Lionel JLC Legacy Big Boy owners

I have one:

Good points:

- It is a great runner - very smooth at very slow speeds, realistic top speeds, easy to set up on the track, pretty durable and not delicate as long as you take care

- Despite being a few years old it is still state of the art as to sound, etc. (no steam whistle effect or swining bell, but . . .

- Good detail and paint

- Its the biggest model stelm locomotive in 1/48 you are going to find (yeah, I know, others were arguablly more this or that - but its longer and has more wheels, etc).

Downsides:

- it costs a bunch - I saw one NIB for $2500 recently

- it runs on only O-72 and larger

- the all time heavyweight champ of front boiler stick out on curves - its horrendous on 72" and even 84" curves - about 2.5 inches past the outer rail.   

Summary:

1) If you like big locos and can afford it, you gotta have one

2) If you have a Lionmaster Big Boy you will run that ten times as often because it fits on the track without boiler stick out and looks just about as good on the layout

Thanks Lee,

I saw the same one on the 'bay.  I'm sure most people think the same thing when the see it.  I was determined, however, to find a better deal.  I found a dealer that had it in stock, listed for 15% below the original list price.  (11126#4012). He said he was thinking about keeping it aside for himself.  It's supposedly mint "sealed" in box and shipping box. We'll see the whole truth when the shipment arrives. 

The chances we take.

I'm a little concerned how it's going to look on my biggest outer loop.  I've seen 'tube videos of them on what I assume is O-72.  Based on your post I guess I'd be looking at  2+ inches over rail even at O-81.  Maybe I'll have to build a bigger layout now! or else just keep it treasured away somewhere.

Greatest apologies for bumping my own thread but I'm too excited not to. 

JLC #4012 arrived today.......as advertised ....perfect. 

Lee, you were definitely correct....This thing is spectacular! 

When my new #9004 is shipped and arrives I'll have to share some pics of the monsters together.

Should a grown man really be getting this excited about something like this? 

Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats on getting a great loco.

Or you can hide that overhang problem by putting the curves in tunnels.

Just make sure they are really wide tunnels!   :-)