Lamenting PS 1 loss of value

I have another way to look at the "MPC" era that perhaps some will consider......

Prior to the mid 80's, the only way that some of us could relive (and afford) our post war days was through the purchase of the new Lionel that was being produced from 1970 on.  Now....I am not so sure that I agree 100% that this time period saved the o-gauge hobby because by the mid 1980's, Williams was offering some "scale-like" equipment independent of the toy train market.  Jerry Williams arguably could be considered one of the pioneers of what has evolved into the scale market today.  Mike Wolf is another person that was part of that movement when he was working with Lionel in his earlier years. 

Without guys like Jerry and Mike, I am one to believe that we may have still been limited to the post war like trains with some improvements electronically...AND...paying prices that back in the time period were very high for the kinds of features which were available.  Remember the Lionel dash 8-40C from the late to early 90's?  The prices being charged for that locomotive were as much or more than you can buy a scale version with all the wonderful features today.

So...I feel there is a possibility that the hobby has advanced and survived not because of the MPC era but more because there were folks / manufacturers that offered what the market was looking for at the time.....more scale-like models with advanced features.  As a matter of fact, those same manufacturers helped create the demand with their marketing of the scale equipment.  Without that turn of events, perhaps the 3-rail hobby would have taken a post war path......who knows??

In any case, we are very fortunate to have what we have today!  PS-1 locomotives are a bargain and in many cases look as good as their more recent counterparts.  I have found that if you install a BCR, one ends up having a very good runner and model.  Folks seem to forget that you really can't compare PS-1 to more recent operating systems because PS-1 was never designed to be anything other than a conventional system with some fancy sounds.  Unfortunately, MTH didn't design it to be backwards compatible so to catch up with the market demands, they designed PS-2.  Yep, the public relations concerning PS-1 was badly handled...but if you can get your mind past all of that, PS-1 locomotives are a wonderful bargain in the current market for those that don't have to have all of the "bells and whistles"....

Alan

Can anyone explain why the non-scale Lionel GG-1's from the postwar era are in such demand today?  Having been around real thing back in the day, the Lionel engines always looked so dumb to me.

After reading this thread I understand why my unused Weaver brass scale GG-1 (Samhongsa) in Brunswick green hasn't retained much value, but to me it sure looks far better than the Lionel engines.

BTW, yes, I'm slow.  In and out of the hobby for years, I kept waiting to build a really nice layout before running the Weaver--and some other unrun items.  Now health issues mean it will never happen.  I did get a lot of fun over the years running my old Lionel S2 6-8-6 turbine (671), which is about to be sent to my younger brother (no train interest whatsoever) to be given to his son (somewhat interested) in order to build a RR for HIS young son.

My S2 didn't have Magnetraction.  One day I visited a classmate whose father had built a real nice setup in his basement.  He had a long uphill ramp about 6' long that had a rise of ~8" or so, IIRC.  Only had one train, a Santa Fe with Magnetraction.  You can imagine my shock at seeing that train climb that ramp like it was level!

>>>So...I feel there is a possibility that the hobby has advanced and survived not because of the MPC era but more because there were folks / manufacturers that offered what the market was looking for at the time.....more scale-like models with advanced features<<

What saved O guage was cheap labor that allowed advanced techniques into the hobby at affordable prices thanks to our friends in Asia.

Joe 

Interesting thought: that low-cost labor was a key.  In my own case, it certainly was not.  If everything had and wold cost twice as much (about the price defferential I think a lack of cheap foreign labor would cause), I'd probably just own half as many locos, rolling stock, etc.  I'd still be in the hobby and just as committed.  I think a lot of others would, too.   

I do think cheap foreign labor allows manufacturers to market inexpensive RTR sets that bring a lot of folks into the hobby, but I don't think that is what commits most of the hard-core hobbiests and I think the vast majority of those folks come, and then go, regardless of price.  Those sets don't lead to hardcore hobbiests any more than getting a set of toy golf clubs as a kid makes you a lifelong golfing fanatic.  I think most of the folks on this forum and who purchase Legacy and Premier locos, etc., would love the hobby and find a way to do it even if it were modestly more expensive.

>>I do think cheap foreign labor allows manufacturers to market inexpensive RTR sets that bring a lot of folks into the hobby<<

I don't think cheap RTR Christmas sets do anything for the hobby except pay bills..

Back when the pickings were slim it seems only the dedicated stuck with it.. 

BTW, if you think labor laws in China don't make things cheaper, watch this video.

They teach em young in China

Joe

Oh yeah!... Hi Mike.

Moved to CA for work for years and came back after my son was born.  I occasionly keep in touch Jim and Shanna from the steam train days.  He works for the Reading and Northern now.  I've talked to George C. now and then. 

Last time I heard of Jeff D. was when I happened to be a witness at the court house annex the same day he got hauled in for to do with ignoring a summons. 

Some things about the tourist rr I miss dearly and other things I don't. 

Hope you are doing well.