Hey Lionel, wishlist for Volume 1 in 2018

I'm a big fan of Lionmaster (can't use anything over O36) so I'd be glad to see a Big Boy or a PRR T1 or a Cab Forward in 2018.  (A cab forward in a fantasy "Daylight" paint scheme would probably look pretty good, at least to me.  Regarding the Big Boy I'd personally rather see 4014 with a coal tender rather than an oil tender.)  And if they want to try something new...Lionmaster GG1?  Lionmaster Erie Triplex?  (With smoke unit in the tender, of course!  I can't believe MTH left that out of their Imperial version.)

I love whistle steam and I'm glad to see it's becoming more and more common on Legacy engines: maybe they could do a Lionmaster with a steam chest smoke unit for the first time.

And I don't think it will seriously happen but so long as we're talking wish lists, I'd like to see some European engines/rolling stock from Lionel.

I have more than enough big steam, I'm on a small steam kick.  Re issue the ten wheeler in Rutland, consolidations, mikados.  Rutland caboose, more milk cars, anything New England.

LionMaster Legacy T1 with Whistle smoke. I'd buy it. 

I'd go for the following items.

Steam locomotives:

• Scale LEGACY N&W A Class 1218 and other road numbers
• Scale UP Challenger Black Oil Fired 3985
• USRA Light Pacifics: L&N 152, R&N 425, A&WP 290, S&A 750, B&O, etc.
• LionChief Plus O-27 Scale K4

Auxiliary tenders:

• 2 or 3 N&W in Black
• N&W Red Stripe for J Class (VMTX #250001)
• Milwaukee Road 250002
• Chessie Safety Express
• American Railroads for NKP 759 Gold Spike livery
• Norfolk Southern Tuscan Red
• Black Unlettered
• Union Pacific Joe Jordan 814

For the diesel line:

• Norfolk Southern SD70ACe in O-scale
• Amtrak P42DC as new tooling

I suspect you should ask for this in the 2018 Volume 2 / 2019 Volume 1. I would wager 2018 Volume 1 is almost in the books. 

MartyE posted:

I suspect you should ask for this in the 2018 Volume 2 / 2019 Volume 1. I would wager 2018 Volume 1 is almost in the books. 

You are probably right but why ruin it for us

How about some vision line milk cars?

And.......The J3a from the 50th anniversary set with swinging bell and a choice of  standard or PT tender.

This one easily surpasses the 700e in detail and accuracy,  and with legacy sounds and features IMO could be Lionels greatest hudson ever.

-The former Weaver scale ALCo RS3 tooling upgraded with lots of added-on, road-specific details, kinematic (or maybe even fixed!) pilots, and of course Legacy/RailSounds.  Bring on all of the road names, Big L!!

-Legacy scale version of the ALCo C-420 in the Lehigh Valley as-delivered "Yellow Jacket" paint scheme.  Was previously offered with TMCC, but not yet with Legacy.

-Legacy scale GP7's/9's in Jersey Central "toothpaste" and/or blue & yellow (B&O) scheme, Lehigh Valley, DL&W.

-Legacy NW2 switcher in CNJ and Lehigh Valley.

-Legacy Heavy Mike in the CNJ's "Miss Liberty" late-steam paint scheme, with road-specific details.

How about some 18" Milwaukee Road Passenger Cars (Hiawatha Paint) to go along with the fantasy painted Hiawatha S-3 or the E-6 Diesels.

Hopefully, I would like to see a LC+ Pennsylvania GG-1 in a variety of paint schemes.

NYC Pacific with a six axle tender 

My recurring vote is for:

1. Lionmaster Legacy Hudson (It's been 14 years!)
2. Lionmaster Legacy Cab-forward
3. More Legacy 4-6-0 models
4. Whistle steam feature in as much as possible.

Also (and this is a true longshot):  maybe Lionel's equity owners group can use some of "their expertise" to improve cost and the related high customer price structures along with production schedules within their supply chain without further impacting quality control.

It would be nice to see an updated Lionmaster steamer every 3 to 5 years.

1) Legacy Niagara 

2) Vision Line Milk Cars

3) 1930 20th Century Limited Set similar to the PRR K4 Set in this most recent catalog with extra cars available

4)Full Scale PRR T1 

I still second with @RickO about the J3A Hudson with/out the PT tender or with/out the smoke deflectors, and John about the Niagara. Otherwise, here we go (not big since everything I need is done, but still):

Steam:

• NYC L3/4 class Mohawk
• Black River & Western 2-8-0 Consolidation No.60

Diesel/Electric:

• B36-7's
• AEM-7's
• NJ Transit GE Arrow III Commuter Cars

I'll play along...

