Lionel vision line big boy, who is in for one?

There's no if there will be a working proto type at York .. 

Huh??

What does this mean???

He said if they make one .. There making it.. And rumors are there gonna have a prototype at York 

If they do make one does anyone want to go in on a bank robbery with me?

What do you think..... $1899.00?   O-96 minimum curve?  Can only be shipped freight?

Easily $1800. 

I heard 2k 

Unfortunately that puts it well above my price line.

Much as I love Big Boys I can't go there.

I have the JLC version.  I have no doubt the Vision Big Boy would be an improvement, particularly given the Vision Challenger.  But it is hard to imagine enough improvements to make it worth getting.  Whenever it comes out, soon or later, it will probably be the first Vision steam loco I take a pass on.

I won't hesitate.  It will definitely cramp the train budget, but I'm in.

York, 'eh?  May just have to make the trip.

I'm sure Lionel will push the price envelope once again for their Legacy Big Boy.  And that's exactly why I'll very likely pass on it. I'm in a different place nowadays in the hobby.

Many of us have far too much inventory already, so why jump through hoops when Lionel says jump?   I suppose there are still enough folks who will bite on this offering, and all it takes will be a sufficient pre-order quantity at the dealer level to make this happen.  I'm sure it will be a terrific model... just not one I necessarily need to own.

David

Not me. I like the two I already have: one MTH, late version, and the Sunset/3rd Rail "Anniversary series" super detailed #4023. 

I have been wanting a scale Big Boy forever, but it is going to be hard to swallow a $2K pill.

I don't know if I'll bite yet.

Does anyone have an idea what the "Vision" features of this model will be? I'm guessing special sound (boiler speaker) like the Challenger but beyond that I dunno, although I'd hope this model will be produced from new tooling.

P.S. I think that the list price will be north of $2K . . .

Whistle smoke?  Swinging bell?  Blow down smoke?  Lots Of things they could jam in that boiler. 

Not I.

Have the JLC version which will still be a very fine Legacy engine no matter what comes next.

Bob

True, but then the UP FEF class, Challenger class, and 4000 class locomotives don't have "swinging bells".

However, "steam" coming out the top of that Wilson Blow Down Separator, as well as the sludge discharge under the Engineer's side of the cab would be pretty impressive.

My check book is in fear.  It knows I'll get one no matter what I tell it.

Jim

They were available from dealers for MUCH less than that after some time passed.  I picked up one for well south of $1400, and it's one of my favorite Legacy steamers.

Prices up around $2K+ are in very tricky territory, especially for folks looking to get maximum bang for their dollar.  Everyone predicted the Vision Line Centipedes would sell out overnight, and they MSRP'd at $2200.  Most dealers will still attempt to get $1600-$1800 for a twin-set, but Charlie Ro just had the Pennsy 5-striper on clearance for $1395!!!    Wow would I be ticked if I spent $1800+ for one of these when they first came out -- based on the sense-of-urgency that they'd sell out soon. 

In order for Lionel to live in the $1800+ land of steamers, they really need to adopt Sunset Model's 3rd Rail approach.  Seldom, if ever, have we ever seen new 3rd Rail stock being "blown out".  So perhaps this really IS the direction Lionel is rumored to be heading with their built-to-order buzz for high-end items in the next catalog.

David

Not sure i will go above $1800 no matter how much I would like to have it. The tooling is already done so don't expect new tooling. If it has JLC detail along with the legacy sound system then maybe it is a buy but not at $1800. If it is vision line with all the extras then it may be worth it.

lets hope for the best.

I'm in!

Depends on what you mean by 3rd Rail's approach. Sure, Scott Mann tests the water in terms of support for particular models he's thinking of making but I don't think his market is among people who are very interested in advanced 3 rail control/operating features (and of course he is catering to a 2 rail O scale market as well). 3rd Rail models are things of beauty but there's now a big gap between them and Lionel in terms of sound/light/smoke features.

I can't imagine Lionel ever going into the business of producing high end brass models and the appeal of the Vision line for me is in the operating features.

I'm on a fixed income.  but I would find a way, if it is the 4014. 

with the 4014 returning to the rails it would be worth it.. 

You only live once!!!

Back in March when we toured Lionel's facility, they did tell us the the next Vision engine was going to be the Big Boy. It sure sounded like it was going to have a lot of features that were used in the Challenger like the 3 speakers. I do believe that it will be better then the Challenger since there has been no Vision product in a while.

