Unbelievable screw up on new Lionel Conrail GP-35

It will be interesting to "follow the fix" on this one. You would think there to be a State-side ink stamp available. I've seen that type of equipment at Weaver Models. The cost back to China for redo and back again seems almost prohibitive.  Then you get into the technical of the repair.   How much has to be torn apart to re-paint and stamp the sides. The ink stamp detail is usually quite good in comparison to water slide decals, especially on a surface like the side of an engine compartment.  Eventually the ultimate discussion would be about just how much are we saving by manufacturing there.   IMO   Mike CT

 

 

Noted correction a day later with schedule replacement parts.  I'm impressed 

Mike Reagan, that is excellent service. 

Mike CT 

 

I think it's cool, I personally would keep them. It's an easy way to customize the engines, almost like a blank canvas. Do some more research as to what those 2 units have looked like over there lifetime and get some decals. Then you'll have some Lionel engines that look like no one else's.

Where are the LMS decals when you need them?!? Not sure any of these ever were in the pool, but an interesting idea. Hope you get a set with the correct decorations!

I was thinking about grabbing one these this weekend, I guess not now! This stinks

Those are perfect for ex-conrail lease units, I would keep them. Or you could sell them and potentially make a profit!

I hope they get blown out.  I have a great idea...

 

Then, it should have been cataloged as such.

 

Rusty

Agreed. Based upon the catalog illustration provided by the original poster, the model as released does not meet customer expectations.

 

Bob

Lionel states in their catalogs that what you see there is not the  actual product. After seeing the photo of no. 2297 without the logo, I'm begginning to believe that Lionel made it without the logo on purpose to match the prototype.

I would definately return them to your dealer and get two replacements. Dr., you had mentioned you had spoken to Lionel and your dealer earlier. I was hoping your dealer would have these locomotives in stock and could checked them as you waited on the phone for a answer. Mike Reagan, seems to be doing everything possible he can do to help correct customers issues. Please keep up the good work Mr. Reagan.  

The good news is the logo is not painted on backwards, and the horn sound chip was not a whistle!
Lionel will fix 'em.

As far as I can tell, 2297 was never painted blue, had a cr stencil on both the nose and long hood. Being blue with "conrail" on the nose it wouldn't be too uncommon to not have the tracks logo, but it should say conrail near the rear of the hood as far as I can tell.

I fully understand that the items pictured in the Lionel catalog are merely artwork wrapped around a photo of an undecorated model and that some variation is likely between the catalog image and final product (see the thread on the SP GS-6 lettering.)

 

However, IF Lionel intended to do a spartan Conrail paint job on the GP35, the catalog illustration is a gross misrepresentation of the intended product.

 

Plus, the protoype photo of the unit shown earlier is is a "Patch Job" on a former black Penn Central unit, not of a blue Conrail repaint, so Lionel's model as it stands is even incorrect for that version.

 

Rusty

 

The one in the catalog also had fixed pilots.  I'd be returning it on that alone.  

 

They *have* to clamp down on what the catalog shows/describes and what the vendor in China is actually making. 

1984

Are these Legacy?

2297 didn't have a Con-rail logo, just CR

Here is a transitional photo -

 

But-- that 2297 with no logo was a former Penn Central loco, and it was black while it was marked like that- all the Conrail locos I have seen in Blue have the correct logos on the side.

Look at it this way, folks:

 

If you received it and it's wrong, simply return it for a refund, replacement, or exchange (for something else).

 

Even if you wanted this engine, you don't have to accept it if it's wrong.

 

In the grand scheme of things, it's a boo-boo that shouldn't have happened, but the sun will still come up tomorrow.

As mentioned earlier, not all blue units wore the full livery. In an effort to keep locomotives in service, CR sometimes painted units in partial liveries to get them back on the road. For example, please refer to the photo of the 2386 on the linked page:

 

http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/emd/gp35/gp35.html

 

Another partial blue scheme variation can be seen on the 5917 which had the herald but no lettering:

 

http://www.trainweb.org/crcorp/5917.jpg

 

I had the 5917 on my local a few times.

