North Lima Train Works DELIVERS THE GOODS!!!

How did you place the order? By phone or through the internet. How long did it take to receive the order. Last thing I ordered was about 6 months ago, maybe longer. After about 6 weeks I got a refund check and that was the end of. Running a service station sometimes I will find something they have that I could use but it just wasn't worth the hassle. 

Thank you, Forest

Grampstrains posted:

Forest posted:

How did you place the order? By phone or through the internet. How long did it take to receive the order. Last thing I ordered was about 6 months ago, maybe longer. After about 6 weeks I got a refund check and that was the end of. Running a service station sometimes I will find something they have that I could use but it just wasn't worth the hassle. 

Thank you, Forest

NLTW is now under a new owner.  Things are better now.

I heard somewhere that they were. Just wondering how much better. If they get there stuff out quickly I will consider using them in the future. I have to look at their web site and check them out once more. Thank you,

Is this their current web site? (http://www.nltrainworksinc.com). All I see is a parts search feature. No parts list that you can browse over like before. I sometimes like to look over a suppliers parts list just to see if they might have something that might be needed in the future. 

I went back to the listed website and sent them a message. I ask if they have a parts list and about the ordering process. I also ask if they offer dealer pricing. The old outfit did at first but then got terrible to deal with. We'll see if they give me a response and what they have to say.  Forest

How it worked for me:

1.  Used LIONEL's parts website to identify the parts I wanted or had a question about.  Wrote down the p/n's and double-checked for accuracy.

2.  Used NLTW's website (nltrainworks.com) "search" function to enter the p/n's individually and, if I wanted the part, put it in the cart.

3.  If I had questions about a part, I used the website contact form to ask it.

4.  My "check-out" on January 13th wasn't successful, so I messaged that evening using the website form and said so, including the parts that I wanted to order.

5.  Received a call from John, the owner, at 8 a.m. the next morning, the 14th; confirmed the order and he answered a couple of questions that I had (which he had to pull parts to do); received an invoice via PayPal for my items; and, paid.

6.  The next morning, the 15th, I received email from UPS regarding delivery date (the 16th) and later that day received a subsequent UPS email changing delivery date to today, the 17th; received big box early this afternoon.

So from trying to place my original order via the website's "check-out" feature and messaging NLTW to that effect on the evening of the 13th, receiving a call back from the owner the morning of the 14th, I had my stuff in about 4 days.

To my knowledge, NLTW does not have a parts list that can be browsed.  Hence, using LIONEL's website to identify parts to order or consider--pose questions to NLTW via the message feature on the websit.

That's how it operated for me--and bear in mind these are very, very early days for the new owner; taking over a business that had been badly neglected for the better part of a year.  What changes/improvements that may be coming I can't say.

But if you know the parts you want, or can identify them from LIONEL's website; and, LIONEL's website directs you to NLTW, my experience, limited as it is, is you can get your parts promptly. 

PINGMAN posted:

I've never particularly liked LIONEL's treatment of the car ends where they don't carry the striping over the vestibule or plain car ends. 

Many passenger trains had cars that didn't carry the striping over the vestibule or plain car ends.

Pingman posted:

How it worked for me:

1.  Used LIONEL's parts website to identify the parts I wanted or had a question about.  Wrote down the p/n's and double-checked for accuracy.

2.  Used NLTW's website (nltrainworks.com) "search" function to enter the p/n's individually and, if I wanted the part, put it in the cart.

3.  If I had questions about a part, I used the website contact form to ask it.

4.  My "check-out" on January 13th wasn't successful, so I messaged that evening using the website form and said so, including the parts that I wanted to order.

5.  Received a call from John, the owner, at 8 a.m. the next morning, the 14th; confirmed the order and he answered a couple of questions that I had (which he had to pull parts to do); received an invoice via PayPal for my items; and, paid.

6.  The next morning, the 15th, I received email from UPS regarding delivery date (the 16th) and later that day received a subsequent UPS email changing delivery date to today, the 17th; received big box early this afternoon.

So from trying to place my original order via the website's "check-out" feature and messaging NLTW to that effect on the evening of the 13th, receiving a call back from the owner the morning of the 14th, I had my stuff in about 4 days.

To my knowledge, NLTW does not have a parts list that can be browsed.  Hence, using LIONEL's website to identify parts to order or consider--pose questions to NLTW via the message feature on the websit.

