New Die-cast Brass Hybrid Santa Fe Mikado from Lionel

Very interesting to see the Bluetooth transmitter in a Legacy engine. Curious how the Legacy features will interact with the simpler LionChief App.

Bypassing dealers is a major faux pas!

And BTW I just tried the pre-order process and it appears you pay 100% UP FRONT!  And the least expensive delivery to me is $49.95 (which they also appear to want up front.)  Given Lionel's on time delivery history they may have your money for quite a while.

They generously will wait to collect sales tax until it ships!

YIKES!  :-(

Hmmmm.  Bob Grubba has been producing hybrid brass locomotives in HO scale for quite some time under the Broadway Limited name.  I believe his operation is also in North Carolina.  Coincidence?

ecd15 posted:

Coincidence?

Yes.

Beautiful introduction production, loved the music, curious, when I open the Lionel email announcement,got the music with a white screen, opened the email again, same result.

The engine, real nice. out of my price range for this engine.

Conrail6358 posted:

A big announcement from York!  We are releasing our first die-cast / brass hybrid steam locomotive! These models combine the reliable and rugged design of our die cast LEGACY scale steam, LEGACY electronics and features, and the craftsmanship and detail of a fine brass scale model.

Our first release - Santa Fe's 3160 class Mikado! First built in 1918, these locomotives saw a long service life on the Santa Fe and are a must for every Santa Fe roster. Our model is based off of #3222 as she appeared later in life with several modifications from the as-built appearance including the feedwater heater, additional sand dome and oil tender. 

The model features the same die cast chassis as our USRA Mikado and has all of the same great features you've come to expect from these models including LEGACY control, Railsounds, Whistle Steam, Track IR Sensors, etc. PLUS!!! For the first time, these LEGACY locomotives will also be equipped with a Bluetooth radio so you can run it with the LionChief App or Universal Remote in addition to your LEGACY or transformer controls!

All of that inside a beautiful hand made brass body that is loaded with details. The model is available factory painted as ATSF 3222, painted and unlettered for those who may want to freelance or add more to their roster, and unpainted brass. Each locomotive will be numbered and production is limited! We will not rerun this model. To see more of the details, please come see us at the booth in Orange Hall at York, or visit lionelstore.com.

These locomotives are available exclusively through lionelstore.com. MSRP is $1299.99 but for the introductory weekend, we are offering them at $1199.99. We expect to deliver these models in December so get your orders in now. We hope you like these concepts - with the combination of our current drives and brass construction, the new product options are nearly endless!

When is the order deadline on these? I would like to order one but was a little insulted as it appears that payment is expected in full, including the shipping, at the time of order. A non refundable deposit would not be unreasonable but payment in full is a little aggressive. Maybe I am missing something and if I am forgive me and please advise.

Regardless, I am very impressed with the announcement and again plan on ordering one but I would like some  clarification  on the deadline and how payment works. I would expect I am not the only one who is turned off by paying in full long before the engine is even produced much less ready to be shipped.

Thanks for the announcement.  Ordering mine now...

To clarify,

When you preorder, it will not charge your account the full amount upfront. Your card will be charged when the product ships - hopefully late in December. Orders will remain open until we are sold out but the $1199.99 price is good through Sunday only.

Thank you, great to see so much interest in these already. Hope to see you all personally here at York.

Ryan and the Lionel Team

Conrail6358 posted:

To clarify,

When you preorder, it will not charge your account the full amount upfront. Your card will be charged when the product ships - hopefully late in December. Orders will remain open until we are sold out but the $1199.99 price is good through Sunday only.

Thank you, great to see so much interest in these already. Hope to see you all personally here at York.

Ryan and the Lionel Team

Thanks for the update.  Perhaps a statement on the order page to this effect would be appropriate?

Thanks for that info Ryan!  Will the product numbers be assigned by the order recieved?  I ordered immediately, hoping to get a low number.

I am very excited that this means more unique engines being offered...

However you really need to call this a new series.  Like Lionel Limited or some other name to denote its significance.  These are hand made and really are a different, and more exclusive collectible.  This series needs a new name.  Like vision line was, or some other name.

Possible Names for the new series of special brass hybrid lionel engines.

1)  Brass Balls Line (not really)

2)  Lionel Exclusive Series

3)  Lionel Pinnicle Series

4)  Lionel Master Series

Need to have some ideas from the other lionel fans out there...

Do you guys agree this should be called some new series?

Chris Lord posted:

Conrail6358 posted:

To clarify,

When you preorder, it will not charge your account the full amount upfront. Your card will be charged when the product ships - hopefully late in December. Orders will remain open until we are sold out but the $1199.99 price is good through Sunday only.

Thank you, great to see so much interest in these already. Hope to see you all personally here at York.

Ryan and the Lionel Team

Thanks for the update.  Perhaps a statement on the order page to this effect would be appropriate?

Ryan, 

I just just attempted to preorder it and it said my credit card was declined. That would indicate to me that it is attempting to charge me the $1,249.94. Please advise if there is something to select at checkout to do the preorder without being charged as you had indicated. 

Thank you,

John 

I ordered it and was sent a Fraud Alert from my CC.  I approved it (big mistake?) and now I see a $1360 charge (includes tax) on my CC company website.  I private emailed Ryan but haven't heard back.  