 

During Conrail's early days, style points didn't count. Between liveries of the predecessor roads and those of the many units CR was leasing at the time, it seemed as if some of our consists had every color of the rainbow.

 

Bob

 

 

 

 

 

Another in a loooong list of reasons while I will never preorder.

Send it back...never ever saw one without the logo...LMS ????? did not exist.....too bad looks pretty nice....FUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!  conrail john

Charlie,

I like your thinking

That doesn't apply in this case, Bob.  The catalog depiction (even though they are sometimes off a bit) shows this engine with full Conrail livery, which is what most buyers would expect.  One can always find exceptions for just about everything in the world of prototype railroading, but in this case somebody goofed.

John,

 

Here is what I was referring to when I said LMS

 

 

These were lease units that Conrail used. 

MADE IN CHINA.....there is no quality control.

I buy and sell hotwheels on ebay.. and the paint errors are worth money..collectors are will to pay the big bucks to have them.. even train collectors are will to buy that stuff too.How  do you so Lionel do mess up a paint scheam?  You hardly see that  very rare..can be worth bigbucks..

From the other angle, perhaps it was meant to be a unit with the logo but the number they painted on it was incorrect.

I'm surprised no one else who purchased this locomotive has yet to reply stating either their's is the same way or their's were painted correctly.

So, the solution is to compound the problem by leaving the Conrail roadname and can opener off? 

 

Hardly an acceptable solution.

 

Rusty

 

I wonder if this is a Lionel caboose as well?

 

Well you can always look at the bright side.....the catalgue image doesn't have the visor over the side window, but the one you brought home does.

Ditto with Jim Sutter & Allan Miller.

All,

Please be advised that we have a course of action at Lionel to deal with this mistake.

 

This plan of action covers the following SKU numbers;

6-38539 Conrail Legacy Powered GP35 #2297

6-38540 Conrail Legacy Powered GP35 #2302

6-38541 Conrail Non-Powered GP-35 #2305

 

I received word early this morning that we will have replacement cabs (with the proper deco) shipping to us via air freight on November 30, 2012. This being said, we should see them in early December. Our plan of attack is as follows;

 

If you are a customer or dealer, please contact Lionel CS at 586-949-4100, ext 2 or via email at talktous@lionel.com. You can do one of two things;

 

1.) Put your name on a list to be contacted when the shells arrive and enjoy your engines until then. We will need your name and DAYTIME phone number to contact you when these shells arrive!

 

b.) Obtain an RA number when you call and a prepaid shipping label and send your loco in immediately (as our RA #'s expire within 45 days!).

 

If you send your loco right away they will sit on our shelves until the shells arrive and nothing will be done to them. It is entirely up to you, personally.

 

Lionel will provide a prepaid shipping label to send the loco to CS in Ohio. We will replace the shell (and test the loco for 100% functionality) and return to you on our dime (or silver dollar, in this instance).

 

We apologize for the factory error and want to reassure everyone we are taking the steps necessary to minimize this glaring oversight and resolve the problem quickly and efficiently.

 

If anyone has any questions, please convey them to the Customer Service Representatives within Lionel Customer Service.

 

Mike,

 

You confirmed my suspicions that the entire run was produced incorrectly.  I am suprised that there were no posts from other forum participants who purchased this unit and had the same discovery when they opened the box.

 

I was really looking forward to recieving these units as shown in the catalog.  All three will be going back to Lionel customer service for replacement shells.

 

Thanks to Mike Reagan who as usual comes through again!

Really?

 

 

I'm keeping this puppy in the box for a collector's item... eventually.

 

They look pretty prototypical to me...

 

http://www.readingrailroad.org.../gp35_3640_rest2.jpg

 

Or you can do this...

 

http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...%5C20020908PIC29.jpg

 

That is a "patched" Penn Central unit. Early CR patches were known as CockRoaches.

Chinese humor at work. "Let's leave some of this weird lettering stuff off this whateveritis and watch those OGR Forum wackjobs go nuts!"

 

Seems to have worked pretty well.