That's how it operated for me--and bear in mind these are very, very early days for the new owner; taking over a business that had been badly neglected for the better part of a year.  What changes/improvements that may be coming I can't say.

But if you know the parts you want, or can identify them from LIONEL's website; and, LIONEL's website directs you to NLTW, my experience, limited as it is, is you can get your parts promptly. 

 

 

 

Thank you for your reply: Forest

breezinup posted:

PINGMAN posted:

I've never particularly liked LIONEL's treatment of the car ends where they don't carry the striping over the vestibule or plain car ends. 

Many passenger trains had cars that didn't carry the striping over the vestibule or plain car ends.

 

 

I phrased my point poorly.  LIONEL does not, typically, paint to the END of the car sides.  So, at the vestibule end, the entire plastic piece that includes the door does not receive the striping running along the side of the car.  Likewise, the plain end plastic piece doesn't receive the striping either.  This is a good example of what I meant about the vestibule end of the car.

And this is an example of the plain car ends not receiving the striping: 

I regret the confusion caused by my phrasing.  Hopefully, the photos better illustrate my problem with LIONEL's decoration of these passenger cars; and, here's how I do it:

The NP North Coast Limited will get the vista dome pictured above.  I'm awaiting the vista dome to get back to me from the painter--no way I'd try to paint it, particularly since LIONEL doesn't sell them anymore as a separate part,  

You're welcome, Forest.

Pingman posted:

Very pleased to report the order I placed last week with NLTW for LIONEL parts arrived today in a large, fesh box, with lots of bubble wrap to protect the parts:

Since LIONEL is out of the 15" aluminum passenger car business, I'm "rolling my own" for a couple of reasons..........

So, the UP "Plainfield" will soon be a NP North Coast Limited vista dome minus the rubber diaphragms.

 

I could not be more pleased with the service I received from NLTW.   Give the new owner a chance; I'm glad I did. 

Great to hear the report about the new, improved North Lima Train Works.

I've upgraded a number of older MPC era aluminum passenger cars to newer versions by swapping the old interiors with newer cars with interiors and passenger figures. I do shutter a little, though, to see that UP set being given the heave-ho, so to speak. That set is really beautiful, one of the rare number of sets (there were only 5 such sets produced) Lionel did with the deluxe trimmings (add-on metal details, roof antennas, painted interiors and figures, diecast sprung trucks, etc.), the best and most detailed 15" passenger cars Lionel ever made, and as good as or better than any aluminum passenger cars ever made by anyone. The cars in the two Neal Young sets also are of the same build quality with the same features.

That UP set was only available as part of the limited Anniversary set -  not that many around. I was fortunate to pick up a K-Line North Coast Limited aluminum passenger set a number of years ago; otherwise I guess there would be a temptation to create a NCL set as well (although not from my UP set).   Looking forward to seeing your progress with the transformation!

Pingman posted:

I phrased my point poorly.  LIONEL does not, typically, paint to the END of the car sides.  So, at the vestibule end, the entire plastic piece that includes the door does not receive the striping running along the side of the car.  Likewise, the plain end plastic piece doesn't receive the striping either.  This is a good example of what I meant about the vestibule end of the car.

And this is an example of the plain car ends not receiving the striping: 

I regret the confusion caused by my phrasing.  Hopefully, the photos better illustrate my problem with LIONEL's decoration of these passenger cars; and, here's how I do it:

The NP North Coast Limited will get the vista dome pictured above.  I'm awaiting the vist'a dome to get back to me from the painter--no way I'd try to paint it, particularly since LIONEL doesn't sell them anymore as a separate part,  

Yes, you're right - Lionel didn't paint over the doors and end pieces. To my knowledge, they only did with their newer aluminum passenger cars in their detailed sets, such as that set your UP car was part of (at least the doors on sets with the rubber vestibules). Also the cars of the Neal Young sets have painted doors. (Sorry for the poor lighting in the shots.)

Breezinup, in addition to the UP, what were the other premium sets?  Incidentally, this is my second "Plainfield" vista dome.  I purchased one on eBay several years ago.  Now, they do not show up on eBay's search function individually or as part of a set.

I need to go on the net and see if I can find a photo of a NP NCL vista dome with the antenna like the one on the UP.  

Also, a couple of photos of Texas Special prototypes' treatment of the car ends.