Questions about mysterious Polar Express set?

[Michael6268]

Just bought a Polar Express RTR set #30218.

Seems to be a couple mysteries about it I'm hoping somebody can clear up. The first thing we noticed was when train is moving, the announcement is supposed to say "tickets please".  This set said "I'm the king of the North Pole" and "the thing about trains"... The second thing is when the train is running between the noise of the wheels on the track and the chuffing, you can't even make out the announcements. I've watched several videos on YouTube and all seem to be very loud and clear for the most part. Called Lionel and they said it might be a weak or abnormal sound board. That a few might have gone out with abnormal sound boards. That's the reason for the different announcements and possibly the sound quality. The weird thing about that is the directions that came with it do indeed state that its saying the right announcements. Yet every other offering in catalogs and descriptions says its supposed to say "tickets please" when moving. Also they thought it might have been from the 10th anniversary set. But that set also has a different set of announcements. Anyone else have this issue, and any reasoning behind the discrepancies? Also anyone with this set. Can you advise if you are announcements are audible when running the train at a moderate speed? Any idea where this set came from/was offered, and what it is? It is neither what is described in the basic set nor the anniversary set. I am more concerned about the quality of the sound and if it's normal, as opposed to the actual announcement. Although I am quite curious as to where this announcement set came from.

[Michael6268]

Come on... No one owns a polar express set and can comment on the sound quality/level and content of announcements??

[ftauss]

I own a convential Polar Express, the upgraded (Railsounds) tender, a built it myself with parts ordered from Lionel coach with announcements and a Lionchief engine and tender. On none of these do I hear what you are describing.

If Lionel is admitting that some bad ones got out I would badger them for a replacement tender or for them to fix it el freebo. Failing that you can pay someone to replace the board (if you aren't comfortable with that sort of thing) or buy the Railsounds tender or announcement coach which should be on eBay regularly.

Let us know what you decide.

Frank

[stebbycentral]

Michael6268

Come on... No one owns a polar express set and can comment on the sound quality/level and content of announcements??

 

The only Polar Express sets that I am familiar with are the Lionel/Flyer S-scale versions, and they have gotten a lot of negative comments on the Flyer Facebook pages for primarily two reasons; poor smoke output and inaudible announcements.  While it's not necessarily the case, there is no reason why Lionel should not be using the same electronics components for the two different scales.  So yes, there are other people in the same predicament as you are.  I know one person who had returned her locomotive to the repair depot 3 times before it was running to her satisfaction.