How about a new C&O Streamlined Hudson.  It's been 1995 since we've seen this one.

RickO posted:

How about some vision line milk cars?

And.......The J3a from the 50th anniversary set with swinging bell and a choice of  standard or PT tender.

This one easily surpasses the 700e in detail and accuracy,  and with legacy sounds and features IMO could be Lionels greatest hudson ever.

That would make a killer VisionLine set offering too (i.e., loco with sound cars).

David

One last hurrah for the Postwar and Prewar Celebration Series?

A Legacy-LionChief/LionChief + converter so Legacy/TMCC users can use their Cab-1/Cab-2 remotes to control the new product lines?

A 6464 Series of boxcars budget priced to compete with Menard's offerings? Perhaps sold in sets of 3 or 4 as they were done many years ago.  Or even sub-contracted to Menard's with Lionel branding?

Landsteiner posted:

One last hurrah for the Postwar and Prewar Celebration Series?

 

+1 on this. The Postwar FA Alco set (green passenger cars) was a highlight of Volume 1 for me and was hoping that it signaled a return to issuing trains in the CC or PWC line. Maybe we’ll see something in 2018V1? C’mon Lionel!

I applaud Lionel's scale line of trains. The catalog is again filled with many highly detailed, sophisticated items for big-radius layouts. I have many of these Legacy trains myself. But this market does not represent everyone.

There are many of us with tighter curves who also love traditional and postwar inspired products. It's not a dying market. I'm 46, not a dinosaur. Let's bring back Pullmor open frame AC motors. Bring back Magne-Traction. Bring back the smell of ozone and grinding motors.

I realize I'm being overly optimistic. Current Lionel management hasn't shown much interest in cataloging these types of products. In fact, with the dissolution of the archives, they probably don't know what a Pullmore looks like anymore...

GregR posted:

 

There are many of us with tighter curves who also love traditional and postwar inspired products. It's not a dying market. I'm 46, not a dinosaur. Let's bring back Pullmor open frame AC motors. Bring back Magne-Traction. Bring back the smell of ozone and grinding motors.

I realize I'm being overly optimistic. Current Lionel management hasn't shown much interest in cataloging these types of products. In fact, with the dissolution of the archives, they probably don't know what a Pullmore looks like anymore...

Isn't that what LionChief + is all about?  The upcoming Berkshire is right out of the PW tooling.  Sure it doesn't have the PM motor but still a nice looking engine with some bonus features.

superwarp1 posted:

I have more than enough big steam, I'm on a small steam kick.  Re issue the ten wheeler in Rutland, consolidations, mikados.  Rutland caboose, more milk cars, anything New England.

I asked Lionel last fall for a Rutland caboose of the proper era for the 2-6-0, and they told me that they didn't have that tooling, so I should go ask MTH. I was a little surprised, since I know they made that style caboose in the 80's and in gold around 2000. There was even one sitting two tables away from them...

CarGuyZM10 posted:

I asked Lionel last fall for a Rutland caboose of the proper era for the 2-6-0, and they told me that they didn't have that tooling, so I should go ask MTH. I was a little surprised, since I know they made that style caboose in the 80's and in gold around 2000. There was even one sitting two tables away from them...

A few items I asked for was met with "We don't know if the tooling exists still".  I specifically asked about the Hobo series of accessories.  I'm not sure what happened to all the tooling but apparently it seems some of it has vanished.  Hopefully they'll re-invest for some new tooling for some of these items.

I'd like to see the following:

-Rutland Caboose (Route of the Whippet)

-2-8-0 Camelback (LNE, LV, RDG, CNJ, DLW, etc)

-Reading coaches (prefer clerestory, but would take round roof) in the CORRECT two-tone green

-Strasburg 90

-An SW switcher (I would love to see it in Allentown and Auburn, but many railroads had these)

-More small steam

MartyE posted:

GregR posted:

 

There are many of us with tighter curves who also love traditional and postwar inspired products. It's not a dying market. I'm 46, not a dinosaur. Let's bring back Pullmor open frame AC motors. Bring back Magne-Traction. Bring back the smell of ozone and grinding motors.

I realize I'm being overly optimistic. Current Lionel management hasn't shown much interest in cataloging these types of products. In fact, with the dissolution of the archives, they probably don't know what a Pullmore looks like anymore...

Isn't that what LionChief + is all about?  The upcoming Berkshire is right out of the PW tooling.  Sure it doesn't have the PM motor but still a nice looking engine with some bonus features.

Thanks Marty. I agree it's a nice loco.

