We all know Lionel has an extensive list of items shipping in December. When they arrive, sometimes having the finished product in hand, we discover details, changes, additions, etc. that were not shown or listed in the catalogue. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. I thought I’d create a place to share your observations.
With perfect timing, my most recent order arrived today via Fed Ex while I was celebrating Christmas with my children. I received the Archive NH F-3 A-A set and the Beatles boxcar 2-pack. The NH diesels look great and very similar to the illustration with the exception that the number boards read 2242 not 2342 as listed. Not an issue for me, but it may create confusion with the NH F-3 freight set locomotives by the same number. I also noticed the dummy has pick-up rollers on both trucks. Probably for the number boards(and headlight?), but not listed as a B-unit feature. Don’t have a layout up currently to check this out. Seems like a well made product built with the PW look but made even better by taking advantage of select modern improvements.
The Beatles boxcars looked very crisp and true to the catalogue. Before ordering, I checked the web and came up with 12 albums produced by the Beatles, so I thought this might be a colorful series to collect w/o getting too big.
I’ll know more tomorrow, however I can comment on the WM LionMaster Challenger which is an awesome site to see and an even more impressive engine to hear. Lionel outdid themselves on this engine. The sticker was a bit shocking, but when you see this engine in action you can see why it is worth it. I hope to get the C&O 10 Wheeler out of the box and on the track tomorrow. I also have the WM Consolidation which is a very nice engine as well. The flickering is really neat, when you can see it… but honestly the FatBoy speakers in the new engines really make the difference. They reproduce a clear full range of sounds.
I brought home the F3 NYC set today, have not yet opened the car boxes. Got the engines out and they look really good. Gave them a back and forth test run and found no problems.
I’m still in the wait for my Archive F-3’s… wish I had ordered the 2242 set as well. There are lots of departures from the true postwar version, but I will love em, they are new and will give off great Ozone!!
Sir James, did your locomotives come in two different style boxes? Is this what they were packaged like in 1951? Here are photos of how my loco boxes looked when I started opening the other day. The orange box on the left holds the dummy engine, while the corrugated box on the right is for the powered unit. The crushed end of the orange box is from it being smooshed in the set box. There is no damage to the loco or the set box.
The orange box on the left holds the dummy engine, while the corrugated box on the right is for the powered unit. The crushed end of the orange box is from it being smooshed in the set box. There is no damage to the loco or the set box.