Conversation with Lionel York

I don't think anyone here hates Lionel, just disappointed.

Rusty

Francine posted:

I had an extended and interesting conversation with Lionel at York on Saturday.  Having a background in economics and advertising some things became clear to me.  If the economy of the country doesn't tank in the next year, Lionel will be doing some very interesting things including our favorite "s" gauge/scale. 

I was very impressed by knowledgeable staff (they are all different folks than the ones I used to know) they were open, knew the product, the market and wanted to hear what the customer was saying.  I can't help but believe that the coming years will be good for S in Lionel.

I know the Lionel haters will downgrade this, but with a decent economy, S will grow.

 

I am skeptical, but I hope you are correct.

Rusty Traque posted:

I don't think anyone here hates Lionel, just disappointed.

Rusty

Agreed! 

I keep hoping for the best.  But it increasingly seems like the loss of a competent production/engineering source (Sanda Kan) and the rapidly increasing cost of labor in China are stacking the deck against a low volume niche market like ours.

Nick C.

I get to work on many "S" gauge locomotives.    I feel S is popular with all the great equipment available today.   Lionel also supports parts very well.   I also work on the new MTH S gauge locomotives and they are also very well built and designed.

Francine posted:

I had an extended and interesting conversation with Lionel at York on Saturday.  Having a background in economics and advertising some things became clear to me.  If the economy of the country doesn't tank in the next year, Lionel will be doing some very interesting things including our favorite "s" gauge/scale. 

I was very impressed by knowledgeable staff (they are all different folks than the ones I used to know) they were open, knew the product, the market and wanted to hear what the customer was saying.  I can't help but believe that the coming years will be good for S in Lionel.

I know the Lionel haters will downgrade this, but with a decent economy, S will grow.

 

Lol, The economy to going to go through fundamental changes in the next few years. The aging of the population will continue. The boomers will down size their living quarters and worse - Go out like the sun. Regardless, if the economy stay's strong. The hobbies "Most of them" will continue to decline. Frankly, I believe within 5 years there will be 1 or 2 O gauge Manufacturers standing.

I'm not a boomer because I'm too old, but I'm just starting a new layout, so not all the aging hobbyists will stop enjoying the hobby.

In before the lock.

I'm an optimistic person, but I think that the whole model railroad hobby will continue to contract. I'm 45 and I have a 12yr. old son. He loved trains as a young kid, but now video games are his hobby of choice. I see the same thing with all of his friends. It's not that he doesn't enjoy a train now and then, but given the choice he will always choose a game. His generation does not play with toys the way previous generations did. The entire toy industry is feeling this shift.

It isn't good or bad, it just is what it is. We are passed peak model railroading. Does that mean it goes away? No. Does it contract? Sure. Will technology continue to improve and offer people access to products, services, and communications re: model railroading that haven't even been thought of yet? Absolutely.