Lionel 2014 Cataloge Update

 

Even before FasTrack took off to the point it is at now, Lionel seemed to have little interest here(maybe because they were developing FT), but I am with you.

 

O54 switches would be a good start, but I know it's not happening.

 

-Dave

I know you're 100% right about that, Jimmy...the "know this won't happen" part. 

I have seen the BNSF 6-30211 advertised on the bay and the sellers will ship it after it is purchased.  LOCOMOTION

Dave45681,

Thank you. Glad you are with me.

Jim and Dave, I'm with both of you on the track.  Guess it shows our roots.  Lionel got lots of mileage with the tubular track and with some tweeking, it would still have lots of life.  Several years ago, I mentioned to Lionel about resurgence of Super O.  Basically, sales of FasTrak put that to rest along with the status of tooling and dyes. 

 

With Walter having the track sale at RMT, I went with his track for my new layout with Ross Switches.  Depending on his new offerings, may have to use some Ross and/or Gargraves as a fill in for some of the wide radius curves.

Just checking in to see if there were any updates so far?

FWIW, not sure if Lionel has a presence at Toy Fair these days,  but the 2014 Toy Fair Show in NYC is Feb 15-19.  Good time as any to publish a 2014 catalog -- especially if it's gonna happen this month.  That's just over a week away, and all is quiet.

David

I believe we will know all in a little over a weeks time, based upon a communication with Trainworld.

 

Bob C.

No rocket scienece here. Charlie did say early to mid-February back when this thread was started.

 

My calendar says February 7.

As far as tubular track goes, my speculation is this is 2014 and Fastrack is where their efforts will go and where they will best serve the interest of todays 3 rail customers.  The car companies do this all the time.  Ford was selling a ton of Escapes, but still changed the design because it was time.  The F 150 pickup, their best seller, is now going aluminum.  It's what you do to stay competitive.

Lionel is listed this year as a Toy Fair attendee. The past few years they've had just a small presence there, mainly for their licensed products and mass merchant type items.

From some sources I was told there are some issues with the manufacturer in China. Mostly who gets first dibbs on production line.

 

In addition the Chinese andother Pacific rim countries are discovering this great hobby and want the "stuff" too!!!. It's both bitter/sweet news but good overall in the long run as any rumors of the demise of this hobby are over-rated

Also speaking of track. We have been building our layout with Fas-Trac but we decided to use our tubular(original Lionel with the NYC stamped on each black tie) for the rail yard and side tracks that lead to a silo or factory. Over the years it had been in storage it developed a nice "petina" color. looks pretty cool not to mention saving a few bucks!!!

Well, will we see the new catalogs this week ???????

I think we will see it at the end of this week or  early next week.

 

Bob C.

Thanks for that bit of info, Ed.  Sounds like a good enough reason to release a catalog around that time!  

 

David

Why do we need a catalog? It will show all the nice legacy engines, but you can't buy a controller for it. Everything is on back order. They promote everything and then you can't buy anything. Lionel is turning out to be a disappointment. 

 

John from Plainfield, IL

arrsd90, if you check the LCCA on the forum you will see the update on the LCCA releases.  LOCOMOTION

It does seem like things with Lionel are getting worse, most likely other O gauge manufacturers also.  Dealers, pre-order and regular customers are getting frustrated with continuing and longer delays with getting trains delivered.

 

I could live with Lionel just taking a year break, or whatever time it takes, to get caught up, stock inventory here in US and have next years trains in production.  It would be worth this break just to get my trains in a reasonable amount of time.  Waiting a year or two for pre-orders is ridiculous in my opinion.

 

What good is another catalog except to look at the pictures.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

 

Somebody is China has blocked the production of many of the O Scale and O gauge freight cars that have been cataloged over the past 2 years. Who is causing the stoppage?

 

Andrew

Questions:  More info on comments above: Chinese and Pacific Rim people developing

an interest in O three rail?

          Somebody in China holding up production?

          Are other scales, HO that demands a quantity of trains, etc., having this

         problem, or does it have this production only on firm orders problem.

Chinese "Not-on-the-Water Torture?"

Just my .02 but the fact that we have not yet heard anything yet such as a published release date or the infamous countdown clock would lead me to believe that the catalog is not ready yet. Might be a while before we see it.

