Lionel 2014 Cataloge Update

Sounds great Charlie.  Thanks for the update.

Is it February yet?

Track and Power? That's a new one isn't it?

Smoke loader?

Peanut figures due in the next shipment, please?????

As soon as I hear something, I will post

Charlie do you know a release date for the catalogs?

Bill

Charlie, any news on Am Flyer ES44ACs?

Bill, early to mid Feb.

Katy, no word yet.

Yes.  I remember Howard Hitchcock mentioning this in an interview (forget where, though).  It makes sense to take this stuff out of the regular catalogs and save space or make room for other stuff.  They can essentially use the same catalog from year to year, since stuff in this catalog never changes other than to add the occasional new item.

Andy

I really don't get why all the different catalogs.  Why not just put them all in one?  Other places have done it for years, so why does Lionel have to be different?  With everything being digital now, it's not like economics is really a factor in having to change the master on things like the power catalog.  Have train guys really gotten so fuddy-duddy that the O guys can't stand having their catalog dirtied by AF stuff, and likewise with eh AF guys seeing O stuff?  And haven forbid I see cheap RTR stuff mixed with my semi and scale items.  I think it'd be better to have it all in one, so that if someone comes and wants to see RTR, they can.  And after they get one and like it and want to add it, they already have the catalog of the other O stuff, and the power stuff they'll need.  No reason to keep track of 3 separate books, and trips to the LHS to get said books when it's discovered that what they want to look at isn't int he one they have.

Is it February yet?

Thanks Charlie for the update. You do a wonderful job in keeping us all posted.

One more week till February.

Thanks Charlie for the post

Charlie - Thanks for the update.  It's always refreshing to hear the real scoop to go with all the rumors and speculating.

Art

Plus another one to two weeks till "mid February."

TRACK????

Hopefully, they will add FULL-LENGTH 084 FasTrack curved sections (16 per circle) instead of the current ridiculously short, 32 sections to a circle! 

If we say this often enough, boys and girls, maybe they will take action! 

I need to hear an update about the O Scale Auto Racks on 89' Flats, O Scale Tank Cars, and the O gauge Intermodal container sets that were expected to be delivered in December 2013 and January 2014.

Andrew

I gave up on my waiting for the latest run of auto racks and 3-pack tanks cars and cancelled my order yesterday.  No need to keep guessing of when I'll get them and seeing the shipping schedule pushed back month after month.  It's ridiculous that these items still say December '13, yet they are nowhere in sight.  Just when you forget about them, they'll ship them out.  Lionel really needs to get this shipping process down.  I'm losing my patience, and as a result, they are losing my moolah.

I have enough pre-orders to wrestle with...please God...no Northern Pacific, Montana Rail Link, Burlington Northern or Milwaukee Road in this catalog. I need a break and a year to swallow what's coming in! 

I second that, still waiting for the Neil Young Texas Special set which will set me back a pretty penny.  No MKT or Texas Special please.....oh, OK, maybe a SW switcher.

Steve, Lady and Tex

Anyone happen to hear anymore about the catalogs?

Bill

Perhaps these are the cars intended to go with the Vision Line UP Big Boy, from the Lionel shipping schedule:

OH No... there goes my wallet!!

I am glad to see these.  Look forward to adding them to my reefer collection.

In the 2013 Ready-to-Run Catalog there were 3 items that still have yet to be delivered.

The BNSF Maxi-Stack Intermodal Container set

The Trailer Train Maxi-Stack Set

The Container 4-pack

They have to be put in the 2014 ready-to-run catalog showing true production samples since they were not delivered.

Andrew

Probably not quite what you wanted to hear... but I called Charles Ro the other day to check-point a couple of outstanding pre-orders I made last year.  One of them was the CN GP-9 Flatcar w/Piggyback Set, and they told me they're now expecting that in March 2014 even though the latest Lionel online shipping schedule still indicates Jan 2014.

So as we've come to expect, Lionel's online shipping schedule is all but meaningless.  Whoever manages the information on that schedule doesn't have a clue when stuff is gonna show up here in the States.    Seems it's all a crap shoot. 

David

That is fine. I have a few MTH and Atlas O cars to get right now. The Lionel Tank Cars can wait.

Andrew

I have the procor 3-pack ethanol tank cars on order.  Says January 2014 shipping.  Anyone know or have info as to when these will finally ship?  Seems odd they can't deliver simple O scale freight cars. 

As someone who has recently got back into the hobby after a few years, I am amazed how much I has to scramble to find items recently.  Everything seems unavailable or on back-order. 

A forum member informed me that the Neil Young Texas Special engine w/passenger car set shipping date has moved from April 2014 to August 2014 yet a lucky few have received the AA unit separate issue from the last catalog. 

I don't believe Lionel is happy about the situation of getting items on time from China but it seems things are getting worse rather than improving. 

Steve, Lady and Tex

Trainworld told me to check back in two weeks for price on vision Big Boy.

Bob C.

I know this won't happen, but I would like to see them expand their "O" Gauge tinplate tubular track line. Plus come out with a gray rubber roadbed for it.

Welcome to the world of overseas toy train manufacturing delays these days!  Through much of 2013, seems the only items Lionel could deliver were locomotives.  Scale rolling stock was nowhere to be found until a few items very late in the year.  And items that did arrive -- like the Milwaukee Road aluminum passenger cars were 2 years late! 

The other notable pattern was the delay in "premium sets" (i.e., CN flatcar/piggyback freight set, N&W Pocahontas aluminum passenger set, NYC water-level freight set, etc...), where locomotives have reportedly been ready for over a year awaiting the rolling stock production to complete the sets. 

Gotta be having a big impact on revenues.  

David

I received my "Water Level Freight Set" a month ago, even thou the shipping schedule had said Dec'14. Maybe typo? I was surprised when it showed up, but happy to get it. Have not benn able to run it as we had a tornado in November and aren't able to live in our house right now.

Niether dealers or customers are happy.  I understand a delay here and there, but like you guys,  I am tired of waiting on stuff.  Delivery schedules have come and gone and still no trains.

David,

I couldn't agree more.  Like you said, some items were almost 2 yrs late.  Who the h#ll wants to wait that long? 

And, now it is hard to find some basic items, like powerhouses (I am not even going to talk about the Legacy system-some smart @ss will be quick to point out all the issues with it and why we don't have it; the point is that it isn't on dealer shelves or on my home layout).  Which is why I bought 2 powerhouses from you.  Tired of waiting on Lionel.  So far, I've been able to get what I need off the secondary market, but you can't buy new releases from there.