Lionel SD70MAC's Arrived Today

Yes, I'm expecting two Alaska RR units tomorrow from Charlie Ro as well.  Compared to the new diesel prices in the 2015 catalog, these locomotives are a fabulous deal... and I'm thinking dealers will sell through their BTO inventory very quickly.  Charlie Ro already no longer has the two Alaska RR units listed.  Here and gone already?  

 

David

Hi, Ai nice looking layout what is the marerial Bridge surport made from ?

 

Also, I see some Signals in one your pictures. Please don't forget to veiw the new Signals Heads on Integrated Signal Systems.com they have Railroad and Subway type Signals for your beautiful layout now.

 

Thanks, John

Wow, very nice and congrats on your newest acquisitions. 

 

Any chance you could take a quick video of them in action? 

 

Best,

Michael

I have one of the BNSF's coming as well.  These look real nice!  I can't wait to get this baby on the tracks.  Thanks for posting pics....

 

BTW - Your layout looks real nice.  When you are ready love to see more.

I'm "on the fence" about purchasing one of these. I saw the Conrail version the other day and I'm very distracted by the gap between the trucks and and the under frame. Other than that, great sounds and great paint job.

Nice pieces and layout. Like the all flanged wheels on the trucks.

I picked up the Conrail one on a whim while I was at Nicholas Smith last week.  I had not planned on getting one, but when I saw it in person I changed my mind.    Just love the paint scheme against the black grills and roof fans.  AT 404.99 I thought it was a good deal.

 

Good Day,

 

Does the outside front axle and outside rear axle move independently of the other two axles? Are all three axles stationary on each truck?

 

Regards,

Swafford

The Alaska unit looks stunning.

SandJam,

 

    I do like the Conrail engine looks great.

 

   Good luck with it.

 

JohnB

Absolutely!  And it would appear production volume for those units may have been limited.  Just a quick search this morning on some of the larger dealers' websites for the Alaska units came up empty-handed.  Places like Charlie Ro and Nicholas Smith Trains typically have items for a few months (at least) after Lionel ships.  But apparently not these jewels.

 

I'm noticing more BTO items this year selling out much sooner than last year's crop.  Perhaps dealers aren't ordering as many extras?

 

David 

 

 

can we get a low angle side photo from any of you guys??????

Here are some additional photos:

Very handsome locomotives, but too new an era for me.

 

aj and sean--thanks for the photos.

That's a big gap with the trucks do you think because of the new larger fuel tank? Lionel put on this model because there was the big gap with the fuel tank on  Previous models

Just got home tonight from work... haven't unpacked the individual locos yet -- only the outer Charlie Ro shipping carton to review the invoice.  One thing that jumped out at me immediately when I looked at the individual loco brown cartons...  both of my Alaska units have a date-of-manufacture listed as 10/27/2014... about 6 months ago!!! 

 

David

Thanks ai.

I don't like the way the truck side frames look. They appear to be too thick and bulky. Lionel could have done a better job for the money.

I agree, they seem to lack detail as well. They have a more "toylike/ Williams"  kinda look to them, as opposed to a more finely scale detailed piece. Lionel has certainly done better in the past.

I don't get this one step forward, two steps back approach that seems to be existent at the big L. A gap that sizable is not acceptable these days. It's older tooling, but the trucks are a disappointment - so is the fact that the programming switches are on the bottom of the units. I was really looking forward to these units. 

Also the the front trucks should be shifted forward closer to the pilot.  This tooling is really old and inaccurate.

 

The most accurate one I've seen is the Lionel/K-lien Conrail sd70mac, though that one had a grossly undersized fuel tank.

 

The mth has a better and more correct body than the Lionel sd60/70. The cooler vent behind the fireman's side of the cab should be rectangular and Not done type of a laundry chute as found on the sd 50&60's.