Lionel Vision Line GG1, purchase or stay away?

No, not everyone is having issues.   Mine works just fine.  

Which paint scheme do you have?

PRR #4899  "Old Rivets"

No problems at all with my PRR 4800. It got a lot of run time for weeks on my holiday layout. Very happy with it.

Good luck.

I have the PRR 4935.  Operationally so far so good.  There is a very slight "seam" on the top that has been previously reported.

Pennsylvania riveted 4800 .... lots of run time ..... no problems ..... glad I bought it.

Actually the real deal is buying the JLC versions. They are stunning and can be found now for under 500.00 dollars.

But, who knows, York is coming up and you never know what your going to see.

There is always the occasional "lemon" with any product.

It's good to hear that the problems people are having with their GG1's is not an epidemic.

I have a silver JLC GG1 that has only bean test ran I'll sell no box though $400 plus shipping. Email in my profile

Matt, you are selling Vision line for $400.00.  Is this correct?  If this is correct, hot my email as I have a few questions and might be a buyer.

There have been problems reported like the seam and pantagraphs not working or sparking correctly.  However, I have not seen one thread where the issues were not corrected by Lionel. These "toys" are very electrically, mechanically and audibly connected; with the smoke you can add nasally too.

As someone up-high recently commented "who knew how complicated this could be?"  

So is it surprising that there are issues with something this new and innovative? If you want to wait I'm sure the next generation of Legacy Vision Line GG1s will be greatly improved.

No, Marty my post was unclear it is the JLC version. I will never run it so Ill let somebody else take advantage. Its a very nice model and i bought it new. I have now corrected my my unclear post

Thanks Matt.  That is still a good deal.  

Riveted #4899, no problems.

Wait…and buy a used one on the forum with no issues.

Wait…and buy a used one?

Well that's  not bad advice if you dont want to be on the cutting edge of this hobby.

Sent mine back a month ago and still waiting to hear back.  Would just stop on the layout and would not move.  All other functions were fine.

4800 is hardly broken in but working perfectly now.  Initially, one pantograph had a dim LED but began working fine after some exercise.  It appears that old rivets was spared the casting seam issue.

Bruce

4899 Old Rivets.  Lot  of run time pulling seven passenger cars on my trestles/elevated reverse loop with six 072 Lionel switches.  Nary a problem.

Stephen Holmes posted:

I have read various threads of people having some serious issues with the new Lionel GG1 locomotives. Is everyone that owns the new GG1 having issues? Are all the variations of the model having the same problems or just one or two of the variations? I would really like to add a GG1 to my layout. Let me know your suggestions.

Yes issues, keeping it on track'...seems to jump off at low speeds???

Initially I had problems with mine (4800 5 stripe).  Lionel replaced it and I have had no problems since.  Control is great. Sounds are very good, especially the horn.  Color and details are very good including the arcing pantographs and associated sound.  The only odd thing is the smoke.  It's purpose is to replicate the steam release from the boiler but it smokes slowly with no velocity.  Also, by default, it is on all the time like a steam engine????  There is also no associated sound - it just smokes.  MTH actually did this better with sound and a high volume, short duration smoke blast.

I real like the Lionel VL GG1 but I also like my 2 MTH GG1's, as well.  I have no reason not to buy alionel, if that's what you like.

What kind of track does it jump off of? 

Dan,

I am not familiar with new Lionel equipment, so I'll try to be careful here.

The steam heat generator on GG1's (and other Pennsy electrics) was an oil fired boiler that generated relatively low pressure steam for passenger train heating in cold weather. Any smoke emitted was usually hardly noticable at all and occasionally if a safety valve lifted. There was no noise associated with this low pressure system and the crews had to extinguish the boiler fire when entering the North River and East River tunnels under the Hudson in New York. 

So actually the Lionel version might be more prototypically correct in this respect than the MTH version. The ability to turn off the smoke unit (per prototype practice, in warm weather and in the tunnels) might be the most objectionable feature.

Buzz

Mine will be arriving back tomorrow from Lionel after spending two months in for warranty work. Out of the box, one pantograph didn't raise and lower and it ran really rough above speed step 30. I'll be perfectly content if it works as it should and is able to be run without having the problems arrise again...

Am I disappointed with it so far?... YEP!

There are certainly bigger problems than the roof seam (which doesn't bother me) with this production run of GG1's. Sure there are many GG1's without issue but the pantograph issues appear to be more widespread than the standard few duds. 

But, I also recognize that issues happen in manufacturing. 

Bottom line... 

If you buy one, understand that there is a higher than usual chance it will need to go in for warranty work. If it does, Lionel will take care of it. It is my understanding that they took so long for repair because there were "a bunch of GG1's in for repair" and "improved parts" were produced to fix the ones that needed fixing. 

A local "big Lionel guy", purchased three different ones. All three had to be returned to Lionel for "issues" right out of the box. Reportedly he is still ****ed.

I have 4800 Old Rivets and the Amtrak version.  Both have worked perfectly.  I love them both. 

