Lionel 18" SP Aluminum Cars

Not so sure all that much "testing" occurs at the factory this time of year.  The importers seem to be receiving multiple shipments almost every week in November/December.  Remember... this time last year we were receiving Berkshire locomotives whose pilot wheel bushings were literally dropping off the locomotive as we lifted the locomotive right out of the product box.  If something like that didn't get caught at the factory, it's hard to imagine anything else would.

Lionel was quick to help consumers here in the States, but it puts a burden on the support staff.  Ultimately, it's all a numbers game though.  And if support on this end can fix the problems with minimal damage (aside from our good memory that this crap happens), then the overseas factory gets a pass on the shoddy workmanship.

David

I am not positive about this, but had they gone to 19 1/4"they would have had the correct length for the 1937 Daylight.

Sunset came as close as any commercial supplier in O Scale for the proper Daylight car body.  The flat portions of the window area and the top letterboard are at the same level as the top of the larger corrugations - that is, the corrugations are inset, unlike just about every other corrugated passenger car ever used in the US.  Santa Fe and Rock Island had a few, but to my knowledge, no other railroad had them.