Lionel was the last presentation of the day starting at 4 PM. I believe the biggest news from Lionel is that they are coming out with a Universal Remote that will control up to three Lion Chief or Flyer Chief locomotives simultaneously. This is in response to complaints about having to have a separate controller for each Lion Chief or Lion Chief Plus locomotive. If you want to control six locomotives, you just need to buy two universal remotes. I’m sure more detailed information will come from the York Fairgrounds tomorrow, but if I understood him correctly, Matt Ashba said that the universal remote will connect to locomotives that are on the track but do not have a remote assigned. He indicated that the remote will be in the 2015 Signature 2 catalog.
Jay Don Reese started things by presenting the museum with a Northern Pacific Lion Chief Plus GP-7 locomotive. He then introduced Lionel President Howard Hitchcock who welcomed us all to another rainy York (it was pouring outside). He said that Lionel is celebrating its 115th Anniversary this year and in addition to having a notable past sees a bright future. They unveiled a special commemorative scale Berkshire with a special plated finish (silver color) and the 115th Anniversary logo of which only 250 models will be made. They also showed a commemorative clock.
Matt Ashba took the podium to discuss new products. He encouraged participation in the “Build your own boxcar” competition. He showed the N&W Y6b articulated and the PRR B6sb switcher scale locomotives, the GP30 scale diesel, the new 86’ scale boxcar decorated for Conrail with couplers that adjust their length to accommodate curves and the new GLa hoppers. He noted that the hoppers have special details not only for each railroad but also for each period in which they ran. He noted that they are making models with more variations so that they more accurately represent the railroad and the time period for which they are made and decorated. While “Build To Order” may result in a lower number of total models made, there are more variations of each model being made than ever before.
They showed a die-cast NW2 switcher in the Lion Chief Plus line as well as a Camelback steam locomotive. In Flyer Chief (the American Flyer version of Lion Chief), they showed a Polar Express Berkshire and one of three passenger cars that will be in the Flyer Chief Polar Express set. The passenger cars will come with snow on the roof.
In their made in USA product line they showed some of their licensed product cars. Matt noted the flexibility within shorter timelines they have to adjust quantities and designs with their products made in the USA.
In the plug-and-play accessories line, they showed the latest re-creation of the classic burning switch tower with smoke and moving workers.
Howard Hitchcock closed the presentation noting that there was a 115-year timeline in the display at the fairgrounds with some interesting photographs from over the years. He then mentioned that in 1979 Jay Don had joined the Lionel team and that now, after 36 years, Jay Don was going to be spending a little more time enjoying the fruits of his labors. Mr. Hitchcock indicated Jay Don would still be appearing with Lionel but would not be as totally involved as he has been. He then congratulated Jay Don for his thirty-six years with Lionel to a warm round of applause from the audience.
Lion Chief? Meh... can't seem to get excited about that technology, but I understand it has found a following. I still can't get the image out of my mind when the remote control handle popped off during the "live demo" video. 
