lionel vision loco's need your thoughts ASAP

cab forward

Frisco Firefly, mountain or northern, especially the northern in the Frisco Fast Freight scheme. 

 

Accurate ATSF 2900 northern or 2-10-4, (I know 3rd Rail did beautiful versions, but I like a Vision line!)

Lou,

 

If they're just replacing the guts on previously released Items I don't think there's anything I want.  If they're looking for a "new" locomotives then:

 

Union Pacific 4-6-2 (Non-Generic/USRA repaint please) Two tone Grey with white/silver striping. 

 

(And a matching heavyweight set should be easy with Blue Comet/Alton/Southern tooling/molds available)

 

 

 

Lou:

 

I'll stick to your list for my preferences

 

Dreyfuss Hudson

Cab Forward (hopefully black as well as SP colors, please)

Reading Crusader

PRR Mountain

(in this order of preference)

 

I would be happy with my top two choices, if given only two.

 

Thanks for asking

 

Bruce

For a premium boxed set, I'd like to see a B&O Trailer Jet complete with a powered GP30, dummy GP30, B&O livery TOFC, and finished off with a beautiful I-12 caboose.

NYC Vanderbilt , NYC Dreyfus, PRR duplex 4-4-4-4, NYC Mohawk. In terms of what else would have me order 100% of all Lionel steam locos - if they all came standard with steaming whistle, blow-down effects, smoking dynamo, smoking cylinder chest and operating bell. And a better steam unit for the stack. My Railking starter engines make more and thicker smoke than the Legacy engines I've seen. Oh, and if passenger cars are part of the conversation, continue the high level of detail - and sound! Imagine the clickety clack as passenger cars go by. Or even conversation from the occupants wafting out as cars roll by! Thanks for asking. Peter

Agreed, an SP AC-12 Cab Forward, in BLACK but PLEASE, NOT road number 4294 again!!!!

Hello Lou,

I really do not understand Lionel's concern for protecting the "value" of previously released engines.  What is the logic behind this?  Does anyone today believe that a Lionel toy train is an investment?  I can't think of any retail purchase that I make with the hope that it will be worth what I paid for it, certainly not more than what I paid for it 5 to 7 years later, including the toy trains I buy.

 

I love the Vision Line.  I have 3 VL steamers and they are my favorite engines.  Having said that, I would not be interested in fantasy paint scheme Vision Line anything. 

 

If I am limited to the engines you listed, then I would be interested in a highly detailed, relatively accurate, Vision Line feature rich...

CAB FORWARD

BIG BOY

PRR T-1

PRR S2 Steam Turbine

 

Do Vision Line engines have to be large engines?  Perhaps they do to allow for room for extra electronics and smoke generators.  I think a Vision Line Mikado or Pacific would be cool.  Regardless, fantasy paint schemes will prevent me from buying a Vision Line anything.  If Lionel goes that route they might as well make a Vision Line NASCAR train.

 

How about a Visions Scale 0-6-0 Steamer with Slope Back Tender. Swinging Bell, Smoke out the Whistle, Smoke out the Rear and 3 road names. Deck it Out!! Also, a 0-4-0 Steamer with the same options. Thanks for reading.

Upgrade their SD70MAC’s/SD90MAC’s in addition offer Legacy Control/RailSounds would be fantastic! ……….with scale sized fuel tank!

 

Regards,

Swafford

 

 

    

I Agree With Swafford, do these beautiful diesels in Die-Cast Visions. Yes. SD70,s the ES44,s etc. keep the Pricing Affordable, well under $1,000.

SP AC-12 Cab Forward with Dual Sound

UP Veranda Turbine

 

Baldwin 3-cylinder compound 4-10-2 No. 60000 in The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia (www.fi.edu). Visitors can ride in her cab as she moves back and forth about 10 feet. She has a Vanderbilt tender, her 1932 BLADWIN LOCOMOTIVE WORKS paint scheme (Prewar "crackle black" in real life), and a water-tube firebox. She has never been modeled in 3-rail "O" Gauge.

 

East African Railways Class 59 Beyer-Garratt 4-8-2 + 2-8-4. Another first for 3-rail "O" Gauge.

 

I'll add my vote for a well-detailed Reading T-1

 

 

How about adding a combination car and a diner to the rare Ives 1616 set made by Lionel in 1932? The locomotive is 1694; the cars, 1695-1697.

 

Put that consist behind a 262E and offer a new, improved "Department Store Special."

