What are you ordering from the new Lionel catalogs?

Note: The B Unit is powered.

Based on current list prices, my railroad CFO tells me that no money can be spent on new locomotives and rolling stock at this time.  

The ESE set, FEC ES44, PRR B-6, and assorted cars.

I was interested in the NS ES44AC until I saw the price difference between last year and this year, for no noticeable change in features.  I'm done - nothing from this catalog, which I'm happy about.  Needed a break.

Nothing will be ordered.My railroad is….AS everyone uses the phrase here "prototypical" BANKRUPT…Just like the real Railroads.Nick

Warning: Opinionated rant possible

Yup, just leafed through them. Not much there that turns my crank.

First thought: $200.00? It's just a speeder!

Second thought: "Pilot" locomotives? The airlines did this years ago - same plane (train), same price, stripped the paint to save money!

Sorry, just the sticker shock talkin'. To each his own.

Looking at some of the early postings, it looks like 20% most items is the street price.

Jim

Here's my want list. How far down the list I get will depend on the street prices of these items. At MSRP, I won't be getting very far down the list. I usually try not to say much about prices, but I think the price increases in this catalog were very impressive to say the least. On the brighter side the Bucyrus Erie Command Control Gantry crane was less than I was expecting it to be.

BNSF ES44AC

Bucyrus Erie Command Control Gantry Crane

Bucyrus Erie Culvert Gondola Car

Culvert Loader

Culvert Un-loader

Command Control Crane Car - Road Name un-decided

Command Control Crane Tender - Road Name same as Crane Car

Log Loader

Sawmill

Light Towers, maybe both single and double?

The Rotary Snow Blowers are pretty interesting too.

MTH may have to sit this year out, but they have been fleecing me pretty badly the last several years and Lionel has not gotten to me too bad so far. Hopefully MTH won't have a lot of things I want this year, nothing would be great. They are trying to catch up quickly, however. I have been waiting for these items new, my luck in purchasing used items that are supposed to operate has not been very good, pretty poor in fact.

Lots of these items I have been wanting to get for my grandson before he gets to be too old to enjoy them. So, the accessories will probably over-ride the ES44AC, which is what I have really been wanting, especially from Lionel in the BNSF livery. Unfortunately, the ES44AC's are one of the items that have have skyrocketed in price from the previous catalogs.

At these prices Nick, a lot of our railroads will be we are not careful.

Art

I just wanted the catalog to look at but my local hobby shop doesn't have any yet.    I have to settle for the %*#! computer screen for now.

Nathan

Nothing ordered yet but here the list of things I like.

BNSF ES44AC

Texas Special 21" Passenger Set (7 cars)

Rio Grande Snow Plow

Culvert Loader Unloader

New Truss Bridge

Cheers Don

Nothing A/F side.

They are not.  They feature the same plastic body shell and die-cast fuel tanks/trucks as 2014's renditions as well as the NS Heritage Series ES44s.

It seems everyone is a bit perplexed at the 30% increase in the cost of these models. 

Bucyrus Erie Culvert Gondola Car has been out since end of December.  I already bought mine back then. 

Even at a 20% discount that is still over 500.00 for a plastic diesel. 30% markup from last year. Well I am retireing, so it is time to scale back anyway at least 80% from last year. I can play with numbers also. 

Hehehe, unfortunately our chief operations officer has found a few things to order, but that is a perfect description of my railroad as well, bankrupt. Very well stated!

We have temporarily secured financing to continue operations during re-organization, unless the chief financial officer revokes the railroads new plans. Hmmm...that might just cover a lot of our railroads!

SandJam,

Hope they don't run out, I am still licking my wounds from the MTH 2014 V2 catalog. Now there's the 2015 v1 catalogs from both MTH and Lionel...it's brutal out here! I truly envy the folks that find nothing they want in all these new catalogs, hopefully I will get there someday.

Actually, nothing, I guess. I handled my own Empire State (including the Mercury version)

situation a while back, or I would be looking really hard at that. The Pilot C&O H-7 is

really tempting, as are the rest (I have the GS-6 and PRR Turbine Pilot models already).

If there was a Niagara or PRR 4-4-4-4 or ESPECIALLY a PRR 6-4-4-6 Duplex there...well,

probably one of them.

Nice stuff, but I am already waiting on my L&N Heavy Mike from the last catalogue..

There's a Moon Pie traditional boxcar. So? Well, there is also a local Mardi Gras (Mobile's,

not New Orleans') connection with the "Moon Pie". Maybe that.

Some of the nicer rolling stock will be a probability.

========

>>>Just re-visited this post and was amused by how, inevitably with me and many others

how I said "...nothing, I guess", then caved later about the "nicer rolling stock". Every

time. I have the train-purchase-backbone of a jellyfish.<<<< 

Three of the new auto racks and the Buffalo Creek box car...........so far......Paul

I would have liked to have been able to order a set of 21" Missouri Pacific passenger cars to make up a Colorado Eagle, to go along with the Alco PA's.

