Got my Polar Express Set and...

[4kitties]

...the locomotive doesn't sequence properly. When I start it up from a power-off reset state it comes up in neutral. When I hit the direction button it goes into reverse. I've tried this numerous times, and it's repeatable. It never starts up in forward like the owner's manual states it should. Any thoughts?

I was disappointed that the ornamental whistle broke off of the boiler the first evening I had the set. My impression is that this isn't a set for children, or at least the small details won't hold up to normal play.

Other than these minor issues (and they're more a nuisance than anything) I'm happy. This is the first train set I've had the pleasure of opening since I bought my Lionel HO set in 1967, and it was fun to unwrap each piece. It looks good, and I had a blast last night hooking the 1225 up to my string of holiday freight cars and running it on my big layout. It walked away with 10 cars like they weren't there, and did it smoothly and quietly.

Incidentally, the CT-80 transformer works fine and seems well made enough. Time will tell whether it's one of the troublesome ones. I will assume the best for now.

[daan]

If it is an electronic reversing unit using DC can motors, the wires are probably mounted the wrong way. Electronic E-units only switch the + and - on the can motor, so they don't have to switch between coils or brushes. The whole way of switching directions is much easier when using a can motor, and things like this are easy to "repair".. Though it should be running the way you want it right out of the factory..

[lionelsoni]

I posted this just the other day on another topic: I have a pair of MTH Genesises that I have not yet converted to e-units. They have a jumper on the circuit board that can be moved to select the default direction after being off for a while. You may be able to find such a thing on your locomotive too.

[Bob Keller]

We've had a Polar Express for about two months and it has run perfectly. It even took a header off a table in the photo studio - the bell broke off -but the engine continued to run just fine.

Due to the mass market potential of this set, we've sort of broken with tradition and actually have a review of the set in News & Notes of our January 2005 issue. Our sister mag, Trains, has a feature about the 1225 in their January issue, too.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear your Polar Express quality was not where it should be. I keep waiting for the day that the add - on whistle breaks off my locomotive as well. Perhaps there will be a plentiful source of replacement ones at the parts houses for years to come.
The problem that I had with my set was that the whistle in the tender sounded like a dying cow. After several attemps at repair I eventually had to turn the complete whistle around 180 degrees. After that that change everything works fine.
The thing that worries me is if there are little problems popping up here and there with QC issues now, how many parents outside of the hobby buy this set (at full MSRP and beyond) for thier children and experience similar problems? And how many will then forget model trains completely?
It's nice to see a model train besides Thomas have the potential to become main stream, but if every one out of four sets has a problem, how big of a black eye will it be for Lionel?

[3railguy]

daan is probably right about the motor wires reversed. If you trace the two motor leads (wires), they should be connected with wire nuts somewhere. Carefully loosen the wirenuts, flip flop the leads, retwist leads, and reattach nuts

[Buckeye Riveter]

I guess when I go to pick mine up, I'll try it out on the dealer's test track. Thanks for the head's up.

[BR60103]

I've ordered one for my wife for Christmas.
What extra features does it have? I didn't know about the whistle. Anything I might have to get extra?

[Kooljock1]

Other than perhaps a few Dept. 56 houses, the set is complete right out of the box. You can even set the FasTrack up on the carpet, or on the Christmas Tree skirt, and it will be fine.

Remember the CW-80 transformer gives you accesspry voltage posts, so give her something to hook up!

Jon [8D]

[Anonymous]

i think the manufacturer(s) should supply an extra (spare) bell or whistle!![:)]

why not???

i have only one modern train purchase and it's a k-line switcher. in the box were three (3) bells {i am sure it was a packing mistake} but that bell will probably NEVER break because i have the spares. (see murphy's law)

4 kitties, sorry about your luck with the new train.
i cant wait to take my kids to see the movie this winter.
the oldest is only 4yrs but i think she's probably ready for the big screen [;)][:)]

[Anonymous]

Hey Ya'll

I am sorry that that has happened. Yesterday, Tom Hanks and Robert Zemikas were on Opra talking about the movie "The Polar Express". Opra was invited to the premeire and she absolutley loved it. They held up the Polar Express set from Lionel and showed it to the crowd. I was watching it with my Grandma, who was very impressed by the look of the Lionel set. Belive it or not, She called Lionel afetr the show and ordered a set for herself to go around her Christmas tree.

