I can understand some of you being frustrated and I hear you trust me. Even with no figures the cost of this set was priced really well. $750 shipped and I received a beautiful E9 Legacy engine and 4 awesome looking passenger cars. Everything is working so far, no electrical, motor issues, paint problems, and all my passenger cars are perfect. If the only thing I have to do is install figures then so be it, it's worth the price of admission for me. This is my humble opinion and I'm sure it's not shared, but I try not to sweat the small stuff. Enjoy the set as it's absolutely stunning and worth it.
@BNSF-Matt posted:I can understand some of you being frustrated and I hear you trust me. Even with no figures the cost of this set was priced really well. $750 shipped and I received a beautiful E9 Legacy engine and 4 awesome looking passenger cars. Everything is working so far, no electrical, motor issues, paint problems, and all my passenger cars are perfect. If the only thing I have to do is install figures then so be it, it's worth the price of admission for me. This is my humble opinion and I'm sure it's not shared, but I try not to sweat the small stuff. Enjoy the set as it's absolutely stunning and worth it.
I, actually, agree with your point of view. That's why I kept the set and contacted Lionel for the figures knowing it was going to be a DIY fix. I have , also, fixed two other small issues with loose trucks on the cars. The passenger figure varieties they sent are useless except for populating one car. As it stands, others have a better set than I do for the same price. So, another phone call on Monday.
@WinstonB posted:I, actually, agree with your point of view. That's why I kept the set and contacted Lionel for the figures knowing it was going to be a DIY fix. I have , also, fixed two other small issues with loose trucks on the cars. The passenger figure varieties they sent are useless except for populating one car. As it stands, others have a better set than I do for the same price. So, another phone call on Monday.
I agree that 7 figures per car is really low, and like you I like to pack my cars full of travelers. Luckily I have two unopened Lionel passenger packs which I will be using to fill the cars along with the ones Lionel is sending.
I hope you can get more figures WinstonB.
Just received my Preamble Express Set - No People....
Jim
I received mine Aug. 30th & was unopened until 5 min. ago after reading these posts. Yes, I have people (no #57).
What I love about running this set. ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.
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Nice looking set, but the car interior lighting really calls out the lack of riders. I would definintely add a bunch!
Got some passengers headed my way👍🏻 I ran my set today and it is very impressive. The only issue I have is the alignment of the E unit rear coupler with the front coupler of the Combo car. The E unit coupler sets up higher than the Combo car, almost by half way. Anyone else notice this or have issues? On level track it didn’t matter. On a dip in the track the cars disconnected from the engine.
@N&W 1218 posted:Got some passengers headed my way👍🏻 I ran my set today and it is very impressive. The only issue I have is the alignment of the F unit rear coupler with the front coupler of the Combo car. The F unit coupler sets up higher than the Combo car, almost by half way. Anyone else notice this or have issues? On level track it didn’t matter. On a dip in the track the cars disconnected from the engine.
I don't have an issue with the F unit and Car 1, but Car 1 and Car 2 disconnect sometimes. I think it's the coupler on Car 1 so I took a bit of glue and locked it down for good.
Besides that it's a beautiful set and well worth the price.
N&W 1218, Matt
It is a E unit not a F unit.
JohnB
JohnB,
E unit it is my mistake.
After reading the postings concerned about the number of passengers that Lionel is sending folks, I went back and checked the actual number of passengers each car in my consist came with:
Car number one - 7 passengers
Car number two - 6 passengers
Car number three - 6 passengers
Car number four - 15 passengers
As a whole, looks like 7 is the expected number of passengers for this set. Not sure how the observation managed to get so many more passengers.
I guess everyone wants to ride in the observation car.
Happy railroading,
Don
Thanks for the count Don! Sounds like there’s a Preamble Party in the Observation as it should be 👍🏻
The passengers were all gathered to the observation car to hear President Ford’s inauguration of the Freedom Train…
@cjack posted:The passengers were all gathered to the observation car to hear President Ford’s inauguration of the Freedom Train…
That is a great bit of history (just looked it up). Would make a great static scene.
