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I will be ordering the prototype version, although I have the complete original set, that actually works well.

If they make it, that is, I know that Lionel stated they would never make it again as part of there sales pitch for the original model.

Although, this model is somewhat different, in that it does not have automatic opening doors, but rather manual doors and passive tilt instead of automatic.  Maybe that's enough of a difference for Lionel to say its not the same.

@Fredstrains posted:

The ONLY indication I’ve seen about the ACELA possibly being made is the front cover of the NEW Catalog shown on Mr Muffins website!!

There are videos if you look of folks flipping through the pages.  Also some pics that were removed were posted in the catalog thread that been going.  Yep the cat is out of the bag big time.  The dealers are handing out catalogs and people are posting all about it so there is really no sense in Lionel waiting but they will.

Lately Lionel has been unable to keep it under wraps until release day.  Seems the last 5 or 6 catalogs have been all over the internet by the time it was released.

Last edited by MartyE
@vash44 posted:

I'm very interested in the MR Acela as well as the Polar Express one. The SWFB scheme is very nice as well!

I'm a big Polar guy, even bought the Tri-Polar (Polar Bi-Polar) to run the PE freight, BUT they lost me on the Acela.  That's OK though I think folks will buy it.  They just need to keep some more freight cars coming.  I think the Scale coaches though have reached their limit.

@MartyE posted:

I'm a big Polar guy, even bought the Tri-Polar (Polar Bi-Polar) to run the PE freight, BUT they lost me on the Acela.  That's OK though I think folks will buy it.  They just need to keep some more freight cars coming.  I think the Scale coaches though have reached their limit.

I would like to see more coaches (for selfish reasons). I like crazy long trains. I do agree 110% that they do need to keep pumping out freight cars.

@vash44 posted:

I would like to see more coaches (for selfish reasons). I like crazy long trains. I do agree 110% that they do need to keep pumping out freight cars.

I think I'm at 8 coaches and I'm waiting on the Hobo Car.  In the new catalog are 2 sleepers.  I may get one but that's about it.  With that I'll be pulling 10 cars.  Still would like another run of the N5 Caboose.  Waiting on the Bay Window.

Currently I have...

  • Baggage
  • Combo
  • Abandoned Toys
  • Dinner
  • Sound Dinner (won't even call it the Hot Chocolate car)
  • 15th Anniversary Coach
  • Coach
  • Observation
  • RPO (wrong color hopefully corrected soon)
Last edited by MartyE
@MichRR714 posted:

I'm afraid a Milwaukee Road Acela isn't exciting to me as a Milwaukee Road modeler.  The fantasy schemes have taken control of the Lionel catalog and I think it's a bit much.

You hit it on the head.  My thought is that they found the Verandah and Acela tooling and decided to go with the extra schemes.  As I mentioned earlier, what will be manufactured with so many choices.  By how the catalog is being decribed, it almost is a statement that we are here, MTH is on its way.  I look forward to receiving my copy.

@NYC 428 posted:


Although, this model is somewhat different, in that it does not have automatic opening doors, but rather manual doors and passive tilt instead of automatic.  Maybe that's enough of a difference for Lionel to say its not the same.

Different? Yes, I think so, but as in not nearly as ambitious. That is probably a sign of the times.

As I remember it, the Acela Lionel cataloged a few years back, and then cancelled, had automatic doors, which were said at the time to be based on Lionel's new subway door technology, including wired connections rather than IR. What it did not have was any tilt feature.

Well, the tilt seems to be back but as a "passive" which I take to mean only works when you trigger it. That sounds a lot like my original issue Acela, where the tilt has only ever worked in "demo" mode when the train is not moving - or at least I detect no tilt at all when the set is running on my room-sized oval.

You hit it on the head.  My thought is that they found the Verandah and Acela tooling and decided to go with the extra schemes.  As I mentioned earlier, what will be manufactured with so many choices.  By how the catalog is being decribed, it almost is a statement that we are here, MTH is on its way.  I look forward to receiving my copy.

I actually think this recent Tsunami of fantasy paint schemes is the only way Lionel can meet the minimum order level to start production.

Rusty

My thought is that they found the Verandah and Acela tooling and decided to go with the extra schemes.  

I think that they have always had the Acela tooling and have been looking for an opportunity to "recycle" it in what is now Lionel's time-honored way. Veranda might be different, as I agitated with Lionel a few years back to reissue it in die cast, got nowhere, but I and others renewed efforts last year, which Lionel seems to have listened to. The Veranda was Korean-built, not Chinese, and that might have made the tooling more accessible.

I wonder where it will be built this time? I have not been totally happy with the Vietnamese products they've put out lately (small parts falling off, especially on the UP Excursion cars). But these have not included any engines.

Last edited by Hancock52

I like the Milwaukee Road Acela!   For decades the MR was electrified in the West and through the Cascade mountains, so its not a huge stretch of imagination (assuming that had the MR kept their electrified line and the railroad go bankrupt)  to envision this Olympian Hiawatha Acela zipping through the Cascades Mountains!  Then, one could also assume that since the track was not electrified all the way to Seattle and Tacoma, you would then need to add in some diesel power to actually drag or push the train into the train stations in Seattle and Tacoma, in order to have  a complete prototypical operating session.  Unfortunately, I don't have 72 inch curves and won't be able to buy this set, but if it was rated for 54 inches, I think the paint scheme is really cool and would enjoy having it on my layout.   

I own the original set. Wondering why there are no opening passenger doors on the new models with the same tooling?
Are you telling me they had 15 years and couldn’t figure out a better way to make them function correctly or should say reliably??

You’ll know what the door mechanisms are like, as in intricate, from your set. I have no idea what the catalog description really means by manually opened doors on this version (are they sprung somehow?) but it’s a step down from the original that probably relates to manufacturing cost.

I like the Milwaukee Road scheme but this version seems overpriced.

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