Any solutions to the smoke unit other than running it at 18 volts in neutral until you see smoke or adding 20+ cars to make it pull some serious amps? I typically run MTH engines so I am not that familiar with the Lionel smoke units…I have recieved some suggestions about adding additional fiberglass wicking and removing the woven covering over the element in the smoke unit to bring it in contact with the smoke fluid quicker…
Randy
The Lionel sets are, generally, excellent and Lionel stands by its products quite nicely. I think that it is RARE that there are operational problems, but unfortunately NOT rare that there are small bits of not so well designed stuff installed. I can hear the bell quite well, for example, but I have not purchased the set. I HAVE purchased a couple of low end Lionel sets and they ran like champs. Too bad they did not put RAILSOUNDS in this set. I think a 10 year old will have more fun with the set he wants, so I would GO FOR IT and purchase the Lionel. Meanwhile I keep wondering where the Lionel HOGWARTS EXPRESS is–or Mikes, or someone!
Hey Ya’ll
Well, my set unexpectidley by Wednesdayarrived at my house. I said I didn’t order it and then I thought they drew the names for the 2005 sweepstakes to early.
Well, that wasn’t the case. It was supposed to arrive that night, while I was a sleep. Well, my parents were in a right pickle as that was my christmas present.
They told me that and said, well since you had such a good report card (all A’s) this will be your reward and they are going to let me select another heap starter set, and right after christmas, I am going to buy another one. How lucky am I?
Well, my set arrived the day the movie was realeased, so that was great. But, I am going to wait until we set up the Christmas tree to take it out.
By the way, I have seen the movie 2 times already, last Saturday at a sneek peek, and this saturday with my grandma. I ove the movie it is great.
Nick
I just might have to get this set because I don’t have a “Christmas” train. Since I’ve read the book and will probably see the movie, this sounds like the perfect train set for the holidays.
The movie web site is quite good.
http://polarexpressmovie.warnerbros.com/
Someone emailed another site where you can leave a movie review.
http://members.aol.com/polarexpress1225/polarexpressindex.htm
“‘Incredibles’ ices ‘Polar’ at box office”
http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/14/box.office.reut/index.html
It was expected that “The Incredibles” would fare better at the box office this week.
First, it’s aimed at a much, much wider audience, and it’s not a “Christmas” themed movie, like the Polar Express. Christmas is still 6 weeks away.
I’d rather wait and see the total attendance records around the 1st week in January, to obtain a more accurate acount of its popularity.
Went to several train stores on Sunday (11/14) and they were universally out of the Polar Express. One small train store owner told me that he had 24 on order and that they hadn’t arrived yet from Lionel. When I mentioned what was happening on eBay, he started telling me that people are selling sets on eBay that they haven’t even received yet. And that they’re making no guarantees of when they’ll be delivered. According to him, Lionel is doing another run of these sets in January and the sales on eBay are based on speculation of the January manufacturing run.
I also found out that most stores are already sold out of the North Pole Central Lines 2-8-4 Berkshire being offered by Lionel this year:
I received my replacement whistle from Lionel last week. As I had indicated earlier in this thread, the locomotivies whistle broke off shortly after I started running it. I cantacted Lionel and they said it was backordered. Now my set is back to 100%
Merry Christmas,
Tim Pignatari