Three cheers: I now have a working Baby Blue Comet!!!!
Since my travails are scattered across my many rambling posts 
it seemed best to just mention this in one separate posting instead of all of within all of those other ones.
thanks for listening to all of my wailings!!
BUT WAIT: I might not be done quite yet!! I have another PS3 on order, the new Christmas freight set, so there's still a possibility for more blabber . That black cloud may or may not still be up there somewhere!
- walt
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Which Christmas freight set did you order, Walt?
(I have edited this to remove a 'snipey' type comment.)
It's in the 2013 tin plate catalog, page 6.
11-5509-1. Red engine, striped tanker, green hopper, red caboose.
I was 'promised' to have it in my hands by Al at York by last week. Not here yet so I will call Friday if I don't have it yet. His "promise" (OK, maybe a strong word but it is one that he himself used) is THE sole reason that I agreed to a pre-order with him. I have 28 people coming to the house for a 'train party' on Dec. 7 and I told him that, but he stuck to his "promise". But as I read thru the posts below, I see that not all dealers have that set in stock yet. Some, yes. Some, no. But he claimed that his was en route.
I will be more patient and wait until Nov. 22 to call. But I'm nervous. I asked Jim to test it first because I won't have time to go thru what we went thru with the Blue Comet set.
- walt
Okay Walt, where are the pictures? 
I'm looking forward to Walt's Christmas layout this year.
The 11-5509-1 Christmas sets shipped out last month. We had them for a while now. Very nice set!
Okay Walt, where are the pictures?
Yes Walt. Enough with the talk already; Let's see some pics!
It's in the 2013 tin plate catalog, page 6.
11-5509-1. Red engine, striped tanker, green hopper, red caboose.
I was 'promised' to have it in my hands by Al at York by last week. Nope! I will call Friday if I don't have it yet.
- walt
That is one fine looking train your getting Walt - Enjoy.
Paul
Walt,
Relax a bit.. Jason's trains just got the set today on his pallet. I should be receiving mine in a few days. I'm sure you'll be getting yours any day now from Sidetrack. Your comment with "Nope!" makes it sound like you poking Al and his staff in their chest. Really? I don't think that they would appreciate it if they read your post. Consider yourself lucky that Sidetrack went above and beyond in resolving your issue with the Blue Comet. Many dealers would have redirected you to MTH.
Sunrise
Walt,
Relax a bit.. Jason's trains just got the set today on his pallet. I should be receiving mine in a few days. I'm sure you'll be getting yours any day now from Sidetrack. Your comment with "Nope!" makes it sound like you poking Al and his staff in their chest. Really? I don't think that they would appreciate it if they read your post. Consider yourself lucky that Sidetrack went above and beyond in resolving your issue with the Blue Comet. Many dealers would have redirected you to MTH.
Sunrise
jsrfo,
I agree with your post 100% but I think your missing my point. Its not the norm for a train shop to exchange an item. Its left up to the buyer to deal with the manufacturer for repair. I don't think that's acceptable...however that's what the normal practice is today.
Sunrise
If a dealer will not exchange a new item because of a defect and refer you to MTH; "Find another dealer" It's called customer service and if a dealer doesn't want to make good on a legitimate claim then there are plenty of other dealers including on line dealers that will be willing to take your money. It's a 2 way street. Customer service = customer loyalty!
I agree 100%. I'm old enough to remember buying trains from a local store and having a guy in an apron working on them. Sometimes I think it was better then.If a dealer will not exchange a new item because of a defect and refer you to MTH; "Find another dealer" It's called customer service and if a dealer doesn't want to make good on a legitimate claim then there are plenty of other dealers including on line dealers that will be willing to take your money. It's a 2 way street. Customer service = customer loyalty!
I look at buying a new train like buying a new car. I don't expect my car or train dealer to replace a product as soon as I get it.
There is another way to deal with a manufacturing defect.
I bought a new LCT 256 from Sidetrack Hobbies a couple of months ago. It was my first new MTH product that didn't run well out of the box. There was a problem with a gear on one one of the motors. I didn't even call Sidetrack. I took it to Bob Barth along with my receipt. Bob machined a little extra material off of the gear and I had my engine back within a week. No shipping charges and $0 cost.
I got my engine fixed for free, Bob got paid by MTH and no headaches for Al and Libby. Everyone is happy.
People here need to keep in mind that the majority of dealers don't have stockpiles of tinplate items to the point where they can easily exchange one item for another. Tinplate is a small niche, and the dealers customarily order what has been preordered with them or what they feel they can reasonably sell. Furthermore, these items are often made in very small numbers, so replacements may not even be available at the manufacturer level by the time a problem is discovered.
