Lionel Vision Line Centipede First Look

I agree, David. My gut tells me that the generic crew talk is simply a financial decision

 

Another take on it is that when you have Legacy units with generic crew talk that end up being blown out because there wasn't enough demand for a certain road, it makes for a nice upgrade for TMCC units, and you don't have worry about pressing the wrong button and getting unit specific crew talk for the wrong railroad. 

Mention was made that on the PRR versions there was NO train phone roof antennas on one of the 2 units.  Can someone confirm this? 

 

On one of the pair of prototype units there was a set of trainphone antennas. And they were highly visible.

 

Steve

This looks like a great locomotive!  Thanks for the excellent review Eric.  I thought mine would have arrived by now, but still waiting.   Should be here next week at the latest.

Mention was made that on the PRR versions there was NO train phone roof antennas on one of the 2 units.

So what would this mean?

http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=2861783

 

BTW Eric, a big thanks for posting!

The proyotype PRR units were semi permanently coupled with a draw bar.  Only one of the pair carried antennas, but there were trainphone handsets in both cabs.

 

Ed Rappe

A much later photo, after the train phone system was removed?

The trailing unit barely shown in the photo has antennas.

Ed Rappe

First of all, Eric's reviews are so outstanding that he now has one or more imitators on YouTube, right down to the video transitions and speech pattern on the commentary!  Is that why he decided to film himself driving?

 

Seriously, the reviews are a great contribution to the hobby.

 

I agree with all that Eric says about this monster except the price.  These models are worth what those amongst us are prepared to pay for them; you can't judge their worth by weight or even engine-specific crewtalk. 

 

In that connection I've found that the Vision Line is a little hit and miss as regards operating features. Undoubtedly, however, the GE Hybrid was an absolute bargain at the MSRP. The operating features of this model are outstanding and mine WORKED STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX AND RELIABLY EVER SINCE. Can you put a price on that in the current QC environment?

 

My Vision Challenger and UP Genset on the other hand are not what they were cracked up to be except in external detail.

 

I haven't got my UP Centipede yet and probably won't be able to run it once delivered until next month. So although I'm really in no position to judge I'm thinking on the basis of Eric's review that it might be a bit "lite" on special features compared with the other Vision models. But it's worth it to me to get it at an early buy discount because, as Eric notes, sitting back and waiting for these trains to become available on the aftermarket just means paying considerably more. Just try and get a Canadian Pacific Vision Hybrid on eBay and you'll see what I mean.

 

BTW, motorized roof fans were a feature on K-Line E8s and maybe other models but were offered instead of smoke, not in addition, and had no lights to show that they worked.

>>>Joe,

 

The angle of the camera makes the diesel appear to have a huge gap between the frame and the trucks. Look at any other diesels they have the same thing when you look at them at a certain angle. 

 

Eric was able to confirm this when I asked him on Youtube. <<

 

 

Ha. Thanks man.

 

You made some good points. It's always fun to have a good positive discussion about this kinda stuff.

 

Now I'm gonna shift gears. Any of you guys have any votes for the next Vision Line items?

 

I know the Big Boy is an obvious choice, but I'd actually like to see them to some smaller items as well as some more Vision Line takes on classics, like they did with the 700E. Here are some of my votes:

 

Vision Line Shay. They probably won't since they just released a bunch of new shays, but I can dream.

 

Vision Line Steam Switcher. Maybe a B6 or something like that. I think this would be appropriate as the B6 was one of Lionel's first engines with modern sound effects way back when.

 

A Vision Line take on the postwar 681. In other words, an S2, but with the 681 on it.

 

A Vision Line take on the postwar F3's, like the 2343. A big badass A-B-B-A set with all the amenities.

 

Maybe I should start a different thread for this...

 

 

That reminds me, what ever happened to the swinging bell? They did it a couple times and it's never been heard from again. They're putting the smoking whistle and blow down effects in lots of engines these days (which is great) but the swinging bell has gone MIA.

 

-Eric Siegel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

611 J.  But rumor has it that's in the next catalog.

You won't get any complaints from me on a Vision Line J. That'd be wonderful! Good post!

