Lionel VL Big Boy added features.

Imagine THAT!!!!!!!   What a fantastic improvement.

Maybe they finally heard you.

 Wheel slippage?! That's going to sound great!

BAD @SS!

I can't wait to get mine!

Question is will you actually see wheel slippage?  What's the point of the sound if the wheels aren't really slipping?  And does that mean there'll be a separate motor for each engine so that one set can slip while the other keeps traction?  Again, two motors so that the engines can really go in and out of sync?  And will each engine have it's own reed switch so that the chuff sounds and smoke are really in sync with the wheels?

This is awesome. Does this mean the dual smoke will go in and out of sync with the chuffing?  I know the smoke out of sync has been a hot button issue with this release. Some say it should. Some say it shouldn't. Etc

MartyE,

I'll be patient and wait to see the added features in person.  

After all, it is a feature no one knew about when we ordered them.  I thank Lionel for going above what they could have done and giving us additional features we didn't plan on.

Looking forward to this epic locomotive arriving. 

Just more good news about this fantastic engine. Thanks for the update, Marty.

Wheel slippage sound effect. 

As far as I know the sync is an effect of sound and smoke. Play Value.  I for one like it. 

During the demo I saw,  i could see no evidence of wheels actually slipping... just the simulated sound effect.  For that reason,  I was underwhelmed.  Sorry.

David

Sorry but I like these additions. While you can't simulate everything Lionel has added more to this engine than advertised and is doing a lot to make it a great engine. Personally I wasn't going to buy this but my good friend Carp convinced me to go for it. 

I am so glad I did. 

I can't wait to get mine!  So excited.

I've been patiently waiting since this one was just a rumor.  

The youtube clip was what sold me.  That whistle cuts through my soul  

I can just see it pulling a reefer train!  And, I've got plenty of 'em...

......... but could Mike himself go up and down hills with Alex on his back.......without a hitch?

I think it's good to see Lionel adding more features to this engine for your money.  They don't "need to" do it, but it's something they "should" do -- if for no other reason than to fill the roughly $600 street-price gap between the Big Boy and the recently announced Y6b that most big dealers have earmarked with a $1400 street-price.  That's a huge premium to pay for what was up 'till now essentially two new features:  the depleting coal load and the enhanced steam blow-down effect.  Now they've added simulated wheel slippage SOUNDS to that list.  Still doesn't come up to $600 worth of goodies in my book, but I also realize we can't over-analyze this stuff.  At some point, we just spend your money and enjoy the toys.  

David

P.S.  I forgot... the new Big Boy also includes a "free" Legacy LCS sensor track, which -- as we know in life -- is not really "free".  Perhaps they should also include a "free" WiFi module too!!! 

Y6b???   When and where was that announced?

2014 V2 catalog that came out about a month ago

The more features the better on this engine as far as I'm concerned.  I'm glad to see that Lionel isn't just sitting still with what they announced.

60 reefers!   I guess it won't have any problem pulling my 45 PFEs up the NJ Hi-Railers helix.  Whew!!     

I hope I get it in time for Trainstock (1/17/2015.)

I like all the features in the Big Boy and am anxious to see if they will be added to any other classics.

If you remove the traction tires and place a number of cars behind it you may see the wheels slip especially  on a grade ( wow, I sound like a genius).

Actually, they did entertain the idea of providing real wheel slippage, but then realized that many modelers would then want the corresponding functional sand pipes and sand dome.  And of course, to go along with that, a new track cleaner equipped with a vacuum attachment to pick up the sand from the track and recycle it.

Perhaps someday they may be able to make everyone happy, but it may take a while . . .

