Well...I'm always a little late to "whats new". Especially with Lionel, since we just got into selling more Lionel recently.
Comments.......I'm happy to see the Alco S-2 and S-4 switchers. Good choice of road names, even if PRR and NYC are not there. (Notably NP, EL, SF, SP, M&E, PTM, NYSW) Only thing funny is that Lionel apparently doesnt really know the difference between and S-2 and S-4, as some of the S-2's show S-4 pix, and vice-versa. The Manufacturers Railway is a great choice, altho so far the engine is only available in a set. The engine will be more popular than the cars, so breaking up the sets, and this point, wont be economically feasible. I'm going to ask Lionel if we can get some engines seprately, but i doubt it. I've put all these engines up for pre-order on our website.
SD-38's are OK. B&LE is the most notable road...My other choices would have included EJ&E, DMIR. CR, CSX, NS...popular roads in general. Both CSX and NS mostly had ones that came from CR, and most of the ex-CR ones have been retired or sold now. GTW's were ex-DT&I. I would have done DT&I instead....altho GTW blue is a nice scheme.
Then there's more SD-70's. I guess there will always be some demand for these. VTR and P&W I think are good choices.
GWBush funeral train...The 4141 engine and 4 cars is nice, plus there are other cars available separately if u want larger train. Cars werent meant for the funeral train specifically, but they will work. The cars appear to be 80', which will make them a little more desirable than the MTH 70' cars.
I'll be getting all these things up available for pre-order soon...
No Lionscale (ex-weaver) cars in the catalog. and not much in freight cars either. OTOH, there's only so may $100 freight cars that ppl can afford...and while the box cars with the flat spot sound would be nice on a large layout where trains car run at speed....not everyone has a large layout, or belongs to a club. And 139$ for a box car with sound isnt exactly cheap...
LNE and Pere Marquette LionScale AC-2 covered hoppers just arrived (ex weaver cars). We have them for sale individually, and with the plastic weaver trucks (lower price). They are all boxed individually, even tho Lionel sells them in sets of 6.
Sorry I really don;t know all that much about steam engines....and I've decided not to get actively involved in the Steam side, as I just dont kave the time, and the money outlay to stock them is huge. I have been getting some of the smaller loco's that are popular and under 800. I'm surprised the 4-6-6T's are over 1000$. And honestly, I dont think there is that much demand for the, either. Some Consolidations would be nice. Despite how many times they've been done, they are always popular.
That's the latest from where I'm sitting...
thanks,
beth