Eric,

Thanks for posting the video.  The centipedes are amazing.  Enjoy them.

I also like your idea of the S2. 

I like all of your ideas a lot Eric! 

 

I really like the idea of a Vision Line Switcher like the B6. Although I don't think it would be practical yet because of the size of the locomotive. 

 

I also like the idea of a Vision Line Shay. Whistle steam and other cool features on it would be great but again I think it comes down to space and there is very little in a Shay. 

Vision line J.. Them a bigboy...please

If you are going to do a VISION line diesel it has to be something that has not yet been produced or rendered very poorly in the past.

 

The GE B23-7/B30-7 and the EMD GP50 diesels have never been made in O Scale for 3 Rail. They were new about 30-35 years ago and some are still around.

 

Andrew

 

 

 

The swinging bell in my opinion is the greatest vision feature produced so far and they really need to keep issuing it in more steamers. A close second is the whistle steam.

 

I think the next vl engine should be a heavy mikado, moving bell, with whistle steam. The newly added vision feature should include a cable from the bell to the cab, along with real curtains for the cab and fabric awnings. Not a super technological addition but really adds some realism. For a bonus, add 4 or 5 highly detailed figures to come with the engine so it has it's own crew.

 

The heavy Mikado would be a big seller, in my opinion.

 

As for Eric Siegel, I've said it before and I'll say it again, he should hands down get the blue comet award. He is the reason I am in in the hobby to the level I am today, and there's no better way to start my day than a Siegel video and a cup of coffee. If I was a train manufacturer my first move would be to hire him to exclusively review my product. I hope this never happens because I love that he reviews all manufacturers.

I understood that the Vision line as originally conceived was not just about locomotives but operating cars as well. The ethanol tank car set is a classic but there's been relatively little to go with it. I'm not sure what Lionel could do with a passenger car set but . . . Pity about the new Acela.

 

Apart from that, I vote for a big badass Santa Fe A-B-B-A set with as-near-to-prototypical Mars light functions as possible - not just blink blink.

 

Let's not forget motorized units. A massive, die-cast missile firing one??? No, I am serious.

 

More seriously (and maybe less likely), I'd like Lionel to produce a UP turbine with a sound set to rival their HO Veranda of many years ago, which if you have never heard it is spectacular, even by today's DCC standards.

The vision line strikes me as something which needs a prototype of interesting history, or tremendous stature in order to be worthy of the price and features.

I agree a big boy is an obvious choice... but they did that in the JLC series not too long ago.

I think theres lots of worthy choices... N&W Class A, Pennsy T1, or the Timken loco that no one's ever done, or some lionel PW models done in scale.

 

Personally, I think a UP Big Blow would be a great choice. its enormous, interesting, lends itself to all sorts of smoke effects and plenty of room for speakers to make lots, and lots of screaming turbine noise.

I agree a UP Big Blow would lend itself  to a number of special features, not the least of which would be synchronized turbine sound and smoke. MTH has done one but to my eye it looks like three boxcars linked together.

They've also done the UP80 coal turbine but that's even bigger than the centipede so I don't expect that there would be a sufficient market for it.

 

 

Very well done video Eric, I really enjoy your videos. The UP looked good on the Centipedes, I did not think they look right in yellow but I was wrong, they looked great.( I will most likely be burned at the stake and kicked out of the SPF club for saying that)

THE SOUNDS ARE GREAT!!!I wish I got my last three diesels from lionel to sound like that but I guess you need to spend the big bucks to get that, o'well. Keep them videos coming please.

John P

A Vision Line Shay would be awesome! If they made it I'd hope it'd be a West Side Lumber CO. Shay #10. I would like for it to have a swinging bell, whistle steam, cylinder smoke would Probly be impossible because shay cylinder steam comes out in small pipes along the cylinders, and a dynamo. I might be missing something but I think that would be awesome!!!

An obvious choice for the Vision Line would be a RAIL GRINDER with all the sounds and lights.

