What a great time to be in the hobby.

Great thread MrMuffin! I agree! wish we had more glass half full topics like this. After a bit of a slump lionel is finally getting some product out and "bringing back" the great models from k line via the tooling. I'm looking forward to MTH  getting caught up with their steam production, I suspect there may be some surprises with them as well!

I agree wholeheartedly!  This catalog is one of the greatest I've ever seen from Lionel (in terms of content that I wish I could get, and in terms of content I will be getting).  I am also looking forward to seeing the new MTH catalog.  And don't even get me started on all the cool stuff coming from Weaver and the rest!

 

Andy

I don't know Steve  I am pretty bummed they didn't do the EM-1 in Erie

Mr. Muffin:  Thanx for your up-beat comments.  I'm personally happy to see Lionel's new products, although there isn't too much in there for me.  I guess I'm gonna hafta order that Milwaukee Road F-3 with the B unit, but that's about it for me.  But there's a lot of stuff in there for "the other guys" and I'm happy about that for them.  I'm also delighted to see Lionel taking a stronger interest in "S" gauge, even though that won't get my extra change, but those guys have been starving for new products for a long time.  As I once commented; if I had it to do all over again, I would choose "S" gauge over "0".  I like the looks of the two rail track and I'd be able to squeeze in about twice the layout into my fairly small space.

 

One tjhing that I'm missing in the new catalog is another ore car.  Got into collecting them when Lionel first issued the ore car in 1984 and have 58 of them; from what I can tell I'm missing 13 different car numbers.  Picking up some more of them will be my "project" for York this April and until I get them all.

 

Paul Fischer

LOL - They knew you already had one!

Great Thread!  It really is a good time to be in the hobby.  I think I'll go downstairs and put a couple of laps on my PM1225...

I have to agree that it is a great time to be in this hobby.  I love this stuff and to me the new LIONEL catalog has something for everyone.  I love the toy part of toy trains and just got the general set from Grzyboski and have been breaking it in the last few days.  Cool set and very amenable to add ons like the outlaw and sheriff chase gondola etc.

Is it a great time to be in the hobby.  So many options to choose from.  I run mostly steam and transition era at home, that and some more modern stuff on a modular layout.  Having a great time !

 

Doug

Actually it's been a great time to be in the hobby for the last 15 yrs.  There have been so many great trains and accessories produced and of course command control is the cats meow.  I think the new Lionel catalog is fantastic if you overlook the prices.  But the sheer number of steam and diesel engines, the accessories and command control switches, just fantastic.  I only hope MTH's new catalog is as awe inspiring and they get back on track and PS3 is 100% in any new product.   

I agree.  Lot's of new items from all manufacturers should make it clear there is something for everyone.  We are so fortunate today to have so many choices on the table for us to purchase.  A far cry from the 1970's and 80's. 

 

TEX

Steve

Agreed!  When you stop and think about it, there are more trains out there than anyone could ever possibly acquire. The hobby is alive and well. 

Steve:

 

I wish we had more threads like this that are totally positive. You are 100% correct in what you have said. Thanks for starting this thread.

Wait a minute---isn't this the OGR forum???

Aren't we all supposed to be annoyed or something???  

 

 

Couldn't agree more---Great hobby---There's room for everyone.

Thx

Joe S  

It's certainly a great time to be in the hobby. It would also be a great time to win a lottery.

 

I was looking over some of my Lionel catalogs from the 70s and 80s. That really puts things in prospective. What a different O Gauge world we're in today!

As far as this hobby is concerned, and in most other aspects of my life when considered over the long term, my glass has always been far more than half full.  Yes, there have been some pitfalls, stressful periods, bad decisions, and disappointments along the way, but this hobby has always been there to provide me with a welcome respite in such times.  It has great therapeutic value, both physical and emotional, and the manufacturers--all of them--have made certain that I will never lack the products that have made this the most rewarding and interesting of all possible hobbies.

There are many points of view being expresed here about this hobby . While diverging viewpoints sometimes occur, I believe that everyone here agrees that its a great time to be in this hobby.  The selection of products exceeds that of almost any other point in  time, more great layouts appear to built (or under constrution) but the thing that I  enjoy the most is sharing this hobby with so many great people. The train hobby has led to meeting and making some wonderful friends and to a wealth of new information.  Much of the credit has to be given to the forum members and the crew at OGR for without this forum much of this would not have been possible. If I can sum it up in one sentence; the Model Train hobby enriches the mind, relaxes the being, and warms the soul.  

I agree - just a great time to be into O-gauge.  I am mostly a Lionel person, but also really like MTH's European series locos.  I really love some of them, too, and look forward to the MTH catalog, too.

Well usually I'm a pessimist when it comes to the catalogs. My favorite railroads seem to never be in production. But Steve's right  there's no denying that we have a heck of a lot of options right now. I mean even Sunset 3rd rail has told us . "You tell us what you want and we'll make it" Could you ask for more???
Now if we could only get Lionel to Make a legacy "A" and "J" I'd be a little happier
Come on Lionel Pennsylvania aint the only railroad out there.

