Deliberately, I am starting a new thread about the Lionel AF 2014 catalog because the first one took a turn to the morose. From the Gilbert/Hi-rail perspective, some catalogs from various years are more significant than others, but there is usually something of interest for the enthusiast. And, with hi-rail there is always something from AM or (now) MTH for purchase or that piece of gotta have vintage Gilbert to chase.
Questions arise out of most Lionel catalogs, the answers to which can influence one’s preordering and buying decisions. Here are some pieces of info that I learned via helpful responses to questions placed to ‘the powers that be’ at the Circle L Ranch. The following is framed with the view of a Gilbert/Hi-rail approach to S gauge.
- There has been a recent decision to fit future issues of the new scale cylindrical hoppers and mechanical refrigerator cars with hi rail wheel sets instead of the scale flange sets. Consequently, the copy in the new catalog is out of date and no longer correct. Replacement hi-rail trucks are listed and pictured in the catalog and, once available, will enable owners of the current crop of cylindrical hoppers to quickly hi-rail them.
- I posed a question about the new 57’ refrigerator cars’ ability to clear the light housing on a turned Gilbert turnout. The folks at Lionel feel pretty confident that they will be able to navigate the Gilbert turnout, but that they really can’t get any longer than the 57 footers. A promise of keeping a close eye on this point was made in response.
- The waffle boxcar is to be made using new tooling specific to L- AF.
- The illustration for the 2015 C&O passenger set now shows traditional-sized O gauge passenger cars. It was clarified that the cars for this set will be the S Gauge heavyweights as one would expect. The need was stated to update the newest image in the catalog (on line) to show the proper passenger cars.
- The new water tank accessory with a weathered 'look' is appealing. I asked if this could be the start of a new line of track side structures that 'break' with the old Gilbert postwar style. The new telephone poles kind of fit in with a new style, too. The response was that they would like to do more of these more realistic accessories for S gauge, if demand/sales support this.
The folks at Lionel appear to be still considering how to approach the question of passenger cars for the two new PA pairs, so I cannot report anything definitive in this regard. A constructively worded request placed with the powers that be might prove to be productive.
Hopefully, the clarifications above (subject to the usual qualifications) will prove helpful for some of the folks here. They were helpful to me.
Bob
And ,as always, I'll pay it!