Lionel's Vision Line Big Boy Super Set

Hi Eric,

Did you see the custom Denver and Rio Grand Big Boy exclusive fantasy scheme by train loft?

Joe Gozzo

Always enjoy your videos Eric.  Thank you!

Great video, as usual.  Thanks!

@Trainlover160 posted:

Hi Eric,

Did you see the custom Denver and Rio Grand Big Boy exclusive fantasy scheme by train loft?

Joe Gozzo

Yeah. Not sure I'd want one that yellow. Pretty crazy.

The #4008 seems to be missing the piping detail that was pictured in the catalog illustration.

@rscott posted:

The #4008 seems to be missing the piping detail that was pictured in the catalog illustration.

Rscott, actually the model is prototypical, #4008 would not have had the condensers on top of the front pilot. Only the first 5 Big Boys had the condensers on top of the pilot when delivered.. But even those were moved under and behind the louvered doors of the front pilot a few months after they were delivered. I’m not sure why Lionel chose to put them on top of the pilot for #4014 either? Check out photos or videos of the real #4014 and you’ll see the condensers are not on top of the pilot. So your model #4008 with missing condensers is prototypical. I like it!

I have seen some pictures on the internet of the #4008 with the tubes on the front pilot.  Was disappointed when I saw the #4008 does not have them (one of the reasons I ordered the set).  I ordered the super set from Mr. Muffins and might change the engine in the set to the #4019 that has them.  Still trying to decide.

@Schu posted:

I have seen some pictures on the internet of the #4008 with the tubes on the front pilot.  Was disappointed when I saw the #4008 does not have them (one of the reasons I ordered the set).  I ordered the super set from Mr. Muffins and might change the engine in the set to the #4019 that has them.  Still trying to decide.

The swap that Mr. Muffin is offering is pretty awesome! I got the 4019 from him and it is a fine model.

@ericstrains.com posted:

Yeah. Not sure I'd want one that yellow. Pretty crazy.

Can you imagine it coupled with the rumored Katy version though? 😉

My first thought about how big (and heavy) the set was in the box: "Would you look at the size of that of that thing!" (Wedge Antilles; Star Wars: A New Hope).

And of course, the Erie Triplex Super Set will be even bigger with a whopping 15 freight cars!

Great review, Eric. Are you planning on getting one of the Triplexes or the super set?

@Schu posted:

I have seen some pictures on the internet of the #4008 with the tubes on the front pilot.  Was disappointed when I saw the #4008 does not have them (one of the reasons I ordered the set).  I ordered the super set from Mr. Muffins and might change the engine in the set to the #4019 that has them.  Still trying to decide.

Went with the #4019 in the set.  Thanks Mr. Muffin for making that option available in these sets.

@ericstrains.com posted:

Yeah. Not sure I'd want one that yellow. Pretty crazy.

Speaking of which; I guess it's a rich man's hobby now.

At the 27:40 mark you say "...it's not supposed to be affordable".

I understand what you probably meant, but still...$4500 (or even $4100) is a lot of clams...

Mark in Oregon

PS: I do enjoy your videos....

@Strummer posted:

Speaking of which; I guess it's a rich man's hobby now.

At the 27:40 mark you say "...it's not supposed to be affordable".

I understand what you probably meant, but still...$4500 (or even $4100) is a lot of clams...

Mark in Oregon

PS: I do enjoy your videos....

I wouldn’t say it’s a rich man’s hobby. Lionel makes plenty of more affordable trains. The Vision Line, however, was never intended to be affordable. It was supposed to the best of the best, top shelf. Throwing in the kitchen sink, so to speak.

I like to compare the various product lines to automobiles. A Honda is meant to be a more affordable car. A Rolls Royce is in no way meant to be affordable…they don’t even try. Vision Line trains are like the Rolls Royce of Lionel. At the other end of the spectrum Lionchief and LC+2 trains are the Honda’s of Lionel. The end result is that there’s something at every level of the market, whether you’re on a tight budget or you’ve got some cash to blow. 🤣

You could swap it various car brands, but hopefully you get the point.

Hope that makes sense.

BTW, Lionel has done it like this plenty in the past. In the pre-war days they had the cheap entry level o gauge trains and then they had the super expensive high end standard gauge trains that rich kids got for Christmas.

The State Set was the Vision Line of the pre-war period.

The Electronic Control set was the Vision Line of the postwar period.

The first Acela was the Vision Line of the early 2000’s

Thanks!

Eric

Very valid points, to be sure.

I must admit I had not thought about it in the terms Eric used ie: "pre-war", "post war", etc.

The only (gentle) push back I might offer is that those pre and post war trains were all of high quality; I suppose that's partially why there is still so much of it around.

This Forum is filled with threads about the lack of QC from the Big L, including an awful lot of high end engines, so it would appear that just because you might have to pay more, you may in fact not be getting a "higher quality" item for that extra dough.

And as far as "Honda vs. Rolls Royce", I bet the same could be said there as well! 

Happy New Year, gentlemen.

Mark in Oregon