In the meantime, and as many others, I am anxiously waiting for my No. 4006 with whatever features Lionel has added - I know I will be happy  

Alex

Hi David, 

One thing about the new big boy that doesn't get mentioned and I think is under-appreciated is the dual sound effect it has with the one speaker in the engine and the two in the tender.  You really have to hear this in person and up close to appreciate it, especially when the whistle blows.  There is an echo effect to it that is just great, and if you really like locomotive sounds, it is unlike anything you've heard before.  I'm not saying this justifies a several hundred dollar differential between this engine and other Legacy locos, each person will have to judge for themselves, but it is something really cool.  Also, it has the alternating smoke output from each stack at slow speeds.  

Hi Marty, 

On the other side of the coin, I had a chance to hear the new Legacy PRR M1a that will be out in a few months.  Overall sound quality was good, but the whistle was a disappointment to me.  It is the exact same whistle that Lionel used on the legacy Y3 and the legacy EM 1, and I don't believe this is accurate for an M1.  What puzzles me is, Lionel had a great sound set on the previous M1 releases from 2008 and 2003, why not use those? When Lionel first advertised their M1 in 2003, they boasted that they were including the correct passenger chime whistle on the model, so why not stick with it?  They did the same with the Pennsy J1 release from 2011, already had a good whistle from the 2001 model but did not use it.  I really do like whistle/horn warning sounds, and I have the new M1a ordered, so this is why I'm nit-picking.  

     Don't get me wrong, Marty, I think the new M1 will be a great model, and as I said all the other sounds were great.  Lionel has set the bar high, I just would like to see them continue to try to include correct sounds in their models.  Hopefully, the upcoming Y6b and NKP 765 will have the previous release sound sets (whistles) included.  The new big boy is in a league of its own, in my opinion.  I'm also looking forward to the new MTH sounds as well.  

Hope you enjoyed the meet. 

Rob

tr18,

Thanks for jogging my memory.

Steve

As I pre-ordered the BB when it was first announced, this is certainly good news.  I like steam effects for the realism they add, so in a perfect world I would have been elated if Lionel had instead added steam chest or cylinder or Dynamo steam instead. What I'm really curious to know however is - how far off actual 1:48 scale is the VL BB?  Lionel's spec says its 32" long, which by the way is the same length as the VL Challenger I own.  I thought Lionel's high-end stuff was supposed to be actual scale but now I'm not so sure. MTH just announced its BB which will be 1:48 scale and it will measure 35 inches. And a friend has a scale HO BB which when scaled to O also measures around 35 inches. 

https://ogrforum.com/t...accurate-measurement

I've never measured the JLC/VL Challenger, but I can tell you that it is shorter than the BB when placed side by side.

As it should be!   .... sorry, couldn't resist.

Hi Rudy, 

I apologize for having jumped to conclusions.  That is great news about the new M1a, and I look forward to running it!

Thanks again!

On the contrary, Rob--it was a totally reasonable conclusion on your part. I'm glad you mentioned it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to hear about new features, even if they might just be sound only at this point.  I was asking out of hope.  I admit I didn't think about ware on the traction tires when I asked about wheel slip.  I do have #4018 on order, along with an aux tender, caboose, and all 3 sets of reefer 3 packs.  I'm going all in with this, buying a Legacy command set too as this is my 1st Legacy locomotive.  I'm also excited to hear about the whistle echo effect.  I watched Eric's video review of the Centipede and really loved that horn echo effect (I really really want the PRR 5 stripe set.) and now hearing that the Big Boy has like effect, I'm really happy.

I'd be interested to hear the "wheel slip" sound effect, as the UP articulated steam locomotives like the 4000s and 3900s, generally tended to slip ONLY one engine when starting a heavy train. Thus, I think that "wheel slip" sound, if done properly should be an EXCELLENT feature, if done in moderation.

Hot water,

It is done in moderation, and fully under user control.  To activate you use the train brake, when fully engaged it will trigger the effect when you release the brake.  There is anothe way to trigger it - with high momentum as a required starting point.

Also, you will be glad to hear we have a smoke / chuff option that is configured  from the programming sequence.  Options are - dual stack independent puffing, or dual stack synchronous puffing -or- play value mode - or prototypical mode - selectable.