New Lionel Polar Express Items ready to order! New Price Change

Do you expect to be able to take Gold PE orders in the coming days or is this something for later this year?

Bigcrabcake, (boy, I'm getting hungry!) as the catalog states only 200 are being made and we have to find out how many will Lionel give us before we start to figure out how we will sell them.

Cool, the scale PE Berkshire has whistle steam!  Thanks for posting this info Charlie.  Since it is not posted, I guess there is no word from Lionel about re-issuing the scale observation and coach two pack?  Seems like a no-brainer to me, especially given the fact they are producing them to in gold plate editions.  I will keep my fingers crossed.

My guess is that S gauge set could go a long way toward getting some much-needed new participation in S.

Whistle steam = Credit card steam !

BIG news !

Lionel has bored the inside of the boiler !

Yahoo !

At York, last April two Lionel marketing gurus assured me there was no whistle steam for Northerns or Berkshires because the boiler was not big enough. That iIs verbatim. So . . .

they must have either bored out the boiler or shrunk the smoke units   

Or were they just a yank in' old Scrapiron's chain 

You got it, Marty !

The new scale 1225 is good news for all of those who have been asking for it for some time. Whistle steam, even better.

I have a feeling that this catalog could get rather pricey for some.

What would also help get more people into S Gauge and S Scale are modern freight train sets containing a GP38-2 diesel, PS 50' modern boxcar, Bethlehem 100-ton three-bay open-top hopper, Thrall Car or Evans 1970's 1980's gondola, Thrall Car Flat Car with Bulkheads, ACF Center Flow 4600 Cu. Ft. Capy. 3-Bay Covered Hopper, and a Maxi-Stack 3-Unit well car with intermodal containers.

Andrew

So the FlyerChief Polar is the LionChief in S!   Neat, I did not know that was coming.     Great price for a new set, I may have to go in for that one.

This hobby has NEVER been inexpensive... but I'm amazed at how easy it is to spend MULTIPLE thousands of dollars at the blink of an eye these days. 

You want a Big Boy?  No problem... $1,900 (give or take a few $$$).

You want a Polar Express Berk... look to plan on forking over $1,125.

You pre-ordered a bunch of scale stuff from the 2013 catalog?  Guess what... it ALL just came off the boat last month (and more this month)... including the CN Piggyback Set ($700), the SP Oil Can TankTrain set (another $700), and the NYC Water Level set ($1200 if you shop around).  So that's just over $2,500 for three premium sets.

Not enough TankTrain cars in the set you say?  No problem... all the 2-packs and GATX 3-pack just came in too.  You already spent $700 on the set, and before that you may have spent close to that for the matching powered and dummy SD40 locos.  Now it's time to ante up another grand for a bunch of TankTrain cars so you can justify having the train headed up by THREE locomotives.

And just last week (or in some cases this week), the scale auto-racks arrived.  But let's not really go there, 'cause you can EASILY spend another grand (and then some) buying all the different auto-rack individual cars and two-packs.  Maybe even multiple purchases if you're looking to make a train whose length rivals the prototype!!! 

OK... I've lost track by now...  but suffice it to say, you're in big trouble with your credit card or checkbook!!! 

And we haven't even gotten to NEW stuff that's yet to be unveiled in the upcoming 2014 catalog!!! 

David

Well I only hope that they have a change of mind. I asked Mike about this at the last Oct. York meet since they only showed the gold observation in the Christmas catalog. He put me with marketing and they told me that they are only making the gold one. And I asked them why are they are making another black engine with no more regular observations to go with them. And I also told them that there are still people today looking to find them. All I could do was shake my head.

This is a great feature. Lionel has been really doing their homework lately!

It would be insane if they celebrate the 10th anniversary without re-releasing the observation/coach two pack.

I would really be shocked and disappointed if they don't.  Since they are re-releasing and improving the 1225 they must believe that there are consumers that do not yet have the engine and will be purchasing.  Why would they not also conclude that those same customers would need the cars to pull behind end their new engines?

