Lionel Shipping Schedule - Just the facts, Ma'am

Well to be fair, the VL Big Boy was always said to be December even if that was the 31st of December.    I know the schedule really throws peoples nose out of joint but my philosophy is it will get here when it gets here.  Too many real life going ons to worry about to get upset over a few weeks at this point.

 

Now some of the items that should have been here by know like the N&W J sets would get my goat a bit.

I see your point Marty but the dates posted have changed in the last several days, which I assume means that the dealer knows something we don't and can't by looking at Lionel's own published schedule. Of course the outcome is what I expected - no new SP under the tree for me!

Just too many variables.  Especially this time a year.

 

But like many others, I wish Lionel would leave an item on the schedule that has been "shipped" for at least a month.

 

 

The only beef with the delay is I would have purchased more, but the dates were all stacked on each other so I had to pick and choose. Sadly I did not get the new big boy.

 

Part of the problem is that the "arrival date" you are looking at can mean any of several 'wheres."  for example some postings and earlier info on 3rd Rails website said Dec 4 arrival - but that was in the container on our shore.  Dec 10 is the estimated date to arrive at their offices (last time I checked) and I am hoping - hoping - to get it prior to Christmas.  

 

I have a feeling the V BB will be a January delivery to buyers, but . . .

Given the inevitable, multiple variables that can and will exist from paper to production to reception, I have come to use the projected shipping schedule for one thing and one thing only...budgeting for purchasing.

 

Inevitably, those items I want, like others have said, tend to initially be projected to be delivered at the same time. It has been my experience that items tend to move fluidly (some more than others), and rarely are delivered early, if on time.

 

So, I divide the street price by the number of months the item is projected to be delivered. If I can afford it, I pull the trigger.

 

In the meantime, I enjoy what I have, and I relish the day when I get to feel like an 8-year-old version of myself!

It's not just trains that this hits.

My 3D Printer has again slipped.Problems in Quality Control and assembly in China are being fixed.

Was supposed to ship Oct, then Dec 5, now Dec 17 from China so I'm now expecting to see it after the new year..

 

Bummed, This is my Big Toy for the year. Did get a killer price of $400 on it tho.

That is due to buying it while still in Development.

Equivalent from major brand is $1200. Stratasys keeps this price point by buying up all the competition. So far Solidoodle is resisting. And they have 4 models for sale.

At least in Scott Mann's case he sent around his monthly email circular recently which drew attention to delays at the California port. And who else would post a link to tracking the container ship's whereabouts? 

 

Lest I seem obsessive I had the same reservations as J Daddy about picking and choosing and now it looks like I could have been bolder. 

Been waiting two years going om three for the Neil Young Signature Series PRR and Texas Special passenger cars and also the complete sets, despite the AA units being released at least a year ago.

I believe Lionel's management plan for distribution and shipping is that if it is a Fantasy, Sports, Beer, or NASCAR themed train you have a good chance of seeing it within a few months at most from the announced date.

However, beyond those products, they roll a set of dice to determine how many months to add to the original announced date, and then if they roll snake eyes, they roll again for the amount of years to be added divided by two.

Charlie Nassau posted Lionel product receiving dates that show an earlier arrival date this month than what you have indicated is on the Charles Ro website. Charlie has been spot on with the dates he has indicated for the Berkshires and PE passenger cars. So I BELIEVE  there is hope for these items to be under the Christmas Tree.

 

As far as the GM Train of Tomorrow, if it gets through the longshoremen, it will be here as well.

My problem is if there gonna be late make sure there not broken

Where on the RO site is the shipping info?

PGT you are always a beacon of sense and good cheer so I am consoled (for the moment) and will stop thinking of what might not come to pass.

 

BTW, my orders are with Charlie Nassau.

The site isn't user-friendly. It appears you have to use the search function to get at models they do not actually have in stock. So for example if you search "Big Boy"you will get a list including the Vision ones. Click on the item number on the left and you will go to the product page. The date is usually on the bottom right of that.

http://www.charlesro.com/store...8&Category_Code=OLSL

Also the Heavy Mikado's.

 

Lionel's ship date has changed from Jan 2015 to Feb 2015 (it was originally Sept 2014).

