Serial Numbers?

Well, MTH PS2 and PS3 engines DO have serial numbers, it's coded into the boards. Granted someone can replace the boards (which is a bit costly) but we cannot edit the serial number- again that is per board.

@Vernon Barry posted:

Well, MTH PS2 and PS3 engines DO have serial numbers, it's coded into the boards.

That's pretty cool, I didn't know that!

@J.Dooley posted:

How come O-scale manufacturers don't use individual serial numbers on locomotives?

Like this?:

M.H.M.

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

Like this?:

Yes! So, basically it's just Lionel who doesn't, unless it's one of the numbered anniversary sets? Or does Lionel actually have them too and I'm just a *complete* idiot?

@Vernon Barry posted:

Well, MTH PS2 and PS3 engines DO have serial numbers, it's coded into the boards. Granted someone can replace the boards (which is a bit costly) but we cannot edit the serial number- again that is per board.

Yes, but that's a practice that has been part of the electronics industry.  The train business is a happy (and accidental) beneficiary of it.  Jeremiah is referring to a visible practical serial number.

George

Hi,

I've only seen Lionel use them on some "Limited Number"  sets such as the Mickey 90th.

The reason this came up was because I was looking to see what 3rd Rail GM Train of Tomorrow sets had been up for sale in the last few years, and based on the timing and location I'm almost positive that one set has been sold multiple times, but there's no way to be sure. It doesn't have to mean something's wrong with that set (although there could be), it might just be that the majority of the owners of that set hold onto them, which would be a sign of the quality (and rarity) of the set.

I can see this being useful for limited custom dealer runs, too. If there are only 40 on the planet, getting to have some visibility into the movement (or lack thereof) could be useful in deciding what to chase after, or what to pick up when you DO see one available.

I can't see it happening without the manufacturers doing it, though, because I don't think the dealers are unboxing all of the custom runs they have made to put a serial number on.

Anyway, just an idle question, thanks for everyone's input!

Lionel serializes the Vision Line stuff, at least the Big Boys.

I tend to connect visible "serial numbers" with fake collectability. It's not always that, but it certainly can have that air about it.   

@D500 posted:

I tend to connect visible "serial numbers" with fake collectability.  It's not always that, but it can have that air about it.   

Yeah, but a marking saying "No. 25 out of 400," lets say, isn't a serial number

@RadioRon posted:

Yeah, but a marking saying "No. 25 out of 400," lets say, isn't a serial number

Why not?  Is it not sequential, starting from No. 1, and ensuring that no two have the same number?

That sounds like a serial number to me.  It's at least one form.

What's your issue with it?

Mike

A serial number is usually intended to identify the source, a date of manufacture, the lot, and the item's place within that lot.  Considering that our trains are generally built in relatively small batches with all copies of a particular item coming from a single source, I don't see much point, and apparently most manufacturers don't either.

Lionel has actually been serializing the Legacy product line for at a minimum the past 5 years. Here’s examples of the 4-4-0 brass hybrid they have the LEGACY serial number plus a XXX of XXX (this has been missing from the recent brass hybrids)