Going through all of the new train catalogs it has become obvious that most of the operating accessories have been discontinued save for the MTH coaling tower and the Lionel loading station. Gone are coal and lumber loaders, barrel loaders, sawmills, cattle/Horse cars, the culvert loader/unloader, fork lift, crane etc etc.
Can anyone explain why the train companies seem to be leaving the motorized operating accessory business?
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If the importers aren't bringing in operating accessories, then I have to assume that there isn't enough of a market right now.
I would purchase Legacy driven operating accessories. While I consider this a "toy train" hobby, the accessories I have seen are just a bit "too toy-like". That probably sounds silly, but I am trying to create a realistic toy train layout (Dennis Brennan's book has been my guide). I am hoping for Vision Line accessories...c'mon Mike!
You will see a new catalog featuring Lionel's best selling operating accessories this fall. I was down in NC last year helping with the choices.
Well, there has been mention of a trend, that I am certainly part of, toward more
realism being demanded in three rail O gauge trains. Operating accessories, such
as a coal bunker that looks like a coal bunker, but can load a car, would be sought
by some. There might be less of a market now for those lithographed in bright
colors that do not resemble anything that ever filled a tender. Certainly those from
the past are collectible. But... I am always surprised there is a market for reproductions of old trains, so...what do I know?
the accessories I have seen are just a bit "too toy-like". That probably sounds silly, but I am trying to create a realistic toy train layout (Dennis Brennan's book has been my guide).
yes but those MTH ones like the car wash, drive in diner, house on fire were more scale than toy-like. the same can be said for the Lionel acessories in the mid 2000's:
tree & swing, road crew, scrap yard, playground, etc.
The greatest problem I think right now is getting quality vendors overseas to produce the accessories at a desirable price point, no matter what brand, scale or toy like. And then be able to have dollars to develop new ideas as well.
The past few years have had us developing accessories and operating cars that have better operation, simpler wiring for connections, embellishments such as sound, and of course Legacy where possible. LCS also has played a key role into this development process - as being integrated with the visual representation of the layout allows more interactive play value.
Dennis,
Even though I'm not one to pick a favorite. I have noticed a down turn. Children in the hobby today demand more from every accessory. The toys that you and I grew up with and enjoyed so much, hardly draw a bored yawn. I have noticed that most children today lack the ability to enjoy toys that are not of the digital era.
The larger part of the problem is the sheer number of layouts now that are steered away from the accessories and toys of the 50' & 60's. These layouts feature detailed landscapes and cities with no room for the pretend. These practices bounce back to the makers of the accessories. The "highrail" layouts of today are part of the problem. If the industry is centered around the highly detailed settings. Why should the folks at the big two make toys that will sit on the shelf in stores and not create revenue. Instead they make the $2,250. engines to entice those in the "highrail" end of the hobby. With the vast number of accessories made in the last century there will be no shortage nor will there be marketing of "new and improved" models of toys already deemed obsolete.
You will see a new catalog featuring Lionel's best selling operating accessories this fall. I was down in NC last year helping with the choices.
I think part of it might be the market the manufacturers pay attention to wants models - accurate looking buildings, etc., and not traditional accessories, too many of which do and maybe have to look somewhat like toys to do what they do.
This was one of my suggestions in the thread on what we'd like to see from Lionel in the 2015 catalog.
For me, operating accessories have always been an integral part of the model trains experience. One reason why I'm building a Lionel Dealer Display type layout. It's loaded with accessories! 
I think part of it might be the market the manufacturers pay attention to wants models - accurate looking buildings, etc., and not traditional accessories, too many of which do and maybe have to look somewhat like toys to do what they do.
