Who needs reindeer when you have Jack the German Shepherd?!
Don't forget we also have a Union Pacific lighted boxcar.
Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy
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Did Menards make this box car without the blinking light?
On the Christmas car, if they'd pictured Rudolph the red nosed reindeer with the other reindeer behind him rather than a dog, it would have been a cool car. But a dog? What? They really missed an opportunity with this.
@breezinup posted:On the Christmas car, if they'd pictured Rudolph the red nosed reindeer with the other reindeer behind him rather than a dog, it would have been a cool car. But a dog? What? They really missed an opportunity with this.
No they didn't.
It fits right in with all the other fun stuff they do. Jack the German Shepard has been a part of their buildings and other train items from the start.
I don't need another Christmas car with Rudolph, etc..
I have a question for Mark or anyone who as already purchased this box car. Are the graphics and blinking LED on both sides of the box car? Lionel has cheaped out on some of their box cars with LED's and only put them on one side.
@EscapeRocks posted:I don't need another Christmas car with Rudolph.....
Let me know where you got your Rudoph boxcar with the red lighted nose. I'd like to get one.
@VinceL posted:I have a question for Mark or anyone who as already purchased this box car. Are the graphics and blinking LED on both sides of the box car? Lionel has cheaped out on some of their box cars with LED's and only put them on one side.
Hi Vince,
Yes, they are. The graphics and lights are duplicated on both sides (same position on both sides).
Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy
@Menards posted:Hi Vince,
Yes, they are. The graphics and lights are duplicated on both sides (same position on both sides).
Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy
Thanks, Mark
Well, I ordered mine. When it arrives I'll test the flashers to be sure they work, then turn it over to my wife so she can stash it and give it to me as one of my Christmas gifts.
As a german shepherd owner and lover - I am in for 1!
@ChrisFromCle posted:As a german shepherd owner and lover - I am in for 1!
That's the only way this car makes sense. As many cats as you see sitting around in people's layout pictures, it would make more sense to have a cat on the boxcar. 
Can't recall seeing any pictures of German Shepherds walking around on layouts. 
@breezinup posted:That's the only way this car makes sense. As many cats as you see sitting around in people's layout pictures, it would make more sense to have a cat on the boxcar.
They are typically under layout or next to the owners feet.
@ChrisFromCle posted:They are typically under layout or next to the owners feet.
Not the ones I've seen. They're always walking around on top of the layout. That's what's funny about them. Anyway, something like this would have been better.
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The Crossing Lights Operation Lifesaver box car has an appealing price.
Andrew
Its Menards. Its Jack the German Shepard. You can't have one without the other, so I'm not surprised at all. Besides, Lionel and MTH did more than a few promos on their Christmas cars.
The UP boxcar is fun.
I wouldn't buy a reindeer car, as i dislike the concept of Santa, and the whole reindeer thing is way overdone. I would consider buying this. It's just plain fun.
Also, dogs>cats.
Wow quite a few Scrooges here already and it's only August. As Ron said, it's Menards and you can't have a Menards Christmas without Jack. I wouldn't expect anything less from them on what I believe is their first Christmas car. My only complaint is Jack needs some antlers or a Santa Hat. LOL!
@jim sutter posted:Did Menards make this box car without the blinking light?
let's hope the have an ON/OFF switch
When my wife saw the Menards Christmas car she said we are getting that one. I like it too, it reminds me of a dog we had years ago that would sit next to the Christmas tree and watch the train go round and round. Most of our dogs have always had some interest in the Christmas tree trains including one that would grab the Railsounds Christmas caboose and carry it around in her mouth, it must of had something to do with Santa talking and kids singing.
Looks really great in person
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@RadioRon posted:Yes! I anticipated getting this car until I saw it & learned it's essentially a promo for their business.
I will assume you then pass on boxcars from Macy's, Boscov's, LCCA, ToysRUs, Dept56, etc.. which all have the names of their businesses prominently displayed.
Out of all the holiday (Thanksgiving or Christmas) themed cars I've seen a business put out, this is about the only one where the business doesn't have its name plastered all over it.
In what way is this an advertisement for their business?
It's directed to those of us who have fun with the Menard's items.
@RadioRon posted:Yes! I anticipated getting this car until I saw it & learned it's essentially a promo for their business.
Ron,
Isn't the railroad name "Lionel Lines", as seen on the side of some locomotives and rolling stock, also a such a promo?
I assume that you neither have nor want any of these in your collection either?
Mike
Counter was 1869 when ordered yesterday morning. 1809 now.