 

Charles Ro:  "EXPECTED AVAILABILITY BY 03/10/2015"

It is one of the WORST websites for one of the BEST train dealers, and why he won't upgrade it, or at least make sure he has pictures of what he is selling is beyond me.

The abbreviations for the products are torture too.

Agreed. Both Ro and Sidetrack -- two of the best dealers out there and two I have patronized through the years -- have very poor web sites.

What i hear from a reputable source beyond the hobby shops is this.

 

AVAILABLE TO SHIP DATES: (Sorry, not everything was on this list and only lists things through december, not beyond)

 

Batman M7 Lioncheif - 12/1

 

Polar Express Trolly- 12/5

 

PFE Reefers (Both Vision and Reg from V1) 12/5

 

A/F ES44AC's - 12/15

 

Legacy ES44AC's - 12/15

 

Vision Big Boys- 12/19

 

 

I know a lot of things people have asked about is not on the list i Saw, but hopefully this helps to clear up some of the dates things should be available to SHIP to your favorite stores, i figure receiving dates should be a week to two weeks after these dates depending on if you deal with a lionel direct dealer or one who ships through a supplier

 

 

I got the impression those dates were planned Lionel shipping dates out of NC -- not dates of arrival to direct dealers.  Add another week or so in the midst of heavy package shipping season, and we're likely looking at dates close to what's posted on Charlie Ro's website.  Then a few extra days to get them into our hands.

 

David

Thanks for the info. If right this basically confirms what I thought.

 

 

Same here but I am not giving up hope yet.

David, what Charlie showed as dates were consistent with when HE ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE PRODUCT. This was backed up by Forum members who posted photos of these products they received the next day after Charlie received them.

 

In this case, I think your impression is incorrect.

The Big Boy had to have put a huge dent in lots of people's budgets.  WHOOOSH!!! Two grand... Just like that. 

 

Add a Gold Polar Express train with several coaches to the list.  Close to another two grand.  Then a Daylight cab forward.  A shade over another grand.  And oh yeah, how about another Berk with front pilot wheels that fall off at no extra charge.  Still another grand on top of it all.

 

That's a whopping $6K+ in one month for everything.  

 

I'd say you did yourself and your bank account a $2K favor by passing on the Big Boy.   I know I did.  You'll thank yourself 6 months from now, when it's no longer the newest thing on the block, and the thing that is comes in at $600 less.  Patience can be a virtue.

 

Nobody ever said this hobby was gonna be for the faint of heart.  But we're clearly getting into some seriously new territory nowadays.

 

David

I guess we'll know in a week or so.  If you look at the post above mine from Mark while I was typing, the dates he lists are LIONEL shipping dates.  Seems strangely consistent with the dates Charlie posted.  He couldn't have received the product(s) yet, since those dates hadn't happened yet!  The devil is always in the details.  Don't shoot the messenger, PTC.

 

David

It is an expensive hobby if you go into it in a big way like that, yes.  And you have to be able to handle paying for them if they all arrive together because it can happen and eventually it will.  You don't have control of the shipping schedules.

 

That occurred to me a couple of years ago. I had five pre-orders for the whole year between Lionel, MTH, and 3rd Rail, and the schedule originally had them nicely spaced out over about 14 -15 months of something like that.  But there were delays, and four of the five came in in June.  

 

I wish I could space them out - not so much because I have to pay for them - sooner or later I have to pay for them anyway,but it is more fun when you get to spread the "new loco" joy around more times in the year.  

 

I set money aside when I order- I think that is the only sane way to deal with it.  It just sits in the bank until needed, already "spent" as far as I am concerned.

Has anyone's pre-order ever shipped on the originally scheduled date? I don't think any of mine have and I pre-order almost everything, both Lionel and MTH. No VL BB however, that one was way above my pay grade. I must stick with the lowly diesels. I can rack up enough with just those to make Ben Franklin squeal when they pry him from my hands for payment.

Marty,

 

The N&W J set (6-29365) was in the 2012 Volume 2 Catalog and 2015 is around the corner. I have retired since I ordered that set and do not expect it to be shipped in 10 days as listed on the Lionel Web site. How patient with Lionel are we expected to be? Is there an age limit on ordering trains since we may not live that long to receive them? I do agree though, there are more life events which are more important.

