Much nicer than the O gauge version where everything is shortened - that Berk is a nice looking engine, and the tender is doubly nice...
Much nicer than the O gauge version where everything is shortened - that Berk is a nice looking engine, and the tender is doubly nice...
I agree, since name is pad printed, how much extra cost or extra work would have been involved in moving the name to below the windows, thus getting it right for S gauge? It's not like modifying the tooling as was needed for the rooftop snow effect or creating interiors for the cars. Why didn't Lionel make that extra effort to really get it right when given the opportunity?
Hopefully Roundhouse Bill can ask someone from Lionel about this and include their response in his upcoming review of a very good representation of the P.E that could seemingly have been made superb if there'd been more forethought from the folks at Lionel.
TheBigCrabCake made the BEST Polar Express video I have ever seen.
Click in this link, then switch to FULL SCREEN to really enjoy it. 
I called Lionel a few weeks ago to ask about the snow. This was before the cars were produced. The rep told me the snow was molded onto the roof.
When I stop the video, it does look like the snow is on the roof.
I didn't call Charles Ro, but I did just check their web-site and it is still saying PE sets expected 11/10/2015.
Aflyer
The snow is painted on the roof of the passenger cars not molded. These are the same Flyer heavyweights that Lionel made before. The only difference is the elongated end of the observation car.
Roundhouse Bill,
For your upcoming review, without ruffling the feathers of Lionel, would you please ask someone in the know there why the set's passenger cars didn't have Polar Express below the windows instead of above them? Was it an oversight or not done for a specific reason?
I'd bet your readers would enjoy learning why. I know even some children who've seen the o scale loco and cars at holiday events have asked why it's not like in the movie.
The catalog description for both the set cars and add-ons states: "Simulated snow on the roof."
Now, I have a pretty low regard for catalog descriptions lately from the Big 2, but this seems to be an adequate description.
And frankly, a paint mask for the snow would be the least expensive production option, particularly given the price point for the set.
Rusty
TheBigCrabCake made the BEST Polar Express video I have ever seen.
Click in this link, then switch to FULL SCREEN to really enjoy it.
This looks O gauge to me.
I didn't call Charles Ro, but I did just check their web-site and it is still saying PE sets expected 11/10/2015.
Aflyer
ogaugeguy,
That is great news, thanks for posting this update.
Aflyer
TheBigCrabCake made the BEST Polar Express video I have ever seen.
Click in this link, then switch to FULL SCREEN to really enjoy it.
This looks O gauge to me.
It is.
That video would be a lot better if the guy removed the baggage car. Shouldn't the abandoned toys car come after the tender?
I think the S scale set looks better than that o gauge offering.
That video would be a lot better if the guy removed the baggage car. Shouldn't the abandoned toys car come after the tender?
Aye, there's the rub. The movie train didn't have a baggage car, diner, RPO or whatever, just coaches (that varied from 4 to 20 depending on the scene, plus observation.) Most of the "action," including the Hot Chocolate number, took place in one coach, with a little drama in the observation and abandoned toy car.
Rusty
That video would be a lot better if the guy removed the baggage car.
REALLY? Just how would that make the video a lot better?
Shouldn't the abandoned toys car come after the tender?
Whats your point? Are the buildings, people and vehicles out of scale?
I think the S scale set looks better than that o gauge offering.
YES, the S scale set does look better. So what, you missed the whole point of the Christmas video being set to music. It was not to compare the "S" and "O" versions.
That video would be a lot better if the guy removed the baggage car.
REALLY? Just how would that make the video a lot better?
There is no baggage car in the movie. He should have removed it before shooting the video.
Shouldn't the abandoned toys car come after the tender?
Whats your point? Are the buildings, people and vehicles out of scale?
Actually a regular passenger car would have been fine after the tender.
I think the S scale set looks better than that o gauge offering.
YES, the S scale set does look better. So what, you missed the whole point of the Christmas video being set to music. It was not to compare the "S" and "O" versions.
I'm glad we agree that the S scale looks better. 
Ogaugeguy - I will not be interviewing anyone with Lionel as a part of the review so I will not be asking about the placement about the wording on the passenger cars. If I contact them it will be about a technical matter. It's operation will be the focus of the review. They are already painted so the buyers will have to be pleased with what they get. Thanks
I called Charles Ro and they expect to ship the Polar Express and extra cars in September.
Thank you SantaFeJim for mentioning my video. You are absolutely correct that I wasn't attempting to make a Car-for-Car remake of the movie and that the whole point of setting the PE video to music was to highlight the beauty of the train and the majesty of Christmas.
Martin H. is also correct. The PE in my video is not identical to the consist in the movie. Ironically, the movie itself has a number of different consists for the PE. The train gets longer and shorter in different parts of the movie without explanation.
In the case of both my video and the actual "Polar Express" movie, it's probably best that we just enjoy them for what they are and not get too hung-up on the details.
Ogaugeguy - I will not be interviewing anyone with Lionel as a part of the review so I will not be asking about the placement about the wording on the passenger cars. If I contact them it will be about a technical matter. It's operation will be the focus of the review. They are already painted so the buyers will have to be pleased with what they get. Thanks
I called Charles Ro and they expect to ship the Polar Express and extra cars in September.