BigJohn&theWork posted:

Chris Lord posted:

Conrail6358 posted:

To clarify,

When you preorder, it will not charge your account the full amount upfront. Your card will be charged when the product ships - hopefully late in December. Orders will remain open until we are sold out but the $1199.99 price is good through Sunday only.

Thank you, great to see so much interest in these already. Hope to see you all personally here at York.

Ryan and the Lionel Team

Thanks for the update.  Perhaps a statement on the order page to this effect would be appropriate?

Ryan, 

I just just attempted to preorder it and it said my credit card was declined. That would indicate to me that it is attempting to charge me the $1,249.94. Please advise if there is something to select at checkout to do the preorder without being charged as you had indicated. 

Thank you,

John 

Please give us a call. 1-800-4LIONEL

We'll help with the ordering issues.

Thanks Dave,

I just called Lionel and they said it was just the authorization and it should drop off my account in 2-3 days.  We shall see. I'm going to keep an eye on it.

I just called and did it over the phone. Thank you very much!!! I can't wait till this one arrives as I've got a long train of reefers that will go great with it. 

Also, I will be crossing my fingers that Frisco 1522 is in the works for the brass Hybrid series. 

I had a problem the first time i tried to charge it.  I dont recall being asked for the ccv number the first time, but it flagged declined and when you scroll u will see it wanted the ccv code.  Maybe thats help to some with problems.  It worked fine after i put in the ccv number.

I REALLY like this engine.

Lionel folks - Any chance in hell this thing will squeeze around 0-42 curves?

Thanks.

Do you guys realize that that's almost as much as a good used 773 !?

Crank

Thanks Ryan for showing the brass unit at the museum today.  This looks fantastic in person.  So glad i ordered!  Cant wait to get it!  Great Job Lionel!

Thanks Ryan for showing the brass unit at the museum today.  This looks fantastic in person.  So glad i ordered!  Cant wait to get it!  Great Job Lionel!

concept model only

Nice looking engine.

For those of us who have never played in the Brass game, what is the significance / advantage of a brass engine and tender? Does it yield itself to more detail or ?

Thanks,

Paul

So - which of the three finishes will have the better resale value?

Im not much of a Santa Fe guy  - so that's not my favorite...

Maybe straight black is the best bet...

Just took the plunge and ordered the 3222. That will look good on my Texas lines pulling freight. Hope for a Frisco 1522 like others. How about a T&NO Sunbeam!!!!!

Roving Sign posted:

So - which of the three finishes will have the better resale value?  ...

Sorry... None of the models is likely to hold any resale value worth talking about.

David

Roving Sign posted:

So - which of the three finishes will have the better resale value?

Im not much of a Santa Fe guy  - so that's not my favorite...

Maybe straight black is the best bet...

Just my opinion but, if you are purchasing ANYTHING in this hobby for "resale value", you will be sadly disappointed!

Blue Streak posted:

Just took the plunge and ordered the 3222. That will look good on my Texas lines pulling freight. Hope for a Frisco 1522 like others. How about a T&NO Sunbeam!!!!!

Hey Blue...  i worked ryan for you for frisco, or more roadnames, cab numbers...

I loved the 3222 when i saw it.  You will love it too.

Super O Bob posted:

However you really need to call this a new series.  Like Lionel Limited or some other name to denote its significance.  These are hand made and really are a different, and more exclusive collectible.  This series needs a new name.  Like vision line was, or some other name.

What about Lionel Legacy Brass Hybrid, the name they already gave it?  

What, me worry?

Hot Water posted:

Roving Sign posted:

So - which of the three finishes will have the better resale value?

Im not much of a Santa Fe guy  - so that's not my favorite...

Maybe straight black is the best bet...

Just my opinion but, if you are purchasing ANYTHING in this hobby for "resale value", you will be sadly disappointed!

I just don't know much about the brass side of the hobby. 

Do people buy the raw brass and custom paint it?

I like just black.

Brass looks cool, but seems like something that's for display only...

Roving Sign posted:

So - which of the three finishes will have the better resale value?

Im not much of a Santa Fe guy  - so that's not my favorite...

Maybe straight black is the best bet...

Agree straight black that can be customized would be your best bet for resale.  Maybe offer the buyer's choice of a road name and number.

What, me worry?

Hot Water posted:

Just my opinion but, if you are purchasing ANYTHING in this hobby for "resale value", you will be sadly disappointed!

Don't think there may be a difference in latent demand for a one-time, limited production run initially available only from the manufacturer?

What, me worry?

Now that Lionel is making locomotives out of dis-similar metals and metal alloys (brass and zamak) galvanic corrosion possibilities set in

http://www.ewp.rpi.edu/hartfor...anic%20corrosion.pdf

where one metal of greater positive emf oxidizes the lower emf metal (delta G= nFE).

This has been a big issue in many industries. The computer industry for a brief time changed over to tin sockets where as the cards retained gold leads. Gold is has a much larger positive emf than does tin. The gold caused the tin sockets to corrode which lead to destruction of motherboards. Galvanic corrosion is not a small problem. All what it takes is a more inert metal (in this case brass) being in contact with a more active metal (zamak). 

Would be interested in Lionel's reply to that concern, WBC, but isn't an electrically-conductive humidity film connecting both metals required?  Would that be errant smoke fluid or lubricant oil?