For Bachmann/Williams, what's the latest on the E-Z Streets switches (turnouts) announced this past April?

 

Bill

I'm interested (in a "not interested in this new thing so far" kind of way) in details for the "Plug and Play" accessory "upgrade".

 

It's a little hard to piece together with the small amount of info in the catalog, but this seems like a boondoggle, especially for an established hobbyist.

 

If I infer correctly, any accessory labeled as Plug and Play will not have normal terminals for hooking up wires.  It seems they will just have the connector interface.  This would seem to be why an 8" "adapter" cord is offered (additional ~$10 MSRP) for non Plug and Play layouts.

 

So if I understand it correctly, If I don't wish to hack up an accessory by dis-assembly and removal of the connector, I need to buy this silly cable for any Plug and Play accessory and then splice my own wires to it.

 

Were there really that many new people in this hobby that can't learn how to strip a few simple wires once in a while that this was necessary?

 

Even if it is useful to some, the added costs if you do go the Plug and Play route seem to add up really quickly.  The special FasTrack "Lock on" pieces to plug the cords into would add up quickly.  Depending on the accessory you are setting up, it can add quite a bit to the price of the accessory itself (probably 20-50% estimate based on pricing structure of various accessories in catalog).

 

-Dave

I intend to once again ask Bachmann/Williams to produce a trolley lettered for the Red Arrow Lines. The Red Arrow Lines was prominent in the Philadelphia suburbs for many years, Bachmann is Philadelphia based, and I know a lot of potential owners.

 

I will ask MTH and Lionel to produce a McKeen Motor Car and trailer in any gauge, scale or tinplate and yes, I've asked for this many times too.

 

Eric Hofberg

TCA, LCCA 

I will ask Atlas if they have abandoned the Industrial Rail series.

 

Tony

Up on "The D & H Bridge Line"

I will ask MTH why can't they improve their sounds and parts dept. 

 

 

I will ask but probably won't get a straight answer from Atlas as to if they plan on staying in the O gauge business. With all the "rumors" floating about, I will ask the same from Weaver.

I would ask MTH if they ever plan on making new tooling for as-yet-unmodeled rolling stock.  Or if future catalogs will just feature re-runs of old tooling for rolling stock.

1.  Whose four year old kid chooses new prototypes to be produced?

 

2.  Do any of the manufacturers have a reference library of railroad history, or do they

just use a stack of 1940-50 Lionel catalogs?

 

3.  Does your company have a market research person or division, to review the marketability of new products, or is that task addressed by the two questions above?

PASSENGER TRAIN COLLECTOR, all of the Questions are good, if someone would stop by the Lionel Booth, see if they would make a scale 0-4-0 with Slope Back Tender in Legacy?, And one other Question, Would they make an 0-6-0 with Slope Back Tender in Scale with Legacy Control....i Think there is a market for these small engines. Thank For Asking

I'll be talking to a lot of manufacturers....  By the way, usually there is a little time to ask a question or two of the various manufacturer reps that are at the Grand Stand Meeting.

 

Alan

"Jeff, when will you have this PS2 conversion finished"? 

 

Scott Mann, are you considering building the 0-8-0 S1a?

 

Gilly

Lionel:

1. How can I hook up the new plug n play accessories to my current traditional layout?

2. How many of these accessories can the typical buyer hook up to the 40W power pack in the Lionchief sets while still being able to run the train?

3. When will you make a model of Reading and Northern 425?

 

MTH:

1. Can I have a catalog (I've never seen them giving any out, though their facebook said they do)

2. When will you make a model of Reading and Northern 425?

 

WBB:

1. When is the new sound system coming out for steam?

2. Are there still plans for an upgrade kit when it comes out (for engines such as my Southern 4-6-0)?

3. Any plans to get away from the sleuthe smoke unit?

4. Since Lionel and MTH won't make a Reading and Northern 425 for me, will you? Please?

 

Weaver:

1. Do you know what time the hall closes tonight? (I can't afford Weaver trains)

When are they going to do Away with the Battery?

When is MTH going to produce a Southern Pacific Red / Gray SD45?

Tell Jack Pearce we said hi...also the same goes to Stan at Stan's Tanks.

 

Just be thankful that the vendors will talk with us....and most do listen. Just want to thank everyone that comes and helps put this show on. I think all of the vendors do a great job and each one has something to share with all of us, if we too just listen.

Alan,  Please ask Atlas about new runs of their General American 53'6" Wood Express Reefer, particulary Frisco, ART, Missouri Pacific and St.Louis Southwestern.  Thanks, Pat B.

You give them  fee (think it's $5.00) you get the current catalog, plus all future ones mailed to you

 

Paid them twice, never have gotten a catalog sent to me

 

Umm, It's called Protosounds (PS)-3. no battery required

Unable to attend York, would someone ask Lionel how to start and stop the new play and plug accessories once they are connected to the track supply with the cord.

What Questions Do You Have for the Manufacturers at York?

Doesn't Lionel still use batteries?

Lionel don't use batteries.

To Lionel:  what is the real reason they do not re-issue their PRR T1 From 2000?

Will mth be offering any new o gauge tinplate wheel arrangements? Even a scaled down 400E would be fantastic.   Preferably a pacific or mikado, especially if its actually badged for mth in the company purple or Christmas red.

For Lionel: Why haven't you realized the market for elf figures for you popular P.E. line? You've done sets of additional people, wolves, rabbits, carribou but no elves. However you have done molds for them for your P.E. handcar so why not do more molds for stand alone pkgs of elf figures? THERE IS A MARKET OUT THERE FOR EVEN GENERIC ONES (JUST IN CASE THE LICENSING FEES FOR P.E. ONES ARE MORE THAN LIONEL IS WILLING TO PAY!

Roger, I will say a "hello" for you with both Jack and Stan. Like you, I have their products on our layout and I know them both.

I will ask the reps how they keep their sanity after fielding questions like this all day long!

 

Jim

 

 

LOL!!! How true.

 

 

Batteries are optional, only really used  if there is a bad spot on the track (usually around switches) in a command environment or if using low voltages (<9v) on a conventional layout.

With some of the diesels now on a "Built to Order" basis - when will they consider replacing the THICK SILVER METALLIC PAINT they switched to about two (2) years ago. It simply buries the otherwise beautifully executed detail on trucks and frames (and anywhere else they spray it) and the metallic particles are huge. A "built to order" is tough to reject at the counter.