Status of Lionel's Legacy Controller

Nothing firm, Lionel rejected the batch that was due in the fall because of inferior electronics. They are searching for a new source.

They have said if they become available they will air freight them in before Christmas

 

Sorry the news is not better

The 11/25/2013 shipping schedule now shows Dec. 13.

A push forward , hope its true.

Hopefully they'll come through in time for you. I was down to the wire, waiting for our's, a few Christmas' ago as well. Lionel can't seem to keep them in supply.

 

The 12/20/2013 shipping schedule now shows #990 Legacy set Dec.13

HA HA, So much for the Dec 13 shipping schedule, I'm sarcastically hoping for the 1st Qtr. of 2014.

There is one for sale.  Look at the sale forum.

The reason for delays are exactly as Lionel explained.  I was involved intimately on this one, the problem was a part obsolescence issue.  We had to approve a substitute which required some adjustment to the design, and test cycles to make sure the product works as expected.  Simple as that, they are in production at this time and will shortly be available. 

 

Thanks to the folks who are patiently waiting, and sorry for the delay.

Well Thanks OT7 for the update, No one is giving any updates at all, My LHS says they've been waiting a year and a half, there seems to be no concrete verification.  I'm dealing with the delay, it's kind of disheartening to spend $600 and up on Legacy's to go back home and run it conventionally all the time.  I will wait and relax, I hope I won't be waiting as long as my LHS.  Thanks again for the information.

But now I'm confused. OT7 is Jon Z or is this a repost?  I'm guessing a repost?

Repost.

thanks for the information

 

i have waited for almost a year

Thanks

 

Putting that in the quote box might help prevent confusion.  It looked as if Jon Z was posting.

Ever consider making them in America...by Americans...and stop this excessive lead time nonsense?  You have developed an excellent product for which there is strong demand.  Why miss out on it because the Asian "factories" can't deliver....again?

 

If you know a factory to build them Lionel would love to hear about it. Apple just started building Mac Pros in the US, so it's not that it can't happen, but finding someone to do it is another story

Weaver seems to know where such factories are.

 

In all seriousness, anything can still be manufactured in the States.  One just has to want to do so.

I will agree with if you know someone that can deliver a specified small production using both common and custom electronic components then please let Lionel know. The market is overseas for sourcing these items and even domestic companies do not have a manufacturer of the components here in the US. There are always going to be positives and negatives in being part of a global economy and this happens to be one of them. We are in a very small hobby with a state of electronic needs that we wish would always have the parts supply available versus a manufacturing environment that is in a constant state of change.

I posted some time ago that my LHS, that doesn't use the internet, had one for sale and no one contacted me...

 

Not sure if they still do...

Lionel, LLC is a privately held firm.  Actual production numbers of the 990 or any other item is purely speculative.  The notion that nothing can be manufactured here any more is pure conjuncture, although there are certainly less potential manufacturers than there used to be.  Somehow, the aerospace industry and the Defense Industry can find American companies to make their products...and enjoy much greater QC....albeit at a higher cost.

 

There is no need for everyone to drink the Outsourcing Kool Aid.

 

Come to think of it, I believe the Ameri-Towne product line is Hecho en USA as are Ross Custom Switches and Gargraves.

 

 

I guess if we wanted to pay $600 for a Legacy Set that will work.

That is very presumptive....as would be assuming that the entire cost savings of outsourcing is passed on to the consumer.

I worked on searching for US manufacturers in the United States that could produce the main components of the Legacy like the LCD readout and touchscreen. 5 manufacturers came up all with their factories overseas and most were partially owned by the overseas factories. What does this show? That the components are not made in the United States at all and just to tool up and develop such component manufacturing would likely put the cost of a Legacy system at about $2000+ which would not help bring in customers. There is only so much that can be done to make and supply a small market consumer leisure product.

OK, not to be rude, but back to the topic.  

 

I think all us patiently waiting for our first Legacy system will be glad when they are on our dealer shelves again.  I for one will be.  

