Lionel Announcemt

[alexweiihman]

Found this on http://www.lionel.com/

 

Jerry Calabrese comments on diesel locomotive gap between trucks and body! 05/21/2007

It's well known that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but I never knew that there was a rail line that worked that way, too.  About a year ago, filled with good intentions, Lionel redesigned its diesel trucks.  The new configuration changed from dual drive to single, increased pulling power, and implemented twist and lock technology to make service and replacement much easier. While we're on the subject of platitudes, suffice to say that no good deed goes unpunished.  Along with the very positive changes our redesign brought, it also created a gap between the trucks and the engines.  I'm told that the maximum increase was only one sixteenth of an inch, but it was enough to make some of our engines look like they were wearing their pants a notch too high.  In an effort to have our cake and eat it too, we've been quietly working to fix the problem, and keep the positive benefits of the redesign.  I'm happy to tell you that all of our new Legacy diesel engines, due out later this year, including the UP Heritage series, will have modified, lower trucks, but will also retain the benefits of increased pulling power, back drive able gears for smoother operation at slow speeds and improved lash-up performance, as well as the twist and lock technology.  At least for now, we've also gone back to dual drive.  Thanks to those of you who helped point out the problem.

[Bob Keller]

I didn't know pants could be notched too high.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Mr. Calabrese's staff may have the problem of telling him when the emperor is not wearing any clothes.

[nblum]

" I didn't know pants could be notched too high."

The word "belt" is assumed in JC's statement. :)

Let's see who the first person is who can find some flaw in Jerry's announcement.  Will it be here or on the other forum?  Will it be blatantly critical or damning with faint praise? Or will it be, as the lawyers say, a redirect?  Any bets?

 

[Kooljock1]

C'mon Neil...we all KNOW that "lash-up" isn't a real railroad-y term!!! This just PROOVES that Jerry Calabrese owns a suit!

Although I've never actually seen him wear it...

Jon


By the way, back in the L-T-I era I complained about the same thing with the CAN-motored ALCo FA's, and was told I was imagining things. Good to see Jerry...a man supposedly not a train guy...gets it!

[Jumijo]

Kudos to Lionel, and to Jerry for addressing the issue frankly and publicly.

And my pants aren't too high. They are capris!

Jim 

[laz 57]

We called those pants "HIGH WATERS", when notched too high.

laz57

[Jumijo]

Everyone here wears their pants too high. And everyone who wears glasses has a bandaid stuck between the lenses. I will say though that their pocket protectors are not as conspicuous as they used to be.

Jim