Lionel Wellsville Addison & Galeton boxcar pre-order

FWIW CMP aka Crown has done these cars and they show up on the auction sites occasionally. Lionscale are ex Weaver which are ex Crown.

Pete

I have done a couple and there are some less expensive versions out there.

This one is a Weaver car I painted and decaled with the K4 Decals set…

Tom

@John's Trains posted:

Lionel has Wellsville Addison & Galeton single sheath boxcars in #5031 and #5053 available for pre-order. The page at https://www.lionelstore.com/We...e-Sheath-Boxcar-5053  shows Est. Ship Date: 5/13/2024. I never thought I'd preorder anything but am considering this. My problem is that the webpage says "PLEASE NOTE THAT ART PICTURED ABOVE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE." This worries me because, given recent paint problems I've read about in this forum, the car may actually be delivered in a clown-car pink instead of reddish-brown paint. In addition, the page notes "Lionel’s new cars feature realistic moldedin details." The graphic shows the car having separately-applied ladders and roofwalks, so I'm wondering if they could be changed to "realistic molded-in details." If I pre-order from the Lionel website, will I be able to return it if shows up as less than what is pictured? $80 for a freight car is a lot for me, but I would really like one of these WAG cars.

John

This is not to comment on whether it will be right, wrong or what have you but there are options if you're not happy with it.

Well if you are getting it from the store you are most likely purchasing with a credit card so I suspect that has some built in protection?

Also here is the Lionel Store Return policy.

" This worries me because, given recent paint problems I've read about in this forum, the car may actually be delivered in a clown-car pink instead of reddish-brown paint. "

Don't believe everything you read on the forum as established fact.  Some folks greatly exaggerate the problems of the entire catalog based upon one or two products they don't like.  Some folks claim there are color problems based upon personal opinion, not convincing evidence.  Just saying .  Haven't had any products with color problems personally, so I find the claims of widespread errors to be a wild exaggeration.

@Krieglok posted:

I have done a couple and there are some less expensive versions out there.

This one is a Weaver car I painted and decaled with the K4 Decals set…

Tom

Tom’s work offers another alternative. If you have the patience to apply decals, this is a simple paint job. You could do your own. Besides Weaver and CMP, both MTH and Atlas have done outside braced boxcars. The latter two with even better detail. Search the auction sites on “single sheath” and “outside braced” and you will get many candidates. You could make 2 or 3 for the price of one Lionel car. Not to mention having a car the correct color.

Pete

Thank you everyone for the excellent replies. It's good to have options, and different perspectives. I also see other stores online let you pre-order for a lower price than on the Lionel site.

John

I emailed TalkToUS@lionel.com with what I thought was a carefully-worded query - one that would surely elicit an unambiguous response:
"I have a question about this car I'd like to pre-order: SKU 2442192 WELLSVILLE ADDISON & GALETON SINGLE SHEATH BOXCAR #5053.  The webpage at https://www.lionel.com/product...boxcar-5053-2442192/ states "Lionel's new cars feature realistic molded in details."
The illustration shows separately applied ladders and roof walks. My question is, will the car be delivered like that, as pictured, or will the roof walks and ladders be changed to "molded in details"?

Their brief response:

"Hello
Currently it will be as described in the description.
Thank You"

To say that it will be "as described in the description" reminds me of Lily Tomlin's character, Ernestine the Telephone Operator, on the 1960's Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Her trademark line was, "Is this the party to whom I am speaking?"

They didn't answer my question, so I'll try out the more economical suggestions above.

John

"Hello
Currently it will be as described in the description.
Thank You"

Indeed, that is a comic response.  I imagine it coming coming from a harried employee who has no idea how to respond, having neither access to the finished product now any particular knowledge of its development. Landsteiner makes some good points for tolerance, and just as well, I like your idea to make your own. That can be satisfying fun.

It would be interesting to learn just how manufacturers such as Lionel (and in many other hobbies) communicate with contracting Chinese firms can specify colors. There are various color standards accessible to us all, certainly useful throughout many industries.

The only reason to pre order is to maybe get a discount. When the item is released you will be able to get it if you act quickly. Many dealers order more than what is pre ordered. That way you will know what it looks like before you buy it.

As for their response you got more than their typical reply.

Pete