 

Hope Lionel gets it worked out and there won't be anymore delays.

Some one really needs one I have one on my layout open to offers! Email in profile

 

Gunny

Well my opinion and ONLY my opinion but I would pay $600.00 for a legacy if it were made in the US... I try to buy American whenever possible unfortunately most of the time it isn't possible..

Erie, that is commendable but in a hobby that has many people who take pride in beating up a LHS owner over a few dollars on a thousand dollar purchase I do not think you will find many that would pay extra

Here we go again with that made in America stuff again.
Buy a Honda. Made in America.
Buy a Harley. Parts made in Japan.

I do not think most of you guys picked up on the fact that there is no demand for some of the components other than by Lionel. So no one is making it. If it can't be made in China, no American companies is going to set up for a short run production. They were made in China because no American company will make them.
Not profitable to set up for short run electronic components if there is not a demand or market for thousands of them.

That said, the "new" Legacy will be different than the existing. And if yours needs one of the obsolete parts than you are SOL unless the entire board can be swapped.  Which is probably all said and done, not worth fixing.

Anyone buying NOS at inflated prices is wasting money. just MHO.

IMHO- the quality on the China stuff has taken a dive. IMHO it is across the board on all Chieese products. It really has gotten to the point of rethinking future purchases. Although, repairing equipment can be fun. I'm a little tired of repairing new stuff just because it's easier then the factory trip.

 

The truth is the design must be correct to start. The correct materials used for a long life span and someone over seeing quality control at the factory end...so it's not happening in my home.

 

Yes, I think American made would be better vs the current China dung. By the way-the only reason the local hobby shop gets beat up over a couple of dollars is the internet

orhouse-aka-no taxes and "**" that are undercutting their dealers with intenet sales.

How about a 990 kit-put it together yourself?

The Economies of Scale are such that farming out only the 990 (or equivalent) component would be difficult from a dollars and cents perspective.

 

But what if (and I know this is a stretch) ALL electronic components were moved Stateside where (presumably) QC would be improved and lead time cut way down?

 

I mean all Legacy, TMCC, Conventional Control, etc....including the transformers in the RTR and the Starter sets?  That would be a very significant piece of continuing busines, I would imagine.

 

Again, the Product is, in my opinion, great.  But to be unable to deliver to your customers b/c of production issues (again) is extremely unfortunate...to both Lionel, LLC and the consumer/hobbyist.

 

Just my two cents.  Happy New Year to all regardless.

At least now there is the option of buying a CAB1-L set with base in the meantime. The CAB1-L can then be used as an extra remote once the CAB2 units are available again.

And the BASE-1L can be your emergency backup if your Legacy base fails.

 

Well not quite.  The Cab2 does not play well with a Base1L because there is no data base in the Base1L. I guess as long as you are using a Cab1L to access it.

 

And the BASE-1L can be your emergency backup if your Legacy base fails.

Marty, the point was that you have the CAB-1L, it works very nicely with the BASE-1L.

 

Exactly.
Assembled in America could be done.
But there is no way that electronic components are going to be made in America in the near future. Just the EPA regulations and hazardous wasted espousal costs would kill any profitability.
Not unless we have a war with the Chinese.
And then, we would not be making toys either.

I knew as soon as "China/American made" was brought up, this thread would turn into this. I feel the same way as you.

 

Like you, I think when it is available again, it will be different than what it is currently (just my opinion).  Which was the main reason I passed on the one in the 'sale' forum a few days ago. 

 

I hope Lionel gets all the issues worked out and we have them soon.

 

For people that have no way of knowing what the actual issue is, or if indeed there were any design changes, there are sure a lot of assumptions flying around!  I'm sure Lionel has a plan to support the existing Legacy systems if something has changed in the new run.

 

I won't comment on all the "Made In America" speculation.

 

 

I think a color HD touchscreen would be cool. Especially if you can get a cam in the engine to watch via the touchscreen