So what's missing? What would you like your trains to do that they don't do right now.

Nope, I'd like them to work on the quality of simple things first before developing new gizmos. Unfortunately I don't think they have enough pull with the manufacturers to have any real impact on the manufacturing processes or disciplines over there.

Less decorative defects and/or damage to details because there is either improper handling at the factory or inadequate packaging to support no damage as they make their way across the world and into our hands.

Sorry, not the answer you were looking for, I know.  The new features are nice, but.......

-Dave

I'd like them to work perfectly every time I turn the layout on.......

I agree with better Quality Control!

Smooth, reliable operation, good quality decoration, reasonable prototype fidelity (obviously, the closer the better) are what is important to me. 

The "bells and whistles" are fine, but have little influence in my decision to buy.

Rusty

I would like to see my trains run a complete route on my new layout.  Right now they only go back and forth!  The end of the line is at the far left of the photograph!  

Mark, you're getting there!

Besides the quality issue, the paint matching issues, and the robust electronic issues, 

I would like to see in steam engines the engineer move his head when going forward or reverse and possibly the arm moving the throttle going forward.

Honest answer?  Spend more time running than sitting in boxes or on shelves.

Rusty Traque posted:

Smooth, reliable operation, good quality decoration, reasonable prototype fidelity (obviously, the closer the better) are what is important to me. 

The "bells and whistles" are fine, but have little influence in my decision to buy.

Rusty

Agreed.

I would add smooth, SLOW operation. Bells&whistles?: Meh!

I'd like to see Lionel add longer start up and shut downs on diesels like MTH.

Good question Scott!  

I have been disappointed that Lionel has not offered the steam blow down effect on more engines.  I have the early Vision line PRR CC2 that has the blow down smoke feature and next to the swinging bell, it gets more positive comments than any other features

Not sure how they would do it but I would love to have a swinging bell on a Southern PS4 where the bell is in front over  the headlight.

Happy railroading,

Don

I would like to see zero defects on every newly manufactured locomotive, and no maintenance ever required. Battery-powered operation also would be a great advancement in my opinion. Otherwise, today's MTH Premier and Lionel Legacy locomotives are satisfactory to me.

MELGAR

Ok I'm sure this isn't what Scott meant when you guys bring up QC. 

Lets pretend the QC isn't an issue.  What features would you like to see?  

I liked the coal load.  I wouldn't mind seeing some animation in the cab though. 

Good evening, this item has been brought up a few times before but, I would like to see a front coupler or provisions to install a front coupler on MTH Railking Imperial Steam Engines.

MTH did a great job of  being able to run their engines in a lash up with the DCS system.

Currently only the high dollar Premier MTH Steam Engines offers a front coupler.

My second item is for MTH to look into making some rolling stock with rail sounds  similar to the current Lionel line.

To me this simple rail sound car mixed in among a train consist just adds more realism to a train once the engine has gone by.

Just some thoughts.

Have a good evening !

As posted here by someone else, spinning end caps on the diesel trucks. Sounds only from the boilers on steamers.

I agree with more sound cars (any from MTH?)

For the future: Brushless motors inside of battery powered rechargeable locos. Universal wireless that is used by all brands and can run them together in consist. WIFI would be fine to me.

All 2 rail!

DGJONES posted:

Good question Scott!  

I have been disappointed that Lionel has not offered the steam blow down effect on more engines.  I have the early Vision line PRR CC2 that has the blow down smoke feature and next to the swinging bell, it gets more positive comments than any other features

Not sure how they would do it but I would love to have a swinging bell on a Southern PS4 where the bell is in front over  the headlight.

Happy railroading,

Don

Not that hard to do Don. 10 dollar gearmotor driven by Lionel electronics.

https://ogrforum.com/...ng-the-k-line-mikado

Pete

Animated cab figures...or at least better-looking cab figures. While I replace the weebles with Arttista figures, its a chore I could do without.

Steam release from valves would be pretty neat. Swinging bells and speakers in locomotives would be awesome, too.

My greatest desire is a better=funner controller than what is available from MTH and Lionel, today. Perhaps something larger than a handheld that would wrap around your neck or attach to your belt with vecro and still enable an operator to walk around. It would have analog levers and switches and perhaps even a small (2-3" monitor) for viewing cab or other hidden camera views. The concept design would be command control technology yet engaging the operator so he or she feels like they're actually driving a train as opposed to merely activating/simulating features. The unit would have some electronic feedback that triggers resistance when an engine is under load, thus forcing the operator to vary throttle and cut-off accordingly. Braking would also be enabled for both independent and train brakes. There could be two controllers: one for steam and one for diesel-electric.

