I love Lionel's Vision Line. I have a set of the Santa Fe Vision Reefers from a few years ago, and they are just about the coolest thing ever. However, my new layout will be set in the modern day. I'm hoping Lionel will make some new Vision modern-day rolling stock with some cool new features. I have three ideas for possible models, and I'd like to hear what ideas members of the forum have.
Here are my ideas:
1.) Boeing Fuselage Train: This would be an awesome train for Lionel make. The real consists are transported from Wichita, Kansas, to Renton, Washington by the BNSF RR. Montana Rail Link handles the trains through Montana. A Lionel Vision Line Boeing Fuselage Train could include the following:
-New 89' Flatcars (4 in set; addon cars available)
-2 737 fuselage loads, supports for fuselages, and 2 brush guards (all removable)
-2 husky stack cars with removable parts containers
-I'd love for one of the cars to include a Freightsounds container with awesome Crewtalk
-Any BNSF or MRL diesel locomotive would be perfect for pulling the train. The locomotive would be included in the set. I'd prefer a new loco model for this train; maybe a BNSF ET44C4 with correct truck details and rotating bearing caps on the trucks.
2.) Vision Intermodal Well Cars: This is an idea that I hope Lionel could pull off in the future. This is how I think that this idea would work:
-Freightsounds in lower container; container's doors would open to access control switches for Legacy board
-Upper container would be empty; having the lower container be heavier would improve tracking of cars and lower the center of gravity
-Wires from truck pickup rollers would lead to connections on bottom of well car.
-Container would sit in well and metal connectors would allow track power to run sound system and speaker in container
-Perhaps we could get both single cars and articulated 3-packs and 5-packs of well cars.
3.) Vision Covered Hoppers: This is a Vision Line rolling stock idea I just came up with the other day. Would it be possible for Lionel to make covered hopper cars with Vision features? Lionel made operating hopper cars back in the Postwar days to go with their Operating Coal Ramp accessory. This idea would be basically a modernized version of those old hoppers. An open hopper wouldn't work because, unless it was loaded with coal, everyone would see all the electronics inside. A Vision hopper car could include the following features:
-Control switches for Legacy electronics under opening top hatches
-Small motors in underside bays would allow them to open and close via commands from remotes or Cab3 App; synchronized sounds would accompany the movement.
-Sounds would include top and bottom hatches opening and closing, as well as loading and unloading sequences with Crewtalk
-We could get several different types of hopper cars with different numbers of bays.
Here's a short list of new feature ideas that could be integrated into new rolling stock:
-Handbrake sound (with Brakeman dialogue)
-Coupler crash
-Sensor Track capabilities
