Skip to main content

In perusing Lionel's 2013 catalog I see on pages 18 and 19 they are offering 5 road names in the Legacy Two Truck Shay. Not only in their description but they have in a separate larger button shape they state 031 minimum curve, which everyone including Lionel knows that it will not pull cars on 031 curves unless you have the bracket that K-Line provided and Lionel won't provide. Lionel went back and changed the ratings on their online catalogs last year to 042, proving that they are well aware of the problem, now how many folks will buy a shay from the new catalog not knowing they can't pull any cars on 031 curves, just to be told sorry about that later on by Lionel? I say shame on Lionel for advertising the Shay that way!

2 truck shay

Attachments

Images (1)
  • 2 truck shay
Last edited by VaGolfer1950
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Originally Posted by galley_proof:

My guess is that the error was missed in the copy editing. I don't think it was intentional. Errors such as this happen all the time. The test will be to see how well Lionel (or any company for that matter, trains or not) handles the problems caused by the error. 

If you truly believe that then I have some oceanfront property in Arizona you might be interested in. LOL! There is no reason that it should have ever been put into copy at 031 curve rating. Either it's deliberate, or it shows that Lionel has almost zero quality control in their advertising as well as their production.

 

For further information on the Shay pulling cars problem see this thread. https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/d...73#14663996310553573

Originally Posted by LionelLLC:

... or Lionel could be right.  Maybe they listened to you Paul, and will be including the bracket with the next run of Shay's.

 

Stu

I think in my discussion with Mike R at breakfast the other morning about the bracket for the Shay, I am sure that he would have mentioned it if Lionel was going to include the bracket, since the bracket was what we were discussing, especially after he specifically mentioned the cost of making the die as prohibitive. Let's see if anyone from Lionel that knows anything chimes in.

Originally Posted by LionelLLC:

Maybe they listened to you Paul, and will be including the bracket with the next run of Shay's.

 

Stu

That would certainly be nice.  I have an attractive Shay that is now  a shelf queen due to the coupler issue.

 

I might be in for another Shay if/when I can be sure that it will, indeed, negotiate tighter curves (even O36 minimum would be fine with me).

Originally Posted by chipset:

Deception again, just like the way they put the $2K GCT picture in the ads for the smaller and less detailed $279 GCT, until we called them out on it and they yanked the ads.

Why do you think it will be less detailed?  My understanding is it will be scaled down but be as detailed (within reason).  Other than the size, what is it about the catalog photo that you think will be different?

Well, this prompted me to go get out my Shay and try it again. And (son of a gun) you are right: it derails the car directly behind the loco on 036 curves. I must have run it light when I first got it (and it runs OK on 036 that way). Anyhow, I rigged up a fix by tying the loco coupler to a log car with a piece of black twist-tie and now it runs fine with cars added. If you don't look too closely to see a 1/4 in. gap where the twist-tie is attached instead of the coupler.


Anyway, not so bad all things considered -- at least you can use the loco as intended. I agree that Lionel is VERY remiss in not putting out a fix for this problem? What's up with that??

After springing for more bucks that I ever have for a layout building (the aforementioned GCT), I was certainly upset reading what may have happened here.  I guess I can cancel my order if it is a poorly done piece but I kinda doubt it given TW's reputation for good work.  Ima gonna take a wait and see attitude for now.

Remember they are not making anymore shays or other engines that have been released in the past few catalogs. They are only in the catalog because vendors and themselves have them in stock. These are not new items being made they are just trying to sell thru want has been left over from prior runs.

 

btw the o31 for the shay is a typo, always read the disclaimer at the front of the catalog. 

Guys,

Just to clarify.....the model of the GCT at the Lionel booth was a "mock up" to show mostly what the size would be.  It is not representative of the finished product in any way other than size.  After seeing the many Trainworx products do you really think Roger is going to make a bare bones cardboard and wood model??  If you are canceling based on this you are making a mistake.  BigRail

Originally Posted by Dave Warburton:

Well, this prompted me to go get out my Shay and try it again. And (son of a gun) you are right: it derails the car directly behind the loco on 036 curves. I must have run it light when I first got it (and it runs OK on 036 that way). Anyhow, I rigged up a fix by tying the loco coupler to a log car with a piece of black twist-tie and now it runs fine with cars added. If you don't look too closely to see a 1/4 in. gap where the twist-tie is attached instead of the coupler.


Anyway, not so bad all things considered -- at least you can use the loco as intended. I agree that Lionel is VERY remiss in not putting out a fix for this problem? What's up with that??

What's up is Lionel did not make and doesn't have any plans to make the bracket that K-Line used, since these are the original K-Line molds upgraded to Legacy basically.

