Lionel 2014 Preview Catalog

Perhaps Lionel's management looked at the calendar and decided that the 12th anniversary of 9/11 wasn't such a good day to release canes catalog. As for me, tomorrow will be fine.

Dave

FWIW, if you drill down far enough on the Legacy part of Lionel's site, you will find a shot of 4014.

We've heard this type of thing time and time again.  And each time it's been proven WRONG.  Bottom line... just like gravity, ya can't fight the laws of market dynamics.  Until Lionel TRULY adopts a build-to-order strategy based on end-consumer reservations -- not dealer orders, there will always be blow-outs of some type.

Perfect example... it wasn't THAT long ago, that folks said we saw the last of the blow-outs earlier this year... and guess what?  Lionel is currently blowing out Shays and F3/F7 locomotive sets at pretty good prices.  Granted, the Shays and F3's weren't BTO items.  But all BTO does is move the "risk" further into the distribution chain -- perhaps to the large dealers and distributors.  If they ONLY order based on firm consumer reservations, then blow-outs will be scarce.  But if dealers/distributors order based on what they "think" consumers will buy... then Bang!  We're pretty much where we are today... except dealers will calling the shots on blow-outs instead of Lionel's warehouse in NC.

Now... hopefully, we'll be able to see this new catalog soon, if Lionel ever posts the darn thing on their website today.    It's 12 Noon as I finish typing this post.

David

I thought for sure while I was typing the above post, Lionel would prove me wrong and post their new "preview catalog".

But I guess the marketing folks are following in the illustrious example of the online shipping schedule... namely, we'll see the stuff when it finally arrives.  Dates are all meaningless -- even for the catalogs!!!  

Maybe I'll drive to the LHS and look at it there!!! 

David

Thanks for the kind words for Adam, our IT guy. We had hoped the files would be available to post the catalog but Lionel has delayed us. Last night we got this update.

Please note the 2013 Fall Catalog will not go live on Lionel’s website until Friday  9/13 at 9:00 a.m. 

When I orginally posted this thread I did not see the catalog until the next day for the first time. Usally we do have some new preview engine. The big news is the roll out of the LCS line and that is the main focus. You are correct and it does say 2013 on it. This tablet based control system is ready for it's big roll out. As soon as we get the download from Lionel, we will post it along with the pre-order pricing.

That's not entirely true.  It could be that the dealers themselves ordered extra in speculation of demand and when there isn't any, they're forced to blow it out.  I seriously doubt Lionel as a company takes irrational business gambles like that with their limited cash.

Charlie, thanks the update!  It will be nice to see LCS in action beyond just running a simple loop of track.  I seem to recall watching Trainworld's "chef of the future" video that Lionel will have this demo'ing at York on a 12x7 layout.  Should be interesting to see... but what about the larger display layout?  Doesn't Lionel bring that to York anymore?

OK everyone... get back to work now!!! 

David

I wished I worked for Lionel!  But if you've been keeping up with this board and news around the Internet, it's certainly a high possibility this is the direction they are taking.  Furthermore, it's just very common and basic business 101 not to burn your cash flow and over produce anything unless there is a demand for it.  Lionel would return to bankruptcy if they gambled on over producing certain items based on popularity.

Well my LCCR Inside Track yesterday and inside is a article with Howard Hitchcock, questions and answers. And it answers some of our questions.

The Biggest One is on the 2014 Catalog which will be out in Jan. 2014. And a 2nd smaller catalog will be out later in the year.

"new New Vision steam locomotives and like all of our Vision products we push the envelope with new features that may be unique to Vision or even better."

According to the latest INSIDE TRACK the 2014 Signature Catalog will be released in January instead of March or April. What is suppose to be released today is a Fall 2013 Catalog.

Whatever their financial situation is now -- and NONE of us here knows it unless you're privy to insider information, I'm only commenting on recent trends.  Blow-outs have been a common part of our landscape for decades -- some years more so than others, admittedly.  But between blow-outs and individual dealer "sales" this year, I still can't buy everything that represents a "good deal" when I see it.  There's simply TOO MUCH stuff in the market right now for consumers to absorb.  And even if Lionel quickly switches to a BTO model, there's an enormous glut of existing product in the market -- not to mention the stuff that's overdue for delivery from the 2012/2013 catalogs which wasn't BTO either.

No more blow-outs???  Nah.... certainly not anytime soon.  That's for sure. 

David

That is also mentioned by Howard in the LRRC Inside Track. That there will be building to order.

Lionel updated their shipping list today. No new items are listed, except for the ones that have been noted before.

"Great mix of new items"

Charlie-  I am hoping this is true, from your opening of this post.  I am really looking forward to new engines and goodies for this train season.  I'm concerned that this catalog is just recatalog of old stuff, and breaking up some set engines.

Can you please reply with wether the catalog has brand new GP30's or GP35's as this is a conflice between this post and my LHS. Thanks...

Perhaps it should be noted that the bankruptcy years ago was only a legal maneuver done during lawsuit proceedings, and had nothing to do with profitability or how Lionel marketed trains.

Is the previously announced Legacy SP Cab Forward in this catalog?

It was announced in an email...  I think it was the blog thing I signed up for...  Said 'newly offered' or something like that...  I wish I kept that email!

Lets face it guys, whether they release this catalog today or Friday it is a garage sale catalog full of old items from years past that they can't move. My take is that they have had the engines done for some of the passenger sets for some time now but can't get the passenger cars made. So to get cash flow going they will release the engines for separate sale (ie: 611 J, Neil Young Texas Special, Neil Young Pennsy, Neil Young, UP, etc, etc). Lets face it, the inventory isn't making them any money sitting in the warehouse.

I am holding my breath to get the clear milk car from 6 years ago that is re-cataloged (not!).

