Lionel T1 Product Video

Awesome engine guys, great job.  I pity those fools too!

Ben 

You, sir, are very welcome. 

Lou N

There are videos of the T1` with a  "Hooter" whistle. did they have both?

Nice engine and video, but for the price of this engine why cannot not get the engine number announcement with railsounds like all my older engines? Does it cost that much to do this?

Schumann posted:

There are videos of the T1` with a  "Hooter" whistle. did they have both?

The hooter was the original stock Reading whistle. As these locomotives entered excursion service the hooter was abandoned in favor of a much more melodious 5 chime, usually whatever was available at the time. 

When 2100 was restored and moved from Rook Yard in Pittsburgh to Brewster Ohio different folks tried their hand at being engineer. (I think Rich had his turn). When Norm Sandley had his turn the whistle played music. Just an amazing sound. 

Lou N

MDuppy posted:

Nice engine and video, but for the price of this engine why cannot not get the engine number announcement with railsounds like all my older engines? Does it cost that much to do this?

Agreed.

Can't recall which year it started, but Lionel has dumbed down the Crewtalk/Towercom dialogs on all but VisionLine locomotives for a few years now.    I'm sure it's a bean-counting decision, although I have no inside information from Lionel on this.  That being said, the decision allows Lionel to re-use the same dialogs from year to year, so they've effectively eliminated the cost of scheduling, recording, and post-processing the necessary voice talent for new locomotives with multiple road-numbers.

I say it's a bean-counting decision, because somebody passionate about making a statement with the product would choose otherwise in a heartbeat.  Bean-counters don't give a hoot about making a statement... they're just looking at the bottom line numbers and how they can get product made for the cheapest dollar. 

OTOH, listen to the VisionLine GG-1's, where we're paying top dollar by design.  How many models were produced?  Eight, I think.  And when you hear the Crewtalk/Towercom on these locomotives, your ear quickly and pleasantly catches the difference of the unique dialogs on each locomotive.  Sounds great... AND makes a statement of top-notch quality.  Yes... it's a little thing, but it's very noticeable (to me anyway) and it goes a long way.

The dumbed-down Crewtalk/Towercom dialogs already sound tired IMHO, simply because we've heard them so many times now.  Very much like listening to even the best of song titles... when you listen to them over and over again, they get old fast.

Then again, those folks who detest crewtalk/towercom probably don't care, since they don't use the feature anyway.

David

Schumann posted:

There are videos of the T1` with a  "Hooter" whistle. did they have both?

The original "in regular freight service" Reading T1 locomotives, in the livery of the #2100 shown in the video, had those Reading "peanut" type, high single note whistles, i.e. NOT a true "hooter" whistle as the N&W and C&O used on their freight locomotives. Thus, in my opinion, the #2100 shown in the video did not have a correct Reading freight "peanut" whistle, as would have been used back in the 1940s/1950s.

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

MDuppy posted:

Nice engine and video, but for the price of this engine why cannot not get the engine number announcement with railsounds like all my older engines? Does it cost that much to do this?

Agreed.

Can't recall which year it started, but Lionel has dumbed down the Crewtalk/Towercom dialogs on all but VisionLine locomotives for a few years now.    I'm sure it's a bean-counting decision, although I have no inside information from Lionel on this.  That being said, the decision allows Lionel to re-use the same dialogs from year to year, so they've effectively eliminated the cost of scheduling, recording, and post-processing the necessary voice talent for new locomotives with multiple road-numbers.

I say it's a bean-counting decision, because somebody passionate about making a statement with the product would choose otherwise in a heartbeat.  Bean-counters don't give a hoot about making a statement... they're just looking at the bottom line numbers and how they can get product made for the cheapest dollar. 

OTOH, listen to the VisionLine GG-1's, where we're paying top dollar by design.  How many models were produced?  Eight, I think.  And when you hear the Crewtalk/Towercom on these locomotives, your ear quickly and pleasantly catches the difference of the unique dialogs on each locomotive.  Sounds great... AND makes a statement of top-notch quality.  Yes... it's a little thing, but it's very noticeable (to me anyway) and it goes a long way.

The dumbed-down Crewtalk/Towercom dialogs already sound tired IMHO, simply because we've heard them so many times now.  Very much like listening to even the best of song titles... when you listen to them over and over again, they get old fast.

Then again, those folks who detest crewtalk/towercom probably don't care, since they don't use the feature anyway.

David

 

This is why for the first time in 20 years I am giving MTH a chance. I even bought a DCS systems form my layout that I swore I would never do. 

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

Can't recall which year it started, but Lionel has dumbed down the Crewtalk/Towercom dialogs on all but VisionLine locomotives for a few years now.    I'm sure it's a bean-counting decision, although I have no inside information from Lionel on this.  That being said, the decision allows Lionel to re-use the same dialogs from year to year, so they've effectively eliminated the cost of scheduling, recording, and post-processing the necessary voice talent for new locomotives with multiple road-numbers...

...OTOH, listen to the VisionLine GG-1's, where we're paying top dollar by design.  How many models were produced?  Eight, I think.  And when you hear the Crewtalk/Towercom on these locomotives, your ear quickly and pleasantly catches the difference of the unique dialogs on each locomotive.  Sounds great... AND makes a statement of top-notch quality.  Yes... it's a little thing, but it's very noticeable (to me anyway) and it goes a long way.

The dumbed-down Crewtalk/Towercom dialogs already sound tired IMHO, simply because we've heard them so many times now.  Very much like listening to even the best of song titles... when you listen to them over and over again, they get old fast.

I remember the day that they stopped doing that...like in early 2012 when the Blue Comet and Southern Crescent came out. Apparently, the last non-Vision locomotives to have number specific CrewTalk were in the 2010 Volume 1 catalog.

