Lionel 2016: What are you getting?

Stirling R. Callahan posted:

Mikado 4501 posted:

Welp, the catalogs are here. And I gotta say that Lionel's outdone themselves for the start of this year.

For me, I definitely will get a Reading T-1. THANK YOU LIONEL, for bringing this favorite back after 27 years. Oh yeah, and the N&W 1218.

That being said, the new F40PH's, the GS-4 Daylights, new LC+ engines and sets, and smoke fluid loaders are some of my other highlights. Like I said, Lionel has so much wow for their first volume this year.

But what about you guys? What are you hyped on getting?

What I want to know is, in the case of the Cabbage F40's, are they going to be powered or non powered? They were not very clear in the catalog. 

The cabbage units are non-powered, as stated by Mike Reagan in the Notch 6 Podcast.

I'll be getting one of the Amtrak F40's in Phase III paint. Way to go, Lionel! This is something I've been wanting for years and years, and it appears that a lot of effort is going into making this engine right as far as appearances go. Hopefully the sounds are somewhat accurate, too.

I would get one of the Cabbages too, but I think I'll just stick to one of the regular F40's. I wish they were offering a strict, non-powered Cabbage unit without RailSounds, command, etc that you could simply push with any command or conventional engine - maybe put lights in it like they did with the Amfleet cab car, but that's all. Then I'd be all over one, but I can't imagine spending $400 on a non-powered engine; for that price I could almost get another powered unit!

Other than that, nothing else is on my radar for now, though the "plug-and-play" signal bridges look cool. I may end up getting some of those for my next layout if I end up using FasTrack.

The NWP Black box.  See thread concerning this car.

Man, that PC GG1 and matching passenger cars look incredible!!

hmmmm

F30MSport posted:

Man, that PC GG1 and matching passenger cars look incredible!!

hmmmm

Merged, yes.  MATCHED is a different question!

I am in for the LM Santa Fe #1798 Class A but that is it..... I like a lot of others items .... I have to hold back now with one in college and 2 more in line .... I have to watch the budget now .....

I'm torn between a sound car or one of the two VL reefer sets. 

I will pre-order a Southern Railway FM H16-44 diesel. I like the road specific detail of the big air horn bundle near the cab on the long hood.  http://southern.railfan.net/im.../southern/fm/fm.html

I was so happy to see that some off my wishes where there, an AT&SF steamer for O36 (I don't care if it's fantasy, I want AT&SF steam.)and sound box cars.  I really want #4449, but it since it won't do O36, I'll have to pass as I don't want more items that require wide curves, have too many already.  Maybe in a couple years they'll do a LionMaster version.  Anywho, now I just need to figure how many of the sound boxcars I can get away with buying before my wife vetoes.  I do wish Lionel had made more road options for the Legacy cranes.  As soon as they do a NS one, I'm buying it.

Really like the rolling stock like Chessie gondola, Phillies boxcar, finally the Strasburg 3 dome tank and the Christmas cabooses are a nice touch.  Overall very pleased with the catalog and the RTR Disney Christmas train.  

Would like to go for Reading T-1 2124, but the price is high and I already have the 2100 from 1989 and a MTH 2102. However, it would be nice to add this to the collection. Very happy to see Reading and Northern 425 offered. Might just go for that and call it off there.  Would have liked to see some of the cranes offered in conventional. I guess those days are gone.

Jim

Not a thing.Thanks to Lionel for keeping my hobby budget under control for the past 15 years.

Reefers with sounds. Cool! Might consider that.

Not interested in these, but did anyone else see these in the catalogs... 

-Premium Smoke w/scents

-AF Fastrack Switches

-Gold Polar Express Car

I wish I could afford some of the offerings in this catalog. 

The Reading/AFT/CSS T-1's look great as does the C&O H-8!  The GG1, I like it more for the schemes and different detailing that are being offered as apposed to it being Vision Line.  Some day....