Returning non-working items directly to the manufacturer is the norm with a great many electronic/electrical devices these days. Check the paperwork that comes packed with items purchased just about anywhere and many or most times you'll see a notification that the item should not be returned to the point of purchase and that you should contact the manufacturer directly if there is a problem.
As far as tinplate is concerned--a small niche within a small niche--you would be hard-pressed to find a dealer better stocked than Sidetrack. Excellent inventory and great folks to deal with, and I know that from personal experience.
And when it comes to receiving recently released items, people really do need to learn to exercise a bit of patience. Not every dealer can be expected to receive new items at the same time. If a dealer is awaiting the arrival of an item you ordered from him, you'll get it.
. But I may just have been lucky. At this point, the red comet is all I own in modern stuff, but I could see myself with a standard gauge Commodore set at some point.
Returning non-working items directly to the manufacturer is the norm with a great many electronic/electrical devices these days. Check the paperwork that comes packed with items purchased just about anywhere and many or most times you'll see a notification that the item should not be returned to the point of purchase and that you should contact the manufacturer directly if there is a problem.
As far as tinplate is concerned--a small niche within a small niche--you would be hard-pressed to find a dealer better stocked than Sidetrack. Excellent inventory and great folks to deal with, and I know that from personal experience.
And when it comes to receiving recently released items, people really do need to learn to exercise a bit of patience. Not every dealer can be expected to receive new items at the same time. If a dealer is awaiting the arrival of an item you ordered from him, you'll get it.
Well, I owe some replies to replies 
Pictures: they'll be coming. Still building it.
My "NOPE" comment wasn't meant as a snipe for heaven's sake. I'll edit it to reflect what I was thinking, but thanks for pointing out that it COULD be taken that way.
And Wurlitzer and Sunrise, thanks for letting me know that some dealers have the set and some don't. Al, at York, called his shop and whoever answered checked and said the item was en route - that's why he promised a 2 to 3 week delivery time. My issue is that I have 28 people coming to my house on Dec. 7 and have only the one train as of now. His promise was THE single most important reason why I agreed to pre-order with them.
Chris' comment about service = loyalty is on spot with me. I will stick with them since they have been so helpful. Each time that I've dealt with them it's been with Jim and each time I compliment him on how helpful he is and has been and what a pleasure it is to work with someone like him.
I have 2 LHS where the owners would most likely treat me just as well and one not so much. I want to support them since they are local, but Side-Track has been so helpful and that is why Chris' comment hits home with me.
Thanks. I will edit my original post.
- walt
Not sure why a few responders asked "where's the pictures", but since it was asked, I took these. Excuse the section of the layout where these pictures were taken - it's a little extension where I parked my candy train, coal ramp/conveyor, and crane. Not so pretty, but functional.
Thanks for all the encouragement and comments, both ways!
- walt
A new version of the one I have Walt. always a crowd pleaser at shows. It will look great on your CHRISTmas layout. Glad it has worked out for you.
Steve
That baby blue Comet looks really good Walt. I got one earlier this year from Side Track and I love it.
Doesn't Walt's have nickel trim?
Looks great Walt. Now go have fun.
Looks great!
--Greg
I believe Walt's does have nickel trim.
I was looking at the sand dome in the top shot which looked like brass to me? I may need to have these glasses checked! 
Maybe this is the year for a tin plate at our house!
Your Comet looks great!
I've been running it daily and have grown more confident with it each day. I feel really good about it right now! Thanks Side Track Hobbies for taking care of a very satisfied NEW customer!
As a side-note, and another hard gust of wind blowing that black cloud out of the picture: Side Track called last night and said my Christmas Freight set came in. Jim said he'd test it first and then ship it right away! Can't wait!
- walt
Walt,
That sure is a great looking set.
Brad
Walt,
I am happy to see your new trains pictures. Always enjoy your "Christmas Episodes"
as we refer to them down here.
Toot--Toot !!
Can't wait to get my Christmas tin-plate set. It sure looks like a beauty by the image in the catalog.
- walt
I have that 11-5509-1 Christmas set (will be one of two sets doing circles around the base of my Christmas tree). I think you're going to like it.
I think if the dealers selling the product would test the products for flaws before shipping to the customers would catch a lot problems. Yes it could delay, but you would not have to worry about problems.
Al
I think if the dealers selling the product would test the products for flaws before shipping to the customers would catch a lot problems. Yes it could delay, but you would not have to worry about problems.
Al
Al: I asked Jim at Side Track if he would test mine first and he agreed, especially after what he and I went thru together on my blue comet.
It's expected to arrive today. YEAH!
- walt
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