 

Finally, Lionel's C&O 4-6-2 and "Yellowbelly" streamliner 490 (in the B&O Museum) could begin a series of C&O 4-6-2 and 4-6-4 models. C&O L-2 and L-2a 4-6-4's were massive. Put a Berkshire boiler atop a Hudson frame and running gear and there it is. Each L-2 (Nos. 300-307) weighed 439,500 lbs. Each L-2a with Poppet Type B valve gear weighed 443,000 lbs. They weighed almost as much as a Reading T-1 (440,000 lbs.). Those are locomotive weights. They don't include tender weights. The C&O had IMPRESSIVE Hudsons!

How about a PRR S-2 Turbine.

Cab Forward would be super

Sorry Lou, but no interest in these ideas of yours:

GOLD PLATED BIG BOY

UN PAINTED BIG BOY

GREYHOUND BIG BOY

CAB FORWARD DONE IN DAYLIGHT COLORS

 

As to a gold plated Big Boy, I'd probably get another car first; doubtless it would cost less.

 

I think Lionel should think about doing some additional streamliner sets with Legacy features, perhaps with E-7s or such. Examples would be the Empire Builder, City of New Orleans, North Coast Limited, Orange Blossom Special, etc.

 

To diverge a little on previous suggestions made by others for large engines, I'd like Lionel to be aware that there are a lot of operators who would really like to see some Legacy Lionmaster offerings. There are many parts of the country that have homes without basements and the ability to house super large layouts and accommodate huge engines.

A Vision Line PRR T1 would be great.

 

Hi Lou,

 

GoodLuck.

This is a no brainer

 

Vision  N&W  Z1  or  Lots of votes here for the N&W Class A ,I ll add to that  

 

Where are all the Vision sound cars and accessories with smoke,stereo brakes ,brakeman etc...????????????

 

Im suprised at all the request for the yellow bellow,legacy ok -but vision?.

 

 How about take one of them scale pacifics and do some Legacy B&O presidential engines.

They get blown off everytime the comet and alton get made.

 

Big boy again already.

 

 

Robert I have brought that up to LIONELS people and the marketing guys don't always listen. right, not everybody can afford these 1700 to 2000.00 locomotives. now there are a few new diesels and electrics that have never been made!

i'm not a big fan of the big boy. i bet the retail will be through the roof. i suggessted 2 special versions but only two.

thanks

louie

Small, compact steam engines with whistle smoke. Keeping in mind folks who run a smaller radius track.

I totally agree - I too have zero interest in these things. And I also agree that quality control should be top of Lionel's list. To date, it's the main reason I've stayed away. Bad experience multiplied exponentially by forum posts here and elsewhere about similar quality issues.

.

Ironically, some people report that they are on a first name basis with Lionel's service manager (Mr. Reagan is it?) and that he is top-notch. On the one-hand, it's good Lionel has a high caliber service manager. On the other hand, knowing this gentleman is a testament to the lack of quality.

.

. Also agree on pricing concerns. $2k and more for a toy train locomotive is outrageous. Vision (or Legacy) locomotives can cost 8-12 times more than an entry level steamer - really? Do they really cost 8-12 times as much to produce? Almost all of these engines are based on existing basic design, technology and tooling - the most expensive aspects of creating a manufactured product that isn't relying on exotic materials.

A Pennsy steamer that can turn on a dime (or at least 031).

 

An L5 electric.

Lou:

 

Just two items on my wish list as follows:

 

1. Lionel came out with what I would call a starter set for the Wabash Blue Bird. This is one of the most famous passenger trains and I just cannot understand why someone has not made a scale version of this train. Lionel, this would be a natural for you and I bet a very good seller.

 

2. Just look at what K-Line 18" & 21" hi-Level Sante Fe passenger cars are selling for. Tell Lionel to do a set of these.

Reading & Northern 425.

laz57

Ad infinitum but . . . .

You can Vision all you want, however without the appropriate level of detail the point is lost. Yes, whistle steam and blowdown and swinging bells. NO to cast in details that remind me of scout engines.

 

Make it Vision WITH the JLC details.

IF Lionel does that, I'll buy.

Big Boy

Y-6

Allegheny

AC-12

C&O Yellowbelly

On and On

 

Cab Forwards in Daylight colors ???

i'd rather build a doll house.

 

My favorite topic with the old Lionel C&O Yellowbelly?

The engineer's window.

it's a stick on simulation of a window.

Sigh . . .