I'm hopelessly conflicted in my tastes which are all over the place. I have walls full of postwar equipment & remakes, and enjoy the experience of running them, accepting them for what they are - nice collectible toys. On the other hand, I also have walls full of modern equipment including Legacy steam locos. I also enjoy running them for a very different experience where I expect all the features and realism.

Lionchief+ steam power is in a "no man's land" for me. It lacks the characteristics to give it a "postwar" experience, and lacks the realism of the "Legacy" experience.

I'll just hang onto my 726 conventional classic. It has a nice Pullmor motor, and great sounding whistle / bell from the RSL card, without the fake half-chuff rate of the Lionchief+. And just for kicks, I fit a neodymium magnet into the thing so it could practically drive upside down on tubular track.

The scale lover side of me wants to see a Lionel F7 or F3 set in early VIA Rail Canada livery (blue, yellow, black). Why hasn't anyone tackled this one yet? (except for Vistadome Scott, who painted up a beautiful example)

Unfortunately I don't see Pulmors or the PWC coming back in any form other than LC or LC+.  I have the Century Club 1 Berk and love it so I do know where you are coming from.

Maybe Lionel can update the code for 4 chuffs per rev for LC+.  Seems like that should be an easy fix.

Still waiting for a Mi-jack crane!!  With all the new doublestacks we need a way to load or unload the containers..  Thanx  LOCOMOTION

"Why hasn't anyone tackled this one yet?"

While your question is likely rhetorical, I'm wondering if it's the size of the Canadian market vs. the USA market (<10% the size in population).  This population difference may be reduced to an even smaller  market size due to tax and exchange rate issues that worsen the market size disadvantage which occurs with some or most Canadian road names.  Same reason they haven't followed MTH into the European market, I'd venture a guess too.  Lionel hasn't been interested in runs of a hundred or two products.

Landsteiner posted:

"Why hasn't anyone tackled this one yet?"

While your question is likely rhetorical, I'm wondering if it's the size of the Canadian market vs. the USA market (<10% the size in population).  This population difference may be reduced to an even smaller  market size due to tax and exchange rate issues that worsen the market size disadvantage which occurs with some or most Canadian road names.  Same reason they haven't followed MTH into the European market, I'd venture a guess too.  Lionel hasn't been interested in runs of a hundred or two products.

I don't know whether it's market size. Millions of people have seen and travelled on these VIA trains over thousands of miles of track. MTH has always tackled a wide variety of road names including many different VIA Rail paint schemes over the years. Seeing Lionel's latest catalog with roads like "RJ Corman", or "Ohio Central", might suggest that Lionel is also finally willing to expand into more obscure road names. So, it may not that unrealistic in the future. When the importers hit the bottom of the road name barrel, it will be a good thing for those of us who like variety and aren't your everyday PRR, NYC or UP fan. How about this one, the Polar Bear Express?

My wish for Lionel 2018 is simple....trains that are reasonably priced and won't fall apart out of the box...return to basics....

das boot posted:

Hopefully, I would like to see a LC+ Pennsylvania GG-1 in a variety of paint schemes.

 

YES. 

My list in addition to the above:

1. LC+ NW Class J 611 
2. LC+ Conrail anything besides just the SD60M - GP7, GP20, GP38(-2), GP40(-2), SD40, SD45, SD70MAC, NW-2
3. LC+ Norfolk Southern besides just the SD60M - GP7, GP20, GP38(-2), GP40(-2), SD40, SD45, SD70MAC, NW-2
4. More Conrail freight cars
5. LC+ Amtrak ACS-64
6. LionScale Amfleet

That'd hold me over a few years.

Tim said he liked the cab forward.  That's my favorite big engine. My layout won't handle one but man are they nice.  If you ever get to Sacramento, go to the rail museum.  You can get into the cab of one of 'em.  To see it really is impressive just how big those were.

A couple or so movie locomotives: particularly, AWVR #1206 and #777

Since Lionel is making what appears to be an awesome American Freedom Train, how

about an Ode to the Ringling Bros. Circus Train.  A Blue or Red Unit train would be great.

How about it Lionel?  

2 Rail High Rail or S scale.

Take your pick. Most people I know in the hobby don't like 3R. Especially the younger ones.

Continue making the ZW transformers.

Maybe design a new smaller ZW around 200 watts.

SP F7A and B power only units.

SP and ATSF steam/diesel in non fantasy colors.

My Milwaukee Road beer Line NEEDS a Milwaukee Road transfer caboose.

I have lots of suggestions, of which I know will not be made. So I will make one suggestion: Trains that work perfectly and dont fall apart right out of the box.