It was actually worse back then when all the steamers and diesels had the exact same dialog - how many Southern and Union Pacific engines had Brooklyn-born engineers?

Even though they have slightly changed them according to the locomotive's region since 2013, it's still not enough to match the number specific dialogue. That's what made the older Legacy engines like the 4436 GS-4 Daylight and the first run UP 844's special, and actually made me more eager to use the CrewTalk. MTH has apparently taken note of this and is using the specific number in their new Proto3 passenger station/freight yard ProtoEffects, like the recent Southern Mikados. In that area, MTH is actually better with their sounds.

Did anyone noticed the Ryan referenced these were the first issue of t1's.  leading me to believer their could be more maybe?   Just don't tell the previous poster.  ��

I have a lot of respect for Brian's passion about accurate Reading steam.  He's kitbashed a ton of it.  But some of those details would be easy for a home modeler to correct.  I'm more interested in knowing about what's under the hood... Canon motor?  Back-drivable worm gears?  What's the gear ratio?  Any mechanical changes from other recent Legacy steam??  The Reading is my favorite RR.  But I've read about a couple of duds on here recently, and was a little gun-shy about pre-ordering and would love to know before I risk my $1600.  -Ted

Ryan, you're wasting your time posting on this forum. Too many experts here that love trashing the product and insulting those of us for spending our money as we wish.

Rod Miller

Wowak,

I have looked at your Blog..wonderful work!  What are you planning on doing to correct the incorrect trailing truck on this new Lionel model, if anything?

And how does the Lionel model compare with the MTH model of the same engine with regard to headlights, smoke box fronts and trailing trucks, etc.?  And that also goes for sounds, especially the whistles. I do like the whistle that Lionel has equipped their T-1.

Steve

Ryan, Dave,

Thanks for the video.  Keep em coming.  I think this is a great engine.  I got it brand new at our last Detroit 3 Railer's get together over the holidays and threw it on the track.  The whole gang love the look and sound of the whistle.  My son "Diesel Dan" says it is his new favorite engine.  Love that the whistle smoke is further back from the stack.  The whistle steam really pops on this engine.  All I can say is its a real winner and you did a nice job on it.  I did get comments from a number of the guys looking for Reading Passenger cars for it.  Hope to see you at April York, Daniel and I will stop by and say hi.

Thanks,

Great video guys. Thanks for posting. The T1 looks like a great release.

Phew.

Geez it's a nice engine, I would love to have one.

Some of the comments remind me of " that guy would complain about a free lunch".

If I could justify a Reading T1 on the layout, I would be all over the internet looking for one, but since I am starting to focus on western roads... I guess I will save my money for York!

I really liked the Chessie T1 and remember it coming through Plymouth Mi. when I  was  a kid.

PJB posted:

RickO - true.  What's worse is that the first wowak post(s) were value-added as they only - tastefully - pointed out some bigger discrepancies between this model and the prototype.  Purely factual and helpful, yet they too were deleted. Perhaps the difference is - the vocal person you mentioned on the real train forum isn't casting a negative, but factual, light on a forum sponsors products?   

While I found his post interesting, I think WOWAK (and the point he was making) would have been better served by starting his own thread, rather than rain on the manufacturers post.

In fact, it should probably, if not already, be a forum rule not to post negative stuff on manufacturers posts.

That gives them enough cover...and it's easy enough to start your own thread.

So many "T1's", so little time. RDG; C&O; PRR. I figured it out, though...

Like "J's" - when I hear that, it's a Hudson. For some it's an N&W 4-8-4; others, it's a C&O 4-8-4; also, the NC&StL Mountains and Dixies (4-8-4's) were - to make it worse for a NYC fan - J1's, J2's and J3's.

No point here, just rambling.   

Living in Reading country and given the fact that there are not many Reading steam locomotives made by Lionel and MTH I pre-ordered Cab #2100, taking a big gamble as the pre-order price was a kick in the pants. I finally was able to test it out today. This is a step up in model making for Lionel in my opinion - the underside of the boiler is cylindrical (as opposed to a cast frame that slopes downward like most die-cast models). The cab to tender distance is nice and close - makes a big difference in how a steam locomotive looks. The T1 is kind of a semi-streamlined steam engine - so details were not as abundant like older engines - but close up the details are abundant and come alive on the model. So far it runs and sounds great, good smoke output, though I over-filled the whistle smoke reservoir and it went all over my coffee table (thought I counted 20 drops). I love this history of the Reading RR - and for those who familiar with the mountain stream valleys of PA know the beautiful countryside these engines ran through. This engine has found a home on my layout. Being it is a 4-8-4, the broader the curves the better - fortunately I've got some wide curves - learned my lesson from my former layout.

Your own post would be great to voice any criticisms you have or to inform us as to your modifications for a better detailed engine. You talk as if these 3rail engines are for display only with perfected detail. The truth is they are ogauge not oscale. No matter what detail you add they still have the 3rd rail pick up, oversized flanges, large couplers and a large gap between engine and tender. I'm more concerned as to how the perform vs small omitted details.

Respectfully

Rod Miller

Wowak posted:

So if I start a new thread would I be permitted to voice my negative opinion?   The rules of what is allowable in both content and tone seem to be variable these days.  Personally if I worked for Lionel I wouldn't see any value in being artificially insulated from negative opinions of the product.   

Your content was top notch.  I think your tone is what got you deleted.  I am not saying I support the action, I just think you might be more effective with your message by toning down the half-assery, if you know what I am saying.  Whether you like their model or not, they deserve as much respect as you do.  They never claimed it would be perfect as far as I know.  It will be perfect for some.  Those people don't deserve to be called idiots, they just have a different standard.

The info you provided was excellent.  

Ben