Wrong road number on CNJ NS heritage locomotive ....why Lionel ???

catalog shows both numbers being offered, not a mistake

only because that is the one he chose to buy.

If the REAL locomotive is #1071, and it surely is, then what is the significance of road number "1834" on the model?

Lionel offers this paint scheme in 3 different road numbers.  They offer #1071 as well as numbers #1831 and #1834.

Bob, the one in the photo referenced is just one of the "other ones" that that person chose to buy.

Hot Water, I suspect the other road numbers relate to important years in CNJ's history.

Stu

http://www.LionelNation.com/
All Lionel, All The Time

The oldest component of the CNJ (The Elizabethtown & Somerville Railroad.) was incorporated in 1831, but I can't find any significance to 1834. 

OK, now that is pretty interesting information. Does Lionel do the same thing for all the other NS Heritage unit models? I also wonder how many customers/modelers/collectors actually realize that Lionel has/is offering different road numbers that are NOT prototypical to the NS real Heritage units.

Lionel made two operating versions of each Heritage NS, plus one non-operating unit. Only one of the powered units has the correct number. Which means, if you want a "dummy" unit, you cannot get one with the correct number from Lionel. I think MTH is making the "dummies" with the correct number so people can run several locomotives without all being powered. 

I thought that was the big goof for Lionel - not offering the "dummy" units with the correct number.

Some of us are glad Lionel is offering multiple roadnumbers as we like "what if" models,I plan to have all three numbers of the Interstate ES44AC. Years ago I was into HO and had custom painted Interstate SD40T-2s and an F45 as if the Interstate RR still existed.

Now THAT makes more sense! I also agree that the "better way" would have been to offer powered units AND dummy units, BOTH with the correct prototype NS road number. Thus a modeler could put together a consist of, say 4 Heritage units, with only two powered and two dummies. As I said, I wonder how many "uninformed" customers don't really know whether they are purchasing a "correct" model, or one with an incorrect road number? 

they should be if they read the catalog

I really don't understand that logic. How I running two units with the same number better.

OK, but does the Lionel catalog actually indicate which road number is the CORRECT one, and which is fantasy? 

Apparently the thinking was/is that customers would NOT purchase two of the exact same road number (one powered AND one dummy), but WOULD purchase some powered heritage models of their choice, AND some dummy versions of OTHER heritage models of their choice. Thus operating many heritage units in one consist, but with ONLY a few that are powered!

Makes perfect sense to me.

Folks... I guess we should just be happy that Lionel delivered an offering with maximum flexibility.

If staying true-to-prototype is your passion, then you need to ante up the big $$$ and purchase the appropriately-numbered powered unit while it's still available. 

If the paint scheme is more important to you, then Lionel gives you the option of two powered units and one dummy -- each with their own road-number, so you can create a splendid triple-header if you really like a given paint scheme.  (The latter scenario doesn't play in MTH's world, since both their one powered unit and one dummy unit have the same locomotive road-number.)

I suspect most folks aren't gonna give a hoot about the road-number, and they'll accept either powered unit -- whichever is available... or perhaps even just the dummy unit.  Many of these are selling quite well, so beggars can't be choosy.   

David

okay, didn't think of it that way. A LASHUP!!

Wow!  I hope my WP heritage in numbered correctly!

Rather than complaining, I'm happy that Lionel offers a choice in road numbers. 

I think those worked a bit differently.  Most of this topic has dealt with the NS locomotives.  The UP heritage fleet was released in two phases as I recall... all powered units, no dummies.

The first release of the locomotives had the roadname/roadnumber-specific towercom/crewtalk announcements.    Then a couple of years later, Lionel re-issued another round of powered units.  But by that time, they had dumbed-down their locomotive features to just using generic announcements.   

Can't say with 100% certainty, but I think all the UP heritage locomotives were numbered with a number that had historical significance to the heritage road-name.

David

And maybe post on 3Rail Scale and not Hi-Rail, O27 and Traditional 3rail O Gauge.

Jeez, they give the more to prototype guys their own sub forum yet they continue to post about wrong numbers or headlight placement or paint scheme here. Traditionally we here don't worry or care much about these things or maybe like in the "olden" days build what you want from scratch if you can't get what you want.

Jerry

So it really doesn't bother you at all to pay something NORTH of $400 for SCALE model of a NS heritage unit, and not get the pro typical road number?

