Vision GG1 First Look

Thanks Ryan!  Looking forward to mine.

Welcome to the OGR Forum, Ryan.

Stu

Welcome to the Forum! 

Here is the video embedded for everyone's viewing pleasure:

Informative video - but cheesy!

I think the looks of these things are finally starting to wear on me, I think I'm starting to like them...this could be costly! And I like the paint scheme on the orange and blue one.

Welcome to the forum Ryan & thanks for posting the video.

I  love the CHEESY guy

AlanRail posted:

I  love the CHEESY guy

I do too...you mean the mechanical engineer guy? Or the other cheesy guy?

Just kidding, welcome you guys, and looking forward to hearing more from you.

I have found that it seems better to remove product from the foam by carefully turning the foam over and lifting the foam off the device. Seems less traumatic for the small details...

I enjoy when the major players post a video highlighting new product. I've wanted a scale GG1 for a long time. Welcome to the forum Ryan.

Paul

Great GG1. Only question I have, the horn doesn't correct to the engine. Maybe I'm hearing it wrong, but it doesn't sound like a A200. But for me, the JLC #4876 I own, the horn sounds better then the Vision Line. But other then that, the new VL GG1 is great. But I'm still keeping my JLC. I still the love the operating pantographs with the sounds of raising and lower of the pantographs. But that's my opinion. I know other people will differ. But still, Lionel did a great job on this model. Only thing missing is, Mike Reagan. 

I hope everybody reads the instructions first before complaining that the smoke unit does not work all the time.

Rod Miller

That's a very good point RoMiller49.

Maybe we should save the video link just in case?

Well it comes always on...and you have to do something to put it on 30 sec every 5 min. But...it'll come up. That's part of the fun.

 Welcome Ryan and that is going to be a classic engine!

That is underwhelming, for sure. 

Yeesh, reminds me of a couple of bad car salesman.

"It's got leds in the pantographs and um ..stereo sound (from speakers 4"apart)and um......hey...what else is there Ryan????"

Smellvision.....are you kidding? This isn't a 10 dollar tub of oxyclean on hsn.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday Mike , we miss ya!

The guy on the left must think he is talking to 8 year old's. I think he could have been more professional.  

They look like a lot of us train guys to me. 

First, props to Ryan and the "other dude" for presenting the product in an informative way.

But I'm stunned by the poor production values of the video from a corporation presenting an expensive product to its customer base.  By comparison, there are many videos posted on this site by members with vastly better production quality than the LIONEL video presented above.

cjack posted:

I have found that it seems better to remove product from the foam by carefully turning the foam over and lifting the foam off the device. Seems less traumatic for the small details...

Similarly, I've found it easier sometimes to nudge things out with the engine vertical, then use the packing ribbons to help nudge each end out.

(assuming the engine is packed like the GG1 with one of the sides down in the styrofoam)

-Dave

Pingman posted:

First, props to Ryan and the "other dude" for presenting the product in an informative way.

But I'm stunned by the poor production values of the video from a corporation presenting an expensive product to its customer base.  By comparison, there are many videos posted on this site by members with vastly better production quality than the LIONEL video presented above.

I thought that also.  I did remark on the youtube page about not being able to get a good look at the locos due to the blue shirts those guys were wearing.  They should have place a white background just behind the track.  Also, the camera should have been much closer to the locomotives.  We really did not need to see these two guys through the entire show.  

Wow, this is a nice Introduction to Our VisionLine GG1 Diesel Electric Locomotive. The Colors Looked Crisp and Sharp, the attention to detail really impressed me. I have the Tuscan 5 stripe version on order.....Although it was not pictured in this video, the Green 5 Stripe Looked really Good. For the record, the packaging looked really substantial and hopefully will protect these DieCast engines safe in shipping. I agree that the JLC GG1's are super nice, great runners, great smokers, and 5.0 great crew talk and tower com....But, I really like all of the Newer VisionLine Engines and cars and feel that this will be The Best of the Best...Thank You Lionel, let's see more in the Future....Merry Christmas....

Welcome.

The idea of the video was very nice. The tutorial aspects were very informative. The choice to do it in a campy cheesy manner was a bit of a turn off considering this is a product that caters to adults.  

Was on the fence about this item, but after seeing the video, it just isn't for me.   It's certainly a nice rendition of the GG1, but I'm not into "gimmicky."  Moreover, I was further convinced because I don't have a catenary system and think this thing would look odd and out-of-place without one. Especially with the gimmicky sparking feature drawing extra attention to this particular disconnect between engine and layout.   