Not sure, but if I had to speculate I would say pay attention to Charles Ro's pricing. He's one of, if not the biggest dealers out there and he is also a distributor. From time to time he blows products out at about 50% of MSRP. I'll bet he isn't taking a loss.

Now having said that, I'm all for dealers and distributors making money and staying in business. BUT if it comes out at some point that these price hikes weren't justified, then I will have to reevaluate my purchases going forward.

As for what I am pre-ordering probably a pair of Chessie SD40s, and an Erie heavy Mike.

I am very happy that the new Signature Edition does not have any "must haves" for me. I was concerned about being enticed. I over spent last year and now I need to skip a year! My "must haves" last year was VL BB, Berkshire 765, A-B-A PA F2-2 diesels, and another Reading T-1 2100. That's it for me!

My credit card remains secure in my wallet!

• NYC ESE set with add-ons
• NS ES44 - both road numbers (would love to get more but can't get over the headlight issue)
• PS-1 boxcars
• would love to get the Southern PA units, but the last issue of PAs from Lionel make me hesitant to pull the trigger

Before I order anything I wait to peruse the catalogs from MTH, Atlas O, and Weaver along with Lionel before I prioritize my choices.  I make up a wish list from all of them, order what fits the initial budget, then eventually get most of the rest later on.  Also a consideration are outstanding pre-orders.

Unfortunately, no Amtrak 21" Amfleet cars or Viewliners.

This is my wish list for this catalog:

Santa Fe and KCS (to go with my die cast KCS ES44) ES44

BNSF & UP Auto Carriers

NS, Conrail & Santa Fe Hi-Cube 2 packs

All 30,000 Gal. Tank Car sets (love tank car unit trains)

NS, CSX & UP Bathtub Gondola 2 Packs

N&W Offset Hopper 3 packs

PRR GLa Hoppers

PRR N5b caboose (With & without train phone antenna)

We shall see what gets acquired after seeing all the catalogs.

While I love the ES44's, I will pass.  Since I have both the GE and CP VL models, I personally do not want to put those two beauties next to a plastic version.  For that matter, I don't see anything I would buy from any of the new catalogs.  Oh well.  I have enough to hold me over for a long time.  Not to mention, the prices are getting a bit too much for my tastes, thus, making me lose interest.

Yes it's amazing how fast pricing can make you lose interest.  My exact thought and feelings too.

I'm hoping to eventually get one of the new SD40s, they'll have the semi fixed pilots like the ES44s do. I'm probably not going to preorder one though.

I "Took two steps back" financially. I get nothing this year.

Rusty tin at a yard sale might be pushing it.

Some may even leave.

I though the layout of the catalog was beautiful, and the exploded pictures were very useful, especially to show friends who know nothing about the hobby.  I am considering a Lionmaster, the US Air Force missile launch car and sound car.  I also liked the welding cars on page 59. 

I tend to agree that Lionel missed the mark on the price increase for the ES44,  the BNSF would look nice on my layout but not sure I want to pull the trigger at $520. Many of the engines (dash 9, SD 40) from the 2013 Signature catalog had preorder prices around $440 at Charles Ro. In the 2014 v2 catalog, the GP 30s were going for $459 early buy and $469 after at Charles Ro, so the prices have been creaping up for some time. 

Lastly, I thought it was interesting that the AF catalog has lots of cylindrical hoppers, but none in the Lionel catalog. 

It feels great to say, "not a thing!"

Fantastic catalog, love the modern look.  I'm happy many found items they want from this new catalog.  Can't wait to see Volume 2!

"Would love to see your layout and also meet you and your wife.  Are you along the way to either of those places?"

We are not far out of the way for you. Please e-mail me to my address in my profile and I will fill you in. Look forward to meeting you.

A few things caught my eye...

• U.S. Army PS-1 Boxcar
• Polar Express Conductor Pocket Watch

...and I'm on the fence about the Lionel Steel Gantry Crane.

Long Island B6

I really love the ES44AC's.  Despite the significantly higher price, I just pre-ordered 4 of them from Nassau Hobby: BNSF, both Norfolk Southern, and FEC #804 (to MU with my FEC SD-70's).

Looks like I'll be putting more stuff up on the For Sale forum.

I'm very,very happy with all the MOPAC offerings in this catalog and will be spending big bucks. I didn't buy anything from the last three rounds of catalogs.

I have pre ordered 3 MOPAC SD-40's

Three ABA sets of MOPAC Alco PA's and PB's

One ABA set of Wabash PA's and all the passenger cars

Two of the MOPAC Heavy Mikados

The NYC ESE Hudson set. 

I was gonna buy the Empire State express but with the higher prices I am only buying 1 item and that's a maybe .. So it's gonna be a bnsf es44 or a Santa Fe es44