Further to DGJONES' comment regarding the number of people per car, I wonder if the length of the car has any bearing on the number that Lionel puts in each car? The reason I ask is because I own a 6 car set of Lionel 15 inch N&W 'Powhatan Arrow' Aluminum Streamlined cars (6-15333) and they also have seven (7) passenger figures per car - even in a combo car. Consequently I'd be curious to know if Lionel has a policy as to the minimum number of figures - depending on whether the cars are 15, 18 or 21 inches in length. 🤔
Picked up my set from McCormicks hardware last week--no passengers--no big deal as I waited 47 years for someone to make this set because I was the guy who took on the job of painting&lettering the 4 cars and the Diesel that 1st pulled them which was a U 33C from the Delaware&Hudson.Did all painting outside on a siding track at the Lebanon NJ passenger station which was privately owned by Ross Rowland.So thanks to Lionel for making it,as for me having to put in some passengers---no problem. Chet
That's Amazing Chet. So would you agree that Lionel hit the colors spot on and did they paint the cars as good as you did? From the pictures that exist of the real train, they did an awesome job! Thanks for being part of such a historical undertaking and even more thanks for sharing this awesome experience with us.
Rory
Rory,yes Lionel did a super job on the colors.When I saw the Preamble pictures in the catalog the roofs looked white and told myself well I'll be repainting them.When I opened the box and saw that they were painted silver it was right on.I actually have a unopened gallon of the CON LUX steel guard Pacific blue that was left over,I also still have the pounce pattern for the lettering--hand lettered--no decals back then. Thanks for the nice compliment. Chet
@DGuill posted:I emailed Lionel this morning and they replied that they would send replacement figures. I’ll post an update once they arrive…
My set is scheduled to be delivered until Oct/Nov?. I did the Lay-Buy program from Mr. Muffins. How hard is it to open the cars and insert the figures - if mine are empty?
ALL ABOARD!!!! I installed 60+ passengers in my set yesterday. Still waiting on Lionel to send me my allotment. What a difference 😎
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N&W 1218,
Looks Great! I did the same with GGD figures with 12 per car. I tested fitted the Lionel figures and they looked too small and plain for such an iconic train. I like the business attired figures, such as yours, much better. In the end, the big man upstairs works in mysterious ways.
N&W 1218,
Cars look great with all those passengers.
JohnB
Good question! The issue with me would be how easily the car was opened up with out any wear and tear
@cjack posted:Good question! The issue with me would be how easily the car was opened up with out any wear and tear
Very easy. Four small screws, one at each corner. Gently raise the body shell so you don't pull apart the electrical contact for the lights until you are ready to do so. I had enough room without disconnecting the lights.
I agree with WinstonB! It was a breeze and the double sided 3M tape was the way to go. No glue drops everywhere and they are really stuck to their seats! I even put some in the lounge area and grandma is having a smoke in the restroom. Don’t tell anyone, 🤫
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My set arrived today sans passengers, but Lionel was very nice about it .
I've never opened a car before, so it is good to hear that folks say it is easy to do.
It is a great set, however, and I was glad to actually find one in stock !
I have a question on the observation car, I was able to easily open the 3 coaches, but I can't figure out the observation car. I have the 2 small screws at the front end off, but the rear is a bit strange and I don't want to break it. I see two small screws for the scale dummy coupler, but that's about it.
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BNSF-Matt: On the presumption that you've already tried turning the truck in question each way as far as it will go to see if there's a screw head or two hidden beneath the truck, perhaps @N&W 1218 can chime in and help clarify this issue, since he implied (above) that he installed figures in all of his cars.
Good Luck!
I see screws under those two holes in the middle of the sides of the truck.
Looks like my set departed the station before the passengers were on board. I bought the set because I already have 17 of the American Freedom Train cars.
Did I correctly see that it's somewhat easy to remove the shells to insert the passengers - only 4 screws on each corner of the cars?
@paulp575 posted:Looks like my set departed the station before the passengers were on board. I bought the set because I already have 17 of the American Freedom Train cars.
Did I correctly see that it's somewhat easy to remove the shells to insert the passengers - pn;y 4 screws on each corner of the cars?
The easiest passenger coaches I have ever opened. 2 small screws on each end, lift gently and flip the seats. If you flip the right way you don't even have to disconnect the wire.
Good eye Chuck (CJack), When I put my people in, I removed the rear coupler detail only to find out I didn’t have to. Just go right through the truck hole. 👍🏻 😎
I look for the easy way...
