Milwaukee Road Colombian Passenger Set - Sooo Close

Normally, if this was a defective locomotive, I would send it to back to Lionel.  Now, I am considering my options.  Has anyone bought stuff from Charles Ro and then asked for an exchange on a defective product?  Has anyone gotten parts sent from Lionel under warranty so that you could replace the parts?

RickM46 posted:

Normally, if this was a defective locomotive, I would send it to back to Lionel.  Now, I am considering my options.  Has anyone bought stuff from Charles Ro and then asked for an exchange on a defective product?  Has anyone gotten parts sent from Lionel under warranty so that you could replace the parts?

Yes and yes on both questions. Just call and talk to both parties. They both were very good about it. The parts from Lionel I had to wait a few weeks as it was a new product and they were waiting for parts.

Did some research and found that the new coach and baggage cars are not on the Lionel parts website yet.  However, the trucks they use are common to past Milwaukee passenger cars and also on the old and new Polar Express cars; so, there should be no problem with parts if I choose to have the trucks replaced.

JDaddy, yes the stripe on the cars is not a dark burgundy - maybe lighter and with a light plum mixed in - I'm no artist but I like it - it really stands out.

Instead of returning the baggage car for repair and getting on that merry go round, I decided to open up the baggage car to fix the dangling axles from the 2 trucks myself; one truck had one axle not seated into the side rail; the other had two.  Took the top off to expose the frame and removed the e clips to drop the trucks.

Looked at the trucks and surprise, surprise, the side rails are not pressed together; instead, the top of each side rail is held to the truck assembly by 2 phillips mounting screws each.  You can remove the 2 mounting screws and the side rail will drop off and then allow you to re-attach the side rail and capture the axles into the bearings in the side rail. 

It took awhile.  It was time consuming getting the @#%%@ copper grounding straps to stay on top of the axles; had to bend one set of side rail mounts a bit inward to keep the axles in their bearings.  Lastly re-attaching the frame back to the top was a pain - you had to make sure the baggage doors were positioned properly into the frame otherwise the frame would not seat and the doors would not move.

Done and running.

The second half of my 2 pack order containing the Milwaukee Colombian Sleeper and Observation cars showed up today from Charles Ro.  Ordered them in July.  So close but still no cigar. The finish on the cars is perfect.  Both have minor defects in the heavy trucks but easy to fix. 

On the sleeper car, one of the axles is not inserted into its bearing.  Will have to remove the shell and drop the truck.  Then, remove one of the side rails and re-insert the axles - just a tedious process.

On the observation car, one of the axle caps is missing; definitely not in the box.  There was a post on how to re-attach one if you have one - will have to find that thread - I think they are available from Lionel parts. If anyone has a recollection of that thread, would be appreciated or the technical name for the cap.

You need a replacement journal box for your truck sideframe.  

I also received the same two pack today. I had the exact same damage on the baggage car truck and 2 missing journal boxes. 

MTH premier passenger cars are superior in many ways. Finish, packaging, interiors include passengers, diaphragms do not have to be removed ea. time you pack them away, more complete sets available, better lighting.  I really prefer Lionel Legacy and Vision line engines but not their rolling stock.

Jim, after the above experience, I too am considering other rolling stock purchases - ie. Atlas, MTH, etc.  However, I must say that  Lionel coaches and their color matching is excellent.  Regarding Legacy and Vision line engines, I agree; I have had good luck with them and even Lionel warranty repair of them - fixed, no damage, timely.

NVisich posted:

I also received the same two pack today. I had the exact same damage on the baggage car truck and 2 missing journal boxes. 

NV, have you acquired replacement journal boxes?

RickM46 posted:

NVisich posted:

I also received the same two pack today. I had the exact same damage on the baggage car truck and 2 missing journal boxes. 

NV, have you acquired replacement journal boxes?

I emailed Charles Ro for the journals. They supplied them last time with the Polar Express heavyweights that I had ordered. 

I give up on this one!  Brick wall time.  Sense my frustration??  Decided to begin the process of dis-assembling the sleeper to drop the truck so that I could get the loose axle in its bearings.  Ran into Chinese precision: a screw GLUED into place with a glob on top of it; my WiHa and Radio Shack screw drivers would not budge it without fear of buggering it.  See the screw just below the nicely stenciled model number.  Will ship  both cars back to .................somebody.

Another disappointment with Lionel paint and quality control.  My dollars will be spent only when I can inspect their finished product.

UPDATE:  FIXED.  That glued screw was done so just to fill that hole in the base; the receiving hole in the floor was stripped; so, the screw was glued in place to fill the hole.  All the other screws were OK.   The base came off easily and allowed me to drop the truck and get the axles in place.  Now, I just have to get the missing journal cover.