Rocky Mountaineer, you are correct as the old stuff re-cataloged in this fall cataloged I suspect will undoubtably be released to the dealers at discounted pricing if any of it is to sell.

What's old is new (again).  Seems it wasn't THAT long ago that Lionel issued their big catalog around Toy Fair... and later in the year a smaller catalog followed.  I guess the new honchos have to "change it up a bit"... otherwise it looks like they're walking too closely in JC's footsteps.

As for the Vision Line comments... I guess they're dropping "subtle suggestions" in an attempt to set the mental switch that Vision Line will continue to push the pricing envelope.  Earlier in this thread, mention was made of a near-$3K price-point for the VL Big Boy.  If that's where Lionel is heading, I'm more than happy to watch from the sidelines.   Dream on, new Lionel executives. 

David

Unless Lionel is going to make sensors available for the multitude of other hobbyists that use different track systems I can't see being interested in the LCS system, so far the catalog only shows a piece of fastrack with the sensors and a lot of proprietary cabling. The sensor track also looks like it has it's own power source that needs to be plugged into a wall outlet or perhaps that is for the WiFi module I didn't get a close enough look at that item.

Highly doubt the Cab Forward is previewed here.  I guess the bigger questions will be, "Is this even a 2014 preview catalog at all?  Or is it a way to move product that's already been produced -- just with a new twist to it... like offering weathered versions of overstock inventory, more undecorated "pilot/engineering" models, and ala-carte engines for sets whose rolling stock production continues to sit in limbo?"

The information "slip" on the Cab Forward came on Lionel's blog, when they were highlighting a new set of SP passenger cars.  An early release of the article indicated the cars would look nice with the E8/E9 diesels as well an "upcoming Cab Forward".  Oops!!!    After somebody's wrists got smacked, the text was updated to just imply the cars would like nice with a variety of Lionel SP locomotives (including a Cab Forward -- with the reference to "upcoming" removed).  Regardless, I would expect that more as a 2014 catalog'd offering.  It's a unique enough offering that typically get's "cover page real-estate", and we already know what is shaping up to be a Fall 2013 catalog has two of the "weathered locomotives" gracing its front cover.

David

Expected that Lionel would lead with it's own track system, and perhaps something to follow for other big-name track companies.  I just don't know enough about LCS yet to see if it's a "good match" for exotic layouts that are typically built with the likes of Gargraves, MTH ScaleTrax, Ross, and Atlas-O track systems.  LCS may be more appropriate for modest layouts built with FasTrack.  Worth watching this space closely... that's for sure.

David

I am hoping that they release the components to use the IR sensor with other track systems as well. If not, I suppose we can just rip apart the FasTrack piece.

This was exactly my point earlier when I questioned why this post started as a '2014 Catalog Preview' and the catalog appears to be 2013 rehash.

two very different things to me...

Which we were told (earlier this year) wasn't going to happen!!!    That's probably a big reason folks thought this catalog was gonna be a "sneak preview" of stuff for 2014.  Then we heard about the built-to-order, reservation-only gibberish that also contributed to stuff for 2014.  And that may still happen NEXT YEAR.

So as we glean more information, things are coming into focus a bit more clearly.  From what we know now, the stuff appearing in this "2013 Fall Catalog" (that originally wasn't supposed to even happen) may largely be locomotives re-packaged a bit differently.  What we still don't know is WHEN this stuff will be delivered to dealers.

Quite possibly, this stuff has already arrived in the States and may be sitting on dealer shelves within a few weeks.  That could certainly be the case for the 611J.  But what about those weathered locomotives?  Who knows for sure at this point, but they too could already have been shipped overseas pending arrival in NC.  I guess we'll know more in the next week or so.

David

I think we have expected sneak peaks in the past....

Some of the Volume 2 catalogs I have on the shelf here list a next year preview.... like the 2004 link below

http://www.lionel.com/Products/Catalogs/Catalog.cfm?CatalogUID=A1A0302B-B0D0-205D-B7EC2500DA8BE2AF&PageID=389

Good thinking, Dave. You may very well be right about the release date.

But is Friday the 13th that much better?

You got a good POINT!!

Fred

Nicole

Don't even joke about that. If Lionel sees your post and delays the catalog further, it will surly bring about the end of the world.

Other then about a dozen new roads for the GP-35 not much to hang a hat on in this catalog.

Looks like Lionel is trying to make old, new again. 

I like the looks of the weathered steamers & the Centipede.   From the photo, the artist (Harry Heike) did a decent job with the UP #9000.

Not sure folks will pay the extra bucks ($1400.00 MSRP) for the work. 

The Layout control system is interesting..

Joe 

Perhaps that eventuality is what the two nuns that I was sitting next to on a train last week were discussing?

Not according to my brand new Mayan calendar...

Rusty

Not according to my brand new Mayan calendar...

 

Rusty

The Mark II "Extender."

I thought the Legacy S-2 Turbine was the end of the world?

Haven't seen the catalog yet.  Are you saying the MSRP for the weathered 4-12-2 is $1,400?

So let me get this correct...  Lionel can't sell this stuff the way they first produced it.  And now they're adding more $$$ to the transaction to pay for the weathering???    We all know MSRP's nowadays are a pipe dream, but gosh!!!  I had hoped Lionel's new crack executive crew were smarter than this.

If I'm even interested in any of these overstock items, I think I'll just wait for them to show up on Charlie Ro's SUPERSALE section of the website!!!    If not, no big deal.

David

so the world will end by an asteroid hitting us and covering the entire planet with real coal

Have perused the store copy we received today, I don't see anything re: 2014.  As was mentioned above, new paint on GP35's, the weathering on steam and the pilot models, (ala MTH engineering models) the catalog was...  well you get the picture.  It is smaller than their Christmas catalog!