Roundhouse Bill - Thanks for the reply, hopefully no technical snaffu or gremlin will emerge during your testing to necessitate contacting Lionel. Would have been nice to have wording below Windows as proto to the movie but certainly not a reason not to buy set which I preordered from Charles Ro almost immediately after it was first listed in the Lionel AF catalog.
And yes, as I said in a previous posting to this thread last week, Charles Ro listed a September 10 delivery date on his website and I'm looking forward to receiving mine right after that.
I didn't call Charles Ro, but I did just check their web-site and it is still saying PE sets expected 11/10/2015.
Aflyer
Hi O Gauge Guy,
I have been researching your question and I have some information that applies to the nameplate above and the name plate below. The Name Plate above was used for the owner of the car. If the railroad owned the car their name would be placed there such as Union Pacific or American Flyer Lines. If there was a Private owner then the owners name would be placed above, such as PULLMAN.
If there was a name of the train such as "Main Street of the Northwest" which belonged to the Northern Pacific then the Northern Pacific would be above the windows and the "Main Street of the Northwest" would be placed below the windows.
That being said Lionel felt that this train wasn't assigned to any other Major Railroad so the "Polar Express" was the owners of the cars and engine so the appropriate Location was above, the windows. If there was private ownership, such as PULLMAN that owned and serviced those cars then their name would have been placed above the windows and the "Polar Express would be placed below the windows.
I hope this will clarify why the Polar Express is located above the windows and Not below as the book showed. The book never mentioned any name other then Polar Express.
Take care and Happy Railroading
Don
Considering that in the original source material, namely the book, nothing is lettered Polar Express and the locomotive is a Pacific, the location of lettering is somewhat moot.
Rusty
I didn't call Charles Ro, but I did just check their web-site and it is still saying PE sets expected 11/10/2015.
Aflyer
Hi O Gauge Guy,
I have been researching your question and I have some information that applies to the nameplate above and the name plate below. The Name Plate above was used for the owner of the car. If the railroad owned the car their name would be placed there such as Union Pacific or American Flyer Lines. If there was a Private owner then the owners name would be placed above, such as PULLMAN.
If there was a name of the train such as "Main Street of the Northwest" which belonged to the Northern Pacific then the Northern Pacific would be above the windows and the "Main Street of the Northwest" would be placed below the windows.
That being said Lionel felt that this train wasn't assigned to any other Major Railroad so the "Polar Express" was the owners of the cars and engine so the appropriate Location was above, the windows. If there was private ownership, such as PULLMAN that owned and serviced those cars then their name would have been placed above the windows and the "Polar Express would be placed below the windows.
I hope this will clarify why the Polar Express is located above the windows and Not below as the book showed. The book never mentioned any name other then Polar Express.
Take care and Happy Railroading
Don
Thank you Donald and Rusty Traque (previous post to this one)
for the information regarding the placement of name on railroad cars. I originally questioned the name placement position solely because of how the largest segment of children have come to know of and are familiar with the Polar Express story. While the film was indeed adapted from the book, if you mention Polar Express to most youngsters, by a wide majority, they'll refer to having seen the movie rather than having read the book and consequently be most aware how it appeared in the movie rather than in the book's beautiful illustrations. Further, since Lionel has closely tied this train to the film rather than the book, it would have been nice if the cars depicted how they appeared in the film.
Btw, here is a screen shot of the Charles Ro webpage showing an expected 9/10/2015 delivery date for the P.E. set.
I didn't call Charles Ro, but I did just check their web-site and it is still saying PE sets expected 11/10/2015.
Aflyer
Hi O Gauge Guy,
I have been researching your question and I have some information that applies to the nameplate above and the name plate below. The Name Plate above was used for the owner of the car. If the railroad owned the car their name would be placed there such as Union Pacific or American Flyer Lines. If there was a Private owner then the owners name would be placed above, such as PULLMAN.
If there was a name of the train such as "Main Street of the Northwest" which belonged to the Northern Pacific then the Northern Pacific would be above the windows and the "Main Street of the Northwest" would be placed below the windows.
That being said Lionel felt that this train wasn't assigned to any other Major Railroad so the "Polar Express" was the owners of the cars and engine so the appropriate Location was above, the windows. If there was private ownership, such as PULLMAN that owned and serviced those cars then their name would have been placed above the windows and the "Polar Express would be placed below the windows.
I hope this will clarify why the Polar Express is located above the windows and Not below as the book showed. The book never mentioned any name other then Polar Express.
Take care and Happy Railroading
Don
Thank you Donald and Rusty Traque (previous post to this one)
for the information regarding the placement of name on railroad cars. I originally questioned the name placement position solely because of how the largest segment of children have come to know of and are familiar with the Polar Express story. While the film was indeed adapted from the book, if you mention Polar Express to most youngsters, by a wide majority, they'll refer to having seen the movie rather than having read the book and consequently be most aware how it appeared in the movie rather than in the book's beautiful illustrations. Further, since Lionel has closely tied this train to the film rather than the book, it would have been nice if the cars depicted how they appeared in the film.
Btw, here is a screen shot of the Charles Ro webpage showing an expected 9/10/2015 delivery date for the P.E. set.
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