Dome shape in 18in Lionel Pass Cars

Someone at Lionel knows what design they used for the dome cars, just not the person that you spoke to.

Even so, if the person he spoke to didn't know, then that person should have at least connected him to someone who did know.

Yes, the answer "duh" doesn't do it for me either. This brings up an interesting question, who does specify details, drawings, etc., and is that person knowledgeable? And do they care to get it right? Is it a collaboration of Lionel and the factory or what?

Have you looked at the illustrations in the catalogue? (Or on the Lionel website?) They are normally pretty close.

Or failing that, have considered sending a detailed and polite email request for this information? An email will most likely be directed to the appropriate person, whereas often a phone call to the general number may not.

I looked in the catalog and it's not possible for me to tell. I imagined they were curved and I could see that...then I imagined they were flat and I could see that. Not that catalogs aren't "subject to change"...

I would suggest you e-mail Mike Reagan. He is excellent about answering his correspondence.

How did you come up with $ 1,500 for this passenger set? Are you including the E8s in your number? Remember, the Blue Bird typically had 6 cars in it's consist. I ordered this set with the diesels and I did not spend $ 1,500.00. Maybe you should talk to one of our Forum sponsors.

This was original consist of the Blue Bird after dieselization and domes.  Later a Pullman Standard dome was added.  This is what Lionel should have offered.  Either way, the Wabash streamlined passenger cars are very nice.

You have to buy at least 5 2-car sets to get the correct number of domes and cars for the real Blue Bird.  Lionel messed this up (no surprise).  How difficult is it for someone at Lionel to look at a pic of the Bluebird and organize the sets properly???????

Also, the Lionel rep told me that she is NOT ALLOWED to forward questions to any other person or department.  MTH is really great in this area, and Lionel is NOT.

Wonder if they are allowed to forward polite emails?

Passenger Train Collector:  Obviously, you are a die-hard Lionel fan and admirer.  I am not.  And as far as the Bluebird, Lionel DID mess up.  Lionel has also messed up on many other trains they've made over the decades. 

When a person calls in to Lionel and would like an answer to something, it should be their company policy to have the CSR forward their call to the appropriate department or person who can answer the customer's question.  If the answer cannot be found right away, then they should call that person back or at least email back the answer.  This is not a difficult scenario and most other companies do this.

For as long as Lionel has been in business, one would think they would have the toy train manufacturing business and customer service down by now.  But they don't. 

So back to my interesting question...how is the final product finalized? Are there Rail Road historians on staff or available? It's beginning to seem like putting the product details and pictures out on the forum would bring the historians out of the woodwork before the finalization.

"Obviously, you are a die-hard Lionel fan and admirer.  I am not.  And as far as the Bluebird, Lionel DID mess up.  Lionel has also messed up on many other trains they've made over the decades."

Vern, did you read my comment? "I would agree that Lionel should have produced the correct number of dome cars for this set without having to buy additional two-car sets just to achieve the two extra domes that are needed."

Absolutely, I am and have been a Lionel fan since receiving my first Lionel train set as a little kid. However, this does not distort my attempt at some objectivity. I stated my take on perhaps why the correct number of dome cars were not included in the two-pack offerings. Is there perhaps some other explanation other than: "Lionel DID mess up"?

I also have to ask, " Lionel has also messed up on many other trains they've made over the decades" ? Do you really think this is an exclusive club for just Lionel? Here again, some objectivity is needed if you want your comments to be taken seriously.

I have found that taking the high road in making points draws more positive attention.

Passenger Train Collector, I used to be a Lionel fan like you and still have my first Lionel train set, received at Christmas in 1955.  It's the Cleartrack Special and still runs perfectly.  But that was the old Lionel.  I dislike the new Lionel.

Lionel has become the standard by which other 3-rail O-gauge is measured.  I just think that for as long as Lionel has been around, they should be doing it better than anyone else.  I run only Lionel and Williams.  I've NEVER had an issue with Williams, but have had many issues with Lionel.

But, you're right about the high road and I salute you for taking it.

Awwrite already...he didn't ask it right and they didn't answer it right...

So are they curved or flat? The real ones were curved, a Wabash fan told me...

Oh, sorry Chuck.  As you suggested, maybe some forum historians familiar with the old Wabash will chime in with their input.  My guess would be curved (Budd), but not certain.

The Wabash set will include the "boat tail" or curved end design (as it should be) and has been done for some time.

This information came directly from Patrica (sp?) at Lionel. Could not comment on the decision on how the cars were being marketed.

Hope that helps.

Charlie

Wabash fan here - original consist had Budd built corrugated cars with rounded domes; an additional car with a sqaured off dome and smooth sides was purchased from Pullman-Standard a few years after the train began running. 

"But, you're right about the high road and I salute you for taking it."

Thanks Vern, I appreciate and respect you for making this comment.

Hear is a shot with the PS dome in the consist (in front of the observation).

WOW marker, love the photos. A blue Bird Observation car and the front end of a Sante Fe PA, could not be better.

Unless there was a PA at the other end of The Blue Bird.  

People post all sorts of inaccurate information, (welcome to the internet) but when Yellowstone Special Vern posted this crap:

 "Passenger Train Collector:  Obviously, you are a die-hard Lionel fan and admirer.  I am not."

I had to think for a minute, "why would he even post something like this"?

If you had read your OGR, December 2013 issue you would see that Brian (Passenger Train Collector) has more invested in K-line and MTH then Lionel. The pictures posted of his layout clearly show that while the newer sales might be Lionel, the vast majority of the products are NOT Lionel.

So... exactly how is Passenger Train Collector a "Lionel" guy when most of his purchases have been something other than Lionel?

I don't expect an answer, but please try to keep your inaccurate comments to a minimum.

Charlie

Here's an answer: 

Gee Charlie, did I hit a nerve?  Not very nice of you chiming in and referring to my post as "crap."  You've contributed nothing to rdj's original question for this thread.  I don't read OGR, so how was I supposed to know that most of Brian's purchases were "something other than Lionel?"  I have a better insight now as to where he was coming from as he was kind enough to take the "high road."

My apologies to rdj however, as my posts may have sidetracked his original question of whether Lionel will be using flat or rounded dome shapes on their 2014 18" passenger cars for Wabash and UP.

But in the meantime Charlie, try to get over yourself and take the high road. I too, was wondering "why would he even post something like this?"  Don't get so upset when someone posts something you don't like or don't agree with.

For what its worth, I have the last UP 2 car set that lionel offered. Believe it was a sleeper and a Vista Dome. The Dome car is modeled as flat glass in a framework constructed of flat channels to form the dome. Prototypically, the UP acquired " The Train of Tomorrow" after it completed its exhibition tours in the 40's . The Dome in the train was a Pullman Standard I believe. The Lionel UP model seems to be based on this car. I have not seem a Lionel Model of a BUDD style Fluted sides car so I cant comment as to the shape and construction of the dome. It should have curved glass and structural frame members. For what its worth, the Lionel Full dome as done for the Milwaukee road set has curved glass and frame.

I sent an e-mail to Mike Reagan today suggesting that Lionel consider adding an additional Wabash 2-pack with just dome cars. This would make it much easier to come up with the four dome cars replicating the Blue Bird.

I will post an update when I get an answer.