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Help with new Lionel Rio Grande General

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  • Member since
    August 2009
  • 116 posts
Posted by POTRZBE on Monday, April 9, 2012 8:29 AM

This is truly disheartening to read, gents.  While my general has about 2 hours on the track with no mishaps, I should point out it was missing the chains for the snowplow.  (I took the plow off since I did not want it anyway).  Also, one of the 2 passenger cars had a loose wire which I re soldered to stop the flickering.  I wonder if the final inspection process at the factory is less rigorous for the RTR sets than the big ticket locos.

I buy from all manufacturers but 80% of what I have is LIONEL.  Since 1948.  The only way these folks will get the message is to send the warranteed product back until they make it right.  None of this stuff is cheap and it should work as expected right out of the box.

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • 993 posts
Posted by gunrunnerjohn on Monday, April 9, 2012 8:53 AM

POTRZBE
I wonder if the final inspection process at the factory is less rigorous for the RTR sets than the big ticket locos.

Not that I have seen.  My Legacy T-1 had to go back for multiple issues.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 1,340 posts
Posted by Seayakbill on Monday, April 9, 2012 9:41 AM

Reading various issues with Lionel's Legacy locomotives on the other forum I would say that Lionel's big buck locos have as many issues as their RTR set locos.

It seems like the issues escalated when they transfered production from the Sandi Kan / Kander Industries manufacturing facilities.

Bill T.

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • 8,050 posts
Posted by fifedog on Saturday, April 21, 2012 12:35 PM

Perhaps the most telling sign with this set...

At YORK yesterday,  I must have seen over twenty Rio Grande General set break-ups, and only spotted one actual 4-4-0 for sale.  The good news, I easily purchased the bobbing horse car for $25. 

LIONEL did have the set running on one of its displays.  Still looked nice.  Sigh

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