Vision BB coal load worth it?

What sold me on this locomotive was the sound, followed by the beautiful details.  The coal load is not an instant gratification feature, like blowing the whistle or smoke.  Instead, like the prototype, the coal delpletes very slowly and goes somewhat unnoticed.  It is much more dramatic when you roll it under your coal dock and refill the coal.  Many of my visitors get a kick out of it.

i would have bought this locomotive if it didn't have this feature.  But, as someone mentioned, for a piece of rubber, it really look pretty good.  The VL BB is one of my favorite engines.

I bought the Vision Line Big Boy to commemorate the restoration of #4014, for the sound and most features. I could not care less about the coal load other than I wish Jon had put the time and research money into other, much more visible, gizmos. I love the appliances on steam locomotives that spew steam such as the recent Challenger. Steam chest emissions, too, are fabulous. 

 

Of course, I know the Big Boy already has four smoke units and it is likely more would be needed in order to do what I am suggesting. Jon and I had a back and forth during the year or so before the Big Boy was produced and I was critical of Lionel for spending so much time and money on the Ipad/Iphone apps. I wonder if Jon felt pressure to produce a locomotive with something spectacular other than something requiring another smoke unit. I imagine Lionel was loathe to add a fifth or sixth smoke unit to an already very complex mechanism.

 

Do I applaud Lionel for their efforts to produce state of the art locomotives?

Absolutely !

Do I love Jon Z for what he has dared to create?

Absolutely !!

 

You go, Jon !

I may not love the coal load, but I love what Lionel is doing.

More importantly, Mike Reagan and his team have created a state of the art repair network. I don't think anyone has used it more than I have. Lionel has taken great care of me and I owe them big time.

 

So . . . . .  do I love the coal load in the Big Boy?

Not really, but I DO love Lionel's daring and products !!!

 

Scrapiron Scher

 

Actually I have to disagree with most on here.  I think its another neat feature.  The rubber load looks just as good as the real ones.   Also it does not deplete slowly if you turn up the EFX on the legacy remote.  2 times around and its significantly depleted.  So you can make it a noticeable feature if you have visitors over and want it to deplete faster.   As far as costing 1000.00 more?   Who came up with that figure?  Only Lionel has any idea how much that one feature added to the locomotives cost, but 1000.00?, I doubt it. That's half the cost of the engine. 

I'd say Yes.

Opinions on the coal load are about what I expected when I asked.  I agree with Scher though: one has to respect Lionel for trying.  No one hits the ball out of the park every time.  For every new idea like a Lionchief Plus, there is one that just doesn't quite do that much.  For me, this is one.  

 

I also doubt that it is responsible for $1,000 of the price of the BB.  I realize its the type of feature that a company's execs and accountants could show cost just $100 or up to maybe $600 to add to a product depending on how they cut and chop the joint and fixed costs for development and production, R&D expenses, etc., when allocating costs to various parts of the whole  (Been there, done that).   Intuitively, I'd guess Lionel would have priced a "no-depleting-coal-load" V BB about $300 less.  That's noticeable, but really not that much on a $2700 list price loco.

I really like the coal load depletion then the refilling of the coal.  The nice thing about the coal load that nobody touched on here is using it with Lionels Sensor track, and Cab2.  When using the sensor track in conjunction with Cab2 and Legacy 1.53, you can see an icon on the Cab2 that tells you how much coal and water the engine is using.  Upon seeing that you can determine when to pull her in to do a refill of the coal and water.  So the play factor with the depleting coal load is another great innovation by Lionel if you are trying to run a real RR on your layout.  It would have been cool if Lionel had a oral sequence stating the bunker of coal is down and we need to get some moreor something to that.  Other sequences for the water too.  But the sensor track really does enhance the play factor of this beauty of an engine, IMHO.

It's an epic locomotive and you don't have to be 100% in love with all the features to enjoy it.

 

Simple really-use the ones you like.

I've decided to jump in the pool and get one sight unseen. A couple of my sources have extras in stock. Thanks for all the input guys.

 

Thanks for pointing out the how SensorTrack and CAB2  provide an additional way to gauge the current coal levels. Your request for a verbal indicator feature already exists:

 

While in motion, hit AUX1,2 on your remote (either CAB1 or CAB2, they both work). You'll get a verbal report from the engineer as to your current speed and either water or coal levels. 

 

-Rudy

Big waste of money

You'll be very happy you did.  It's fantastic.

Don't buy one.

 

Since you seem to identify as a 2-railer, why are you even commenting on this locomotive?  Other than posting disparaging remarks, what is your contribution here?  We get it, you don't like 3-raul stuff!

 

+1

 

I'm tired of it also.

I own 2 and 3 rail, what gave you the idea i dont???? Just because i think a worthless feature that many have agreed that its only cool the first few times is a waste of money, i dont deserve your comment. Sorry you woke up on the wrong side of the bed amigo. Just because my opinion doesnt equal yours is no reason to be a negative person.



       

I'm looking for one too if the price is right..Can you share with me where you are looking? Thx!

Well, I've said I like it, but I'll say it again, I like it, and I do hope to see it in more locomotives in the future, not just VL, but all levels like whistle smoke.