The Next Vision Line Item

More freight sounds cars. Those things are so cool.

A waving engineer? Wait you lost me here. You want figurine to be installed on your $2000 locomotive, with Disneyland style animatronics to make it wave it's hand like some sort of festival queen? Ok I'm definitely not buying that. I think your going have better than that for a prized VL locomotive. That sounds like a great feature, but belongs on a frosty the snowman train.

I think this would be a great VL loco with chest steam effects...

 

Should be offered in Weathered, and Pilot too....

 

Depleting coal hopper(s) with freight sounds anyone? Get some more use out of the coal feature from the VL Big Boy. 

 

Could everything be crammed into one hopper?

I think that is good idea for Lionel to consider, they can use this feature to further return some more profit.

 

The depleting coal mechanics can be squeezed into the hopper but not so sure about the speaker and its electronics. May be they can add a box car to the hopper set to house these items. The rest of the hoppers can have the depleting feature. Legacy signal for the depleting feature can be made between the hoppers, power for the DC motors can be picked up via rollers on each hopper car....Something like that!

Central Pacific 4-10-0 nicknamed El Gobernador (The Governor) nice engine.

If they were to make these offset hoppers, in a variety (between 3 and 5) of road names; I would be sold! I just love the look of offset hoppers, and 

Lionel makes them die cast, another important this for a VL product. A matching boxcar for the sounds would seal the deal!

How about a series of scale, proper N&W Cabooses?  CF, CG, CH, CW, C2. I'll admit that there are more UP and PRR guys, but there have to be a lot of N&W guys that are tired of dragging around the "wrong" caboose!

Yes I second a VL Prr T1!

There you have it...

 

Multiple road names; UP, PRR, NW...etc

 

VL: Die cast Box car for sound and electronics, Die Cast Hoppers with depleting coal, Correct Die cast Cabeese with super detailed interior, crew sounds and smoke unit. All Legacy controlled. I think most people will pay $500++ for such a set?

This one?

 

I would like to see functioning brakes on a steamer. Not necessarily to actually slow the engine down, but move slighty toward the drivers while synced to the sounds.

All vision Line steam engines should have Steam Whistle ( where appropriate), Steam cylinder smoke effects, articulating draw bar, cylinder steam blow down and an increased level of detail. Oh, I forgot, swinging bell where appropriate.

 

Made to order

 

Also, all freight cars should be die cast or aluminum, no more plastic.

 

I would buy an AC-9, would have to be coal burning version. Lionel has made this before so they could probably reuse tooling. I do not want mine weathered unless they offered weathered freight cars too. 

All signature series locomotives should have smoking whistle. If Lionel takes it away again I will be forced to cry like a little girl!

Sure, the AC9 can be coal burning and Lionel can use the already developed and so far trouble free VL BB coal depleting mechanism. They can also offer the oil version. It is all very easy engineering, the hard part is getting the top marketing guys to convince that the company will make a good profit and the logistics can be managed (mfg, parts, service, inventory...etc)

Yea, were more than likely to end up with a daylight version. Hahahaha

 

Since this is a wish list, there are two engines I'd really like to see done in the VL. 

 

The first engine is one that has already been mentioned, the PRR T1 4-4-4-4.  MTH has reissued the prototype engine in its pre-war streamlined version multiple times, but the last time a production version was issued was by Lionel in 2000.  Its time they reissued it, and it is big enough to have all the VL goodies.

 

The second engine I would like to see done is the T&P I-1a 2-10-4.  My limited research shows the C&O, CGW and KCS might also have used this design so it has broader appeal than a one railroad engine.  Also, #610 was an excursion engine for awhile and pulled the AFT through Texas.  Lots of possibilities here.

 

Ahhh the T-1 duplex-drive? and what would we be proposing for vision line features. Prototypical drive wheels that slip on the track so badly that the train does not go anywhere and a requirement for O-200 track.

I strongly doubt Lionel will ever make a Vision Line version of any locomotive that i want. And, I'd have to want it pretty badly to pay Vision Line prices. I might go for a Milwaukee Road N-class 2-6-6-2 or an S2 4-8-4 (not the same engine as the 261, which is an S3), but I don't see there being the kind of demand that would justify Lionel making an item like that. And as for the popular items like Daylights, Alleghenies, PRR Duplexes, etc. I already have as much of that type of power as I want or have room to store. I'm a niche operator/collector, and I don't think Lionel is going to be building Vision Line in my niche any time soon. 

 

The thing I would pay Vision Line prices for, and Lionel will never make, is a Beyer-Garratt. MTH is much more likely to do that one than Lionel. 

Holy Cow, Beyer-Garratt! Yea MTH is much more likely. I could see an N-class. Coal fired N1 in the mallet compound configuration. But Lionel release a mallet not too long ago which was really cool.

