Inside Lionel Made in USA Factory‏

I would be willing to bet your manufactureing in the US is under 3%Nick 

3% is better than 0%

Thank you for posting the videos. They were interesting.

I am surprised at how long the decorating takes.

Thanks for the videos...great information.

 

Alan

Hope to see more production from Lionel returning to the states. This is a start. This is wonderful.

Thanks for posting.  It's good to know that some of what we buy is made right here at home, again.  If it was suddenly all made here, I would probably sell everything, and buy the home-grown versions.

I was watching those videos last night via the Tracks site Lionel runs, and the article with the videos says that the company doing the decorating on the cars also does the forming of the carbodies and some other pieces.  It's where they've done the President boxcars and other US made cars recently.

 

This actually makes me want to buy the G Gauge Coca Cola set to support the effort!

The change to manufacturing overseas was a slow process.......so will be bringing manufacturing back to the U.S.

As Chris has eluded, if this creates just one job here, it is better than none. It mystifies me why some folks have to always be on the half empty side of the equation.

I think the simple solution for folks who don't like the trains made anywhere other than the US is to just not buy them.  Someone behind them will buy it.

 

Lionel is a business, not a charity.  They need to make a profit or no more trains.  If the manufacturing was making a profit by having them made in China, Korea or anywhere else, that's where they go.

 

If the moves to the US make sense and a profit for them, they'll move more back here.

 

I agree completely  w/ C W & Jim's comments.  Every journey starts with the first step.  Several years ago The Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) ran a very interesting and informative PCN Tours show on Weaver Models/Trains (Northumberland, PA). They showed the pad printing process with the acid etching of the plates and IIRC some of the plastic extrusion.  The show is rebroadcast every so often and might be on demand from the member area of their website.

There is also a great video I watch from time to time on YouTube about how LGB trains were made, I think the video is called The World of LGB or something like that, but there is a segment on the forming of the plastic bodies and the pad printing.  The pad printing is interesting, in how it takes a few passes of the pads in various colors and all to complete something seemingly simple.

I have always liked the video: "The making of the scale Hudson".

I believe there is also some stuff on Utube.

I Believe this is the LGB video Eddie was speaking about.

 

Bob

 

 

 

I'm with Brian on this one.  I think any production back here is wonderful and a positive step in the right direction.  I have to feel sorry for the people that look at everything from a negative point of view.  Must be a miserable life.

 

Art

Let me start by saying Spence we need you here. Get Well Soon we miss you big time..       Look Lionel is doing what many other U.S. companies have had to do to stay afloat. I would guess that no one at lionel is getting rich now that they manufacture in China. If American Companies are to return to the U.S. than our leaders need to make it happen their the one's who are getting Rich…… I LOVE LIONEL TRAIN'S AND I THANK JOSHUA…..

Thank you!  There is that one, and the one below is also one I love to watch:

When profits can be made by Manufacting in the USA that's when you will see it being done here. The bean counters have all the say where things are made.

 

I want all manufacturing to return here not just our trains but a little now bodes well for the future.

I agree.  I think it boils down to a general attitude from the consumer as well.  Things made here will sometimes cost a little more, but is worth it in keeping jobs here as well as pride in something made here, and made well.

 

With the resurgence in folks shopping at small, privately owned businesses again, I really feel that manufacturing will follow in a larger way.

Thanks for sharing those videos.  It is good to see some domestic product being made.  Only trouble is, there are still imported parts (such as the trucks) as part of the end product, so even the "Made in USA" products are not entirely made in the US.

 

Now, Lionel only needs to take the additional step of actually building the trains themselves like in the prewar/postwar days in their own factory instead of farming it out.  Then, and only then, would the words "Built by Lionel" would actually be true.

I have a number of the "Made in America" boxcars now; easily identified by the small U.S. flag on both doors.

These cars come equipped with sprung metal trucks and have very nice paint and graphics.  I commend Lionel for doing this and am happy to support their decision with my wallet.

Curt

Thanks for sharing the videos.  Per the referenced link, BRI has doubled their business with Lionel from 2013 to 2014.  That is definitely a move in the right direction, so lets hope it can continue to grow. Good start - keep it going!

In other areas of manufacturing, I've noticed a move for the better: one vinyl record pressing plant in the US (name escapes me now) has had to buy more land and double the size of their plant to handle the increase in demand for pressings.

 

I like seeing this resurgence in all areas for coming back to the US.  Once upon a time we made some of the best items in the world (heck, The Beatles had always wanted only American made instruments, as those were the best!) and it's time we got back into the game.

Surprising to see that G scale items were being made here.

 

Blue Ridge Industries also decorated the little known Lionel 25912 custom boxcar from 2013.  Purchasers of this boxcar were able to get a custom message printed on their boxcar.