The S-scale Polar Express set - anyone have it?

They're not out yet.

If they were, Lionel would be shouting it from the rooftops on their blog and Facebook page.(you'd think...)  Makes no sense to keep them under a bushel.

There hasn't even been a pilot model, rapid prototype or production sample of the locomotive shown anywhere.

MAYBE a sample will show up at York next week, then again, maybe not.

Rusty

I would venture that it is very safe to say that Lionel is going to miss "the Christmas surge/increasing the Polar Express interest" market yet again.  They'd better hope this Polar Express "thing" sustains for yet another year.

Having seen the movie, I really don't understand how it has sustained as long as it has.

The AF PE Set is on the Shipping Schedule for OCT 2014, of course shipping schedules in toy trains are very often missed..

They'd better hurry.

While I'm interested in the "nuts and bolts" of the locomotive, big honkin' pilot aside,  I'm much more interested in the NKP set that will be available sometime between 2015 and infinity.

Rusty

In 'S GAUGIAN' Magazine Matt Ashba of LIONEL Trains is asked about the PE and, what he seemed to say, is a much more detailed version of the Berkshire made with the same Tooling that they are planning on in the future.

The AMERICAN FLYER Facebook Page mentioned that they have Pre-Production Samples for Review and Testing of the PE and are looking to an end of December delivery..

LIONEL at the TCA Strasburg Museum Presentation had the Sample of the AF Polar Express Set that they were displaying. AMERICAN FLYER TRAINS on Facebook has a few pictures of the Engine. 

From AF facebook page

Looks promising.  That thar sure looks like an NKP style tender.

Rusty

I may have to snag one of these for around the tree. It seems to be at least as nice if not nicer than the AM Northern. If the sounds are weak it would be a good candidate to gut the electronics and install a DCC sound decoder with a good 1225 whistle.

That is a wonderful sign. Maybe they will make a Christmas delivery. I look forward to the videos being posted on the tca website.  

I've watched them on the TCA video's over the past few years, they seem to hold everything a little ham-handed, I don't think the venue really allows for good, clear views. 

Plus, they're not used to holding anything smaller than O.

Rusty

I think that is Matt Aahba holding the tender.  He is Director of Project Planning at Lionel.  He said he would send me the Polar Express he took to York so I could write a review of it for S Gaugian.  I hope to have it in my hands in about two weeks.  I will communicate with him to see.  

If I can I will post good pictures of it here when I get it.

Jonathan, thanks for posting a better broadside shot.

Given the price point for the PE set, it looks pretty good for a "train set" locomotive.  Looks far superior to the "Berkshire Jr." the O Gauge guys have.

Rusty

Looks extremely nice. I'm glad I ordered one. Lionchief and conventional operation possible, right? Trumps any traditional AF loco.  

Nope. 

Set Lionchief loco's are LC control only.  Unless the boys at the Ranch change their minds, the Flyerchief sets will be the same.

Only the separate sale LC+ loco's can also be controlled conventionally. 

Rusty

I thought I read somewhere there was a special switch. My bad.