Lionel 2017 Vol 2 Catalog - any info

Recently its been at the end of August around Labor day. It could be released for October York but MTH and others release theirs at that time as well. Personally I can wait with the threat of Ppeorders arriving August through November.

End of August. I don't have an exact date. 

Thanks Dave!

Maybe they should get production done from previous catalogs first. It's been arriving as slow as molasses this year. 

Hey Lionel how about updating your shipping schedule?

I'm guessing there will be some "light mikes" and maybe some other "light mikes".

I, for one, am looking forward to the vol. 1 Light Mikes coming soon.

Sadly, according to Ryan at least, we won't be seeing a Legacy J3A anytime soon, but perhaps another NYC steamer in this next catalog?... 

Mikado 4501 posted:

I, for one, am looking forward to the vol. 1 Light Mikes coming soon.

Sadly, according to Ryan at least, we won't be seeing a Legacy J3A anytime soon, but perhaps another NYC steamer in this next catalog?... 

It's alright because a legacy Niagara in multiple road numbers will do just fine!

I want more O36 capable steam, scale and non-scale with Legacy control that they haven't done yet.

The real question is whether the 2017 Vol 2 catalog will have anything significantly new in it?  Or will it just be lots of recatalog'd items that have yet to ship?  

Lionel's Vol 2 catalogs have been short on real head-turners in general.  But given the market we're in now, that's not all that surprising.  For me, the hybrid/brass steamer announcement at York was a non-starter.  They really need to deliver their high-end stuff this year yet -- like the AC9, Shays, and of course their 21" passenger cars!

I'm betting they'll save any really big new announcements (like the next VisionLine product) for the 2018 Signature Catalog.

David

Lately most of the catalogs I get haven't really had anything I want to get, nor would my wife let me get them unless it was an 19th century steam engine. I keep hoping they do another Vision Line Steam Engine, since I like the look of steam engines better. I would like to be able to get at least one Vision Line Product in my Roster of Locomotives. Though if I could find a vision line genset at a decent price, I would probably pick one up.

Five days and counting till we finally see the catalog.

Lionel announced Aug. 29th as the release date (yesterday).

RickO posted:

I'm guessing there will be some "light mikes" and maybe some other "light mikes".

Rick, I bet your going to be right. As to John, yes a legacy Niagara would be nice considering the Century version had the plastic nylon gear.

Wouldn't mind a re-issue of the Ten wheelers but in Rutland

It would be nice to see some nice Legacy F3/F7 Sante Fe war bonnet ABA's. Also, a possible return of the scale 18" aluminum passenger cars....However, the excitement is growing.....End of next week.....Wow..

I am hoping the DT&I and ICG 86' hi-cube box cars are in the catalog. 

I wonder if anyone remembers the "conversation" I had online with Jon Zahornacky about Lionel going forward. That was three or four years ago and Jon and Lionel were going whole hog into this "app" zone where Lionel's resources (time and money) appeared to be allocated to running layouts on touch screens. It was my opinion, and it still is, that Lionel, like any other business, has a finite pool of resources that can be allocated where the company sees the future. I said to Jon that I was concerned this "app madness" would consume Lionel's Vision Line resources and result in less innovative trains (for me) and more "app" related products. By and large, this seems to be true. I know that there are lots of folks who feel the Vision GG-1 is a great loco. To me, it is not that innovative. I have the JLC GG-1's and the Vision loco adds the sparkling pants and better sound. Very few added details. I think Lionel was groping for a Vision loco that would not be too costly in time, money, and regenerational costs. 

I am not very interested in apps and running trains differently. I am interested in innovative locomotive and car progress that the Vision Line represented. I know Jon and he is a good man. He is also not at the top of the corporate food chain. He has to do what the boss instructs. When was the last time there was a truly innovative Vision loco? The Big Boy? Perhaps. Blow down . . . . not that new. Other locos had it earlier. Two smoking stacks . . . . nice, I guess. Whistle steam? Of course. Now whistle steam is really expected. Depleting coal load? I have been running the Big Boy for several weeks and the only time I looked at the coal load was when my friend Mike Lauria came over and said, "Cool, depleting coal."

So . . . . . how much innovation have we seen in the last four or five years filtering down to other locos/cars as originally discussed when the Vision Line was first introduced? Not a heck of a lot.

I know, I know. It's the economy thing. Partly, yes. I also believe Lionel's resources are not being aimed at innovation as much as I hoped. How many steamers have the self centering tender drawbar introduced with the Milwaukee Road S3? Very few. Where are the swinging bells? I know, I know. Such and such a steamer didn't have one. On and on.

C'mon Lionel.