Vision line is the presentation of a new feature, A new feature on any locomotive they choose to put it on, new or reissued.  Its not a new locomotive of any type no matter how expensive or detailed if does not offer something new or innovative.  If the VL BB did not have depleting coal it would not have been a VL engine.  

Joe

I disagree, Explain the 700E. Besides... Lionel will run out of new stuff eventually but we all still want the TruRail steam effects. It would not make marketing sense to not do a Vision Line just because Lionel could not think of something new, when we all want a Vision Line rehash. A lot of the effects on the locomotives are rehashes. Putting them all together in a sweet package of a locomotive is what I care about. As for detailing... Lionel advertised Vision Line as "Unparalleled VISION Detailing". NEW feature? I want them but its not what I put my money down for.

I haven't read all the replies but has anyone brought up VL accessories (I.e. Scenery, operating accessories)?  It makes sense- you have the engines, rolling stock so what's next is the question? What's next is your VL consist rolling into your new VL operating _________!

But Lionel release a mallet not too long ago which was really cool.

 

That is an updated, Legacy version of Lionel's USRA 2-6-6-2 Mallet. I have the original TMCC version, which I'm going to redecorate for Rio Grande when I get around to it. It's an impressive engine, and undoubtedly more so with the improved electronics on the latest version. Unfortunately, it does not resemble a N-class, so I won't be adding it to my Milwaukee Road roster. It does resemble a Mallet that the Rio Grande bought from the N&W. That engine was considered the predecessor of the USRA design, according to a book I have on USRA locomotives. 

How about an ACE 3000? Perhaps the best of Both worlds of fantasy!

Going through all the previous posts initially made me cross off my wish list all the models I'm pretty sure WON'T be made by Lionel, like the M1 steam turbine. My theory is that they won't produce anything that requires brand new tooling. Of course they DID for he ATSF 2-10-10-2, the GE Evo and Genset diesels and the ill-fated Centipede, but I think the sales experience with the latter probably put them off another such experiment. (Too bad; I actually like the Centpede pairs with the dual sound system.)

 

So the Allegheny must be a front runner and I'm glad for those who want it but sorry, I am not in the market for one as I have the JLC version.

 

On the other hand, top of my wish list is a UP turbine, namely the Veranda (for which Lionel already have excellent tooling from their model issued some 10 years ago) BUT with the sort of turbine startup sequence and running sounds that were available on the Lionel HO model of years ago. That of course was a DCC model but I frankly do not understand why sounds of its quality cannot or are not made available on 3-rail O gauge models. I can only imagine that there is some system limitation that prevents such sounds being available in Legacy but if so I don't understand what it is!

 

Incidentally, although people have referred to the MTH versions of the UP Big Blow turbine I don't think that the picture posted above is of one of those models. All the MTH versions I have seen are rather box-like in appearance, almost like they are O27. Just my opinion.

700E was the first engine to have new upgraded Legacy electronics including smoke. You're probably right about not having marketing sense over the long haul. Sooner or later I expect they'll capitulate on VL standards and use the handle as a cash cow.   

Joe

 

The Ac-9 Would be great!

This also can  be a great VL candidate. Many common parts with the BB, guessing how Lionel likes to use existing parts...

 

Noooooo. Nope, sorry to say. Just for a start, without talking about the engine, the tenders are very different and I see no possibility of adapting any Lionel parts for the purpose of making this specific model. Besides, (a) Sunset 3rd Rail have already made a fine version of this and (b) MTH have issued their version and pre-rooted Lionel.

 

Unless you want a Santa Fe F3 set or an Allegheny I would not pine great hopes on th next VL offering. 

Hummm... I would buy one, in fact I praise this suggestion.They would have to add VL Ore Cars too. The previous Ore cars have the fake looking Ore which ruins the whole thing. They really should do this as the EM-1 that was painted in the DMIR was not even close. A fantasy really. My number one is still an Alleghany though. I want an Erie Triplex more but I am facing the reality that a Alleghany is more likely. But then again that is about what I want, not what we're likely to get. As long as it his a big steam freight slugging monster I will be happy.

Wish...wish....wish...

How about TTT 6/7? Like this BLI ho version.

Similarly they can package it with a new "Vision Line Operating Display Case" so we can demonstrate all the cool Vision Line features.  Plenty of U.P. and O.S.L road numbers.  Plus 5511 is In Cheyenne sitting in the roundhouse...



Wish....wish....wish....

Talk to me Will!

 

I may even take a couple.  Could use the extras for different TTTs I want.

Ooooh....and I forgot: Vision Line Easy Transfer Cab Numbers with a few options so we can choose and number the locomotives and tenders ourselves!!!

I'd like to see an as built streamlined PRR T1,#6111.

 

Norm

AND a Pennsy unstreamlined Q1.   Only Sunset has done it in 3 rail.

I love the Vanderbilt tenders, this would be cool. Would look good with dynamo and injector steam. Small tender I wonder how much stuff you could fit? Might have to get rid of depleting coal. That would be sad.