lionel zw-l transformer

Funny how this product keeps being delayed month-to-month for quite some time now -- much like airlines often post new departure times for delayed flights every 15-30 minutes, even though they know darn well that the flight is gonna very likely be delayed a LOT longer. 

With these products being manufactured overseas, you'd think the Lionel folks working stateside have a pretty good clue that when something misses its original target ship date, it's either gonna ship next month or it's not.  Whether it's a major or minor manufacturing issue, or perhaps even a product certification issue, there's still overseas shipping involved... then distribution out the distributors and/or dealers, etc.  All this takes time... so month-to-month slippages seem more artificial than real.

Meanwhile, the MTH Z-4000 remains this era's "go-to" transformer for those needing a well-proven toy train power supply.

David

P.S.  OK..., now the next "Lionel right or wrong" person can post... "Well, I'd rather see Lionel delay the product and get it right, rather than issue a product with problems."  Which is very true indeed, but it doesn't change the fact that they likely knew about the delays a while ago. So they should have just posted the next likely REAL ship date 4-6 months out -- rather than string hopeful enthusiasts along month-to-month.

Not meant to bash Lionel here... they're producing some great stuff nowadays, QA issues notwithstanding.  I just want the importers to be realistic and HONEST about shipping timeframes.  Lionel has been pretty good this year shipping stuff on time, but they've missed the mark big time with the ZW-L.

Yes Lionel is so evil stringing you along.

Yeah I saw that this morning.  Need the ZW-L badly since my CW-80 croaked on me.  Can't even get the 180 Watt power brick either.  Lionel has trains coming out but no power to run them.  Ironic.

Come on Marty... you know what I'm referring to here.  Lionel just told folks at the LCCA convention this Summer that the ZW-L was gonna ship in September (which was already a few slips from earlier this year after the product specs were downgraded from 720W to 620W).  This product has been a moving target from the get-go -- not to mention the various attempts at producing similar "updated ZW's" that were catalog'd but never saw the light of day.  Just doesn't give folks that warm-and-fuzzy feeling that makes us want to dash out and be the first kid on the block to buy one. 

David

Aw come on David, I had to have some fun!  The ZW-L is almost 3 years over due.  I remember Jerry saying it would be out by Christmas of the year it was announced.

I may be mistaken, but in the latest interview with Jerry Calabrese in CTT, it seemed they mentioned it to be a 720 Watt transformer.  Wouldn't think that would be a misprint at this late date, maybe it is delayed to get the power back up?  Nunno, just something I noticed.

Marty, yes... I was just funnin' with ya.  I almost forgot it's been THREE years since the ZW-L has been announced!  

Greg, that would be really something if they bumped the output back to 720W.   But I think we'll all have to see it to believe it.  

David

Wow, going from a CW-80 to a ZWL!  If you are going to upgrade, go all the way.  Like 9 times the power supply.  I agree.  There is no middle ground.

Once the vaunted ZWL comes out, I would wait another 3 years to buy one if I was in the market for one.  Judging by recent history, chances are it's still going to have some bugs that will need to be worked out.  Best to let someone else bear the brunt of impatience.

The ZW-L  is it UL approved at 720 watts.  If it is I want one!!!!

Except for what might be a typo in a recent interview, it's generally accepted that it was downgraded to 620 a while back.

-Dave

You mean I won't be able to buy a ZW2 or a YardBoss from someone used at York next month?   Bummer.

-Dave

The coolest part of this was the "flying faders" or handles that moved based on the setting from TMCC.

I asked J. Don Reeece at the Lionel display today about the ZW-L.  He says there have been problems with the manufacturer.  He does not have a shipping date for the ZW-L.  He says there are a lot of orders and they want to make sure that when they are shipped they are in perfect working order.  He would not even guess when they might ship.

Neal Jeter

According to Jon Z (right from the horse's mouth today at York) the manufacturer moved the factory right around the start of the run.  Put Lionel a LITTLE behind schedule.  

I heard the same from Jon when I asked him directly about the delay.  He said everyone at Lionel was frustrated. 

The new Z  has been ready, as in no more tweaking, for some time now.  The unannounced, surprise factory move really put them behind.  He said some are now beginning to ship.

Wait till someone starts a thread on the upcoming 'I Pad' Legacy display and operating panel.  Neat.  Jon said it'll work with my many SC2s.  Alright.  A digital, touch screen, control panel.