That red nose makes me think Jack got an early start on the Egg Nog
I like it! My grandkids love looking for Jack on all my Menards buildings and controllers!
Instead of "Where's Waldo?" at our house, visiting kids play "Where's Jack?" They have fun doing that and it is great when they yell out, "Found another one!" Not so great when they yell "Grampa! You got another building for Jack!" and Gramma is in the room giving me "The Look".
@EscapeRocks posted:I will assume you pass on boxcars from Macy's, Boscov's, LCCA, ToysRUs, Dept56, etc.. which all have the names of their businesses prominently displayed. Out of all the holiday (Thanksgiving or Christmas) themed cars I've seen a business put out, this is about the only one where the business doesn't have its name plastered all over it. In what way is this an advertisement for their business? It's directed to those of us who have fun with the Menard's items.
1) Macy's boxcars are over with; 2) I never knew any Boscovs' releases to be rolling stock with Boscovs' name on it... those are all long in the past anyway; 3) LCCA isn't a "business," per se; 4) ToysRus is out of business & hadn't released any Lionel product for at least its last 10 years. 5) "In what way is this an advertisement for their business,?" you ask. Well, gee, the highlight of the car is Menards' corporate mascot, a dog. Its an advertisement that way. 6) And I have plenty of fun with Menards train stuff. LOL. 
@breezinup posted:Let me know where you got your Rudoph boxcar with the red lighted nose. I'd like to get one.
K-Line made one in the early aughts with a blinking red nose and they show up on the auction site occasionally. However, for the life of me I can't find a photo of it online right now. Happy to dig mine out tomorrow and take a pic if you'd like.
Toys R Us is not out of business:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toys_%22R%22_Us
and I believe there are physical stores in Canada, probably kept the company going.
Questions for Menards.
1. How easy is it to change the light bulbs?
2. What's the the cost of extra light bulbs?
3. How long should the light bulbs last?
4. I love this car.
@redrockbill posted:K-Line made one in the early aughts with a blinking red nose and they show up on the auction site occasionally. However, for the life of me I can't find a photo of it online right now. Happy to dig mine out tomorrow and take a pic if you'd like.
Thanks for the information. I imagine it's the K641-7412. Looked it up - a Rudolph boxcar from 2002. Very nice.
@breezinup posted:Thanks for the information. I imagine it's the K641-7412. Looked it up - a Rudolph boxcar from 2002. Very nice.
That's the one. If you do want one, keep your eye on the bay, as they do show up occasionally and can often be had at a reasonable price. FWIW, it seems I'm always assembling Christmas trains, watch the bay regularly, and there have been some good deals on Christmas items lately…
@jim sutter posted:Questions for Menards.
1. How easy is it to change the light bulbs?
2. What's the the cost of extra light bulbs?
3. How long should the light bulbs last?
4. I love this car.
The board will probably tap out before the LEDs.
Brendan
@illinoiscentral posted:Toys R Us is not out of business: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toys_%22R%22_Us
https://www.toysrus.com/ and I believe there are physical stores in Canada, probably kept the company going.
Toys R Us is out of business in the USA for all intents & purposes. He had been referring to the old brick & morter USA stores that once sold Lionel two decades or more ago.
Did you even read the Wikipedia page?
Take a look at this .... Toys R Us in Macys
He did say for all intents and purposed. The brick and mortar stores are closed in the US. Hiding in a corner of a Macy's doesn't count.
@PRRick posted:He did say for all intents and purposed. The brick and mortar stores are closed in the US. Hiding in a corner of a Macy's doesn't count.
Unfortunately it's definitely not "for all intents and purposes".
Is it still a retailer, a store or a chain of stores? Yes.
Can you still buy things from this retailer, store, or chain? Yes, in the U.S. in person at Macy's or online; in Canada also by walking in the door.
BTW -- If you're excluding online retailing as not being real "for all intents and purposes" then you have to remove Amazon, eBay, and many others.
And please don't exclude brick-and-mortar in Canada either. It already gets enough grief in the eyes of too many US citizens who consider the country to be only a "junior member" of North America. The real stores are there.
Macy's counts, online sales count, real stores in Canada count, and they all count "for all intents and purposes".
Mike
Looks nicely done. Not my thing so won’t be purchasing. Would have considered a more traditional Christmas boxcar.
@BRIAN WHITE posted:Would have considered a more traditional Christmas boxcar.
I agree with wanting a traditional- themed boxcar. Maybe next year.
Mine is shipping out today, will let everyone know what it looks like in person when it gets here.
