New Lionel Catalog ??

By and large, I think we're all guilty of feeling the urge to chase the newest arrivals in the LHS at some point in our love of model trains.  But quite frankly, I've found little desire to run out and purchase any of the new stuff that's being catalog'd nowadays -- at least not en masse.

For example, I still have Lionel's year-2000 issue of the Blue Comet boxed set along with all the add-on cars, and I feel no urge whatsoever to run out an purchase the new version of locomotive and passenger cars.  None whatsoever!  In fact my Blue Comet is one of the train sets I chose NOT to sell during my recent undertaking to do a MAJOR collection thinning.

Keep in mind...  You'll seldom pay MORE per ounce of toy trains than when you're buying the latest re-issues. And the newest catalogs are no exception.

For those who want the latest stuff, Lionel's newest catalog has MUCH to explore.  But I'm amazed at some of the real VALUES that are available right here on the OGR Forum "for sale listings".  Unbelievably like-new stuff going for prices that are a fraction of what's being introduced in the latest catalogs.  Why? 'Cause that's just the nature of the product treadmill effect when new stuff (with incremental improvements) keeps coming out amidst an already over-saturated market.

Forget about what the price guides say.    With few exceptions, if you want to sell your stuff simply to purchase a new version of the same thing, don't expect to sell the older version for anything NEAR what you paid for it originally.  You'll need to provide an immense incentive for someone to purchase the "n-1" or "n-2" version over the latest release.  And generally speaking, PRICE is that incentive.

As long as you're OK with that reality, then go for it.  Otherwise, hanging on to what you already have may turn out to be a much better value for you in the long run than running out and purchasing the latest release with only one or two minor improvements... IMHO, of course.

David

I see the Acela is back with only two cars this time and 2 add on cars.

I have the original set and it came with 4 cars and 2 add on's.

I hope Lionel got all the bugs out this time.

"I see the Acela is back with only two cars this time and 2 add on cars.

I have the original set and it came with 4 cars and 2 add on's.

I hope Lionel got all the bugs out this time."

Could be they got the bugs out by eliminating the tilting cars. 

With just two cars and a street price over $1300,00 its more then I'll spend.

Joe

While "you guys" have some valid points lets not assume everyone has the "previous run" of everything and while I find some of the older locomotives to look great but the 2 chuffs withweak  smoke and lurchy early oddyssey turn me away,there are newcomers to the hobby as well. I prefer anything from the mid-late 2000s on with 4 chuffs, this leaves plenty of locos that are just now being redone and far better performers in every aspect. As far as an investment goes its been mentioned numerous times before that its a bad idea to "invest" in trains expecting a big payoff, the payoff from trains comes from the enjoyment while runnig them.Most things in life depreciate signifigantly the instant they are purchased and used,trains are no exception. Mth has rereleased models religiously ever few years with few if any changes,but due to limited production numbers there are few if any left on the shelves. It appears lionel has reduced its production as well to prevent todays models still being sealed in the box in ten years.

Well stated Rick.

TEX

Steve

Rick, nobody is suggesting here that investing in trains is a good investment.  The OP specifically inquired whether he should "go nuts" selling the older versions in order to replace them with the newer versions.

So I gave him my opinion.

As is always the case when we have so many folks gravitating together here, I hope the OP realizes he will get a variety of opinions as to what he should (or shouldn't) do and why he should (or shouldn't) do it. 

David

I appreciate the answers.  My concern was the quality of the diecast products.  My Korean made diecast locos all had the paint blistering (its common in the diecast auto community too).  So I am hoping that issue is improved on the newest versions. 

Understood, but why "trade" in the first place? Iknow at least in the case of the crescent and sharks the roadnumbers are new, why not just add more motive power?

Well, I like the catalog, but I am disappointed that once again they can't get the Blue Comet Cars correct. The windows are once again in pairs instead of being equally spaced. The Baggage and Dinning Car were the only ones with 6 wheel trucks and the cars ran from 72' to 74' long. I would have bought Loco and cars if the cars were clos to being correct, but with no cars I don't need the Loco.

I look at this a little differently. I beleive there is a reason why lionel is rushing out so many different names in a variety of engines. To me it seems that they are going to need a demand to support their new system. I brought this up before and I think once the new system is announced, only the Legacy engines with the sensors in them will respond to the new system, whatever it is.However they have been good at making sure even the oldest stuff still works with the brand new. Guess we will see.Maybe just nothing.

It will probably be the case that only Legacy engines with sensors will be able to take advantage of all the features that the new gizmo will offer, if that's what you mean by "respond to the new system."  But there's no way that earlier Lionel products will be prevented from operating in the same environment with the new system.

Lionel won't design any product that's not backwards-compatible. They're very careful about that, and reiterated that policy again and again as the Legacy system was being introduced. They really have no choice but to do that.....it would be disasterous to make a system that would render their earlier engines inoperable.

If you're really rich, proceed.

It may be a marketing opportunity as other mfrs seem to have a problem right now with getting US Steam to the marketplace in 2012.

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