David

Good post Mr. Muffin!  I completely agree...

...and I want more milk cars too.

I've been out of the hobby for some years now (save for a shelf of my favorite post-war items in my home office) and this past summer I took the dive back into the world of O-gauge 3-rail...actually, more like a cannon-ball. It has been extremely enjoyable to get back into things and what is most enjoyable of all are all the great items out there I have discovered. Last summer I started my dive back in by getting a VL Hudson. What a magnificent engine and while I have read some of the negative comments on this engine I can only report I have had nothing but great luck with it. She is a beauty and she runs like clockwork. The recent catalog release by Lionel was the first catelog release I can remember since being a kid that I counted down the days to its release. And, even better, I already have my list of "must get" items all lined up. I truly believe that now is a good time to be in this hobby.

 

-Len

Mr. Muffin, your right. In the early 70's when I got back into the hobby there was Lionel, a few Walthers kits and not much else. Thankfully there was lots in low priced used Lionel to be had. We were all so excited when General Mills started coming out with a few re-issue items. I still remember when they announced their first "new" locomotive. A GP-20. In reality just a low nose reworked GP-7. I bought the Santa Fe, power and dummy and a case of six Chessie Specials. Ever so slowly other companies came along. Some made it others didn't. It's amazing the wealth of "O" gauge three rail we have now. Good thread Mr. M.

Don

You could not have said it better.  I am very happy with all the choices we have today.  My parents started me back in 1948 with my first train.  Things are the best they have ever been.  I have been going to York for 32 years and often reflect over my first York.  The trains available then do not come close to the great trains we have available today.  I love DCS and Legacy and find myself running trains every day. 

I still say if Williams did not introduce the can motors in the Trainmasters years ago we would not be at this point.

I agree completely, and with the EM1 due to arrive at Engine House Hobbies on Tuesday and I will order a replacement Acela.  Life is very nice.  I would like to expand upon your premise and say that inaddition to the catalog, new heritage engines on the way, I can now  purchase any engine I want based on its features (and capabilities) and not with any consideration of the operating system (Proto2, Legacy, or TMCC with ERR cruise commanders).  My last engine purchases have been all over the map with two SMR engines (one Proto2 converted and one ERR converted), a 3rd Rail ERR steamer (SF), a Legacy EM1 with my ordering the Acela this week.  It is a wonderful time to be in the hobby.  Enjoy. I know I am.

Marty, I got my first Lionel on Christmas of 1948 also. It was a 2026 freight set. Still have it. What was yours. Don

I agree how we are enjoying a great amount of choices in O gauge, not only now but for the last 10 years too.

 

Think of all the great new things we've seen recently.  Scale Big Boys, scale GG1's, DCS and Legacy, scale streamline passenger cars, Vision Line products, new realistic buildings, operating accessories and scenery items.  Not to forget all the smaller industries that have appeared to provide details to our layouts.

 

The great thing is, I believe it will get even better!!

Don, that was also my set.  I do not have my set.

My Grandfather got the 2026 freight set in 1948, the first train set he bought.  I still have it and it still runs good but I believe the freight cars are all mixed up in my inventory.  With all the stuff he added before I was even born I'm not even sure what the freight cars are for that set.

They were a New York Central operating box car, double dome tank car and a SP type caboose. 

I am pretty new to the hobby but it seems like an amazing time from my newbie point of view. Thank you for starting this very pleasant and thoughtful thread. Ben

Thanks Don.  I do have the tank car and the caboose, but the 6454 NYC box car is not an operating car and it's painted brown.  So either it's a different set or my Grandfather bought pieces separately.

Brian, wish I had my catalogs I would look it up for you but there still in boxes. I posted the wrong box car, this is the operating box car with a little blue man in it. Don

 

My father bought our family our first train set in 1948 and my positive feelings regarding this hobby have intensified tremendously over the past 64 years.  There is no question we certainly have a lot more options today than ever before and its great to have such a wide selection from which to choose but to tell you the truth as long as I knew that trains were being manufactured somewhere by someone I always had a feeling of contentment and satisfaction regarding what truly is the world's greatest hobby.  As has been stated in other posts life has its peaks and valleys but for me trains have always been there and have provided me with an incredibly healthy outlet through the rough times as well as the good times.  I will never be able to thank my father and grandfather enough, God rest their souls, for introducing me to this wonderful hobby.  

Mr Muffin - you are most certainly correct. What an AMAZING time to be in the (world's greatest) hobby. What amazes me is the number of young fellas who are in and building layouts!

Like Marty and Don, my first set was a Lionel 2026 freight set for the Christmas of 1948.  It has been rehabbed twice over the years and I just fixed it up for my first grandson with  the original transformer and a set of all new tubular track.  Maybe he will give it to his first grandson.  I know it will still run, because, it's, you know...

THANKS MR. MUFFIN FOR A GREAT THREAD

YOU ARE 100% CORRECT.

 

THANKS, ALEX

I agree....this is a great time for O Gauge!

 

Peter

You are right. Spiffy picture sir!

Dr. Muffin . . . . You are right on !!

 

Eliot