New Acela?

Ed,

It's dead. They had a lot of issues with the first release and they made a promise to those who purchased it that it would only be made once.

Scott Smith

Thanks. It's just sooo... cool!  I was hoping after 10 years they would have had better tech solutions, but I guess that's pretty costly and with the steamer VisionLine products like the BigBoy probably not much demand for an Acela.  Well, eBay here I come.

Thanks, appreciate the quick response.

ed

I wouldn't put too much faith in the "we're only making it once" promise from any importer.

Strictly comes down to dollars and ROI. It may be awhile -but we will see another Acela produced.

Paul

I seem to remember Gromet, mentioning it was on not too long ago

rat

Well, I hope you're right. 

They will make it when they run out of Steam Engines to vision line.

Well, a 'politician's' answer meaning, probably never? 

I'm hoping for a basic (no fancy features) Lionchief plus 18" Acela Express. I need modern trains. No interest in anything that steams.

Did Lionel have an exclusive from AmTrak to manufacture the Acela in O Gauge ?

    Bill T

Yeah, they did.  Apparently Lionel needed a license to copy the Acela design.

Unfortunately, all of high tech features they promised didn't work very well.  Somebody was so mad he even smashed his and threw it away.

Lionel needs to come out with a simple, lighted, sound, and remote control Acela and cars for around $300-$400.   Id buy one.

Amtrak is planning to go to a new "Acela 2"high-speed train set in a few years. When the bids come in, perhaps Lionel will consider making the new model.

In the mean time, Lionel should consider making a model of the new ACS-64 Sprinter which is now replacing the engines on the NEC.

Tony

Up on "The D & H Bridge Line"

About three years ago Lionel did catalog a revised version of the Acela with Legacy control and sounds, a new coupling/control data transmission mechanism (the original infrared couplers were the source of many problems with the RS5 version) and no "tilt" function. I can't recall which catalog it was in but it was dropped within about 6 months. I don't know the explanation but it could be lack of pre-orders or not being able to manufacture this complex beast within a reasonable cost range let alone what it was catalog-priced for.

I think that the consensus of opinion is that buying one of the original sets in the secondary market, even if it is MIB, is a gamble not worth the price these sets still command. I have one which only works reliably in a particular configuration and it is really not suited to a small or temporary layout. When it works it's something to behold but that is the exception, sad to say.

Thanks for the info and advice.  I've read the strings, and the manual, etc. With some trepidation, I decided to jump in and buy a set, new, unopened. ($1600) I do hope I don't regret it. Should arrive on the 2nd of July. With the high temps in the DC area, I'll probably be in the basement, breathing life into my Acela... Wish me luck.  

ToledoEd,

    Good luck to you buddy and enjoy a fine Cigar as you breath life into your new Acela!

PCRR/Dave

I had one when I took it out of the box it looked awesome and was beautiful then I ran it and found it to be the biggest piece of garbage I ever spent my money on I had the complete set the original set and the add on cars none of them worked I sold it for less then half of what I paid for them to some one who needed the parts I was looking forwarded to the new one with the modern technology they would have corrected a lot of the problems with the first one and maybe realize that you don't have to put everything in one set if it does not work and it still runs good and give people what they want so good luck I wish you the best if I could find one I know it will work I will buy one again I just done want to be disappointed again

For What it's worth, I placed my complete set,with 3 car add on set on the For Sale Forum, it's just been returned from Lionel and is Packaged by Lionel. I offered the set go $2350 plus $65 shipping. I will warrant it if it needs to go back to Lionel. This included the 3 pack add on set In the Sealed a carton.  If someone is interested, it's available....New/Tested--Lionel Repaired.

its a Show Stopper, Crowd Pleaser....my email is (llevin64@yahoo.com)...

I went for it 3 months ago and bought a new old stock set.  I have no regrets!!!  One of the cars had door problems but on my layout,  I keep the set on a siding and I didn't have enough room for that car anyway. I have heard that it might just be a problem with the grease caking up.  I had that problem on a rotary crane. Someday when I have nothing to do I might take a look at it.....   LOL, if that day will come.  

Ed,

 Best advice I can give you as an original Acela owner:

When you get it TAKE YOUR TIME setting it up.  One car at a time, slowly, lining up the coupler.

Make sure the track/line you run it on is smoother than any track work you've ever done.

Give it room and radius to stretch its legs.

My set works fine.   I had some hiccups at first, but were user induced, mostly by not taking my time.

Yes there were  bunch of sets with serious issues.   There are also a bunch with no issues.

I like mine.

I wish they would have gone ahead with a 'no frills' scale model as I would have orded one.

Jim

Dave,

Thanks and will do.  A fine cigar makes most anything mellow!

Ed

I'll follow your advice. Thanks. by the way, did you install the battery?  I've never done that with any of my legacy/tmcc trains and have not had any issues.

You're welcome.

  I used to put batteries in all of my TMCC locos beginning with my first one in 1996.

I pretty much don't anymore in TMCC or Legacy equipment.   No problems.

I haven't run my Acela in a while and when I did I was still using the battery, so I can't report on behavior of it without.

OK, thanks. 

I didn't put a battery in mine and it works fine.

Well, my Acela set (new, never opened) arrived yesterday and today I was able to unpack it. I connected the powered and unpowered units only, as suggested (one car at a time) and it fired up, no problems. All functions were working until I tried the demo tilt mode.  I got the sounds, but no tilt.  Before I go further, is anything wrong? Should these units have tilted or do I have to have the passenger car(s) attached for that to work?  I'm being overly cautious because of all the problems I've read about.  By the way, the set is awesome. I own a number of Vision Line locos, BB, Challenger, Hudson, Evo but this set is every bit as stunning. Of course, nothing beats a steamer...  

Gents, sorry to have bothered you. I connected my passenger cars and the demo tilt mode worked fine.  Actually, everything is working. This set is truly a remarkable piece of technology and modeling. I'm so very glad I added it to my stable.

Have a great, Happy and Safe 4th of July as we celebrate the birth of our nation...greatest place on Earth!!!

excellent!   Have fun with it.