Rivarossi Allegheny Help!

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone... For those who own one of Rivarossi's Allegheny, I feel that I'm in a dire dilemma and need your help. I bought one from e-bay... The guy advertised it as brand new and sealed in box. I received it today but I can't help but feel that I've been cheated for my money. First of all what I noticed was that the bell was just hanging lose on the plastic container protecting the locomotive... Second I noticed that the plastic that is protecting the locomotive was broken... In a way that it seems to me would explain why the bell was loose on the packing. and lastly, I needed help on this one because I don't know if this is normal or not but one of the caps that are on the boiler of the train was simply detached from the locomotive and placed on along with the couplers and other accessories... If this is out of normal and would explain that the train is NOT brand new, please let me know as soon as possible so I can process for a re-found... Also I wanted to ask those that bought a original brand new Allegheny from Rivarossi... Is the red box sealed in plastic? Because mine wasn't. I Appreciate any help on this one... Thanks for your time

[turbine71]

I hope you did not get ripped off as this is one of Rivarossi's better locomotives.

They did not do a good job with the packaging and so the front end can get damaged,
I had one with almost the same damage.the bell hanger was broken and some parts were loose,but I was told the loco was damaged before I bought it.
The boxes are not sealed in plastic like Bachmann.
If the loco runs good they I would suggest you keep it and repair the damage from shipping.

[twhite]

The bell on the Allegheny is loose when you get it. I lost mine, and luckily, I had an old Cal-Scale bell hanging around that now adorns the front of the Beast from the East. Also, the box is not sealed in plastic. Their packaging leaves a little bit to be desired, but mine ran like a dream the minute I put power to it. It's really an astonishing locomotive, big, bold and beautiful. And by the way, if your traction tires come off after a while, don't get upset, it'll still pull paint off of the wall without them. It's one HONEY of a steamer!
Tom

[Anonymous]

Hey, thanks you guys... I decided to keep it. It is a gorgeous piece of work. I placed the bell back and it is running without a problem... Whew... this is a relief =)

[Anonymous]

I too own one and for 16 months and run it without traction tires. If you have an authentic /dated bill of sale from a Walthers dealer you will need this for warranty service.

There is no authorizied Rivarossi repair service in the US. Should a defect develop during the first 12 months of ownership, Walthers will exchange with proof of purchase the loco providing they have one on hand.

Did you receive the manual and optional short cab ?

[Anonymous]

Good Morning:

I own an Allegheny and it is still in a SEALED BOX. That is the way that I purchased it.

How much did you give for it as I'm interested in selling this one. I'm courous as to what they are going for.

Thanks
Bob

[Anonymous]

I have always chased the Alleys in model form specifically the Riverossi model since it was released at retail for 600- I had a oppertunity at a train show 2 years ago to pick one up for $350- but decided that it could wait.

There was a time on eBay Alleys were selling for between 350-420 dollars after bidding wars. Maybe one day I will pick one up when BLI releases it =)

I have noticed that there is a trend on ebay from sellers stating "WRAPPED IN ORGINAL PLASTIC" or similar on the products. Let me make these two observations:

1- The orginal owner who bought at retail or when new will take it home and bring it gently out of the box and admire it, perhaps run it a few feet on the track.

2- Only the most disinterested collector will leave the entire box intact treating it as a sort of asset towards a future sale.

Feel free to correct me if I am "Misguided" but people tend to open the box and acquaint themselves with the shiny new widget. Therefore the fact that it is wrapped in plastic means nothing to me. Heck.. I suspect some manufactors DONT use plastic wrap.

Now we got that "wrapped up!" he he-... I also wanted to state that ebay can be rewarding. I recently got a walthers structure kit that was OOP. The box was beat up and worn and I emailed the seller if there were all parts present. He stated that all the "Trees" in the box appear to contain all the parts. I bid and won it thinking there WILL be a part missing that I would have to literaly build in the problem. Well, everything arrived intact. YAY!!

Back to the Alleys, some of these are now fitted with DCC and Sound depending on the materials used these can easily pu***he selling price close to 600- or more. I hope that more manufactors will create this engine and many others that are really neglected except for one time brass runs of 500 units or less that has been OOP for these last 35 years.

[twhite]

In case anyone out there is cringing at the $500+ price for the Rivarossi--my local LHS had a consignment AKANE brass Alley a couple of months ago, and it was running for about $1100.00! A real beauty in brass, and one Helluva price for a loco that was produced in the 1960's. They test ran it for me, just for kicks, and it was almost--I say ALMOST--as smooth as the Rivarossi. So let's be thankful that such a beautiful loco is (sort of) available in plastic at a (sort of ) reasonable price. Now, to mount my soapbox: If the manufacturers can do an Alley, how about a Missabe M-3 or 4 Yellowstone?
Tom

[Virginian]

Just for info, you can buy that plastic just like Bachmann, et al uses. Wrap, and a little warm iron, and presto, brand new "again".

[Anonymous]

My LHS likes to Shrink wrap his products to ensure all the peices are there for the customer. Mainly kits.