RickO posted:Norton posted:Lots of options here but don't overlook the fact that you now have to spend even more money to correct the inadequacies of an already way overpriced product.
Pete
The irony being that the justification of the inferior thumbtack trucks is that it's easier for folks to remove the 3 rail coupler to swap out a kadee.
I can't remember the last time I puchased something new only to remove/throw part of it away ,aside maybe for a fruit of some sort.
Bottom line. The original functionally sprung ,ALL diecast , hidden tab uncoupler truck is the leader in 3 rail trucks and appeals to the vast majority of o gaugers who are fine with the "lobster claw".
I still wonder if it is /was more about production cost than kadee convert ability as to why Lionel switched over to the weaver style truck. Especially since they have obviously aquired some of the weaver tooling. Any time you can substitute plastic for steel. It's gonna be cheaper to manufacture.
IMO Kadee convertability was just a coincidental positive excuse to justify an inferior truck design.
At any rate. I'm looking forward to the rumors of Lionel returning to the original trucks. I'll wait and see first. I'd like to see these reappear on the steel reefers with sound.
Well said. Many of us have made similar comments. The first step in the process is to see how the new Freight Sounds boxcars come out. Ryan indicated that they would have hidden uncoupling tabs as pictured in the catalog but was less certain whether they would have diecast metal sprung trucks.
