Lionel acela is this set lionels holy grail?

@Lionelzwl2012 posted:

My questions to all of you that got the whole set are you happy you did and were the issues such as the broken nose cone minor across the board with the prototype schemed sets.

Roger,

I have all the cars and love this beautiful set! I have not had any problems (and hope I don't jinx myself saying so.) Whether it is a holy grail is going to be in the eyes of the beholder. I am a frequent traveler on the Acela so I can readily appreciate all its exterior and interior details, sounds, and operating features. IMHO, the Bistro Car in the expansion pack is desirable to fully enhance the set because it provides the interior sounds and conductor calls that travelers are accustomed to hearing. (But it doesn't call out the specific station stops nor "the cafe service is now available".) The above all said, I can never suggest to anyone that spending three thousand dollars on a toy train is a necessary purchase. This was my most expensive train expenditure ever and is a delicious luxury. No buyers remorse.  But I'm sure I'll jump on the purchase of the Amtrak Avelia Liberty set when Lionel announces it!!

thanks bruce.

"... holy grail..." What does that even mean?

Definition: "an item which has been earnestly pursued or sought after".

If someone had been looking for a model they'd had as a child, then maybe; but a newly released set...? 🤔

I don't think it applies here...my opinion, of course.

Mark in Oregon

"Holy grail?" Interesting . . . . . merriam-webster.com shows the definition of holy grail as "an object or goal that is sought after for its great significance" Of course, the term, holy grail, as it's used nowadays is very subjective. I suppose a certain Lionel electric train set could be considered a holy grail to some.

I only hope that Roger will be as pleased with this new train set as Bruce is with his set.

I'm not sure about the features of the new set. But I remember the first set being touted as pretty darn special, packed with features, etc etc. So yeah, the Acela is definitely a special class of train I would say. It's probably in a class on its own because Lionel doesn't make a lot (any?) high speed passenger trains.

It's something I'm into but I admire it!

I love the idea of this set, but it's simply too big to look good on my 12 x 24 layout.  I'll live vicariously through other folks Acela purchases.  Besides, I'd rather have a couple of Vision Line steamers.

Maybe if the Legacy Acela retained (and improved) the prototypical door opening and car tilting features from the TMCC version it could approach “holy grail” status.

@Steims posted:

Maybe if the Legacy Acela retained (and improved) the prototypical door opening and car tilting features from the TMCC version it could approach “holy grail” status.

The passenger cars do tilt in this latest version but the doors open manually.

I'd have rather dispensed with the tilting features and had the automatic doors, that was a cool option.

What else did the original have that this new one lacks other than the auto - doors?  Was a great feature for certain.

With having the rear engine also powered, that would seem an improvement over the first issue. COuld someone give a brief comparison of the features of each please?