This exited me, not only because of the set, but she would have her own train to run around her tree. The only other time she had a train aropund her tree was when I lent her my battery operated Thomas the Tank enigne with Annie and Clarabel to go around her treewhen I was 5.

My parets have placed an order for a set (don't tell them I know) for me as a christmas present. I heared them on the phone last night with Lionel. They are supposed to ship it to my local Lionel store and they will hold it until Christams Eve. I told my parents thats what I wanted in epember and told them they better order it beacuse they were going fast. They knew it too. They asked me "If you did get a train for chrstmas, would you want it in the box or running aroudnd the tree christmas morning. I chose the tree of course.

Nick

P:S: Opra said you should go ahead and order your tickets in advance because people would be lined up to see it, and when they are sold out, you can walst (spelling) right in in front of every body trying t get a ticket and waiting to see the movie. I've already got mine!!

[4kitties]

I would agree with the diagnosis of reversed motor leads if the engine started off in reverse from a power-off reset. But it starts in neutral and then goes into reverse. So I will contact Lionel and find out whether they think I have a problem that the warranty should cover. Actually I wouldn't mind power-up in neutral and then sequence to forward, like MTH does.

Thanks for everyone' replies! [:)]

[Buckeye Riveter]

It's on the shelves at your grocery store now. [:)]


Would this be considered the Official "Training" Food for up and coming engineers? [:D]

[Algonquin]

I picked up my Polar Express Set Saturday. When I unpacked it the whistle was intact but it looked very small. We ran it for about a half-hour on our layout. When I shut it down, I noticed that the whistle was gone. It had broken off right at the connection to the boiler. I am not sure how it came off. Other than that, the train set worked very nicely and my kids and I enjoy it. The air whistle is a standard classic from previous years. All the cars have lights and the silouettes in the windows reflect the story. The engine ran smooth with its can motor and electronic reverse unit. The locomotive also contains a smoke unit.

My Dealer indicated that all the production of these units by Lionel have been sold out to dealers.He is selling them fast and expects to be sold out well before Christmas. I would imagine that sales for these sets will pick-up following the release of the movie next week.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[cheapclassics]

have to agree about the whistle. It is gone on mine as well. Other than that, this is a wonderful set. The passenger cars have dual pickups for flicker-free lighting, and the Berkshire navigates the Fastrack switch with out a problem. The CW-80 is smooth, and the individual boxes for the cars and engine are nice as well. Just be careful picking up the set box as the dealer told me it weighs 32 pounds. This is one nice set.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Algonquin]

Lionel added a sleigh bell to the set. That was a nice surprise as it was not identified in the catalog as included in the set. I am curious, did anyone get a sleigh bell that was broken, i. e., that makes no sound. Mine sounds great. A good sign for this coming Christmas?

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[Anonymous]

For those who found it I say what great luck and count your blessings! :)
In the last week I've tried to help a couple of friends, who've seen the raolirs and wanted to get oen for the family tree, find a set. Well... Nada. Zilch zip.
All that seems to be available are the few sets on eBay and one or two dealers (like Charles RO) who're offering them at sky high, well over MSRP prices.
Prices that have both friends not even remotely interested now (for a closet queen - meaning it comes out once a year at Christmas time) and they say February , when more is supposely arriving from overseas, will be too late.
IMO Lionel blew thier chance at some really good sales numbers by not having enough on hand to meet the demand.

All IMO of course...

[4kitties]

Algonquin, I can hear my set's sleigh bell just fine, and I hope I always will be able to. Somehow I think model railroaders in general and especially toy train fans are much more likely to be able to hear it all their lives.[:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Notch 8

Sorry to hear your Polar Express quality was not where it should be. I keep waiting for the day that the add - on whistle breaks off my locomotive as well. Perhaps there will be a plentiful source of replacement ones at the parts houses for years to come.
The problem that I had with my set was that the whistle in the tender sounded like a dying cow. After several attemps at repair I eventually had to turn the complete whistle around 180 degrees. After that that change everything works fine.
The thing that worries me is if there are little problems popping up here and there with QC issues now, how many parents outside of the hobby buy this set (at full MSRP and beyond) for thier children and experience similar problems? And how many will then forget model trains completely?
It's nice to see a model train besides Thomas have the potential to become main stream, but if every one out of four sets has a problem, how big of a black eye will it be for Lionel?