I am no marketing guru, but even I can connect those dots.  I have to "believe" they will re-release them.

Is the AF version scale?  1:64?

If so I am in.  Also, what is the expected delivery date?

TexasSP, yes and this fall.

Quite a line up Charlie.  This should make those happy that missed them the first time around.

What's the chance that they will do a pere marquette 1225 version of the 10th anniversary polar express?

You never know.

Will the polar express locomotive also have the sound effects from the movie like the lion chief does.  Things like:

Tickets.  Tickets Please

All Aboard.  This is the polar express.

I believe so JP

Hey Charlie.  Any thoughts about the pere marquette 1225 version?

Not that I am aware of Ed.

Maybe you can find a PM tender somewhere online. Should still work. 

Charlie any hint on addition PE items?  Accessories or buildings?  

Thanks. 

There will be a special set in the RTR catalog. I'm not saying anything else.

Even if Magnetta asked?

Chawlieeeeee  How 'bout it? 

The black Polar Express looks very tempting. However I can't see buying one without knowing for sure they are making the observation car. Any knowledge regarding this you are able to share?

I'd have to agree. Lionel needs to spill the beans on more passenger cars. 

I think I'm going to try to verify this with Lionel this week. The Christmas catalog only mentions CrewTalk and TowerCom.

The purchase of this engine, and three or so cars to go along with it, is a huge and unprecedented train purchase for my family. Lol. Those movie sound effects are a big selling point for us.

Jim

I am tossing around even trying for the gold pe berkshire. I was always told not to buy a gold engine. It is tempting because there is only 200 going to be made. Is that because there isnt the market for gold engines? Just not sure if we would enjoy the gold engine as much. The only thing I can think of to do with it is to be put it in a display case. I have the earlier version and it is a great engine. I am very excited about the whistle smoke on the new version. I always thought that was the one thing that was missing from this engine. 

Bob

monty:

I plan on running my Gold Edition. I would NOT BUY it if my intentions were to put it in a display case. It is all fantasy anyway, so why not enjoy it on your layout. They are making a Gold Edition Observation car and I guess other gold cars will follow. Should be a really cool train.

I would appreciate any additional information you can provide.  I am still on the fence on this purchase.  I want to order it.  But I also want to confirm that it will have all of the sounds like the lion chief version I already have.  I would hope that they would include those lines of dialogue on this legacy locomotive.  Also, like others have said, not reissuing an observation car in anything except the gold color also has me concerned.

Well, the PE image on Lionel's page doesn't say Pere Marquette.  No thanks.  I can retrofit WS.  

Right now or soon you purchase all of the cars except the observation unless Lionel decides to remake it. Hopefully this Saturday that question maybe answered. So far Lionel has a baggage, combo, coach, diner & abandoned toy cars for PE Berk.

Paul:

It would be nice if they re-introduced the Observation car. There are many who would by it with the new 1225 just around the corner.

I would guess the Lionel is reading these threads and is gauging interest in them.

Excuse my ignorance, but I have never pre-ordered anything before.  I have some questions about the Berkshire locomotive.

1) Someone mentioned that these will not be built in a lot but built to the numbered that are ordered.  Is that correct?  So unless you pre-order, there will be no extra inventory for sale through the various vendors.

2) How long do we have to make the pre-order before that window closes?

Thanks.  My interest in the hobby started after the original run of these scale versions came and went so I definitely don't want to miss it this time but am having some hesitation because of the cost.  It's a hard pill to swallow for a train I'll only run a couple months out of the year.

Lionel's customer notification has stated that all Legacy engines will be built in 2014 to order. When you boil it down, it will be based upon distributors/dealers orders in hand and any more they wish to order if they wish to speculate on demand after the order period ends. Usually most dealers take orders for at least 30 days after the catalog is released.

If you really want the engine, the safe bet is to put an order in with a dealer sooner than later. I hope this helps.