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It was hinted on the Ryan and Dave show that there would be a Big Boy in the new catalog coming out in about a month.  I would assume it would be scale as the Lionmaster Big Boy is already cataloged.

From what I understand, other than the 4014, MTH has these in stock and has re-cataloged them in their latest catalog.  

If Lionel comes out with these will they be from the current version with an oil tender?  If so will Lionel offer an oil tender for existing VL and other Big Boy owners?  Realizing that the engine would not be 100% accurate for this it would be a nice way of upgrading without another $1900 vendor war purchase.

I have to admit I'm a bit on the fence on whether this is a good move.  One side says strike while the iron is hot with the current hype, the other half says there are so many other items that haven't been done in a long time.  

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Well I certainly can see why they would produce one.  With the current schedule for this year and years to come it will remain a popular steam engine.  There is a demand so my opinion is strictly from someone that already has one.  I've seen the VL models on Ebay going for well over the MSRP so there's that.  

Again if they offer it as it is today I can see a bigger demand.  A separate sale oil tender though would be a smart move for existing owners.  

I'm sure Lionel marketing has a much better insight to whether this will sell or not than I do.  I agree though, I'm not sure multiple road numbers are needed but then again you have to get the money out of the tooling.

Either way I hope they do sell a good many of them.  It's always good for the hobby.

I sure don't need one.   At the April York last year (or maybe the October prior to that) Mr Muffin had 2 of the Vision Line Big Boys for sale at a steal of a price.   I'm sure with the hype there may be some folks who now are able to afford/fit one on the layout/or joined a club but I'd be shocked if the run was a large number of units.  This forum is only a fraction of the O-Gauge hobby - perhaps Lionel's market research indicates another run will sell.

-Greg

I went with the MTH Rail-King, I did the pre-order with my LHS and I picked it up on March 26, 2019. I published a ten minute YT video that shows clips of the real Big Boy 4014, UP Rail-King 4014, how to program the hand held remote and how to program MTH DCS Wi-Fi. Along with the locomotive running on the layout.

Below is the video….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi4-8uX-B84

Gary

J Daddy posted:

Is there such a thing as lionel market research?  If so, why not make the PRR M1b again.  

Did Lionel make an M1b? I only know of the M1a they ran a few years back(Coal Hauler set and one or two other engines) and one TMCC that I think was special LCCA run?

As far as market research, a lot of it is guessing(if not most of it) and I would say that more of their guessing have been great hits where as others have been so so. However, some of their good ideas have had terrible releases with bugs(or big issues). The Mogul was probably the single most whacked release that there was with its big inconsistent issues.

Regardless of whether or not engines come with or without bugs, someone will buy one and that is what they count on. I don't ever plan on getting any big boy as I don't really find it tickling my fancy like the Y6 or the Challenger, but I know that other people prefer that over them. Someone(or more) will definitely buy a big boy or two, because it is probably replacing something else(whether it is TMCC or a smaller engine).

If I ever do somehow manage to be buying a big boy, it would probably be because someone managed to talk me into it(probably never happen), lol.

In my opinion I hope and pray that Lionel does not reissue a scale big boy. Yes it would be neat to see what they come up with but it would sure hurt those who have a hard to find vl big boy. Also, in the photo from the show, the big boy in it might be the lion master version instead of a scale one. In the end, it makes me on the fence as well to see what the next catalog will hold. Just putting it out there, anybody know when the next catalog will be out?

Trainmaster04 posted:

In my opinion I hope and pray that Lionel does not reissue a scale big boy. Yes it would be neat to see what they come up with but it would sure hurt those who have a hard to find vl big boy. Also, in the photo from the show, the big boy in it might be the lion master version instead of a scale one. In the end, it makes me on the fence as well to see what the next catalog will hold. Just putting it out there, anybody know when the next catalog will be out?

couldn't disagree with you more, respectfully.

model trains have, and will always be, reissued.  if you're in this hobby to make money, you're in it for the wrong reasons.

the notion that you can't make more VL Big Boys so that you don't hurt the feelings of those who have them is rather absurd....and almost elitist.  Why should no future customers be able to buy a VL Big Boy?

Was Big Orange worried about those who plunked down good coin on the 2008 JLC Big Boy when they introduced the VL Big Boy?  Absolutely not.  Nor should they have been.

VL Challengers, round two, are due out in a few weeks.  I didn't get one the first time around....but I am now.