How hard is it to paint a PRR passenger set brown and a Texas Special set red for the Lionel Neil Young Signature series and ship them out?

It has been almost 3 years now...is it REALLY that hard or is Lionel a mis-managed company?

Or is the issue overseas manufacturing?

What does Lionel have to say about this and other things?

Does anyone ask them?

Does MTH have the same issues?

Either way it is a bad way of doing business.

Is Lionel a publically traded corporation?

If so, their CEO has a board of directors to answer to.

If not, well uh.....

---

I'd like to thank Mike R. For responding to my question about the Pocahontas set. I, too, have the set on order.

 

The cars look FABULOUS

 

Here's what he said:

 

Heath,

The Pocahontas cars will be loaded onto a ship for transit to the States on Dec 4^th. They are due to arrive in GA on 1/13/14, they must come to NC to be packed out with the locos (which are in the warehouse in Concord already). I would expect to see them on dealer shelves by no later than January 30^th (unless they get caught in the warehouse due to physical inventory, then they will not be out to Feb 15.

 

As to the color of the windows, I have attached 3 photos in the email. The windows are in fact clear, however they do have a green tint to them, especially depending upon how the lighting hits them. As you can see, the green hue is mist pronounced on the edges of the windows, but the color in the window opening as an ever so slight green hue to it, but is 95-97% clear.

 

 

 

After reading this  it's not hard to believe that the big boys are made and are on the water or close to it.

It would be nice to get the VLBB for Christmas but what the heck, I have a birthday in March.

 

Brent

Nawlins:

 

This is yet another good example that Lionel listens and does respond to it's customers. Thanks for the update as many are interested in the delivery date.

Oh no, not again!  

 

I'd like to see those pics. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Care to post them?

Lionel's N&W aluminum passenger sets have always been the creme dela creme.  Even the 1981 MPC version with add-on cars was always a popular hit among passenger train enthusiasts.  In its day, a couple of the add-on cars (diner and vista dome) were highly sought after to complete the train.  Today, of course, there are no such premiums placed on the set.  But it remains handsome nonetheless.

 

I sold my 1981 set a few years ago when I was clearing house of most sets with 15" passenger cars, and opted to purchase the more recent Powhatan Arrow set with seven 18" cars (including the StationSounds Diner).  So I passed on this latest Pocahontas set that's been in near-perpetual suspended animation for a couple of years now.

 

More importantly, however, this set should be a real bell-weather of sorts for Lionel's future aluminum passenger car offerings.  If this set makes the grade, then it'll mean there's still some hope for future aluminum passenger offerings from Lionel despite some serious missteps with the Milwaukee Road and dare we even utter the letters CZ.     If it  misses the mark yet again, then that doesn't bode too well for the many aluminum sets that have now been pushed well into 2015 for delivery.

 

The fact that you liked them is very encouraging.  When produced properly, it's a stunning color scheme that's almost impossible not to like.

 

I did notice the Charles Ro website is now expecting arrival of this set in early Feb 2015 which would be consistent with Mike R's comments.  Although I didn't order the set, I'd potentially be interested in the #611J that's packaged with it.  Perhaps dealers will offer set break-ups, although some may want a premium for the loco... which they shouldn't really be able to sustain since the loco was produced w/o whistle-steam.   Should be an interesting  space to watch.

 

David

If that set would of had a smoking whistle j I would of bought it.. Even if they sell me the main board so I could put a smoke unit in it I buy it..

Agreed.  Ironically, had production of the whole set been delayed, we might have gotten a #611J with whistle-steam.  But as Mike R alluded in his email, the locomotives have been sitting in a NC warehouse for quite some time now -- awaiting the passenger cars which have been the fly in the ointment.

Given what Nawlins wrote, quoting what Mike R. said,

“. . . will be loaded onto a ship for transit to the States on Dec 4th. They are due to arrive in GA on 1/13/14 . . .”

 And as jojofry noted,

"After reading this (the above) it's not hard to believe that the big boys are made and are on the water or close to it."

I would venture to say that the VL Big Boys must have been loaded around the first of November to be received the second week in December, packed, and at the dealers by the third week of December. (Yes, 2014, I hope).

 

Correct?

 

Alex