Lionel Train Catalog or Reference Guides after year 2000: Where are they?

It would take a book probably twice the size of a phone book or more to list all the items between 2000 and now. In this time frame there are roughly 18,000 plus SKUs if you include all items like set components, uncataloged items and other misc items.  Modern Era Lionel (1970 to present) has over 26,000 SKUs.

I've heard that in two years of recent Lionel production, they have done more items than the entire Postwar period, and it wouldn't doubt this claim.

ed H

Thanks for the response and in sight as to one of the obstacles.

Yes, there are many more items produced the last 20 years.  But that may be an advantage.  Someone could publish a series like some did before.  Make a separate book on motive power, freight cars, passenger cars, accessories, and sets for examples.  Low demand may require e books only but some of older Lionel train fans like hard copies.

Charlie

Choo Choo Charlie - The current Lionel website does have virtually every regular production item since 2000 info available with the search function, its just that the search function has many quirks to say the least.  Prior to the redesign of their website a few years back they had a much better product navigator where you could do an advanced search and narrow results to categories like sets, steam engines, diesel engines etc and even by roadname. It worked pretty well.  When the website was redesigned a few years ago they choose a flashy appearance over functionality.

@ed h posted:

Choo Choo Charlie - The current Lionel website does have virtually every regular production item since 2000 info available with the search function, its just that the search function has many quirks to say the least.  Prior to the redesign of their website a few years back they had a much better product navigator where you could do an advanced search and narrow results to categories like sets, steam engines, diesel engines etc and even by roadname. It worked pretty well.  When the website was redesigned a few years ago they choose a flashy appearance over functionality.

I completely agree about Lionel website redesign.  It looks flashy, but it is nowhere near as functional for experienced model railroaders who are looking for specific information.

When they redesigned the website, I decided that I didn't want to rely on the manufacturers' websites for old catalogs.  I have downloaded PDF files of every Lionel catalog since 2010 and have downloaded other manuals and instructions.  I have also downloaded every MTH catalog since 2003.

I would love to find PDF files for older catalogs.

@VinceL posted:

I completely agree about Lionel website redesign.  It looks flashy, but it is nowhere near as functional for experienced model railroaders who are looking for specific information.

When they redesigned the website, I decided that I didn't want to rely on the manufacturers' websites for old catalogs.  I have downloaded PDF files of every Lionel catalog since 2010 and have downloaded other manuals and instructions.  I have also downloaded every MTH catalog since 2003.

I would love to find PDF files for older catalogs.

MTH website has catalogs all the way back to1993 - although they are missing some from the older years.

From what I can figure out, the Lionel website scrubbed most stuff pre-2010 while the MTH website has items going way back into the 90s and maybe earlier.

@ed h posted:

Choo Choo Charlie - The current Lionel website does have virtually every regular production item since 2000 info available with the search function, its just that the search function has many quirks to say the least.  Prior to the redesign of their website a few years back they had a much better product navigator where you could do an advanced search and narrow results to categories like sets, steam engines, diesel engines etc and even by roadname. It worked pretty well.  When the website was redesigned a few years ago they choose a flashy appearance over functionality.

Did you mean Lionel items from 2010. Most of their pre-2010 items have been removed.

@paulp575 posted:

Did you mean Lionel items from 2010. Most of their pre-2010 items have been removed.

In the search function, the "Archives" tab has many older items. For example the gold scale hudson from 2000 is still listed.

@ed h posted:

In the search function, the "Archives" tab has many older items. For example the gold scale hudson from 2000 is still listed.

True the archives tab has SOME items. Some older items I've searched for from the 90s don't show up (Grahams trains has a pretty good archived section). It's weird because some older items are listed; some are not.