Lou, Here are my choices.

 

1. UP Big Boy

2. C&O Greenbrier

3. ATSF 2-10-4

4. PRR 2-10-2 N1s

5. PRR S2 6-8-6 scale turbine.

6. H-8 Allegheny

7. Amtrak Genesis

8. Scale SD70,80,90

 

 Ideally I would want all vision line effects like whistle steam, blow down, steam chest, swinging bell (where applicable), and close tender coupling.  Since that may not be possible due to size, I would want them in the following order.

 

1. Whistle steam

2. swinging bell (where applicable)

3. Close tender coupling

4. steam chest

5. blow down

 

I second Elliots motion for NO CAST IN details.

 

Lionel, please do not build all these engines with all these features or I will go broke!

 

Rich

LIONEL to make this a true VISION LINE not only with the steam effects but also have the ENGINEER'S HAND WAVING, as the engine passes by.  Now that would be cool!

Lou,

 

Would love to see something that has not been made already.

 

Here are a couple of suggestions: (1) A Penn Central "Roger Williams" RDC set with Legacy.  Should be easy enough to do and inexpensive enough for many to purchase.  Could also produce in New Haven and Amtrak. (2) A Penn Central E60CF.  Williams made E-60's years ago, but not the CF.  They were produced in HO by Walthers many years ago, but never in O-Scale.  Could also do Chessie System, Santa Fe, Burlington Northern and others.  Also should be cost effective.

 

Sorry Dave....Thanks Lou.

 

Thanks for allowing the input and hope you'll pass them on!

Make the small diecast dockside switcher that already has smoke and whistle, command controlled..

Joe

Good Day Lou,

 

Presenting the ATSF EMD SD45’s in an A-B-A set would be spectacular. Legacy Control, RailSounds and Powered in all three engines!

 

Regards,

Frank

 

 

 

 

i do agree with some of what you said. thanks louie

1. PRR 2-10-2 N1s

2. Mckeen Motor Car

3. PRR 0-8-0 C-1 switcher

4. Mckeen Motor Car

5. PRR 2-8-0 H6sb

6. Mckeen Motor Car

7. PRR K4s Torpedo (not the bathtub style) 

 

Steam whistle effects, close coupling, foot plates between the engine and tender.

 

Eric Hofberg

TCA, LCCA

the waving engineer has been in development for more than a year. there is also the possibility of an additional accessory to go with it

two years ago the lionel marketing people told me i was nuts about the roger williams. i'm not. they said the jet NYC budd car was nuts too. they wiped out of that and had to make more! i rest my case. i'm with you

louie

I hear what some people are saying re:not having the room/curves to run the scale 2-8-4s and 4-8-4s that I so enjoy.  Popular suggestions in the past seemed to have frequently included scale Heavy Mikados and a large number of 4-6-2s (Heavy & Light) that SO many railroads used.

 

A scale Hudson would probably be well received but I personally feel the NYC Hudson has been overplayed....for now at least.  (And I'm a NYC Hudson fan, btw.)

 

Another loco that Lionel really got right was the Milwaukee Road 4-8-4s from a few years ago.  Tremendous looker and runner and at a reasonable price.  The street price of these engines was around $825-$875 at one point...which I think is perfect for a large scale steamer.  Sadly, by the time I realized how nice these were, they were gone....so now I patienely await a re-issue at some point.

 

The current Sante Fe Northerns are also very, very nice.  I've seen a few sales that have dropped the price to the neighborhood of my personal comfort zone as well.

I agree with Scrappy and Rich,

Please no fantasy locomotives like a AC-12 in Daylight colors.

My personal choices would be:

Mopac 2200 and 2100 class 4-8-4's

SSW-Cotton Belt 819 4-8-4

T&P 2-10-4

Kansas City Southern 2-10-4

Frisco 4-8-2

NC and StL 4-8-4

 

Ricky

i like that idea!

ok  fellows, let me lay this out.

1. no fantasy large locomotives

2. we need some smaller less expensive vision loco's

3. The C&O would be a go

4. prr S-1 turbine

5. prr t-1

6.nyc niagara with centepede tender

7.AMTRAK LOCO

8. DRYFUSS 1939 75TH ANNIVERSARY LOCO

9. B&O TRAILER JET FIRST VISION TRAIN SET

10. WHERE ARE THE OTHER VISION PRODUCTS LIONEL PROMISED

HOW DOES THIS SOUND FOR NOW GUYS?   

THANKS LOUIE