Peter

Peter, I whole heartedly agree with you on running an electric locomotive under an imaginary catenary system.  I just can't get my head wrapped around it.  There are lots of model railroad hobbyists that do run electrics without a catenary and I applaud them for being able to think abstractly.  

The video was a bit cheesy to me too, but at least Lionel put out a product video.  I am sure they are both good guys.  Even though I don't know either of them I am confident that neither can take Mike Reagan's place.  I wish them both well as they have a herculean task.  

Oh and the engine was nice I guess.  I am not sure it offered enough features (certainly nothing innovative) to elevate it into the Vision Line product line, despite the engineer's exuberant introduction.  

PJB posted:

 It's certainly a nice rendition of the GG1, but I'm not into "gimmicky."  Moreover, I was further convinced because I don't have a catenary system and think this thing would look odd and out-of-place without one. Especially with the gimmicky sparking feature drawing extra attention to this particular disconnect between engine and layout.

Good choice of words...

It didn't really even look that sparky - more like a strobe warning light on a schoolbus.

Certainly not a "scale" spark!

Do actual model catenarys have a natural spark to them - like you might see from the center rail from time to time?

I enjoyed the video and I liked them having fun with it.  

When I first saw the sparking effect demonstrated, it didn't appeal that much to me because the sparking seemed to be coming from the edges of the pantograph shoe.  In contrast, I liked what I saw in this video where the sparking is at the center of the paragraph shoe where it normally would contact the wire.   My only minor gripe is that the upper reach of the pantographs in the extended position is a bit short - for example, if you look at the GG1s in Greenwich Yard for the Army-Navy games, the pantographs were standing very tall.  But overall, it looks like a very impressive model to me including the fact that they did the right body for "Rivets."

Nice video.  I was at work today and couldn't watch it with sound until tonight.  Based on some of the comments here I didn't know what to expect... I think they did a nice job.  The slights are unwarranted coming from some who have never put themselves out in the public domain like that. Thank you for making the effort and keep the videos coming.  

Ben 

I received my GG1 today and found it  functioning perfectly right out of the box. This is a very detailed and well made locomotive.  This is my first GG1 in my collection and I am extremely glad I waited on this one.  Definitely worth the price of admission!

Here are some pics of the box and its opening.  As you can see it is well packaged.

I am no Cecil B. Demille, but here is a quick video of it on my test track so you can see the sparking pantographs and its excellent sound quality.

-Pete

Pete,

Very nice model.  Sounds great, and the simulated arcing looks pretty good on your model too.  Also nice to hear road-specific Towercom/Crewtalk.  To my ears, that just says an importer is going the extra mile to be conscientious enough to give buyers the most for their money.  

Funny thing is I recall when VisionLine was first announced, the VisionLine features were supposed to trickle down to Lionel's regular product line over time.  Nowadays, it seems some features (like road-specific Towercom/Crewtalk) that were once standard on the regular product line are now only available on VisionLine products.    I guess Jerry didn't explain that philosophy well enough to Howard.     Either that, or Howard just wants to do things his way...  in this case, the wrong way.      

Enjoy your GG-1.  Looks like a keeper!

David

AlanRail posted:

I  love the CHEESY guy

Need more videos of the mechanical engineer featuring products.

very cool tie ryan where can I get one lol

now if someone would make a decent catenary system I could die happy

BFI66 posted:

I received my GG1 today and found it  functioning perfectly right out of the box. This is a very detailed and well made locomotive.  This is my first GG1 in my collection and I am extremely glad I waited on this one.  Definitely worth the price of admission!

I am no Cecil B. Demille, but here is a quick video of it on my test track so you can see the sparking pantographs and its excellent sound quality.

 

 

-Pete

Pete, you might not be Cecile B. DeMille, but I think you definitely have a future in film making. That is a great video and it shows the item off very well!  

I agree, it does seem like a very nice, quality made engine.  I've always liked the design and look of the GG1.  Now if only I had a catenary system...

Peter

Wow Pete, this engine is Beautiful, Fantastic, and Beyond Imagination...This is the one I have on order......It's going to look good pulling the Congressional 18 inch Lionel Aluminum cars.....Thank You for the Great Demo!!!!! Merry Christmas

(the cars came from Elliott Sher) practically new.....