakes. They happen, but as long as I'm having fun I don't let it bother me. But hey, that's just me. To each his own.

For the record, I do apologize for missing the misaligned stripes. Unforunately, I'm afflicted with a serious condition that will never go away...I'm human. I make mistakes.

The main reason why I make these videos is that I want to do my part to promote and grow the hobby..even if in a small way. I want newcomers to be able to get excited about what's out there and for former hobbyists to want to get back into the hobby. I also want to promote these products because, quite frankly, I want Lionel, MTH, Atlas and the others to sell more trains and make lots of money so that they can stay in business and keep making trains. A profitable train maker is a win-win situation for everyone.

I guess there's truth to the old statement, "You can't please all of the people all of the time, but you can please some of the people some of the time." If I can please some of the people some of the time and help to grow the hobby, I feel I've done my part.

Again, my apologies any mistakes or missed items in the video.

Have a Happy 4th of July weekend everyone!

-Eric Siegel

No apologies necessary.

None.

I love the reviews and find them very helpful.

You are correct with regard to the difficulties encountered producing trains in China.

That is why it is so important to carefully approve the first models. 

You help to promote and grow our hobby in a big way. Including, with this video review.

Jim

Thank You Eric Siegel.

Eric I appreciate what you do and look forward to it. This is a hobby and is about having fun and you add a great deal to it.

Looking forward to your next review. I think that Lionel really got it right on that one.

Eric, keep up the good work.  I appreciate watching.

Eric    Keep doing the reviews. If you do anything different, do more reviews.

Everything I read and hear is positive about the videos that you do. It is 

because you do these videos that a lot of us have enough information to 

make an informed decision as to whether we like the engine or car that you

are reviewing. I don't think there will ever be a day that everyone will agree

on every single point of a review, but that's not the point. The information in

the review is important and so far you do that better than anyone that I know.

It's like you say about the crew talk. Some like it, some don't, but at least you

get to hear it and can decide if you like it or not.

Keep up the good work. I think we all appreciate what you do.

Eric,

Did you leave the word "not" out of this statement? I certainly hope so.

quote:

but they do the best they can with the what they have (tight budgets, small staff and razor thin profit margins).

I have to disagree with this statement too. Witness the earlier TMCC Class J which, cosmetically, is better looking than the Legacy version. If they did it then, why not now? The question for the "Notch 6" guy to ask is, who dropped the ball and why did it happen?

Getting back to the review, sugar coating things don't do justice to your viewers. You can't just list the "Pros" and not include the "Cons". Present an unbiased review and let the viewers decide what they can and cannot live with.

It would be nice if everyone who has nothing but negative comments, add any positive comments, if they have any, as well. The forum members would like to read both. I believe this set is a great set. These issues may not be that significant by some others. Eric did a great job of bringing out the features of this set.   

We may not realize but, even though there has been significant disagreement on this thread about what is successful and what is not, there is absolutely no personal issue between posters, no rancor, no snide remarks and good, healthy discussion. I mark this as a very positive thread. Thanks to all of you for making this discussion a good one.

Scrappy

I try to avoid interjecting into these threads, but I will for this one.

Eric Siegel has done a fantastic job of tediously recording, editing, and publishing his reviews. I have used his techniques and tips countless times. I want to express my gratitude and admiration for his time and efforts. If he were me, I would be discouraged by some of these comments, despite their undoubted veracity.

I own this set. I received the last set from a Forum advertiser after my LHS suddenly closed. I accept the variances from prototype, which are certainly there (and can be seen in Eric's videos). Lionel had a horrible time making this set but doggedly stuck with it, despite all of the production difficulties. Mike Reagan personally made sure this set was produced.

I look at my trains from the 1950s. About the same (or a little more) in today's dollars for a lot less. I respect and admire the people posting differing opinions from Eric; however, I (maybe part of the majority? I don't know) will accept the window "weirdness," and the lack of whistle steam, and the stripe misalignment, because this really is a striking train set. None of the visitors to my layout ever notice these "errors."

Just my opinion. Thank you, Eric; your valuable time spent, your excellent videography, your devotion to your hobby are very much appreciated by me. You definitely inspire me.

Bruce

Ha, you're right. I must have read and re-read that post 10 times before submitting it and I missed that. I need to hire a proofreader. Yeah, there should have been a NOT in there.

The misalignment of the stripes and those goofy "outside" windows are a deal-breaker for me - glad I did not order this set! At the pricepoint asked, this set should have been made correctly!

Will look for an earlier Lionel 611, preferably new in box. I actually previously owned both the TMCC 606 and 611.

The whistle smoke is no concern for me.

I also enjoy Eric's videos, I have watched every one of them at least once and some more than that. When thinking about re-entering the hobby, and I was nibbling on the bait, it was one of these videos that probably set the hook and got me to finalize on O gauge and make my first purchase. I have expanded from there. I have also always liked O gauge the best, the smaller scales just are not the same. Exception being S gauge, but the selection is not all that good there, so O it is. 

Eric does a great job of reviewing things and arguably makes some of the best train videos available, very professional. He usually also points out the short comings of anything he reviews if he finds them. As he stated above, over looking something once in a while is only human. And we all look at things differently as to what is important, so something that one person doesn't notice may drive another person nuts. I don't usually know the difference? As long as it works and runs well on my layout, very few other things bother me.

NO argument with Eric's excellent video reviews! His contributions to our hobby cannot be understated!

My disappointment with this set is directed strictly to Lionel!

Big Jim is correct: If they got it right with the 611 TMCC loco, why NOT the Legacy?  

Eric,

    Real nice job on a real nice Train!

PCRR/Dave

TinPlate Art, I Love this Set, so, come to Clarksville, see the set, and while your lookin at the 611, we will pull the Passenger Cars, with the Y6B, legacy version, and if that's not enough Huffin an Puffin For ya, we'll hook up the Big Boy to correct the Vision of the Off line stripe.....Yes, It'l be Fun when we run the Last Train To Clarksville.....Have a Great Fourth if July!!!! Happy Railroading.....WOW.....

leapinlarry:

You da man, and you have the goodies to prove it! 

Nice review.

I have this set and love it.