With both Lionel and MTH two year wait is not unheard of, I been waiting on a GS4 from MTH for almost two years, they changed delivery dates three times in three months, we old timers who have been in this hobby for a while have a saying, "When it gets here it will be here" a little Yoge Berraish but it is sadly true. I am in no hurry since I am building a large basement layout, just finished the framing on the walls now i am installing the electrical, then the sheet rock, and drop down ceiling, got a month or two to go before the first track is laid so I am in no hurry but if I dont see it by then, I may just have to take a trip up the road to Columbia MD.

 

as the economy picks up the Chinese are forced to choose what to make and they choose to make more profitable items. 

 

trains are not that profitable cell phones.

 

Ipads, lap tops, xbox, and others are what is taking electronics from trains.

 

 

think about it from a business stand point.

 

and let's not turn this thread into "bring back to America production thread, that is not happening".

 

it seems like some newbies are impatience with the wait but if you read back we have all went through the wait.

 

 

Will Lionel release the Catalogs before the Toy Fair or after the Toy Fair?

 

 

 

Andrew

I don't really care about the Chinese economy, I care about our own.  You must have a job,  congratulations.  Loose it and and you may have a different outlook.

 

I have a train store in the 1990's.  Lionel came out with one catalog a year and I can't remember any item they produced being that late in delivery let alone 2 year wait for some items today from Chinaville.

 

I'm not saying Lionel production will come back but jobs are jobs and no matter what the biased news says the economy sucks, job opportunity sucks and there is no job security today. 

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

It is quite clear based upon experience that production delays went way up once Lionel transferred production to the Orient about 15 years ago. Blame it on whatever you want, but Lionel had pretty good control of manufacturing here in the States and has obviously pretty much lost it with their Chinese suppliers.

Maybe Vegas should have a betting pool when stuff like catalogs and what goes into them will actually show up!

I've grown to where I just accept it: nothing we can do about it anyway, but it is frustrating to have a bunch of stuff back ordered for so long (six locos for me) and every couple of months see the estimated shipping dates slip another few months into the future.  

 

But I can understand how anyone new feels a more urgent need and higher level of frustration.  If I were into O gauge for only a brief time, and had just a handful of locos to run, I'd really be burning with desire to get a few more to make the variety better.  But like a lot here, I've been in this long enough now (100 locos, I can run only 3 at a time) that I feel I can afford to be a bit patient about it. 

 

I understand the catalog has been delayed to early March now. Now that may or not mean the RTR one also, which Lionel may have at Toy Fair or at least some flyers.

Interesting.  Guessing this will affect the VL Big Boy price announcement?

 

 

Always one of my favorite threads!!

 

First everyone lines up and complains the catalog is late, then when it's finally out, the line forms again that what I need/want isn't in it! 

Candidly speaking... aside from providing a few more pricing details for the VL Big Boy and a few items that have been already previewed in 2013 (i.e., the two Polar Express Berks and gold coaches) -- all of which could easily be done with flyers -- Lionel could forgo a 2014 catalog completely and just allow their overseas suppliers to catch up with all the product deliveries that have been delayed from the 2012 and 2013 catalogs.    Nobody would be none the wiser.  

 

Of course, we know that won't happen... just wouldn't "look" good.  So perhaps in March we'll see a 2014 catalog whose items will carry estimated ship dates ranging from mid-2015 to mid-2016.  Yep... that sounds about right (if we're lucky).  

 

David

Charlie

Will the AF catalog also be delayed then?

Thanks

Ben

I can't even keep track of undelivered items I have on order from previous catalogs, let alone worry about a new one coming out.  I just wish all of these companies did ONE primary catalog per year,  with perhaps a couple of seasonal supplements or specials.

And don't forget those who will be getting their magnifying glasses out, so that they can complain that the 'artists impression' illustrations are not correct. 

So, does this mean I have more time to save my pennies for the VL BB?

Yep, David has summed it up for me as well.  By the way David, I sent you an e-mail about an item.  Hope you got it...

 

That is a great way to look at it.

 

When I am upset about the time it takes to get an item, I call or e-mail Lionel and tell them my displeasure in a respectful manner.  I encourage all of you to do the same.  Then you know they've heard you.  It may make us all feel better to gripe here among ourselves, but it doesn't accomplish anything.  Probably doesn't help telling Lionel directly....Just makes me feel better.