It is OK to wish for a Vision Line upgrade to previously issued locomotives, but let me put in my vote for a big brother for the postwar #2055 and wish for a full scale Santa Fe Hudson - one of the most handsome steamers ever in my opinion.

I may sound stupid but what's a rail grinder?

Rail grinder (with caboose!)...
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc0Cdeh0ztY

That would be a show stopper.

For VISION line rolling stock and accessory how about a ribbed-side wood chip High-Sided Gondola with a swinging end door for operation in a Tip-Up unloader.

 

Andrew

I dunno, but I see a trainphone antenna on the trailing unit, but not the 5817.

 

Rusty

Wow, Eric thanks for sharing in the excitement!  I feel as if I rode in the car with you to help pick it up!
I am very lucky here as in the "Cents" do not tickle my fancy! I'm all steam. So I guess I dodged that bullet. I will applaud Lionel here for keeping up the good work in new product.

Eric - hope you are still working on the full review of those CENTIPEDE units with the usual thorough details. I see they are hitting stores in earnest now. A nudge off the fence post always helps - your videos typically do it.

In terms of VISION line wants - the AC5, AC6 or AC12 Cab Forward, the iconic Santa Fe SF ATSF Warbonnet F-3 ABA Diesels with Vision Line Passenger Cars, PRR class Q1 4-6-4-4 or stretching a bit... GARRAT CLASS 59 4-8-2 + 2-8-4 with front and back (whaleback) tenders.

 

You do great reviews! Thank you.

Regarding my question as to whether 1 of the pair of the PRR version of these engines had trainphone antennas, I am including a photo of the HO versions of this engine.

Referring to my post above, you can see that the front unit has the trainphone antennas and the rear unit does not.  All I am asking is if Lionel included the train phone antennas on one of the units as shown in the photo.

 

Steve

>>>Now I'm gonna shift gears. Any of you guys have any votes for the next Vision Line items?<<

 

I assumed VL refered to Lionels newest features installed on older engines and RS that eventually trickle down to the classic product line, not just new engines?

One feature I'd like to see is operator color controlled class lights on steams and a more realistic Mars light.

Joe

I really would like a Dreyfus Hudson, and a super-good F3 A-B-A set (in SF Warbonnet for me) with, like the Centipedes, all powered, and multipe speakers (at least one in each unit).

 

As to features, I would like to see some crew animation - engineers move to look out the windows, or turn around or move a bit, etc.   That would be fun . . .

I second the ideas of a Vision SP cab forward (I'm not particular which although Lionel must still have the tooling for their die cast AC12) and Vision Santa Fe passenger cars.  The latter probably can't include any new mechanical operating features but new sounds and light control would be welcome.

 

And yes, give us a realistic Mars light on diesels and steamers alike!

Steam Guy,

 

The video from the Lionel open house that is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...4tw&feature=plcp

shows the PRR model with the trainphone gear on the leading unit as on the Broadway Limited HO model you picture.

I too, hate crew talk. It's anachronistic on locomotives that did not have radio communication, which is mostly everything before 1946 and a lot after that.

You know you don't have to play it if you don't want too?

 

That's what I don't get. Why take something away that is optional its not like you have to play the dialogue.

 

I can guarrantee you that the younger generation and even some of the older generation like the crewtalk as much as I do. The crewtalk is what catches peoples eyes when Legacy engines are running. Why take away a feature like that that makes the engines unique??? 

I agree. It's not like your under some obligation to play the crew sounds. If you don't like them, don't use them. But don't spoil it for the rest of us by complaining to Lionel and everyone else about it so much that they decide to drop it.

 

I just bought a new Ford Explorer last year and I don't particularly care for AM radio, but I'm not going to write a letter to Ford telling them to take the AM radio option off of their cars because I know that some people DO like AM radio. And sure, dropping the AM radio option might take a whole $5 off the price of the car, but it's really not that big a deal.

 

When I have my open house each year, the kids really respond to the crew talk. They love it. You can see their eyes get really big when they hear the engine actually talking. Heck, even some adults get wide eyed when they here the crew sounds.

 

-Eric