There is a variety of rolling stock that interests me.  Might go for the milk cars, double sheath boxcars and PS-4 flatcars.

elementdude195 posted:

... Not interested in these, but did anyone else see these in the catalogs... 

...

-Gold Polar Express Car

Indeed.  Very puzzled why on Earth the gold P/E observation car would be pictured in a Volume 1 catalog.  This is more the type of item we'd expect to see in a "left-overs" Vol 2 catalog.  The gold P/E coaches seem to be long gone from dealers -- although I'm sure there are a couple out there in a small LHS somewhere to be had at a premium.  

Only gold observation cars are readily available for sale, as lots of buyers bought "extra" coaches when Lionel didn't offer a variety of gold P/E passenger cars -- just two types:  plain coach and an observation.  Now the observation car is an odd duck in the market with no coaches to go with it.  

David

As a "traditional sized, old school, conventional guy", seeing  less and less that interests me. 

 

nothing interests me,so nothing

This will be a painful one for my wallet.  AFT T-1 and GS-4, Bicentennial GG-1, PRR and AFT Passenger cars and a bunch of freight (including a bunch of stuff from the RTR catalog).  Hopefully it doesn't all come in at once like my 2015 catalog orders did.

Andy

Traindiesel posted:

Really wish they made:

Amtrak scale Amfleet Passenger Cars

Amtrak Viewliner Sleeper & Diner

Amtrak Acela


Amtrak Cities Sprinter ACS-64

 

 

YES!!!! That would be awesome! Through in some Superliners and I'd back the Brinks truck up and unload some cash on all of it! 

RadioRon posted:

Eddie Marra posted:

As of now, I'm going to be in for the G Gauge Disney Christmas set (I get as many Disney trains as I can, so that's a natural!),

Eddie:  A word of warning.  I have a relative who ordered one of the plastic-tracked G-gauge, Lionel battery sets this past Christmas.  He was immediately disappointed with the quality & durability of both the train &.  He returned it to his on-line retailer.  The graphics are nice, but that is about as far as it goes. 

I would agree. I've seen these in person and it is pure plastic junk from China. 

Puting a product like this on the shelf is not good for the brand. Just a bad marketing money grab. Lionel you are better than this!

86TA355SR posted:

bigtruckpete posted:

....Anyone want to buy a rarely used MTH flag baggage car?!!! This is going to be one awesome set!!

There's going to be a lot of those for sale! 

And how!!! Pretty sure it won't be for more than original retail or even orig MSRP! 

The Lionel version looks to be a real top notch piece. 

Andy Hummell posted:

...  Hopefully it doesn't all come in at once like my 2015 catalog orders did.

...

You're in trouble, Andy.  Count on all those arriving in December!!!    At least you'll have all of 2016 to save up for their arrival.  

Wouldn't surprise me if some of our forum sponsors had between 1/4 to 1/2 Million Dollars worth of inventory arrive on their doorsteps just in December alone.  Maybe one or two of the real big guys hit the $1 Million mark.    Very poor planning, but dealers have absolutely no control over when this stuff arrives.  Not even sure the importers do.  Everybody's at the mercy of the Chinese factories.  Crazy.

David

Well, it is between the Allegheny 1604 and or/  the Southern Pacific Lines, the SP Cars, all of them, P.lus the one of each of  Vision Line Reefer sets to put behind the BB4014. I want both but budget wise, the combo is a down payment on a Car.

Tough Choice,

What is the BTO order deadline? Gives me time to decide.

Kevin

Here's a scary number... last night I walked through the Signature Catalog ONLY at a leisurely pace and made note of things I'd want on a "grand wish list" if I didn't already own the trains I do.  Brought back some memories of my purchasing habits in the 1990's when stuff was MUCH less expensive.  The number came to a staggering $9,995.   Of course that included several big steam locomotives, a variety of passenger trains, a few freight car items (GLa Hopper 3-packs, Sound Cars, Senor Cars, etc...), and a couple of the Legacy command-controlled accessories.  Oh yes, it also included a V/L GG-1 -- just one of them.    It did NOT include anything from the RTR and Holiday Memory Catalogs, which is where I'll probably spend most of my "real" dollars this year. 