An argument can be made that most of the operating accessories that were made didn't offer very much realism and I'll agree with that. If you look at some of the later designs it would seem that an effort to make the accessories look more prototypical was made. I read an article in an old train magazine (its lost here in the archives) where some enterprising modeler enclosed a Lionel coaling elevator in a very prototypical looking coal storage and delivery facility. If some additional realism is added to accessories, I believe that there will be new interest in them. The operating crane, fork lift, MTH coaling tower, car tilter, and lift bridge look nice and perhaps the culvert loader has some degree of realism. The icing station, saw mill, cattle/horse cars, lumber, coal, barrel loaders and coal ramp look very toy like to me. Maybe a new market of scale prototypical accessories will emerge.
But, what I always look for is not the creativity, investment, and market justification for the major manufacturers to pony up new, prototypical...or not...accessories.
Rather, I eagerly go through each new issue of our hobby's publications, read the forum postings, visit other layouts of fellow hobbyists, look forward to a good 'bull' session with a few friends, participate in a club with fellow hobbyists who like to think 'outside the box' or creatively, etc., etc., etc....in search of ideas, articles, examples, and the like of how common "toy-like" accessories have been hi-railed, how mechanisms have been applied to new animation/accessory ideas, how gadgets and gizmos from entirely other hobbies...e.g., radio-controlled boats, cars, planes, drones, etc....can be applied to our own hobby.
If I thought the seed of all creativity for new accessories, more prototypical accessories, more reliable accessories was the handful of major manufacturers,....well, I think I'd box up the trains and find another hobby.
I remember the run of animated accessories that Lionel did a few years ago based on those found on the layout at The Choo Choo Barn in PA. Well, everyone will have an opinion about the merit or success of those, but the fact is the creativity did NOT come from Lionel staffers, as many of the original iconic accessories did in the first few decades of the last century.
New accessories for mass marketing....Legacy, Vision Line, Conventional, or whatever...require a solid business case for the tooling/marketing/advertising/etc. investment. As other threads re engines and rolling stock of precise prototypical fidelity on various wish-lists have opined, you may wait more than a lifetime before you see it in some affordable form from the major manufacturers.
So, as I said, this perspective is probably just mine alone. I'm good with what's out there. I've got a 'bucket list' of projects for the layout that include hi-railing accessories, creating new animations with old mechanisms, etc......ALL of which came from friends, fellow hobbyists, other layouts, articles....dreaming....about what I can do to achieve what I wish for.
People like Lee Willis...just one of the first examples to come to mind...are my heroes of inspiration.
Worth 2 cents, I know.
KD
You will see a new catalog featuring Lionel's best selling operating accessories this fall. I was down in NC last year helping with the choices.
It would be nice if the 364/ 14001 log loader was finally issued with a separate control for loading individual logs across the black metal log forks to waiting log car below. Of course, you would also have to have a retractable stop in the upper incline to hold the logs before loading or perhaps a rocking cradle curved to hold just one log at a time. It would act both as the stop and once activated with a motor driven cam, the cradle would slowly rotate about 70 degrees or so, discharge that log while the other half of the cradle still acted as a stop for the rest of the logs. As it rocked back and forth, it would prevent more than one log at a time from rolling down to the metal log forks and into the car. Just running logs up the inclined red belt and watching them roll down again into another car; it all seems rather pointless.
It would be nice if the 364/ 14001 log loader was finally issued with a separate control for loading individual logs across the black metal log forks to waiting log car below. Of course, you would also have to have a retractable stop in the upper incline to hold the logs before loading or perhaps a rocking cradle curved to hold just one log at a time. It would act both as the stop and once activated with a motor driven cam, the cradle would slowly rotate about 70 degrees or so, discharge that log while the other half of the cradle still acted as a stop for the rest of the logs. As it rocked back and forth, it would prevent more than one log at a time from rolling down to the metal log forks and into the car. Just running logs up the inclined red belt and watching them roll down again into another car; it all seems rather pointless.
When I had a 364 many moons ago, I set it up right behind the 464 sawmill so it unloaded the logs into the 464 sawmill cradle. Was a really neat set up and gave the 364 a "purpose". 
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