And I also believe that it will have the whistle steam effects that has been lacking from their latest steam engines. Especially since the Vision products are suppose to be a grade above the normal products. Just like the first Vision engines that had all of these new features on them. Then we got spoiled with these features by seeing them put on none Vision engines. That is why I believe that we will see the Vision Big Boys with special features to make it a very special engine.

And with Lionel to make products by how many orders they have does answer the question that, will we see it at York. Since the Big Boy is suppose be available in early 2014. I also agree that it will mostly be in the $2K neighborhood but only time will tell us as to what will we be getting for our money. And then the next question comes about? Do dealers really order what their customers want or do they order more then what they have orders for.

I have the Vision Challenger and think it is by a small margin the best toy locomotive I have ever seen.  But I just don't see the various features people are talking about here as being enough reason to buy the Vision version, given I have the JLC now (and only enough shelf space for one or the other). 

A Vision big boy will probably have three speakers, whistle steam (and the correct whistle sound?), maybe a swinging bell or something fancy like that, and perhaps steam effects.  All great features, but none is that important to me.  Frankly, I can't think of any features, even something like animated fireman and engineer figures, that would make me spend the $2K or more it will likely cost to replace my current model.  It would be fun if Lionel could figure out some new feature so spectacular that I'd have to have the new model - I would love them to do so - but I surely can't figure out what that would be. 

Nice idea, if your layout can handle the curve restrictions and your budget can handle the 2k, which is way too steep for me; I can get 2-3 nice engines for that or more cars than I can handle.

I have a Big Boy print (about 54 x 12) made from three-four photographs merged together. Very well done; you can't see where the photos merge with each other. Bought on ebay from a guy in Nashville, TN for less than $25 as I recall with shipping I think.  It hangs over the wide doorway casing in the train room - formerly a patio and now a sun or Florida room with the sliding patio door removed.  That works for me.

No, I am a passenger train operator. Also I have Lionel's first Big Boy and one is enough for me.

I have the UP Vision Line Challenger and that is one great running and sounding engine.  I also have the first Legacy Big Boy and that too is a great looking and running engine.  I run both of these engines maybe twice a year and have way to many other engine to run and find some track time.  So another Big Boy?  Probably not.  Maybe and only if Lionel has a BLOW OUT on these?  But probably they won't.

Reduction of maintenance by eliminating the "swinging mechanism and air cylinders to make it swing". Once they installed the air actuated "cartridge" inside the bell, there was no longer any need for "swinging bells", and that is why most "modern" steam locomotives built after the late 1930s do not have "swinging bells".

Whistle steam and a speaker in the tender?

#4014 being restored to run again?

YOU BETCHA !!!!!

>>Still I like the swinging bells when prototypically correct.<<

A neat feature on the Hudson. As much as I've never warmed up to 19th Century woodburners, having that big bell on the General's boiler top swing would definitly get my wallet open.

BTW, as I recall it, Jerry's Vision Line intrepreted, it meant either a newly tooled highly detailed engine or new never before seen features added to a previously released engine, or both. 

Has that changed? 

Otherwise, a Legacy BB updated with VL Challenger features and possibly a few extra add on details really doesn't cut it without something innovative added.

Joe   

I think it will go down in history as the most feature rich Vision Line Loco.  York will be very exciting.

How about something "small", like the ability to turn off the class lights on the front of the locomotive, and also be able to change the color from green (second section following) to white (extra). With the available LEDs on the market, that shouldn't be too difficult, and I don'k think ANY manufacture has offered THAT feature yet.

Just my opinion, but PLEASE make the model the "late 1940s" version that the UP up-graded all the earlier delivered (1941) 4000s, plus what they look like in museums all around the country today.

Plus, you could even offer the model in two versions if you produce #4014, i.e. #4014 as she originally appeared in service from 1950 through 1957, or as #4014 will appear after being rebuilt and converted to oil burning, two turbo generators,and  all that cab signal/automatic train stop stuff.

Thanks.

>>I think it will go down in history as the most feature rich Vision Line Loco.  York will be very exciting.

>>How about something "small", like the ability to turn off the class lights on the front of the locomotive...

[JZ] Since the Vision Line Hudson, this feature has been on all Legacy Locos (Diesel and Steam).

>>be able to change the color from green (second section following) to white (extra)

[JZ] worth exploring.

Joe,

I know the marketing folks read the forums, but encourage you to contact Lionel marketing at York, or via "Talk to Us" emails.  The product features are set by marketing.  I do have great influence on the technical features, but not much influence on the product as a whole.