Nor did that grand total include other items still due to arrive in 2016 from Atlas-O, Sunset/GGD, and MTH. 

That's what I mean when I said earlier that I don't know how Lionel expects folks to seriously buy all this stuff from what is admittedly "one heck of a wish-list catalog".  These catalogs contain nothing short of a phenomenal roster of trains -- perhaps enough to span several catalogs worth of product that we're more accustomed to seeing.  HOWEVER... for one thing, many of us already have a wonderful roster of trains.  And few of us have the space to continue buying at levels we may have done about 15+ years ago.  We all have our limits  in terms of financials and pure real estate.  Thank goodness we do.

I'm not even sure the NJ Highrailers club layout could handle all the trains featured in the 2016 Lionel Catalogs!!! 

Just keepin' it real, folks! 

David

RICKO,  I want to get Doyle McCormack to sign the box and locomotive.

 

I just did a rather quick scan of the 2016 Signature catalog.  I am really glad I no longer have much interest in 3-rail trains.  Didn't even setup the PE last Christmas.  I saw some nice items but what stood out to me was the Baby Madison passenger cars.  Six hundred thirty ($630) dollars MSRP for seven Baby Madison cars just blew my mind.  The LionMaster Class A at a $1,000 MSRP seems to be quite a bargain although I won't be buying it either.

bigtruckpete posted:

RadioRon posted:

Eddie Marra posted:

As of now, I'm going to be in for the G Gauge Disney Christmas set (I get as many Disney trains as I can, so that's a natural!),

Eddie:  A word of warning.  I have a relative who ordered one of the plastic-tracked G-gauge, Lionel battery sets this past Christmas.  He was immediately disappointed with the quality & durability of both the train &.  He returned it to his on-line retailer.  The graphics are nice, but that is about as far as it goes. 

I would agree. I've seen these in person and it is pure plastic junk from China. 

Puting a product like this on the shelf is not good for the brand. Just a bad marketing money grab. Lionel you are better than this!

Pete:  The Lionel CEO was on QVC or one of the shopping channels in early December, selling lots of those cheap G gauge sets.  They were also selling some O gauge stuff too, so at least there was a selection for the viewers to chose from.

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

Here's a scary number... last night I walked through the Signature Catalog ONLY at a leisurely pace and made note of things I'd want on a "grand wish list" if I didn't already own the trains I do.  Brought back some memories of my purchasing habits in the 1990's when stuff was MUCH less expensive.  The number came to a staggering $9,995.   Of course that included several big steam locomotives, a variety of passenger trains, a few freight car items (GLa Hopper 3-packs, Sound Cars, Senor Cars, etc...), and a couple of the Legacy command-controlled accessories.  Oh yes, it also included a V/L GG-1 -- just one of them.    It did NOT include anything from the RTR and Holiday Memory Catalogs, which is where I'll probably spend most of my "real" dollars this year. 

Nor did that grand total include other items still due to arrive in 2016 from Atlas-O, Sunset/GGD, and MTH. 

That's what I mean when I said earlier that I don't know how Lionel expects folks to seriously buy all this stuff from what is admittedly "one heck of a wish-list catalog".  These catalogs contain nothing short of a phenomenal roster of trains -- perhaps enough to span several catalogs worth of product that we're more accustomed to seeing.  HOWEVER... for one thing, many of us already have a wonderful roster of trains.  And few of us have the space to continue buying at levels we may have done about 15+ years ago.  We all have our limits  in terms of financials and pure real estate.  Thank goodness we do.

I'm not even sure the NJ Highrailers club layout could handle all the trains featured in the 2016 Lionel Catalogs!!! 

