Lionel Neil Young Texas Special Sets?

Thought the full set w/passenger cars isn't even shipping until mid-year 2015? 

Yeah I was confused...though I think mine is on its way and I will have it tomorrow.  I was just shocked as the B Units were out eons ago..and then all this stuff about aluminum car delays...and yet here comes the set.   I will post pics.  

WOW... very happy for you.  If that's the case, then that's just another example of why I'm forever puzzled that Lionel even wastes their (and our) time by posting an online shipping schedule.  It's currently showing a May 2015 ship-date for the NYS Texas Special Set and a 2-car add-on. 

You're lucky these are even being produced -- amidst all the turmoil surrounding many of the 18" aluminum sets being cancelled.

David

Then I hope that means the Pennsy set is in the same shipment as the Texas Special.  i think we've all waited long enough.

Bruce

It is odd...but maybe they are doing a couple batches?  I checked the shipping schedule Monday for the set and it was not on there...but now I see the March Date as well.  We will see what it is in UPS tomorrow.  Its 20+ pounds.  

David

You are the Don Quixote of the Lionel Shipping Schedule.  LOL!

Looks like it is a later ship date for the set.  The shipping notification email was for track...which had been grouped under the same order number of the set.

I sent my order in for the Texas Special Neil Young set in May of 2013.  This has got to be the ultimate in patience and loyalty for all those who are still waiting for the set after 2 years.

Steve, Lady and Tex

I am still waiting for the UP Veranda Turbine with dual Odyssey Motors.  ...just kidding...

I have the patience for trains though.  This includes railfanning 1:1's.  Drives people nuts.   

I'm still waiting for the engine component along with the cars.  I think that it is an A-B-A.  Of course I got the stations sounds B unit,or what ever it is called, over a year ago.  I hope that I don't get stuck with that car.

Norm

I thing if you wait much over the 2 year mark it's called something other than patience ???????????

Steve, Lady and Tex

How can a company like Lionel (or any other company) do business this way and expect to stay in business over the long term? Just amazing to me they can get away with this.  

Just my opinion.

Merivel, the answer to your question is "train nuts."   

I don't think Lionel or any other mfg is trying to get away with anything.  Most producers can't even deliver product due to China...at least Lionel is delivering if not slow.  I imagine this stuff happens across the retail world...but the public never knows because its not a pre-order type market.  

I imagine it is more of a prioritizing what to build next situation.  I feel certain the success of the BTO program will eventually lead to shorter lead times.  I hated not being aboe to order some of the things i really wanted but with an uncertain financial future i have to roll the dice and hope they don't go through the stratosphere price wise.

All the manufacturers (and customers) have encountered delays from time to time for many years, as manufacturing went overseas. It's nothing new, as anyone who's been around for a number of years can attest. The longest one I ever saw was a number of years ago when a certain MTH caboose was finally delivered.....4 years after it was cataloged!! A number of guys had forgotten they'd ever ordered it! And there have been many, many other examples over the years as well.

Just talk to the people who've been waiting on the Atlas O California Zephyr cars!

Neil Young?? Who is he? What does it mean, a Neil Young thing? What does Neil Young contribute to the Texas Special? I must be missing something.

Just in case you weren't kidding:

"In 1992 Richard Kughn and musician Neil Young, an avid model railroader, created Liontech, chartered to develop exclusive new model train control and sound systems. Liontech's RailSounds II debuted in 1994.

Also debuting in 1994 was the brainchild of Neil Young, Lionel's Trainmaster Command Control, a technology similar to Digital Command Control which permits, among other things, the operation of Lionel trains by remote control. Richard Kughn sold Lionel in 1995."

"Lionel changed hands again in 1995, when Kughn sold controlling interest in the company to an investment group that included Neil Young (a longtime fan of model trains and of this brand) and the holding company Wellspring Capital Management,"

"The company continued marketing reproductions of its vintage equipment, and the trend towards producing new equipment that was ever-more-detailed continued. Neil Young now had a 20% stake in the company".( I believe Neil Young no longer holds any ownership)

Neil Young is the singer/songwriter/enviromentalist that invented a model train remote control for his son with cerebral palsy. His invention became Lionel's Trai Master Comand Control and led to all of the remote controls that we have today. Since he was Canadian, I don't understand the Texas connection other that his country songs.

Still confused as to how or why Lionel believes its beneficial to name something after Neil Young.  Don't get me wrong, I love "Old Man" and "Heart of Gold" but I honestly don't care at all if his name is on a sale promotion for a Lionel train set.  Doesn't effect my decision at all, and if I am being completely honest with myself, I wonder if I they are only putting his name on it because its not "up to par" and needs a "selling point" other than its quality (or lack thereof).  Just my opinion.  

Either way, Neil Young and TS together on the same product line is utterly confusing to me.  Canadian Pacific....maybe I would somewhat understand.  I guess... 

The Lionel catalog that first contained the Neil Young TS and PRR sets explains the connection.  It's no great mystery or conspiracy.  Maybe good marketing.

I have the seperately shipped powered PRR B.  Like others, I'm awaiting the AA powered passenger set.

I knew that Neil Young had a connection to Lionel, but I did not know the background of that relationship. Thanks all for the education. I now have an appreciation of Neil Young's contributions to toy trains.

He's the reason a "Southern Man" buys MTH

Who would guess that the guy who can play guitar, harmonica, and sing at the same time, could help create one of the best model train sound systems of any scale..... whistle, chuff, and bell come out so seamlessly?

LMAO  "Old Man" is what I've become waiting for per-orders.

Bruce

I remember getting my Big Illinois Central dummy A unit aeons before the rest of the set was made.  I gotA sooooooo disgusted, that I went and bought a second dummy A unit so I could convert a power chassis and at least get a A-A set of IC F3s! !  At least when the thing showed up, she was a great runner ! 

After reading these posts,who knows what is going on with this set.  Maybe Lionel and Neil Young are not playing in the same band anymore,hence,the difficulties.  It has happened before,as we know.

Anyway,I have all of the Texas Special sets and maybe cancelling would not be a bad idea. (as my avatar shows)

Norm

Were the powered B-Units shipped at the same time as the non-powered B-Units?