Update on Lionel coupler issue

Thanks for the info Keith. Nice to know that Lionel realizes there is a problem and needs fixing.

I noticed and I understand why, the e-mail quoted refer to the METCA cars both current and not yet delivered cars but nothing about those of us who waited 5 years for catalogued reefers. They (Lionel) have acknowledged the issues (to METCA) but have not addressed them to us in the multiple posts by others, myself included, about these same issues. If I missed it, my apologies.

How will they address it for those who already own these cars, free replacements with proof of purchase like the Conventional Classics Santa Fe shells or do I have to buy them?

Come on guys we know you read these threads.

Mike

I am curious as to where this stands with the other cars with the couplers, that is the regularly cataloged items they built? I guess it would be easier to take car of the METCA cars because this would be easier to track and also the number of cars built would probably be less. So, does this mean that whatever Lionel comes up with, they would in turn send out the hundreds upon hundreds of replacement trucks to METCA, and they in turn send out to those ordered? I wonder if Lionel will pop a statement out about this in the coming weeks or days?

Err . . . , I didn't see anything in that e-mail about sending out the replacement couplers for free. 

@Mannyrock posted:

Err . . . , I didn't see anything in that e-mail about sending out the replacement couplers for free.

No one said they would, I posed the question if they would they handle this the same way they did when the Conventional Classics Santa Fe F3 shells were the wrong color. Couplers that do not couple or do not have enough clearance inside the knuckle to not cause derailments are pretty much pointless. If you have to purchase them at retail, whether it be through Lionel or a dealer, you are adding at least $30 to an already $70 reefer.

Just sayin...

Mike

@Keith L posted:

"...We've worked with the Lionel Engineering Team and the Lionel Production team, who have in turn worked with the factory....The coupler issue has been identified. New sample couplers are going to be made, they will be thoroughly tested by Lionel, and then new couplers will be produced. The new couplers will feature improved performance and will be used on the replacement run of Brookside and Riverside cars.  As mentioned, a fair amount of testing and production has to occur before we have a date for availability of replacement couplers which is also the critical path for scheduling the delivery of the replacement Brookside and Riverside cars...."

This whole statement makes me giggle. They had at least a 15 year run of proven trucks and couplers.

Someone that lives in North Carolina needs to bring Lionel one of the earlier "quality"milk cars.

It would blow their minds.

There was a reason for the archives.

Jon

Hey guys, I can only speak specifically about the METCA cars, but some of the information will be applicable to Lionel's regular cataloged cars also.  Regarding the regularly cataloged cars, when Lionel has a timeline and process, they will made it known.  Regarding the METCA cars, above someone mentioned "replacement trucks".  I have no knowledge of "replacement trucks".  For the METCA cars, free replacement couplers will be provided by Lionel Customer Service to anyone who purchased a PRR or LIRR Milk Reefer.  The process to request these will be provided to our customers when Lionel is prepared to process these requests.

Regarding the Metca cars, was the body colored frame a surprise? The artwork showed it as black and the LIRR sample I saw was painted black but the final is body colored. I have the PRR car and wish it would have been produced to the sample. Beautiful cars though, and of course it's a shame about the trucks and couplers especially when compared to the original milk cars.

Hi Randy,

I'll take ownership of the body colored frame decision.  I've received about 8 comments on the frame (edge sill) color, and it's evenly split, 50% commented because they really like it and the other 50% would have preferred black.

I think the artwork you mentioned is actually the virtual computer generated image we use for advertising.  Yes, the advertising image does show a black frame.  When I received the cars, I said to myself; hmm, I thought the frame was going to be black.  So I went back and looked at the 6-sided artwork sheet that goes to the factory (which I approved) and sure enough, no black on the edge of the frame.  The factory produced it exactly as I called for.

Honestly, I didn't pay attention to the frame color because I thought they only came 1 way (black).  Well, important lesson learned for me!  Trust me, the other not yet announced custom run milk reefers that are going into production as soon as the coupler issue is ironed out will have black frames, and I've triple checked the artwork for those!

Stu

No problem Stu. They'll figure out what to say when they look into this further. This could be a few months thing, that's what I figured anyway. Either way they'll get to it, just have to hope that whatever they come up with doesn't give anyone a headache but given how much things are criticized, I'm guessing headaches will abound for most regardless. Of course, criticism is warranted.

Here is the production sample I saw of the LIRR showing the black frame:

Here is the CG rendering for the PRR milk car:

It just comes off as a cost saving measure to me along with the trucks and couplers.

I'm very pro-Lionel and love their products for the most part. I purchased the PRR milk car knowing about the frame color difference and the trucks and couplers. I liked the car overall too much to pass. I wish Lionel would go back to their previous fantastic sprung trucks and articulated couplers even if it meant adding $10-15 to the cost. I end up paying more for a pair of the old run trucks which I have done for this car.

@Randy_B posted:

Here is the production sample I saw of the LIRR showing the black frame:

It just comes off as a cost saving measure to me along with the trucks and couplers.

That is NOT a picture of a production sample.  That's a picture of a PRE-production sample.  The purpose of the pre-production sample is to ensure that the item goes into production according to the artwork.  The factory realized that they decorated the pre-production sample with features which were not on the approved artwork.  Prior to going into full production, the factory addressed the pre-production conflict with the approved artwork and made the entire production run in conformance with the approved artwork.  A snip of the approved artwork is below.  There were no cost saving measures entering into the process here.

Stu

Thanks for the explanation about the artwork and process. I'm definitely in the black frame camp, but it's a nice looking car regardless and I'm glad I have one.