Just keepin' it real, folks! 

David

 

Sounds as though you're suffering the same sugar high MTH fans get twice per year.. Overload..

One sure thing about catalog sugar highs,  once the blood settles down, reality sets in, the cost becomes paramount, you find things about it you don't like , you wait for the next catalog  and do it all over again..

As for what I like, its the GTW 0-8-0 switcher. But  with a MSRP of $899, no whistle smoke and a ugly tether, I'll likely pass.

BTW, I don't believe the narrative of the tether required for better connection. My 10 year old TMCC GN 0-8-0 switcher (same engine) has the wireless drawbar and works just fine.   Sounds more like another cost cutting deletion ... 

Joe

 

 

 

 

My bucket list, of Railroad Spikes. My crew taking the Amtrak from Dearborn, Michigan to Grand Junction, Colorado.  Then onto Ouray, Colorado.............. over 20 years. Back in the day.

Gary: and

I live in Delphos, Ohio, the western terminus of the AC&Y, so I have to get one of the H16-44s.  The problem is that they are due 4Q 2016, about the same time my daughter is getting married.  Looks like I'm going to have to cut back on the alcohol at the reception...... who am I kidding, we'll cut back on the cake.  I'm getting that engine! (And the beer)

Tom

The Burlington Northern PS-1 40' boxcar with sound is what I would like. I wonder how bright or dark is the green?

Andrew

I was just looking in the Track and Power catalog....on page 46 is the SensorTrack Multi-Track Compatable 5" section. Item # 6-82869.

It is made for tubular track, but maybe with the different track pins, this would be much easier to use with GarGraves and Ross Trackage.

I think I am going to order one of these and try it. It sure would help on my other main lines.

I mentioned one thing - twice in the last 6 months, and in different threads.  Somebody at Lionel either reads minds, or (most likely) reads these forums.  Or maybe I read their  minds.

Anyway, it was a nice surprise to see the Fairbanks-Morse H16-44 in Legacy and Santa Fe zebra stripes.  Since they are offering two road numbers I guess I'll have to buy a pair.  They will look - and sound - good, pulling a freight train on the layout.  For 2 years when they were new, several of Santa Fe's H16-44's were assigned to the Los Angeles Division, where I grew up.  They stayed on outlying assignments, as well as short turnaround freight service at Los Angeles and San Bernardino.  

As a young railroader, I heard stories from the Los Angeles Switchmen about beating the Pacific Electric Yardmen at their own game.  Whenever ATSF, UP, or SP transfer jobs delivered cars to the PE, the PE boys would bet the other crews that none of them could stand next to the front footboard of the little PE electric steeple-cabs, and step onto the rear footboard as the little engine accelerated from a standing stop.  The PE boys had a pretty good racket going, as few Switchmen were ever able to do it.  When the F-M's came to the Los Angeles Division, they turned the tables.  Their acceleration was legendary, and the Santa Fe boys often went back onto the Home Road with PE money in their wallets.

For better or worst nothing for me.  Was really hoping for a prototypically correct N&W late steam era cabin car.  But not surprised based on the responses I receive a year and half ago from the five major O-Gauge MFGs.  One made this statement "Curious to see what the demand is for the "XXX" as we are also missing a good N&W 2-Bay hopper, but if the N&W crowd is not all that concerned about prototypicality, then no sense in tooling a unique hopper, or cabin car for that matter. Curious to see the response on some other N&W product first."  Sure glad I snagged just received brass CH Cabin Car.

But I am still delighted over the two Hi-Nose GP30s (SOU 2601 and N&W 522) and PRR N5b cabin car from last year.

 

Ron

Wow!  Can't think of another O gauge catalog, Lionel or otherwise, that had so many cool items.  Lionel is highballing!  Unfortunately, my train funds are not, thanks to the stock market.   I'd like to go for several items, but for now I'm limited to a SensorCar.