[brianel027]

I think this is interesting, but for the first time that I've ever noticed, there is a Lionel Train Set featured on the home page screen as a best selling toy... of course it is the Polar Express.

Now granted, I stay away from e-bay these days, not having money to spend. But I did notice this recently and thought this was great for Lionel. Just seeing a Lionel Train Set listed on the home page of e-bay as a best seller is wonderful news in my opinion... it's about time.

Kids are not as disinterested in trains as some think they are. It's just the parents today don't see trains for sale the way you once did. I really hope Lionel has enough of these sets to meet demand... it'd be terrible if they lost this wonderful opportunity.

[Anonymous]

I need some opinions here....I am a marklin train hobbiest and have a HO scale set up. My son is turning 10 next month and wants to start the hobby for himself. He originally asked us for the Marklin Hogwarts Express Digital train set for his birthday to get started. Now that Lionel has offered an O scale Polar Express set up he has changed his mind and is asking for that one if we can find it. After reading the posts here I am not sure if this train would be the best for him to start off with if he is going to run into problems with the operation and become disinterested in the hobby. For those of you who have this set, if a 10 yr old boy was to get it and try to set it up himself with some guidance from me is it going to hold up and will he get years of enjoyment and be able to add to the set in years to come. I received my first marklin set back in the 70's and it still is going strong so I personally feel the marklin quality is great, but I want my son to get the set he really wants. He may change his mind again if he know there are problems with this train.

[Algonquin]

My son is 10 years old and he loves playing with our new Polar Express Set. The only problem with the set is the ornamental whistle that comes with the locomotive. It is small and fragile. Mine broke off the first day. The set still looks good and works fine. Only on close inspection can you even notice the whistle is gone.

I talked to Lionel this week and they will be shipping me a new whistle soon (It is currently backordered).

The set has nice track and a great transformer. The articulated people can be attached to the locomotive or to the tops of the cars. These figures add nice additional play value for a passenger set. The coloring of the engine and cars match well the colors in the book. With the movie coming out tomorrow, these sets will probably disapear fast.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[railfanespee4449]

If you don't mind the minor things breaking off, it should be nice. As for the availability issue, i bet there will be a drop in demand after the movie hasd been out for a while, so that is the time to buy. Dealers will restock for christmas if lionel produces more of them.
P.S.[#welcome]

[Anonymous]

Looking at previews of the movie, doesn't the train fly through the air and go into water? I hope the kids don't try to copy the antics of the train with their own set.

[lionelsoni]

I just read a couple of very unfavorable reviews of the movie. The one on the CNN website (http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/10/review.polar.express/index.html) is titled, "'Polar Express' a creepy ride/Technology brilliant, but where's the heart and soul?"

[railfanespee4449]

I just want the set because you get a full-fledged steam passenger set, a nice transformer, ect

[cnw1995]

Well, movie reviews are certainly subjective - Roger Ebert positively glowed with enthusiasm about PE in this morning's Sun Times. I'll read the Trib tonight. And can't wait to see it. It would be fun as others noted to experiment with some of the movies effects - 'hiding' the track in snow - some kind of crazy helix for its '179 degree grade'

[Algonquin]

I hope to see the movie this weekend. As for the book, the train travels through a dark forest with wolves and over a mountain on the way to the North Pole in addition to running down the middle of your street. No water scences. I would imagine the writers had to add a lot to make a full lenght movie out of such a short book. It will be interseting to see where they added on. My Polar Express set came with four charactors, two of which I recognize from the book (the boy and conductor). I will have to wait for the movie to identify the other two charactors.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[Buckeye Riveter]

Roger gives the movie four stars.
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041109/REVIEWS/41006005

What a great American!!!

[dougdagrump]

My wife just dropped a few hints yesterday that she would like this set for our tree layout this year. Unfortunately if you want one for this Christmas it will cost you a bundle. I can't believe the prices they are going for on E-Bay. I haven't found any dealers that have any in stock. C'est la vie. [censored] Hope the couch isn't to lumpy.[(-D]