Obviously, to each his own.

Jerry,

So are you and Rocky Mountaineer are suggesting that this information should be kept hush-hush to everyone that's not into 2-rail or 3-rail scale or doesn't even look at any of the other forums here?

Members can can take the non-prototypical information mentioned and do whatever they want with it, whether by considering it when they purchase these units now or in the future or they can ignore it as it wouldn't matter to them.

Perhaps I'm missing something here, but my understanding is that you will get the 'correct' prototypical road number if you purchase the right version.

And if you want to run 2 or 3 with the same livery, then you can do that too, all with different numbers.

I can't see any problem here.

If a modeler is into prototype railroading, he should know the correct number(s).

If he has no clue what difference does it make, unless Bob bugs him about it.

I think that Jack (Hot Water)'s main point is that it couldn't hurt to remove any guessing games out of the equation. 

Hot Water

Do you or anyone else know how similar the MTH and Lionel units are?

Would it be conceivable to accomplish what you suggest by buying an MTH dummy and running it with a Lionel powered unit?

John, WTF???  I stated Lionel gave us an offering with maximum flexibility.  End of story.  Who's talking about keeping information hush-hush?  I don't give a hoot which sub-forum information gets posted too.  It's the 3RS "elite" that want to keep that sub-forum cleansed of anything that doesn't meet their criteria for what belongs there. 

David

 It's the 3RS "elite" that want to keep that sub-forum cleansed of anything that doesn't meet their criteria for what belongs there. 

 

David

And you have a problem with THAT? You mean it is "OK with you" if newer posters inquire about "which is better, Lionel or MTH?" and such questions, on the 3-Rail SCALE Forum? They would simply NEVER get any answers, would they?

Of course that would work. In fact, one could put a dummy unit, or units, with ANY consist, even a steam locomotive.

Did Lionel Lines ever have a Hudson numbered 2055?

All these years, since Santa Claus brought me a train in 1954, I have assumed that my locomotive is prototypically correct.  

Now...I wonder...

Did Lionel Lines ever have a Hudson numbered 2055?

Mr Bloom, perhaps you may have saved the day for me! I have searched lo these many years for Lionel Lines! I have looked on maps galore; googled till my fingers are raw; sent letters to my congressidiots asking for their help in locating Lionel Lines! SO, please Mr Bloom, tell me where Lionel Lines is located! I want to go see them, take pictures, plan a visit with my grandbrats.......................

I am very happy that Lionel has made one of each Heritage Unit with the original number and made additional units of the same color scheme available. I believe that was a very wise move on their part and nothing to complaint about. Buy the engine that you like put it on the track and enjoy it.

Perhaps this:

 Somerville’s growth was stimulated by the opening of the Delaware and Raritan Canal in 1834 and by the completion of the Elizabethtown and Somerville (later Jersey Central) Railroad in 1842

http://www.britannica.com/EBch...ic/554068/Somerville

ok everyone grow up I have one with right number the prototypical numbers start with 10 if you don't know that the number is wrong it shouldn't bother you in the first place you should enjoy youre train lionel made the different numbers so if you like a paint job you can run 2 together without the same number

No that's not what I'm saying. If you want prototypical accurate scale model don't buy an engine with larger than life couplers, oversized flanges and movable pilots and then bemoan the fact a headlights in the wrong place on a forum that lives with these items all the time. If it was advertised as a prototypically accurate locomotive and then arrived as it stands yes you do have a gripe but scale could mean that it's size is correct and nothing more. You'd get more of an audience who understands your angst about it and possible solutions as to how they solved or dealt with it is all I'm saying.

Jerry

OK, got it. You are then "recommending" the MTH models with fixed pilots, full length hand railings, scale wheel flanges, AND scale couplers?

The first run of Lionel UP Heritage units were the correct numbers, the second run were not.

And, if it IS on your GaS list, Lionel has done the same thing with their as yet delivered NS Heritage ES44s so you'd better check.

I say its up to each of us to decide what is or is not appropriate for us as it's our money.  Personally I want my engines to look like the real thing, and that would include headlights.  I can live with larger couplers, oversized flanges, and moveable pilots, as these are all compromises of running on smaller curves. 

If one is going to have larger couplers, oversized flanges, and moveable pilots its been made pretty clear that this is the forum to post on and NOT the 3RS forum, regardless of if the engine is otherwise prototypically correct.

Jim