Visionline reefers for big boy

NO, they haven't been released.  Do a search, there's a recent thread.

 

Believe Lionel is saying JUN or JUL now. 

 

Also, if you read the catalog they are not die-cast.  Plastic with sound.

No news is good gnews on these. Best be patient and wait them out. At one time I was worried they were canceled...

They will be worth waiting for.  I think they are versions of Lionel's detailed scale ones from a few years ago, which were excellent, but with sound.  I will get a set: I have 22 scale high-detail (operating hatches and latches, etc., PFE reefers and these will have unique numbers and along with the others make a wonderful sight behind any big UP loco.

Do you think these will be as hard to find as the visionline tank cars?

my guess is they will be harder to find.  The tank cars were very easy to find early on and that lasted for a quite a while.  Then it like was everyone realized how cool there were at the same time and then they became hard to find.  I would guess these cars will have a shorter span of being easy to find.  just my guess of course.

Yes.  I forgot to pre-order and think I have only a 50-50 chance of getting them, even though I plan to jump on ordered a set as soon as they are shipped

+ 1 !

I'm so glad I ordered more than one set of these!

I have to agree, these are going to be very hard to get. I pre-ordered a set and if I see another set I will snap them up.

 

 

I don't recall all the particulars surrounding the confusion here.  But I seem to remember dealers were taking pre-orders for these like there was no tomorrow.  Then somebody posted something here about their LHS getting a correspondence from Lionel (or one of their distributors) that they are over-comitted on orders for these Vision Line reefers w/sounds.  Of course, nobody from Lionel ever clarified what that really meant... so it got folks who were sitting on the fence SCRAMBLING to find dealers who had a solid reputation for delivering product.

 

Bottom line... I think if you pre-ordered from a Lionel direct-dealer -- especially prior to the BTO deadline -- and they confirmed your order, you'll be good to go.  But if you ordered from a shop who gets their product from a distributor/middleman, then you'll need to follow-up closely and often to ensure your order can be fulfilled.

 

Again, this is all based on stuff brought to light here a few months ago.  As far as I know, nobody from Lionel has commented "officially" on the production status of these cars.  All we know is what's been listed on Lionel's website shipping schedule, and that's a whole other topic for discussion.  Then again, better to just leave it alone. 

 

David

I thought Jon did comment and said he wasn't sure why that shop sent that email as he said all those that pre-ordered were going to get them.

I don't remember Jon Z. saying anything on this subject BUT there was an earlier thread which (a) confirms they are being produced to order and those who have pre-ordered will get them and, more interestingly, (b) includes references to what Mike R. and Rudy from Lionel have said concerning both the availability and features of this set. That thread is here: https://ogrforum.com/t...on-up-reefers?page=2

 

FWIW my guess is that they will sell in the aftermarket for something of a premium but the silly prices commanded by the VL tankers and the TMCC Santa Fe E6 (on the unmentionable auction site) were probably just a market glitch. That said, I really don't know why Lionel have not re-issued the tankers if not also the excellent E6.

Anyone know where I can still pre order this set?

Pre-orders are over, you will have to find out which dealers  ordered a few extra sets. And even then you may have to pay full retail.