So What Visionline Big Boy Road # Are You Getting?

Which I do.

I hold nothing against Hot Water, as I'm not a grudge holding guy.  In fact I'd loved to meet him in person and learn about his experiences from him.  But yes, his "bed side manners" aren't perfect.

Now Dominic, be warned, those stocks will also be 1:48 scaled, and only good on a 1:48 market!

I have to admit than even though I had a Big Boy in HO, currently have the MTH Premier 4016, and have seen two 1:1 scale specimens in person, including the one in St. Louis (4006) many times, I did not know about the cooling coils on the deck. 

Are these the subject cooling coils, as indicated by the red arrows?

Thx!

Alex

Yes.

My Lionel 1st issue #4006 has the coils.

Regardless of what "version" does or doesn't have these, I think having them is better since it adds more detail to the piece and makes it more appealing. Just my .02

I went have both versions of the last Legacy's produced and I enjoy the fact that some came with it and some did not... didn't really matter to me just that Lionel made great sounds and Legacy control with them. I'm not sure how they'll handle the Vision pieces. I guess we'll have to find out! But for #'s sake I  just thought I'd settle on the one in Holiday Park, Cheyenne. How Lionel decides to dress it up with or without the Coils will be fine with me.

On a different matter in regards to the Vision Challengers has anyone ever noticed that the Oil fired version Vision Challenger has a higher pitched whistle than the coal fired challenger? Mine does.

That shouldn't be that way, as all the real UP 3900 class Challengers, and FEF class Northerns, and the 4000 class locomotives have the same brand/type "deep" whistle.

After seeing the model and demo at York, I'd really like to get one.  But since I have three previously made Big Boys (MTH 4004, 4012 & Legacy 4023) I'm on the fence whether to get another.  If I do it'll probably be 4014.

Depends on what's in the upcoming Lionel and MTH catalogs.