Last edited by Berkshire President

Good. I hope they sell tons of them. Finally the ridiculous price gouging will be over with and those that want them can get them. This is coming from someone who owns a few already. If you bought your VL big boy and are upset the price might fall out, sell it now before the catalog is released. 

Of course I would also be in for an oil fired "excursion" 4014

Last edited by Surefire
Berkshire President posted:
Trainmaster04 posted:

In my opinion I hope and pray that Lionel does not reissue a scale big boy. Yes it would be neat to see what they come up with but it would sure hurt those who have a hard to find vl big boy. Also, in the photo from the show, the big boy in it might be the lion master version instead of a scale one. In the end, it makes me on the fence as well to see what the next catalog will hold. Just putting it out there, anybody know when the next catalog will be out?

couldn't disagree with you more, respectfully.

model trains have, and will always be, reissued.  if you're in this hobby to make money, you're in it for the wrong reasons.

the notion that you can't make more VL Big Boys so that you don't hurt the feelings of those who have them is rather absurd....and almost elitist.  Why should no future customers be able to buy a VL Big Boy?

Was Big Orange worried about those who plunked down good coin on the 2008 JLC Big Boy when they introduced the VL Big Boy?  Absolutely not.  Nor should they have been.

VL Challengers, round two, are due out in a few weeks.  I didn't get one the first time around....but I am now.

I agree that all should have a chance to get a vision line locomotive or even a Lionel train at all. I also agree that those who are trying to sell a big boy for a high price should not do that but instead should sell them for the correct price. No I am not the person that buys lot of trains and then sells them for a higher price. I guess why I made that comment was because I was a little bit shocked and upset because as a collector this reissue could hurt. Finally, I do understand what it feels like to have a nice vl big boy but not be able to get one when Lionel were selling them a few years ago. 

Yes lionel did make a m1b. Here is a link to a vid: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wSlABOYazsg 

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Supposedly, Lionel did make a PRR M1b two years after the "blowout on the M1a and I believe it only came in a premium set.

If Lionel wants a popular PRR steam locomotive, they need to invest in the PRR T1! There hasn't been one since 2000 and MTH is stuck on making the two streamlined demonstrator units ONLY.

I agree, the T1 would be a good start. This would also be a good idea because there is that T1 trust group that want to rebuild one. Hopefully there is some great stuff coming in the new catalog that we can all enjoy.

I watched the Ryan & Dave show yesterday(I think it was put up Thursday) and they were talking about the American 4-4-0's mainly. As said above they popped out the big boy to compare and Ryan hinted about it. I would say it is a solid yes that we all will see scale big boys. Will they be VL's, probably a yes as well. Will they be new models as far as the 4014 oil fired, yes. I would think that perhaps they will break the mold so to speak, maybe we won't see the depleting coal load on any that would be coal fired, but what other features would they add?

What possibly could they do for the big boy that isn't in there? What numbers could they run(other than 4014 in both oil & coal)? Is it also possible that there could be new voice recordings? I'd say most likely?

Anyone have any other speculations?

I find the depleting coal feature hokey and not worth the money.  I'd rather the feature be skipped and the price dropped.  On oil tenders, it's obviously not applicable.

I'd like to see a 4005 since I've been in the cab in Denver.

Feature wise, I'd like to see the dynamo/steam generator.....emitting steam.

I'd even trade that for whistle steam b/c, IMHO, on UP steam engines, the whistle is right behind the smoke stacks and the feature isn't that impressive...especially while the engine is moving.  The whistle steam gets lost in the steam coming out of the stacks.

Again, just my opinion.......

MartyE posted:

It was hinted on the Ryan and Dave show that there would be a Big Boy in the new catalog coming out in about a month.  I would assume it would be scale as the Lionmaster Big Boy is already cataloged.

If Lionel comes out with these will they be from the current version with an oil tender?  If so will Lionel offer an oil tender for existing VL and other Big Boy owners?  Realizing that the engine would not be 100% accurate for this it would be a nice way of upgrading without another $1900 vendor war purchase.

I have to admit I'm a bit on the fence on whether this is a good move.  One side says strike while the iron is hot with the current hype, the other half says there are so many other items that haven't been done in a long time.  

IMO it seems Lionel has made the right decision.  By holding off until the initial run they were able to incorporate some of the neat details from the run to UTAH including the chalk name on the boiler and plaque in the Cab.  Adding to that the road specific dialog and oil tender it seems they should sell a few of these to those who didn't buy the VL model and even a few that did.  Nice job on these!

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