Cheers!

Keith

My wish list has the Lion Chief+ C&NW steamer, two of the sound boxcars in C&NW,  and an SD90 and the H16-44 in Milwaukee.

I wish the PC GG1 were black...but its must have with the passenger cars.  The Amtrak GG1 is nice as well but NEC Amtrak's didn't have vista dome sor observation cars unless I am missing something.  I wish we could have a true Amtrak heritage passenger fleet with the different style cars.

Just placed pre-order for the three Broadway Limited sets. I am pleased to see

they have produced a variety of sleepers and especially the two car kitchen/diner

unit. I wish they had decided to offer the add on cars individually or if as a two

pack, two different styles of sleepers. As it stands now the train will have 3 Rapid

series 10-6 sleepers. If they market similar 2 packs in the future it will be 2 more

Imperial series, two more Creek series and they have not announced any plans

for a Harbor series car,  Inn Series or a headend RPO. So as you can see, as they are releasing

the two packs by the time it's done this train will be 14 cars long, pulled by an

E-7 ABA,  man that's going to be a long train. Not sure it will fit/look good on the

layout. Only other idea is to find a like minded forum member to 'trade' one of

two pack cars for the other 

What am I getting? How about a second mortgage!

JC642 posted:

...

Sounds as though you're suffering the same sugar high MTH fans get twice per year.. Overload..

One sure thing about catalog sugar highs,  once the blood settles down, reality sets in, the cost becomes paramount, you find things about it you don't like , you wait for the next catalog  and do it all over again..

...

Joe,

Very true.  But it was more of an exercise reminiscent of the way I once purchased model trains a couple of decades ago when I DIDN'T have the roster of trains I do now.  Thankfully, I have what I have now... and of course there's the space limitation issue too.  Combined, those factors act as a governor of sorts... very much the "reality setting in" as you said.  But if I were just returning back to O-Gauge trains again today... Whoa... Look out!!! 

Once the excitement of this catalog wears off for most folks, I'd suggest this technology analogy for folks considering liens and second mortgages on their house to pay for the trains.   Imagine that you just upgraded all of your TV's in the house to 1080P-capable HDTV's in the past couple of years.  And now you walk into Best Buy and see the great 4K TV demos.  Do you REALLY need to swap out all the 1080P TV's with newer 4K TV's?  Of course not!   

And that's how I look at some of Lionel's newest big-ticket steamers with whistle-steam.  Oh sure... it's a fun feature... but do I REALLY need to take the plunge with all those cool steamers just to blow off some steam when the whistle blows?  Not really.... well, except perhaps with a Daylight GS-4.     But even THAT comes at a premium, when dealer pre-orders for that Lionel jewel are coming in at $1350-$1400.  And I know where I can get a whopping brand spanking new MTH Erie Triplex 2-8-8-8-2 TODAY for just $900 if I felt the urge for more steam.  Of course, it wouldn't have whistle-steam though.   OTOH, it's a highly detailed articulated locomotive that's almost $1,000 LESS THAN what dealers are asking for Lionel's newest Allegheny!!!  So why does Lionel continue to leave me feeling like I'm getting so much less for my money?    I mean, really... $1,000 is a lotta buckaroos to me!!!

The reality for me in 2016 is I already have a couple of items I'm expecting from Sunset/GGD and Atlas-O during mid-year, so there's very little in terms of big-ticket Lionel items I'm likely to act upon from the Signature Catalog.  The RTR catalog is where I'm more likely to do some "collateral damage" of sorts:  a couple of Smithsonian boxcars; a few add-ons to my North Pole Central and Polar Express scale stuff; a couple of Coca Cola series add-ons; and several new Christmastime aquarium cars, wall hangings and stockings.  Fun stuff like that... where the roster grows over time rather than with a big hit to the wallet all at once. 

I can feel the sugar-high coming back to normal already. 

David