Ben 

Wow, I think you should get one of these Feature Rich, Great Looking, Great Sounding, Sparking Beauties...I have the Tuscan VL 4913 and it's going to pull my Congressional Set.  Mine runs absolutely fine...Yes is has a little crease or Beauty Mark on the top by the Pans, But, It's very Nice....I also have the JLC Green 5 Stripe 5.0 Version, it's also Supper nice....You will love either one you get....You will hear Positive and Negative Feedback on which ever product you buy, just know, Lionel will warrant all VisionLine Engines for 2 Years....It only cost a few $$$$ more to go First Class....Happy Railroading....(I need to figure out how to incorporate a Catenary System for a Realistic Effect...That's coming) Mr. Muffins as some VL GG1's.....Good Luck.....

Buzz, in normal service you would not have known that the GG1 had an oil fired steam boiler.  I used to spend a lot of time on the Honeywell street bridge over Sunnyside yard.  On the ready track, in cold weather, the release valves would open periodically with a whoosh sound and a plume of steam, perhaps 50 feet high.  Where I was going with my comment was that MTH captured this event very well, while it is unclear where Lionel was going.  As shipped, the Lionel smoke unit is on full time.  If you read the instructions you can turn on "prototypical" smoke using AUX1 + 9.  This causes the smoke unit to turn on for 45 seconds, randomly while it is running.  After about 15 seconds you get somewhat anemic smoke for about 30 seconds.  If memory serves me correctly the real event lasted for 5 to 10 seconds.

Please don't misinterpret what I have said, I really like this locomotive and try to run it every day.

So what are you going to do Stephen?

Rod Miller

Have 4899 rivited no problem everything works. Nothing ventured nothing gained as they say. Great engine.

Thank you everyone for your comments and guidance. I will pick up a riveted model in the near future.

Hi Guy's, I would like to ask for some help with an issue I have with  one of my new locomotives. I hate to bring up maybe an old subject but at the time when it was hot of the press I was dealing with the issue and didn’t have anything to write.

The Problem is The Lionel Vision Line GG1. I’ve read all the post in this subject and some where saying Lionel for the most part took care of any problems. Well it's not the case for me, They basically told me if I'm not satisfied  to take it back to the dealer and get a refund . Now that sounds like the thing to do, but then I won’t have the GG1 that I wanted and because it’s BTO the chances of owning one that works correctly are slim. OK enough of the rambling on let’s get to the issue.

Running the GG by itself is no problem. Lash-up about four to five heavy weight passenger cars and then things get worse. When first starting out when engine is cool things work ok. After about 5 min. or longer of constant running, when you stop the train and then try to proceed, it will not start and the cab light will flash. (1 flash = Engine trouble). Then you have to hit the reset and try again. This will keep happening till you change the load on the GG's coupler (it does this in forward and reverse). The problem only happens when trying to start out when there is a load on the coupler. If you bunch all the cars together, then it can pull out because the load is not there. The load is only about .4 to .5 pounds. This is not really much. Any one of my other Legacy engines will pull this and laugh at it. Now they tell me on my last letter that the they tried other GG1's and they all did what mine was doing. They are telling me that this is the nature of the breed and I won't find one that doesn't do this. So the help that I need is for everyone that bought the new Vision Line GG1 to do a pull test and see if they are right that they all do this. They also said that they can’t get the vision line engines to pull as good as the regular LEGACY engines. Well if this is true why are we spending a lot more money for something that is not as good as the regular Legacy engines. Does the Vision Line engines have a totally different motor control system then the Legacy engines do?

I feel like I am getting ripped off here. If other O gauge engineers can have a GG1 run just fine I feel I'm Entitled to the same. After all I paid the same price.

Your thoughts and test results will be really appreciated.

Thanks

Bob Herr

If you order one, make certain your dealer will take it back and not insist you return it to Lionel for warranty work in the event you are unhappy !!!

It was back for warranty three times. They don't know how to fix it.

My Vision Line #4913 is back at Lionel for a second time.  The motor stalls and gives one Cab Blink. The GG1 was able to be reset a month ago.  Now it will not reset or re-program.  If I try to coax it along the track, it pops my large ZW-L transformer breaker.  My other GG1 #4935 is also beginning to stall.

Lionel suggested I remove some passenger cars and turn all the lights off on the passenger cars. I bought the 4913 to pull the ten (10) Pennsylvania cars I ordered, but the 4935 has problems with seven Atlas O California Zephyr cars.

I was told the GG1 draws a lot of power: motors, sound, lights, pantographs.  The gears are very tight on both of my GG1 engines. I was hoping that running the engines would reduce the drag on the motors caused by the tight gears as the gears mesh more easily.

Lionel has been good at taking the engine back for warranty work, but I am mentally tired of sending new, sealed-in-the-box engines to Lionel for service.  My days as a model railroader may be coming to an end.

The JLC models are looking better 'n better, especially at the current prices. I bought one recently here for $400 (DGLE 5 stripe) and just saw the same one sell on the bay for a mere $393.

As much as I'd like to have the VL model with the new features, my budget won' t allow it. I'm perfectly content with the 'regular' version however...

I know how you feel John. But there are some guys saying "mine works fine". is it just a matter of time. So did we buy a $1200 dollar paper weight. I also have the 4913. and I guess it will just have to sit next to my model of the Altoona museum like the real one.

I Love my Vision Line GG1. Did not have a single issue with it.

Here is a video I made unboxing it for the first time with a review.