New Lionel Legacy GP35 Conrail Patch Locos....well worth the pre-order!

I give Lionel tremendous credit for these merger era models.  I just received my SOO bandit Milwaukee Road unit today, haven't had time to check it out yet.  I used to see a SOO CP thru train on the NS in the 1990s which had these bandit units very often. I hated them back then and preferred the nice SOO red & white .  But now it's pure nostalgia and I will prize this merger unit.  

Way to go Lionel!  The locos, 86' boxcars, merger weathered hoppers, graffiti cars, great job.  

Some quick pics of the Conrail items...

Mike,

Thanks for posting the pictures

The font used for the CR road numbers appears accurate

I’m enjoying my NKP GP-35. It’s great to have Bluetooth added to the locos, I prefer the ease of the LC remote. Lionel did a nice job on these. 

Keith,  Can you post a picture?  How do the engines handle in Legacy Remote?

My NKP GP35 #910 is in transit. It will arrive next week.  I hope it runs well in consists with my other Legacy GP35 engines.  The GP35 has been the most trouble-free of all my engines.  I have put several non-powered shells on a powered chassis to create several three engine consists.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

John, I’ll take a few shots for you when I get home. I’m out of town this weekend enjoying some throttle time on Pere Marquette 1225.

Its a dream getting to sit in the engineer’s seat of this Berkshire!

Sharp-looking engines!

The “rainbow” of liveries make a colorful train.

Peter

The Nickel Plate Road GP35 #910 is a beautiful engine, but mine arrived with a gray (Unpainted) Lift bar support on the front left corner.  I was told the engines went to Lionel and then the distributor who drop shipped my engine. The engine gears were lightly lubricated which is good, and a change from previous Lionel Diesels I purchased which were never lubricated.

I am hoping the seller has an extra I can purchase because I purchased many NKP cars and a six pack of open NKP Hoppers to run behind it.  My local hobby and train stores have closed so finding touch-up paint that matches will be a challenge.  I need to dull the shiny black paint on the truck side frames. The side frames have a crackle finish on them.

I also need to tighten the screw holding the rear coupler that tilts downward.

The engine is beautiful and runs well in a consist with my older C&O Chessie GP35.  That the NKP GP35 runs at the same Legacy speeds is important as I add a few new GP35 engines to my railroad.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

I keep hoping that Lionel makes a Penn Central GP35.  The CR patch job was close, but won't work for me.

Tom

I just heard back from the dealer for my Custom Lionel Nickel Plate Road GP35 #910.  They are out of engines with no SPARE engines to replace the engine I received with the gray replacement Lift Bar Mount and bent Lift Bar.  I either accept what I received, or do without.  

I have some very nice Atlas O Nickel Plate cars I purchased over the past six months for this engine to pull.  Yesterday I ordered a set of six NKP LionScale NKP Hoppers.  So much for BTO.  I guess I'm SOL. 

Sincerely, John Rowlen

^ Compared to the issues you usually have I would say you got off easy with the lift mount. 

John Rowlen posted:

I just heard back from the dealer for my Custom Lionel Nickel Plate Road GP35 #910.  They are out of engines with no SPARE engines to replace the engine I received with the gray replacement Lift Bar Mount and bent Lift Bar.  I either accept what I received, or do without.  

I have some very nice Atlas O Nickel Plate cars I purchased over the past six months for this engine to pull.  Yesterday I ordered a set of six NKP LionScale NKP Hoppers.  So much for BTO.  I guess I'm SOL. 

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Parts like that would often get replaced on the real thing with the wrong color or just in primer, so it's actually prototypically plausible. 

Picked up my NKP #910 yesterday. Terrific model. Steve Nelson’s special runs are awesome and are becoming one of my favorite parts of the hobby. 

Thank you very much. I have one each of these Conrail versions left, and the matching Caboose.

As John mentioned, we sold all of the NKPs including mine. We had pre-orders for 12 when I told Lionel we’d take the 25 minimum. I wish I’d made it 35. 

With all the special runs we have nearly 300 due from Lionel in the 4Q2019, plus a bunch more from MTH. I really enjoy doing these. 

John,

     For god’s sake buy some yellow paint and paint it. It is a beautiful engine, runs good, sounds good enjoy it. Good luck with your future purchases.

JohnB

JohnB, 

Thank you for the practical, friendly advice.  I could do Lionel's work for them and paint the two colors of yellow a uniform yellow.  I was just under the assumption that my purchase price included a perfect paint job and a mechanically operating engine, with couplers screwed into the engine and straight Lift bars that were not bent to the left on both ends.

There is no reason to send the NKP GP35 to Lionel because another dealer has informed me that the turn around is now 10 weeks. He also stated that Lionel had two technicians quit in the last two weeks.

I have asked Lionel for speakers for my three H-10 Steam engines to solve those sound issues mentioned on OGR Forum by Gunrunner John.  The speakers cost less than the shipping Lionel would be charged to bring in the engines, re-program the sound board, and then ship them back to me.

Lionel also has my new 1931260 Challenger #3985 in for overheating, correct articulated sounds and Out-of-Sync Drivers.  The dealer has assured me that if Lionel Service does not fix the new Challenger, he will give me my money back.

I am looking forward to my two custom run Hudson engines being perfect when they arrive.  If they are not perfect, I will quit buying Lionel trains.

If we enable our children when they make mistakes, if we do not correct them, they will never learn and acquire the skills necessary for success.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

John,

 Model railroading is not a perfect hobby, never was never will be. I have found it is a self help hobby where sometimes you have to go outside the box to get a product fixed the way you want it. By no means am I a handy repair guy who can fix anything. But I have always found someone who can. I have seen posts recommending that you call Alex M about your engine problems. Did you? Alex fixes all of my Lionel engines. He has altered some of my engine when I was not completely satisfied with them. You say you spoke to your dealer about your Challenger and he would refund you purchase but have you called Lionel directly? I had Mike Regan call me twice when he was at Lionel, I am sure Dean would call you about your issues. Mike also fixes trains now you can call him too.

     It would be nice if everything was perfect out of the box but they will never be wether it's Lionel, MTH, Atlas etc. There is always a issue you need to deal with. Constant complaining on every thread is also not helping your cause. Out of the 17 replies on this thread 5 are yours...that's 30%. 

    Good luck with all your engines but you may find model railroading may not be the best hobby for you especially if you are looking for perfection.

JohnB

He’d rather whine about every Lionel purchase he makes.  Some people enjoy that..

I understand the frustration when problems arise but with the volume of products you buy, the are bound to be some mistakes. Even on a $50,000 car or $400,000 house nothing is perfect. Sure it would be nice if they were perfect but they aren't. Also the threat of not buying Lionel anymore is pretty silly. I think I heard that one back when the first batch of UP excursion cars came out. The true mechanical issues like the Challenger are a problem, but just paint the lift bar mount. 

My two cents

    Anyone operating or having any issues with these new releases or, better yet, any video? I'm thinking about picking one up later this week at York. 

But a repack date of 1947 on a Conrail caboose? Now that's something to get fired up over!

Hello PA A, mine is terrific - admittedly a sample size of one. I don’t know which one you are looking to buy at York, but I would say go for it. But for one (usual) hijacker, this thread (including the OP!) has been very positive.  I think this model is a winner.