I want self contained batteries and radio control.  I am waiting for prices to drop, and systems to be refined.

Remember, Radio Shack has been doing this for cars and trucks for decades - $35 would get the system, vehicle, and batteries!

1 Small camera lens in front of locomotive virtually unnoticeable for great layout views.

2 Lights that can be brightened or dimmed in the passenger cars controlled by the cab 2, even different colored interior lights maybe a blue hue or yellow hue.

3 Lights under the locomotives to give it a different colored appearance - red, or green, or blue , or purple whatever you want for stylish night travel.

4 Box car doors that randomly open up and a hobo peeking out.

" We are the Music Makers and we are the Dreamers of Dreams” ... Willy Wonka

The sounds, fan driven smoke units & command control got me out of traditional toy trains & out of HO. When the first sound systems started showing up they were little more than static at best, yet at the time most of us were thrilled. I look back & they look like a joke now.

One thing I would like as an improvement would be whistles & bells that are prototypical to a specific engine rather than something generic. True, there are quite a few that do match the prototype. The signature of a steam locomotive is the whistle & even the bell or the rate that the bell rings.

Its bad enough when through some accident or other failure an engine dies & needs service. Of course that does happen but it should run when you get it home.

Pay for themselves.

1. Ability to add/retrofit Bluetooth to older TMCC locos

2. changeable horns on diesel locos

3. Coupler slack sounds on TMCC locos

4. The ability to broadcast through a loco or rolling stock via Bluetooth 

• A decal numbering package so the end user can make whatever Cab# they want.
• Dead rail operation with Lithium batteries.
• S Scale couplers that work with existing claw couplers on rolling stock.

I would like to see a separate tender load for steamers (coal or wood) on all tenders, instead of a cast-in load.  That would give me the chance to EASILY REPLACE IT with a much better looking load in case the factory load ain't so, how should we say, "whippy"?  And how about an adjustable drawbar, so I can EASILY set the tender spacing to my minimum curves, instead of a "One size fits all curve radii plus 2 extra inches" spacing that most tenders seem to have?

But what I'm looking for is nothing more than a few "non-operating" features.  When it comes right down to it, asking for more OPERATING features is just asking for more production costs, higher end costs to consumers, and then more disappointments when things don't go right and either don't work properly or don't work at all.  I can tell you right now, that's NOT what I want!

Gosh, I don't know.  Maybe as far as features are concerned, am I wishing for far too much, even with just a few non-operating features? 

I would like scale size operating boxcars and such via CAB2.

How about animated figures ?   Or an "O" scale car system, like Faller's HO car system.   

How about road names that do not get enough play?Here in the south you would think SOUTHERN RAILWAY or THE ATLANTIC COAST LINE or N&W.There was the SEABOARD AIR LINE FEC L&N.Their are a lot more steam locomotives and other rolling stock that could be made.

Couplers that work without requiring excessive force. It is a simple quality control issue. 

I’d love it if they would dust themselves and clean the track.

Generate some revenue - these things are expensive

After all these comments I think all manufacturers should be required to include sound deadening headphones with all products they sell so I do not have to listen to the 90 decibels of sound all of these features would lead to.

Last like the post war did.

1. Be able to send sounds to separate speaker system within the room while still playing from the engine. It would be great to hear actual bass tones from larger speakers. 

2. STEM project modules that are tied to the layout and trains. The hobby is such a great learning tool, but the STEM aspect hasn’t really been commercialized by Lionel/MTH etc. There could be multiple STEM lessons that could be a great teacher for the kids/teens around the hobby from electricity, to physics, to coding, to bridge design, etc.

3. backdrop projector that had a number of different live backdrops with moving clouds, changing sun angles, working factories, snowy mountains, changing weather, etc. 

Scrambler81 posted:

I’d love it if they would dust themselves and clean the track.

You don't need trains.  You need a cat. 

I may be in the minority here, but I am satisfied with the few 3 rail trains I have: they run well (the most important feature) and the smoke and whistle/bell are just enough "extras" to suit me...

Mark in Oregon

I'm with you, Mark in Oregon!!

Mark in Pennsylvania

Making more road names (and less popular ones, too) available for any given product, especially engines.

Sound cars with higher quality sounds and that don't sound like someone with a hammer trying to get out.

Customizable features on BTO engines. 

Box, and unbox themselves....