If they only offered it in New York Central …
Bachmann or LifeLike offered one in HO a few years back, that’s the one that I would buy (as a SHELF QUEEN!)
Bob, not the NYC, [swg] (stirring the pot…) THIS Bob would rather have the B&O version[:D]
I don’t really care for the modern passenger stuff that Amtrak runs, whether it be prototype, scale model or toy train. I certainly would not pay the asking price for an Acela.
I’m happy for those that purchased it and enjoy running it. I’m sure there are many who do not share my interests in traditional and post war trains. It’s a diverse hobby.
Some of us wish we had not met there. [;)] Really, it is a great group and it is great to meet some of these folks [notice I did not use Yankee giz] while I travel around.
Since I’m not a passenger person, I agree with Elliot.
Speaking of Acela…how about the real one?
Are they fully back in service and has the brake issue been resolved?
Are they still the future of Amtrak?
An aside: Politicians always attack Amtrak and ridicule it for not being very profitable AND THEN TURN AROUND AND GIVE BILLIONS TO THE AIRLINES. WHEN WAS THE LAST TRAIN FLOWN INTO A BUILDING? Why aren’t the airlines ridiculed like Amtrack? Why do they get a pass from the politicians?
I envy europe’s rail system and enjoyed it thoroughly when I was there. The TGV Bullet train was Awesome. I’d love to have that here. I hate to fly, but find FAST rail travel to be great. TFactoring in travel time to outlying airports, et to center of city and bullet trains can deliver folks to their downtown destination in pretty competetive time to many major cities.
Dan
I recall hearing that David Gunn, long before he got fired, commented that Acela was something that belonged under a house, but I can’t verify that.
B&O - wouldn’t buy that one - but I might consider a Chessie System (B&O) version. The cat would look pretty cool on the side of the power car!
Well Dang, if they’d made an affordable toy version, then maybe.
As it is, two-thousand smackers is a lot for a toy… or eighteen-hundred via mail order. Again, if I had that kind of money dropped in my lap, I’d have $1,900 to give to charity or to pay off some long standing bills and debts and then maybe $100 to buy some 027 streamliners to repaint into Amtrak or better yet, Conrail Executive/Inspection cars.
But then to each their own. I personally would get just as excited for more current road names on affordable stater cars as some do over the latest one-grand loco.
Nice but doesn’t appeal to me or my layout.
laz57
Just aint what I am into. Might look good on a big layout in a showroom, but won’t fit my layout for turns and era. I have very little passenger service.
Dennis
Acela craze? My brother found an Acela conductors hat at a church flea market for fifty cents. He put it on Ebay and the bidding got up to $256 dollars before ending. How’s that for craze?
Everyone keeps complaining about the price, but I would remind you that Lionel’s Acela is a groundbreaking model. I like to think of it as the modern day equivelant of the 700E Hudson (which was also very expensive in its day). Too bad the Acela isn’t made out of brass or die-cast; that would give it a bit more cachet, perhaps.
Regards,
Clint
Just doesn’t appeal to me. Too modern-day, too costly, and too complex. Those who bought them are hopefully enjoying near-flawless operation, but what will happen four or five years from now when some of those complex mechanisms start developing the inevitable problems?
But I’m primarily a narrow gauge and/or older-era fan, both in terms of my modeling and prototype interests, so the Acela has little to offer me.
I’ll get one when I have money to burn. Don’t get me wrong, I thing it’s a great looking set; but at the same time, there are some many other things I could do with that kind of money.