Originally Posted by david1:

Remember they are not making anymore shays or other engines that have been released in the past few catalogs. They are only in the catalog because vendors and themselves have them in stock. These are not new items being made they are just trying to sell thru want has been left over from prior runs.

 

You sure about that?  It seems to me that the Shays in the new catalog bear different road names, which means they are designated for a future production run.  I could be wrong about that because I kind of breezed past those pages.

No, I think the latest catalog listings are for products available now.  The five roadnames listed are 6-11364 through 6-11369 and (along with some not listed now) were in the 2012 VII catalog also.  None of these five are listed in the shipping schedule I'm looking at in another window, so as of this moment they have been shipped.

 

 

Originally Posted by Lee Willis:

No, I think the latest catalog listings are for products available now.  The five roadnames listed are 6-11364 through 6-11369 and (along with some not listed now) were in the 2012 VII catalog also.  None of these five are listed in the shipping schedule I'm looking at in another window, so as of this moment they have been shipped.

 

 

Lee if you are correct then it demonstrates that Lionel knowingly sent the description of 031 minimum curves to the printers incorrectly for the latest catalog, or they are the most stupid and inept folks in the hobby to make the same mistake twice now. And I don't think the personnel at Lionel are stupid do you? Makes it hard for them to cry a misprint two years in a row. now doesn't it?

Originally Posted by mlavender480:
Do we really need to beat this horse yet again? As I've said probably a thousand times, griping on an Internet forum is NOT going to solve anything. Take your crusade to Lionel, and if you get no satisfaction, let it go. Your Shay works, move on.

But what about my new Lionel Shay that doesn't work on 0-31 curves as advertised....

Originally Posted by Keystone:
Originally Posted by mlavender480:
Do we really need to beat this horse yet again? As I've said probably a thousand times, griping on an Internet forum is NOT going to solve anything. Take your crusade to Lionel, and if you get no satisfaction, let it go. Your Shay works, move on.

But what about my new Lionel Shay that doesn't work on 0-31 curves as advertised....

You missed the whole point here, the problem was taken to Lionel, and they stated clearly and emphatically that it was a misprint and changed the rating to 042 even though it does run on 031 with the bracket. Lionel has released the new catalog with it advertised again as 031, and guess what? There are tons of folks that don't spend their lives in the basement and on this Forum that wouldn't know that it was incorrect and may get stuck like Alan and a lot of us, spending $750. Most folks that spend that much for anything have an expectation that it will do what the manufacturers state it will. My question is since this would be the second misprint on the same engine 2 years in a row by how you see it, how anyone can think it is anything but deliberate or they totally just don't give a dang about making things right anymore.

Last edited by VaGolfer1950

Yes, Paul and I, and I presume many others, spent some pretty decent money (it is a decent amount for me, at least) on a Shay because we like having a geared locomotive and especially like those that will operate on tight-radius curves like the prototypes did--proportionally speaking, of course.  Would also eventually like to get a Climax and a Heisler.

 

Mine still looks nice in the display case in the living room, and it ran fine by itself, but I'm kind of used to hauling trains with my locomotives, even if they are short trains.

Well Allan, if Paul does not make a go of producing or having Lionel produce the K-Line bracket that allows this engine on 031.  Let me know as I have a bracket that I previously offered to Paul.  It's a shame to leave your locomotive on the shelf when the fix is available and its such a nice running piece.

 

As for the Catalog.. most of them are ridden with typos.  I'm sure this was an oversight on their part.

Originally Posted by David Minarik:

Does anybody here have a clear photo of the bracket that corrects this problem?

 

Thanks,

 

Dave

I imagine Paul has a set of good photos, but have never seen an actual bracket myself.

 

However, I think you should start manufacturing the brackets as an after-market product, Dave.  After all, you have all the necessary experience and expertise in metal working and such (for those of your who many not know Dave, I'm being 100% serious about this).  I will be the first in line to buy the device from you, and will even pay extra for you to install it. 

 

A new cottage industry for you, my friend (as if you didn't already have more than enough on your plate).  Be sure to clear it with Marsha in advance!    

Originally Posted by David Minarik:

Allan,

 

I have a pretty simple design in mind that I think will fix this.  I would think that the number of people who have this problem are in the tens not the hundreds.  Sorry I missed the first thread.

 

Dave

Here is a link to the first thread.  https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/d...73#14663996310553573

 


 

where I posted several close up pictures of the bracket.

 

I have an extra bracket if someone thinks they can reproduce it as I have had zero luck on finding someone to make it. The person was kind enough to send me both brackets for the front and rear of the Shay, and I would like to see these available for all Shay owners.

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×